Yesterday’s tragic passing of Sinéad O’Connor at the age of 58 has rocked the music world. O’Connor’s advocacy for mental health, human rights, and victims of child abuse has made her a protest rock icon over the years, traits that ultimately transcended her artistic endeavors. Her own longtime personal struggles with trauma certainly influenced this perspective and led to one of the most infamous moments in broadcast television history when she ripped up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live. Keep in mind this was an entire decade before John Paul II acknowledged the absolute travesty (and subsequent cover up) of sexual abuse that embroiled the Catholic Church in the early 2000’s. O’Connor was just reaching her commercial peak at that time but still had the strength and conviction to speak truth to power. I’ll always admire her for that.
1987’s Lion and the Cobra was O’Connor’s debut album, recorded while she was pregnant with her first child. O’Connor’s trademark mezzo-soprano voice and distinct Irish melodic influence create a sense of haunting throughout the entire nine song run. Even during the more upbeat songs it always felt like something was lurking underneath the surface– and there was. O’Connor’s honesty in her music mirrored the honesty she carried with her entire life.
She will be sorely missed.
Standout Songs: “Mandinka”, “Never Get Old”, “Troy”
