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Original poster

Sinéad O'Connor

36 replies

MassiveWordSalad · 27/07/2023 10:40

May she rest in peace. She was an amazing woman.

I know there are other threads about her sad passing, but I was just listening to 'Black Boys on Mopeds' and this lyric jumped out at me. The song was released in 1990, but how apt it is now:

"These are dangerous days
To say what you feel is to dig your own grave"

OP posts:
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pinkyredrose · 27/07/2023 10:45

Such a powerful and beautiful woman. I hope she's at peace now.

Beowulfa · 27/07/2023 10:56

She seemed to be fighting against the world for most of her life; I hope she is at peace now.

I've "sung" Nothing Compares 2 U" many times at karaoke. A very clunky tribute.

Original poster
MassiveWordSalad · 27/07/2023 11:12

Early in her career the record company men put great pressure on her to appear more 'feminine' but she refused to cave in.

Apparently she shut them up by pointing out they wanted to style her like their mistresses Grin

The gender non-conformity was strong in that one. As was the womanhood.

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zanahoria · 27/07/2023 12:57

I was lucky enough to hear her sing live and she produced the most incredible, emotional performance I have ever heard. I have never been touched by a singer as much as by Sinead O'Connor. Sadly, tragedy was always part and parcel of the emotion she portrayed, it is evident in so many of her songs. She sung about pain but in a beautiful manner -a brilliant, complex but tortured artist.

May she rest in peace.

VaddaABeetch · 27/07/2023 13:00

It struck me recently that her gender non conformity would be seen these days as evidence of her being non binary when She was a woman who knew her own mind.

BaronMunchausen · 27/07/2023 13:07

A record executive suggested she should grow her hair and wear “short skirts and high heels and makeup”. She shaved her hair the next day.

ArabeIIaScott · 27/07/2023 15:51

I'm just so saddened by this news.

She was so brave, and stood up to giant behemoths of culture, music, religion, politics. People say she was fearless, but I think she was fucking brave. And that voice.

I hope she is at peace.

IwantToRetire · 27/07/2023 15:53

I was really sad to hear the news of her death yesterday and had sort of forgotten how many songs of hers had touched me over the years. Such as OP mentioned, Black Boys of Mopeds (I think is from 1990) and still relevant.

And was so pleased to see that some papers, suprisingly the Independent, pay tribute to how because of how she stood up for herself, helped other women in the music industry, and spoke out about reproductive rights and abuse by the church.

And yes, also as said upthread, certainly challenging the gender narrative, and among other things to be glad for about her life, that she was able to do this and not get bundled into the whole rainbow nonsense. For me she was challenging the gender norms imposed on women.

RIP Sinead O’Connor Flowers

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/sinead-oconnor-death-womens-rights-quotes-b2382555.html

Sinead O’Connor’s lifelong dedication to women’s rights

Irish singer was vocal advocate for women in the music industry and reproductive rights

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/sinead-oconnor-death-womens-rights-quotes-b2382555.html

Dumbo12 · 27/07/2023 15:59

And as is so often (always?) the case, she was punished by the male dominated establishment, for refusing to be silenced about injustice.

PixiesAreReal · 27/07/2023 21:03

Genuinely gutted but I hope she's finally at peace. She was a beautiful warrior. Even her wearing a pink triangle badge was a huge deal then. She didn't care what powerful people/organisations she upset she spoke up about crimes and injustice and wouldn't be silenced or changed.
I loved her.

ChampagneIceCream · 28/07/2023 08:08

So, so sad 💚

ChampagneIceCream · 28/07/2023 08:11

BaronMunchausen · 27/07/2023 13:07

A record executive suggested she should grow her hair and wear “short skirts and high heels and makeup”. She shaved her hair the next day.

Love this. Things have REALLY not changed much have they.
She was so true to herself.
We would all do well to be a bit more Sinead 💛

DoIWantToGetIntoThisHere · 28/07/2023 08:11

What a woman. Often talked about on here - provocative, divisive at times but always true to herself. And that raw emotion in her voice. I remember this thread about the letter she wrote to Miley Cyrus - it led to some heated debate but it was intelligent and passionate debate. I was on it under another name and I remember thinking it was cruel of Miley to take the piss out of Sinead’s mental health. But Miley was only 19 at the time and (hopefully) regrets the cheap shot now and knows that Sinead was only trying to give her some advice. Whether it was right or wrong advice she always stuck to her principles. RIP Sinead. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1871556-To-stand-up-and-give-Sinead-OConnor-a-round-of-applause?page=2&reply=42021634

Page 4 | To stand up and give Sinead O'Connor a round of applause | Mumsnet

Not something that would normally happen at Maison Fifi but in this case I think it is richly deserved for her open letter to Miley Cyrus. I know Sine...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1871556-To-stand-up-and-give-Sinead-OConnor-a-round-of-applause?page=2&reply=42021634

ChampagneIceCream · 28/07/2023 08:12

Sinead was completely right about Miley.

Helleofabore · 28/07/2023 08:32

Thank you for sharing that article with snippets of the letter to Miley. Sinead was absolutely spot on.

mrshoho · 28/07/2023 08:44

Very sad and I hope she is at peace finally. What a natural gift she had.

Original poster
MassiveWordSalad · 28/07/2023 09:42

I'd forgotten about the letter to Miley Cyrus. It was addressed to Miley, but was a universal message to young women in show business. I wonder how Miley feels now that she's moved on from her Terry Richardson era.

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DuesToTheDirt · 28/07/2023 21:26

BaronMunchausen · 27/07/2023 13:07

A record executive suggested she should grow her hair and wear “short skirts and high heels and makeup”. She shaved her hair the next day.

See, I've seen a few of these reports in the last few days and I just find it so bizarre. She was absolutely stunning as she was, and especially with the shaved hair - a change of hair, shoes and makeup couldn't have improved her.

KCandtheSunlightBand · 07/08/2023 07:50

That, IwantToRetire, is amazing. So few would touch so many people so strongly, to inspire such an incredible tribute. She was unique.

Original poster
MassiveWordSalad · 29/08/2023 18:26

That's a lovely message from her family, isn't it? Thanks @IwantToRetire

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stealtheatingtunnocks · 30/08/2023 09:17

Such dignity.

It’s so sad that she couldn’t bear her burdens, what a bundle of tragedy, injustice, illness, integrity and talent this family were dealt by life.

I hope her family are able to pull together, it can’t be easy grieving a public figure Mum.

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 30/08/2023 09:25

Missed this thread first time round. I do not want what I haven’t got is a work of genius from start to finish. I often listen to songs from it, especially the emperors new clothes

she was so talented. Such a loss

IwantToRetire · 30/08/2023 15:55

It’s so sad that she couldn’t bear her burdens

There has been no announcement of the cause of death, ie it could have been natural causes.

And as one who admires her in many ways, the only think I thought was sad was when she said the death of her son meant she didn't want to go on living. What did that say to her other children?

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