Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide that may be troubling for some readers.
At 56, Sinéad O’Connor passed away after a long struggle with her mental health condition. She will surely be remembered for her impact on the music industry, her activism, and especially as an Irish music icon.
Born Marie Bernadette O’Connor on Dec. 8, 1966, in Dublin, Ireland, O’Connor gained international fame in the late 80s through the early 90s. Her music was known for its emotional intensity and powerful vocals, spanning various genres such as pop, rock, and even folk.
It wasn’t until her 1990 record “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” that O’Connor’s popularity skyrocketed. Her most popular song was “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which was written by another late music icon Prince. It catapulted her to international stardom.
However, O’Connor’s career hit a down low when she notoriously tore a photo of then-Pope John Paul II in a “Saturday Night Live” skit, which shocked many of her fans worldwide. Since then, she suffered backlash and animosity from people inside and outside the music and entertainment industry. O’Connor’s faith was also put under the microscope in 2018 when she converted to Islam. She called the conversion to be “the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey.”
Hours after the news of O’Connor’s death broke, singers P!nk and Brandie Carlile took to the stage to offer the late music legend a breathtaking duet of her hit song, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” that got people moved. Keep on reading to know more about O’Connor and why P!nk and Carlile were the two “most worthy” women in music to offer the touching tribute.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video
O’Connor suffered a tough childhood growing up. It was revealed that her mother physically and sexually abused her as a child. She then went to live with her father and stepmother. However, life with her father brought her more difficulty. She learned how to shoplift and became an absent student at a tender age. She went on to be discovered while she was living in an asylum that helped her foster her talent in singing and songwriting.
In 1990, she released “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” the sophomore album that launched her to mainstream popularity. She was known for her trademark shaved head, angry expressions, and shapeless clothing in her performances.
O’Connor’s impact on the music industry did not go unnoticed. Her album won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1991, making her one of the three elite solo female singers who have won in the said category, mostly dominated by males. But according to Entertainment Weekly, O’Connor denounced the nominations and her eventual win in protest to The Recording Academy.
The Irish Times confirmed her death on Jul. 26, 2023.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time,” O’Connor’s family said in a statement. As of the time of writing, her cause of death has not yet been specified.
Many have mourned the passing of O’Connor, including the Irish Government, her fans, and other personalities from the music industry.
Despite the controversy she has faced through the years, many young female artists were still inspired by the courage and talent that O’Connor exhibited back then. Among them were Grammy-winning singers P!nk and Carlile.
While on the first stop of her Summer Carnival Tour in the United States on Jul. 26, 2023, hours after the announcement of O’Connor’s death, P!nk uprooted her “tightly scripted and choreographed show” to make way for one of her inspirations.
“When I was a little girl, my mom grew up in Atlantic City and I used to go down to the Ocean City Boardwalk with my ten dollars and I would make a demo tape… I would make a little cassette tape and imagine it was my demo for the record company,” P!nk told the crowd, as quoted by Billboard.
According to P!nk, it was just a choice between two songs – “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston and “Nothing Compares 2 U” by O’Connor.
“So in honor of Sinead, and in honor of my very, very talented friend Brandi Carlile I asked her if she would come out here and sing this song with me,” she continued.
The two then performed a breathtaking impromptu duet of the hit O’Connor track. The song is perhaps O’Connor’s most popular and poignant one.
Fans took to social media to express their appreciation for the lovely tribute.
“You two are the most mighty and worthy women to tribute Sinead. Thank you for this gorgeousness ?❤️,” a fan said.
“I think Sinéad would be proud to have been honored by the two of you, who stand so proudly and beautifully for everything she spent her life fighting for. An absolutely beautiful tribute to a remarkable human. ❤️??? ,” another commented.
Bittersweet moment @Pink pic.twitter.com/wbgXdEGO9y
— Brandi Carlile (@brandicarlile) July 27, 2023
Are you a fan of Sinéad O’Connor? What can you say about P!nk and Brandi Carlile’s performance? Wasn’t it breathtakingly moving? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Sinéad O’Connor fans out there!
