Sinéad O’Connor, Irish singer who rose to fame with 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' dies at 56
NBCJul 14, 2023
The Facts
On Wednesday, in a statement, the family of the famed Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor announced her passing at the age of 56. No cause of death was provided.
O'Connor, from Dublin, released 10 albums throughout her career earning her three Grammy nominations. The singer was mostly known for her song "Nothing Compares 2 U," which reached number one in the world in 1990; the ballad was written by the late musician Prince.
The Spin
Narrative A
While Sinéad O'Connor lived a troubled life, often booed by crowds, mocked, and threatened, she taught the world about being resilient, triumphant, and authentic. She never strayed from who she felt she was and how she felt she should be seen by the world. She never wanted to fit neatly into a box as music producers and critics wished. Being her authentic self led to an awakening that resulted in her shining a spotlight on mental health and women's trauma across the globe. Instead of focusing on the controversy the world should remember her as a charismatic, personable, and caring human being who faced struggles just like the rest of us.
Narrative B
Through all the controversies, decades later we now know that Sinéad O'Connor was right. When she stood on stage during Saturday Night Live performance and destroyed a photo of Pope John Paul II. She aimed to shine a light on the horrors bestowed upon children by members of the Catholic Church. It took nearly a decade between her performance and the exposure of the predators but there was no remorse for the backlash that O'Connor received. People were afraid to face the truth and for that, O'Connor had to live and die with a damaged career.
