Sinead O’Connor
December 8, 1966 - July 2003
aged 56
her family is secretive about her date and cause of death
Sinead O’Connor was a ridiculous person.
A troubled and troubling personality with a great voice, O’Connor became infamous in the U.S. for her Saturday Night Live performance on October 3, 1992, in which she shredded a photograph of Pope John Paul II on air as a protest. She wasn't wrong, but it didn't go well for her.
O’Connor was really screwed up by an abusive family, and by the perverted Irish Catholic culture of her environment, and she spoke openly, copiously and unstoppably about politics, spirituality and her mental health struggles. That’s what's called “outspoken.” I don't care for a lot of outspokenness from pop singers whose only qualification is to entertain. I prefer them to sing their songs and then fuck off. I don’t want/need to know about their problems, and I don’t want/need any of their life advice. I admire Truth and Beauty, but neither of these pertained to Sinead O’Connor, I think.
As an adult she was so weird and obnoxious that I lost all regard for her as she crashed about from one scandal to another. She represented endless, perpetual drama and silliness. It was just one silly thing after another with that woman. My love and compassion for her are manifest by the fact that I tolerated her. That’s it, and that’s all. More than that, no one may ask. I have Sinead fatigue.
But she had a great voice.
Or not.