Unseen Images Of Sinead O’Connor
1. Nothing Compares To You
Image source: The Guardian
Sinead O'Connor's massive hit song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was written by Prince and actually recorded for his side project, "The Family" in 1985. O'Connor recorded it for her second studio album and it was an international hit in 1990. It reached the top of the charts all over the world, from the UK to the United States, New Zealand, Mexico and everywhere in between.Advertisement
2. Millions Of Album Sales
Image source: The Mirror
Sinead sold over 20 million albums in total during her career, mainly in the UK and the States. Her best selling album was "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" which sold almost 5 million copies alone! Her haunting lyrics and melodies captured the masses and her voice, so original and sweet, has always been hypnotic. She, herself, was one in many millions.Advertisement
3. Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor
Image source: The Guardian
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor was born on 8th of December 1966 in Dublin, Ireland. She was one of five children born to Sean O’Connor, a structural engineer who turned barrister and Marie O’Connor. She was named after Sinéad de Valera who was the mother of the doctor who delivered her, Éamon de Valera, Jnr. and Bernadette, in honour of St. Bernadette of Lourdes.Advertisement
4. Hidden Away For Being Promiscuous
Image source: NZ Herald
As a teenager, Sinead was placed in Dublin’s An Grianan Training Center which was one of the notorious Magdalene laundries. It was originally set up to incarcerate young girls who were thought to be promiscuous. One of the nuns bought her a guitar and set her up with a music teacher – and that is how it all started. The talent was always there and just needed to be brought out.Advertisement
5. First Ever Single Released
Image source: Hollywood Life
Sinéad was 20 years old when she released her first single called "Troy." She had an obvious talent as well as a rebellious streak. She chose to ignore any advice she was given and after having a son with her drummer, John Reynolds, she wrote "The Emperor's New Clothes." It told of her frustration at being a single mother in a Catholic family at the same time as her music career was rapidly taking off.Advertisement
6. Tearing Up Photo Of The Pope
Image source: Reddit
Back in 1992 Sinéad O’Connor caused a massive controversy when she appeared on Saturday Night Live. Million of viewers, as usual, were tuned in to the popular show an they were looking forward to hearing her sing but they got more than they bargained for. Sinead unexpectedly tore up a picture of the Pope. It was a protest against sexual abuse of children who worshipped in the Catholic Church.Advertisement
7. Converted To Christianity, Then Islam
Image source: BBC
Battling with her Catholic upbringing and the sexual abuse stories coming out from the Church, Sinead converted to Christianity as she believed in the concepts about Jesus. However, a few years later she converted again, this time to Islam as she saw it as "the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey." She also changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt.Advertisement
8. Her Four Marriages
Image source: The Mirror
Not being put off by failed relationships ,Sinead O'Connor married four times. Her first was in 1987 to record producer John Reynolds which ended in divorce in 1991. Next there was journalist Nick Sommerlad 10 years later and that was very short lived, only 11 months. Following on in 2010, she married musician Steve Cooney, again lasting under a year. Finally, she married for the fourth time in 2011. It lasted a mere 16 days.Advertisement
9. Releasing Ten Studio Albums
Image source: Daily Mail
The songstress released 10 studio albums from 1987 up to 2014. These were the highly successful "The Lion and the Cobra", "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got", "Am I Not Your Girl and "Universal Mother." Then there was "Faith and Courage", "Sean-Nos Nua" and "Throw Down Your Arms." Heavily into her religion, she then released "Theology", "How About I Be Me (and You Be You)" and finally "I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss" in 2014.Advertisement
10. Wrote A Song About Abusive Mother
Image source; Mubi
The lyrics that Sinéad O’Connor’s penned were always full of deep meaning and this was certainly the case with the song “Fire On Babylon.” It is about her mother who passed away in 1985, her mom often being a topic in her songs. "Fire On Babylon" accuses her mother of abusing her and her siblings. She sings the line, "Look what she did to her son.”Advertisement
11. Split From Peter Gabriel
Image source: YouTube
Sinead O'Connor had, as she described, a fling with front man of Genesis, Peter Gabriel. She intimated that she wanted more than to see him only at weekends. She wrote “Thank You For Hearing Me” about their eventual split some time later. Sinéad had sung on his 1992 album entitled "Us" and appeared on the tracks "Come Talk to Me" and "Blood of Eden."Advertisement
12. Song Lyrics Very Close To Home
Image source: RSVP
As mentioned, song lyrics were always close to home and “This Is A Rebel Song” was about loving an Englishman who had abused her in the past and had refused to reciprocate her love. Because of the ongoing conflicts between the English and Irish nationalists, there were many years of trouble. When Sinead released this song, the troubles were still raging.Advertisement
13. Found Kinship With West African Tribe
Image source: Dublin Live
Mandinka is a West African tribe with a history of rich musical traditions. In her song “Mandinka” which was the second single from her 1987 debut album, O’Connor said she felt a kinship with the Mandinka, a West African tribe. The song was inspired by the book and tv series "Roots." Sinead performed "Mandinka" in 1988 on "Late Night With David Letterman."Advertisement
14. Theme Song For "In The Name Of The Father"
Image source: Hollywood Life
“You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart” was the soundtrack to "In The Name Of The Father" in 1993. O'Connor's lyrics totally encapsulate the movie's theme of love, loss and injustice. The film explores the impact that love can have on your conscience when your actions accidentally cause pain and suffering and the words she sings are extremely powerful.Advertisement
15. Death Of Kurt Cobain Affected Her
Image source: The Irish Post
On Sinead's 1994 album "Universal Mother", she decided to cover "All Apologies" sung by Kurt Cobain from Nirvana. She had been deeply affected by his death from a heroin overdose and had been close to him and his family. Cobain had said that the song was written about the changes he went through after fatherhood, many of them being negative.Advertisement
16. Sinead Shaves Her Head
Image source: Pinterest
By the time 1991 rolled on, Sinead had two successful albums under her belt. This is also the time when she revealed she had shaved her head to defy her record label's requests for a more feminine look. The team wanted her to wear high heeled boots and tight jeans, also to grow her hair. O'Connor said she found the conversation so pathetic that she rebelled and shaved all her hair off."Advertisement
17. Rastafarianism Saved Her
Image source: The Guardian
After releasing her 7th studio album and her first reggae album entitled "Throw Down Your Arms" in 2005, O'Connor claimed she wouldn't be able to exist if it was not for the power and teachings of Rastafarianism. “It is my way of expressing gratitude to the Rasta people, because I am one of those human beings who would not be alive today if it was not for the teachings of Rastafari." The singer discovered her love for reggae during the 1980s while living in London.
Advertisement
18. Appearing On Saturday Night Live
Image source: Far Out Magazine
By the time O’Connor appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in October 1992, her reputation had gone down hill. She had already been described as insane for boycotting the Grammys after she had been nominated for record of the year. She had also refused to play the American anthem "Star Spangled Banner"“ because she said it had nothing to do with music.Advertisement
19. She Turns To Twitter To Find Love
Image source: The Mirror
Obviously feeling like she needed a man in her life, following her short lived marriages, O'Connor wrote on Twitter and her website that she was looking for a partner. Without going into detail as it's a bit stomach churning, she said she was "up for anything" with either a male or female. It all backfired, unfortunately, when she ended up getting stalked online.Advertisement
20. Mental Health Struggle
Image source: Opoyi
With a very challenging childhood, it isn't a surprise that the singer struggled with her mental health. She has reportedly been diagnosed with a personality disorder, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Sadly, she had tried to take her own life more than once and ended up in hospital after a suicide attempt following her son's untimely death by suicide. We now know that she never recovered from his passing and was desperate to join him.Advertisement
21. Record Label Pressured Her To Terminate Pregnancy
Image source: CNN
According to her documentary, Sinead O’Connor’s record label, Ensign, apparently pressurised the singer to terminate her pregnancy. They suggested in no uncertain terms that it would disrupt the promotional rollout of her debut album. O’Connor also revealed the label had requested official album photography to be shot only from the shoulders up, so as to conceal her baby bump.Advertisement
22. Deemed Too Aggressive For America
Image source: RBHS
American fans of Sinead O'Connor did not see the original cover of her debut album, "The Lion and the Cobra." It had featured a snapshot of Sinead roaring fiercely along to her music. It was deemed too aggressive for the Americans which led to a more conservative cover being printed. Sinead was adamant she didn't want this to happen but the record label insisted.Advertisement
23. Her Cruel Mother
Image source: 9News
Sinead tells the story that when she was only 8 years old, her mom forced her to sleep in the garden. This wasn't for only a night but for several weeks. Her cries to be let back into the house were ignored. Her mother would just turn out all the lights, lock up and leave Sinead out in the cold. She described her mom as "a beast" and said she used her voice to "make the devil fall asleep."Advertisement
24. Her Complex Link to Prince
Image source: Irish Mirror
O'Connor's career will forever be linked to Prince due to the success of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The song made her an instant star but her feelings toward Prince were complicated, She recalls a time when he reprimanded her for swearing in interviews and he said he would harm her with a stuffed pillowcase if she didn't stop.Little did Sinead know that this song was to be the height of her career.Advertisement
25. Most Remarkable Grammy Performance
Image source: Rolling Stone
One of Sinéad O'Connor's most incredible performances was at the 1989 Grammy Awards where she performed "Mandinka." The Acapella rendition totally showcased her raw emotion and strong vocals, leaving the audience aghast. At the age of 21, Sinéad made her Grammy debut when she received a nomination in the Best Female Rock Vocal Performance category. This was for for “The Lion and the Cobra.”Advertisement
26. Retirement .... or
Image source: Irish Central
Over the years, O'Connor faced very many health challenges and she cancelled concerts due to her physical and emotional issues. In 2021, Sinéad declared she was retiring from the music industry as she felt old and weary. It was only a week later she had a change of heart, stating her passion for music because it was her first and true love, besides her kids.Advertisement
27 Her Son, Jake Reynolds
Image source: Heavy.com
Sinead O’Connor became a mom in June 1987 when she gave birth to Jake Reynolds. She was married at the time to record producer John Reynolds 9which didn't last). Like his mom, Jake tried to stay away from the spotlight in recent years and pursued a career in the culinary arts. He made Sinead a grandmother in 2015, one of the highlights of her whole life.Advertisement
28. Her Daughter, Roisin Waters
Image source: Irish Examiner
Now with a new partner John Waters, Sinead gave birth to a daughter Roisin in 1996. The couple split soon after the birth and were involved in a three year custody battle. Eventually, Sinead gave in and let her daughter live with Waters as she was struggling with her own mental health. It has been documented that Rosin inherited her mother's musical talents.Advertisement
29. Her Son, Yeshua Bonadio
Image source: RSVP
Two years after Shane’s birth, Sinead O’Connor had a third son, Yeshua and that was with Frank Bonadio. She shared a picture of her lookalike son in 2019, along with a Halloween themed cake he had baked for a competition. (He actually won first prize for it.) Sinead said he had also inherited her voice and was an excellent musician. She spoke very proudly of him.Advertisement
30. Sinéad O'Connor's Heartbreaking Loss of Son
Image source: The Mirror
Total tragedy struck Sinéad O'Connor in January 2022 when her 17 year old son Shane took his own life. After this devastating loss and not coping at all, the singer took to her Twitter account, expressing her absolute heartache through a series of very troubling messages. “I've decided to follow my son. There's no point living without him." May Her Dear Soul Rest In Peace. Goodnight Sinead.Advertisement