Sinéad O’Connor, the Irish singer-songwriter who became famous with her powerful version of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, died of natural causes, according to a coroner in London. The star, who was 56 years old, was discovered lifeless at her home in Herne Hill, south-east London, on July 26, 2023. Her death stunned and saddened her fans, friends, and family, who honoured her as a gifted, brave, and outspoken artist.
A Life of Music and Controversy
Sinéad O’Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 8, 1966. She had a difficult childhood, marked by abuse and neglect from her parents, who separated when she was eight. She found comfort in music and started writing songs at an early age. She left school at 15 and moved to London to pursue a career in music.
She released her first album, The Lion and the Cobra, in 1987, which received critical acclaim and commercial success. She followed it with her breakthrough album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, in 1990, which featured her iconic cover of Nothing Compares 2 U. The song topped the charts in several countries and won her a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance.
However, O’Connor also became known for her controversial and outspoken views on various issues, such as religion, politics, sexuality, and human rights. She infamously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television in 1992, as a protest against the Catholic Church’s handling of child abuse scandals. She also faced backlash for refusing to perform if the US national anthem was played before her concerts.
O’Connor continued to make music throughout the 1990s and 2000s, experimenting with different genres and collaborating with various artists. She released 10 studio albums in total, the last one being I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss in 2014. She also converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Struggle with Mental Health
O’Connor had a long history of mental health issues, which she openly discussed in interviews and on social media. She revealed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003 and had attempted suicide several times. She also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.
She often reached out to her fans for support and help, sometimes posting alarming messages and videos online. In 2017, she posted a video on Facebook, saying that she was suicidal and living in a motel in New Jersey. She said that she felt abandoned by her family and friends and that she had no one to turn to. She later thanked her fans for their love and concern and said that she was receiving treatment.
A London coroner's court has found that Sinéad O'Connor died of natural causes and that there will not now be an inquest into her death | https://t.co/Ral06Pj62z pic.twitter.com/kLGWOiaybb
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 9, 2024
In 2023, shortly before Sinéad O’Connor’s death, she posted another video on Instagram, saying that she had moved to a new flat in London and that she was planning to record some new songs. She seemed optimistic and hopeful, saying that she was happy and grateful for her life. She also said that she had forgiven her parents and that she loved them.
A Legacy of Love and Respect
O’Connor’s death was met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from her admirers, including celebrities, politicians, and fellow musicians. The Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, said that her music was “loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare”. The Irish President, Michael D Higgins, praised her “unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her”.
Her family issued a statement, saying that they were “devastated” by her passing and that they requested privacy at this difficult time. They also thanked her fans and the media for their respect and support. They said that they were proud of her achievements and that they would always remember her as a “beloved Sinéad”.
A funeral service was held for O’Connor in Dublin, Ireland, on August 2, 2023. Her coffin was draped with the Irish flag and carried by her four children, Jake, Roisin, Shane, and Yeshua. Thousands of fans lined the streets to pay their respects and to sing her songs. A tribute concert is planned for March 20, 2024, in New York City, featuring artists such as Cat Power, David Gray, and Glen Hansard.
Sinéad O’Connor was a remarkable and influential artist, who touched the lives of millions with her voice, her songs, and her spirit. She was also a complex and troubled person, who faced many challenges and struggles in her life. She was a rebel and a visionary, who spoke her mind and followed her heart. She was a legend and a hero, who will be dearly missed and never forgotten.
