Sinead O'Connor: C/D?

also search the track she did with Bomb The Bass and Benjamin Zephaniah, "Empire", which is terrifically dark. And "The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance" soundtracking the last chapter of Bret Easton Ellis's Glamorama.

she should have done more covers: she was a truly stunning interpretative artist, "Nothing Compares 2 U" is an obvious example but she also did gorgeous versions of "Sacrifice", "All Apologies" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" as well. (xpost!)

I could have lived the rest of my life happily not knowing that.

(I didn't actually know "Jackie" was an album opener, I only have the best of CD and Universal Mother; should I investigate the earlier albums?)

Hahaha. (Keep in mind I lurv Placebo.) It's on the covers bonus disc that came with Sleeping With Ghosts.

should I investigate the earlier albums?

Um, yes? Very much so?

and Jed is OTM on the don't cry for me argentina..some how lighthearted and cutting at the same time...I think she got a bit of a raw deal for being so forceful with her politics, to the point of amost being cheap. I recall a huge scandal when she played Saratoga one summer when I was in jr. high (i think) and refusing to have the national anthem played before the show...that seemed, even then, a bit childish, but the young fresh foolish me got chills when she ripped up the pope.

(Otherwise, I'm with everyone else who rates her first two as unassailable Classics).

That "Gospel Oak" EP, short though it may be, shows that she remains an amazing songwriter. Her last two albums proper, though - "Universal Mother" and "Faith and Courage" - seem too set on the by then impossible notion that she might get played on the radio, and therefore she makes the attendant compromises. To be honest, I'm worried Kate Bush may fall prey to the same delusion.

Frankly, I wish Sinead realized (assuming she doesn't) that she could maintain her ideals on the folk/cult circuit, a la Marianne Faithful or someone like that, rather than aim for pop appeal.

(xpost)

I loved that EP she put out in '97 or so.

Her version of "The Butcher's Boy" in the film of the same name is pretty special.

"I Am Stretched On Your Grave" was teh jammm at the time. Haven't heard it in years.

Massive Attack -- Special Cases (Radio Edit)
Asian Dub Foundation Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- 1000 Mirrors
Bomb The Bass Featuring Sinéad O'Connor & Benjamin Zephaniah -- Empire
Ghostland -- Guide Me God
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- Visions Of You
Afro Celt Sound System -- Release (Album Edit)
Sinéad O'Connor With The Blockheads -- Wake Up And Make Love With Me
The The -- Kingdom Of Rain (Album Version)
U2 & Sinéad O'Connor -- I’m Not Your Baby
Conjure One Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- Tears From The Moon (Album Version)
Peter Gabriel & Sinéad O'Connor -- Blood Of Eden (Radio Edit)
Moby Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- Harbour
Aslan -- Up In Arms
Damien Dempsey Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- It’s All Good
The Edge & Sinéad O'Connor -- Heroine (Theme From “Captive”)
The Colourfield Featuring Sinéad O'Connor -- Monkey In Winter
Sinéad O'Connor & Terry Hall -- All Kinds Of Everything

i happened to catch this one today on an internet radio station i listen to at work -- it was as stunning now as it was 15 years ago (when i first heard it). and i'm enough of a softie to get still choked up when i hear "nothing compares 2 u" (much less see that video).

i guess i should root around my cds to see if i stil have i do not want what i haven't got.

V good read:

https://zacharylipez.ghost.io/never-get-old/

My favorite moment in The Butcher Boy is when Virgin Mary Sinead says, "Fer fuck's sake, Frankie!"

Dave Stewart posted what looks like live footage of Sinead singing the vocal track for “Jealous” (one of my favorites):

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvLUDdQNKHD/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

y’all, Alfred is on this week’s NYT popcast pod.

just starting it now :)

Oh! Didn't know it went live!

i started listening earlier this morning & said HOORAY out loud when they intro’d him

Excellent work Alfred!

Here's the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/03/arts/music/popcast-sinead-oconnor.html

So sad to hear about Sinead O' Connor; thee definition of fearless. I once got punched by someone when DJ'ing in the early 90s after going from some mad UK hardcore track into her version of "I am Stretched on your Grave" (so much for PLUR!). Will try that again this weekend!

— Optimo (Espacio) (@JDTwitch) July 26, 2023

Alfred, your crushing this ep of NYT Popcast!

*you're

I think I made too many obvious points but thank you! I appreciate it.

Great conversation. Really enjoyed the discussion on cover versions and Sinead’s approach to them. I lost the thread fairly early in her career, so the points made here, and on today’s pod, are making me eager to dig back into her catalog

I think I made too many obvious points but thank you! I appreciate it.

One can never be too obvious for New York Times readers/podcast listeners.

lol

Great episode, superb guest. Gave Sinead the historical weight she so deserves.

Thank you!

and good morning!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNAqVfCvr-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hj4370BMCE

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvMQ0hqtz6D/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

(Sinead doing "Princess of the Posse" with Latifah on her talk show#

Love that so much because it's 100% being done because Sinead loves that song, it's not like that is a song most people even remember

I finally got a chance to listen to the podcast. Alfred, you were brilliant. The host was pretty insufferable.

thanks, jimbeaux :)

Is there a link to the podcast that doesn't require me to login/create an account?

Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRz2XiwgHoo

Listened this morning: really good stuff, Alfred!

enjoyed listening alfred! especially nice that you helped steer the convo past the usual pope/nothing compares stuff, the b52s cover was a really great surprise

A very touching poem from her brother that was read at the funeral yesterday.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/08/09/blackbird-in-dun-laoghaire-a-poem-by-joseph-oconnor/

The London Inner South Coroner's Court has issued a statement that says O'Connor died from natural causes. The court added that they have now ceased their involvement in O'Connor's death.

Yep.

"Mere hours before her cause of death was shared on Tuesday, it had been announced that a special tribute concert to O’Connor and the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan will be taking place at Carnegie Hall in New York in March. Irish singers Glen Hansard, David Gray, Dropkick Murphys, Cat Power and Amanda Palmer are among the musicians taking part, with more to be announced."

Apologies to Cat Power but I may have to bomb this.

The Irish singer died by natural causes

Is this going to change the narrative that everyone seems to have adopted, based on certain assumptions?

Because that linked yahoo article (and the term "natural causes") are still pretty ambiguous, here's a more unambiguous statement from WaPo:

Most deaths from natural causes are not reported to any coroner but if a coroner found natural causes it would never be a suicide.” If someone dies of “natural causes,” this means that they did not die by suicide, or in an accident, or by a drug overdose, he said.

So what then was the cause of death? Presumably this means she had some kind of sickness, but what was it?

xxxp that carnegie hall tribute show includes a $20,000 "nothing compares 2u" package where you get to weigh in on the order of the songs being played? https://citywinery.com/new-york-city/events/nothing-compares-2-u-wjs0ta

aren’t coroners different in every state? I think there was a Frontline about that. Natural causes may be more or less ambiguous depending on the locality.

I bet the boys of the NYPD choir don't even be there (especially since there's no such thing)