Fifty six, only fifty six years old. The announcement this afternoon of the death of Sinead O’Connor has shocked the music world and stunned the Irish public.
Heartbreakingly, she is a mother of four, one of whom died tragically in January last year and she made no secret of the pain and sorrow she endured thereafter.
A family statement released today simply said: “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.”
With her talent – such a unique voice, a wonderful songwriter and a gifted storyteller – she was certainly a one-off.
Controversial always, and sometimes the controversy made us forget the talent.
From burning the Pope’s poster at a huge concert attendance, to become a priest/ess, four husbands and four divorces, she talked openly about abortions, to converting to Islam, and has been a restless character in search of inner peace throughout her musical career and public persona.
More recently, she spoke openly of living with bi-polar and how meds had helped her to live with the condition and to achieve some calm.
But the death of her 17-year-old son, Shane, brought her horrendous pain and grief last year. She was utterly heartbroken, and announced that as Shane son was also a Hindu, his funeral would be attended only by his mother and father, Donal Lunny, another of Ireland’s most renowned musicians.
From her debut album ‘The Lion and the Cobra in 1987, she went on to release 10 studio albums in total with ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990) was a huge success with several highly acclaimed Prince tracks, among them “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Jump in the River” and “I Am Stretched on Your Grave.”
And of course, the most iconic song of all associated with the late singer was Prince’s ‘Nothing compares 2U’, also 1990.
She was heartily disappointed with the music industry (and the world) which she claimed, only judged ‘success’ in monetary terms.
The shaven head, those stunning eyes were surpassed only by her incredible voice.
Now her children Jake Reynolds (born to Sinead and music producer John Reynolds), Roisin (father is journalist John Waters), the late Shane and Yeshua (born to Sinead and Frank Bonadio), must mourn their mother along with her siblings and extended family.
Let us hope she is at peace, now and the demons are cast away. May she rest in peace, amen.
The late Sinead O’Connor and truly, nothing compares to you.
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