  Sinéad O'Connor was born on
December 8, 1967, in Dublin, Ireland. Since
1990, the music scene has witnessed a young
woman from Ireland rise to the top of
commercial success and critical praise, and
fall just as quickly. Throughout it all,
Sinéad never wavered from her politics, nor
did she abandon her love for music to make a
quick buck. Sinéad continues to tour
occasionally and seems to release music when
she feels the quality allows.
 October 30: Sinéad became known
in the music world with the release of her
debut LP, The
Lion And The Cobra. The LP was successful
with alternative and college radio, and
Sinéad's unique combination of strength and
vulnerability was a hit with critics and
audiences. The track "Mandinka"
showcased Sinéad's powerful voice and her
art for becoming a part of the song. The LP
was praised as an impressive debut as other
tracks were played on the radio and became
staples in her concerts, such as "I Want
Your (Hands On Me),"
"Jerusalem," "Just Like U Said
It Would B," and the melodic,
"Troy."
Sinéad's politics were often
equally powerful and her opinions were often
misunderstood or taken out of context.
Sinéad would often find herself gaining
notoriety explaining her comments or actions
while her music would be over-shadowed. This
"political unrest" continued and
grew for Sinéad throughout the 80s. Between
LPs, Sinéad contributed a track to the Married
To The Mob soundtrack, "Jump In The
River," which heightened the
anticipation for her second LP.
Sinéad was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal
Performance - Female (The
Lion And The Cobra).
The
Lion And The Cobra was certified gold.
 # 23
Singles Artist of the Year
 March 12: Sinéad released I
Do Not Want What I Haven't Got . The LP
became one of the top-selling LPs that year
all over the world, largely due to the first
single, the Prince-penned, "Nothing Compares 2 U." The song spent
4 weeks at #1 and became the #1 singles of
1990. The LP also contained other tracks that
were modest hits on alternative and pop
stations including "The Emperor's New
Clothes,"
"Three Babies," and "The Last
Day Of Our Acquaintance."
Sinéad hit the Top 40 with
"Nothing Compares 2 U."
The single "Nothing Compares 2 U" was certified
platinum.
Sinéad hit the Top 10 and #1 for 4 weeks with "Nothing Compares 2 U."
I
Do Not Want What I Haven't Got was certified 2x
platinum.
Sinéad hit the Top 40 with
"The Emperor's New
Clothes."
 Sinéad created controversy when
she refused to perform a show in New Jersey
if the U.S. National Anthem was played before
the show (which is traditional for that
arena).
Sinéad could be heard on Roger
Water's live LP of The
Wall: Live In Berlin with
"Mother."
Sinéad found additional success
on the road with sold-out shows, and
eventually was awarded with numerous MTV Music Video
Awards including Video of the Year, Best Post Modern Video, and Best Female Video ("Nothing Compares 2 U"). The video for
"Nothing Compares 2 U" was also
nominated for Breakthrough Video and Viewer's Choice.
Sinéad was nominated for an American Music
Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.
Sinéad won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music
Performance (I
Do Not Want What I Haven't Got) and was nominated for
Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal
Performance ("Nothing Compares 2 U").
Sinéad was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form (Year Of The Horse).
 September 14: Sinéad released an
LP of cover tunes, Am
I Not Your Girl? Although the LP
showcased Sinéad's vocals and gave a new
style to older songs, the LP was commercially
disappointing and not many critics new what
to think of it.
Sinéad found herself in
controversy when she ripped up a picture of
the Pope while saying "fight the real
enemy" on Saturday Night Live
after performing. The action was scene as a
slap in the face to religion. Sinéad later
stated that she was only protesting the
Catholic church's insistence on not allowing
women to have more power in the church.
She was later booed of the stage
at a Bob
Dylan tribute concert (which many
people found very ironic considering Dylan
was viewed as the classic political
protesting musician). Sinéad later said of
the event: "It was a symbol of tearing
down of the church's secrets and lies. In
Ireland, it was coming out (that) there had
been child abuse within the church and it had
been shut up. It wasn't an attack on the
man."
 Rolling
Stone: "The 100 Top Music Videos" includes "Nothing Compares 2 U" at # 5
and
"I Want Your (Hands On Me)" at # 70.
For a few years, the only music
Sinéad released was for soundtracks or
charity ("My Special Child").
Sinéad's reminiscent early alternative sound
was evident for the track "You Made Me
The Thief Of your Heart" she recorded
for the movie In
The Name Of The Father.
 September 13: Sinéad released Universal
Mother and had some success with
alternative audiences with the track
"Fire In Babylon."
The video for "You Made Me
The Thief Of Your Heart" was nominated
for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Video from a Film.
Sinéad was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form ("Famine").
 June 3: Sinéad released the
EP, Gospel
Oak.
Sinéad decided to remove
herself from a peace festival in Jerusalem
due to death threats against her by a
pro-Israeli group, Ideological Front. Sinéad
issued a letter to Jerusalem newspapers and
the Associated Press this week directed at
the group, stating "...I have always had
the most passionate love for the Jewish
people, and sorrow for what they have
suffered throughout the centuries but how can
there be peace anywhere on Earth if there is
not peace in Jerusalem?...God does not reward
those who bring terror to the children of the
world. So you have succeeded in nothing but
your soul's failure." Sinéad's last LP
was dedicated to the people of Israel, Rwanda
and Northern Ireland.
November 10: Sinéad released a
hits compilation - So
Far.. The Best Of Sinéad O'Connor.
In Spin, O'Connor
talked about her past actions and the
consequences of speaking her mind: "No
one's perfect... I mean, I didn't kill
anyone... which is a miracle... I'm changing
in that I no longer desire to have the ****
kick out of me... what I've always liked
about my records is there's been a
schizophrenic diversity in them. I think Alanis (Morissette)
is Sinéad O'Connor with hair... Alanis and The
Cranberries, they're kind of well-behaved
Sinéad O'Connors. I suppose it bothers me
that people like them have sold a lot more
records than I ever sold... they don't cause
trouble and they play a game... they're not
controversial in any way."
 Sinéad could be heard on the
soundtrack for the film You
Got Mail with "I Guess The Lord
Must Be In New York City."
April 26: Sinéad was ordained
as the first woman priest in the Latin
Tridentine Church.
Sinéad ranked # 35 on VH1: 100
Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.
 Sinéad could be heart on the
soundtrack for The
Talented Mr. Ripley with "Lullaby For
Cain."
MTV: 100
Greatest Videos Ever Made includes
"Nothing Compares 2 U" at # 34.
 June 13: Sinéad released her
next LP, Faith
& Courage with the first single "No
Man's Woman" which hit the Top 40.
Sinéad
proclaimed herself a lesbian in an issue of Curve:
"I'm a lesbian. Although I haven't been
very open about that, and throughout most of
my life I've gone out with blokes because I
haven't necessarily been terribly comfortable
about being a lesbian. But I actually am a
lesbian." She also stated on The
View that she is uncomfortable with
labels regarding sexuality and is now
celibate. Sinéad told the Associated Press:
"I think age kind of mellows you. I was
20 when my first record came out, 25 when
everything hit the fan. I'm 33 now, and
having expressed a lot of stuff helped mellow
me. The fact I did a lot of screaming and
shouting was quite healthy and helpful. Now
my reasons for writing songs are wanting to
perhaps supply some nurturing, soothing or
healing through music... provide little
droplets of faith and courage through
music." Sinéad said she would also not
be touring in support of her latest LP.
The video for
"No
Man's Woman" was nominated for a
Billboard Music Video Award for Jazz/Adult
Contemporary Clip of the Year.
Rolling Stone
& MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs includes "Nothing Compares 2 U" at # 16.
Sinéad could
be heard on the soundtrack for Rugrats
In Paris - The Movie with a track
("When You Love") produced by Wyclef
Jean.
VH1: 100
Greatest Videos includes:
# 56
- "Nothing Compares 2 U."
Sinéad had to back out of
performing this summer as part of the
gay-themed Wotapalava tour due to family
commitments.
Sinéad got married in Dublin.
 October 8: Sinéad released Sean-Nos
Nua - a collection of traditional
Irish songs.
Rolling Stone:
50 Essential 'Woman In Rock' Albums includes I
Do Not Want What I Haven't Got at # 22.
Sinéad hit the dance charts
with the remixes of "Troy"
(The Phoenix From The Flame Remixes).
Sinéad announced she was
retiring from the music business in July
"... to pursue a different career."
 VH1: 100 Best
Songs of the Past 25 Years includes "Nothing Compares 2 U" at # 14.
The live DVD, Goodnight,
Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience was released. The
video includes the tracks "Molly
Malone," "Oro Se Do Bheatha
Bhaile," "The Singing Bird,"
"My Lagan Love," "I Am
Stretched On Your Grave," "Nothing Compares 2 U," "John I
Love You," "The Moorlough
Shore," "You Made Me The Thief Of
Your Heart," "Paddy's Lament,"
"Thank You For Hearing Me,"
"Fire On Babylon," and "The
Last Day Of Our Acquaintance" and bonus
videos.
 September 9: Sinéad released She
Who Dwells In The Secret Place Of The Most
High Shall Abide Under The Shadow Of The
Almighty - a collection of
cover tunes, unrealesed tracks, and live
material.
Sinéad could be heard on the
compilation tribute to Dolly Parton LP, Just
Because I'm A Woman, with "Dagger
Through The Heart."
 Rolling Stone:
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 406:
I
Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
# 477 on the Top Pop Artists
of the Past 25 Years chart.
June 21: The compilation Collaborations was released.
 October 4: Sinéad released Throw
Down Your Arms.
 June 18: Sinéad released Theology.
VH1: 100
Greatest Songs of the 90's included "Nothing Compares 2 U" at # 10.
 February 21: Sinéad released How
About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
August 11: Sinéad released I'm
Not Bossy I'm The Boss.
 July 29: Sinéad died at
the age of 56. It was later determined
that she died from 'chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma'.
|
The Lion And The
Cobra
Released: October 30, 1987
US: Gold
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: #: 36
Grammy Nominee: Best Rock Vocal
Performance - Female
Rolling
Stone: 
Tracks:
"Jackie" - "Mandinka"
- "Jerusalem" - "Just Like
U Said It Would B" - "Never Get
Old" - "Troy" - "I
Want Your Hands On Me" - "Drink
Before The War" - "Just Call Me
Joe" |
|
I Do Not Want
What I Haven't Got
 Released: March 12, 1990
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 1 (for
6 weeks)
Grammy Winner: Best Alternative
Music Performance
Rolling
Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A
Rolling
Stone: '500 Greatest Albums of All-Time': # 406
Rolling
Stone: '50 Essential 'Woman In Rock'
Albums': # 22
Tracks: "Feels So
Different" - "I Am Stretched On
Your Grave" - "Three
Babies" - "The Emperor's New
Clothes" - "Black Boys On
Mopeds" - "Nothing Compares 2
U"
- "Jump In The River" -
"You Cause As Much Sorrow" -
"The Last Day Of Our
Acquaintance" - "I Do Not Want
What I Haven't Got" |
|
Am I Not Your
Girl?
Released: September 14,
1992
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 27
Rolling
Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Why Don't
You Do Right?" - "Bewitched,
Bothered And Bewildered" -
"Secret Love" - "Black
Coffee" - "Success Has Made A
Failure Of Our Home" - "Don't
Cry For Me Argentina" - "I Want
To Be Loved By You" - "Gloomy
Sunday" - "Love Letters" -
"How Insensitive" - "
Scarlet Ribbons" - "Don't Cry
For Me Argentina" (Instrumental) |
|
Universal Mother
Released: September 13,
1994
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 36
Rolling
Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks:
"Germaine" - "Fire On
Babylon" - "John, I Love"
- "My Darling Child" - "Am
I Human?" - "Red Football"
- "All Apologies" - "A
Perfect Indian" - "Scorn Not
His Simplicity" - "All
Babies" - "In This Heart"
- "Tiny Grief Song" -
"Famine" - "Thank You For
Hearing Me" |
 |
Gospel Oak (EP)
Released: June 3, 1997
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 128
Rolling
Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "This Is To
Mother You" - "I Am Enough For
Myself" - "Petit Poulet" -
"My Love" - "This Is A
Rebel Song" - "He Moved Through
The Fair" (live) |
|
So Far.. The
Best Of Sinéad O'Connor
Released: November 10, 1997
Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Nothing Compares 2
U"
- "Mandinka" - "The Emperor's New
Clothes" - "The Last Day
Of Our Acquaintance" - "Fire On
Babylon" - "Troy" -
"I Am Stretched On Your Grave"
- "Success Has Made A Failure Of Our
Home" - "John, I Love You"
- "Empire - Bomb The Bass" -
"I Want Your Hands On Me" -
"Heroine" - "Don't Cry For
Me Argentina" - "You Made Me
The Thief Of Your Heart" -
"Just Like You Said It Would B" |
|
Faith &
Courage
Released: June 13, 2000
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 55
Rolling
Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "The Healing
Room" - "No Man's Woman" -
"Jealous" - "Dancing
Lessons" - "Daddy I'm
Fine" - "'Til I Whisper U
Something" - "Hold Back The
Night" - "What Doesn't Belong
To Me" - "The State I'm
In" - "The Lamb's Book Of
Life" - "If U Ever" -
"Emma's Song" - "Kyrie
Eleison" |
|
Sean-Nos Nua
Released: October 8, 2002
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 139
Rolling
Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "Peggy
Gordon" - "Her Mantle So
Green" - "Lord Franklin" -
"The Singing Bird" - "Oro,
Se Do Bheatha 'Bhaile" - "Molly
Malone" - "Paddy's Lament"
- "The Moorlough Shore" -
"The Parting Glass" -
"Baidin Fheilimi" - "My
Lagan Love" - "Lord Baker"
(with Christy Moore) - "I'll Tell Me
Ma" |
|
She Who Dwells
In The Secret Place Of The Most High
Shall Abide Under The Shadow Of The
Almighty
Released: September 9, 2003
Tracks: "Regina
Caeli" - "O Filii Et
Filiae" - "My Love I
Bring" - "Do Right Woman"
- "Love Hurts" - "Ain't It
A Shame" - "Chiquitita" -
"Brigidine Diana" - "It's
All Good" - "Love Is Ours"
- "A Hundred Thousand Angels" -
"You Put Your Arms Around Me" -
"Emma's Song" - "No Matter
How Hard I Try" - "Dense Water,
Deeper Down" - "This Is A Rebel
Song" - "1000 Mirrors Asian Dub
Foundation" - "Big Bunch Of
Junkie Lied" - "Song Of
Jerusalem" - Live
Tracks: "Molly Malone" -
"Oro, Se Do Bneatha 'Bnaile" -
"The Singing Bird" - "My
Lagan Love" - "I Am Stretched
On Your Grave" - "Nothing Compares 2
U"
- "John I Love You" - "The
Moorlough Shore" - "You Made Me
The Thief Of Your Heart" -
"Paddy's Lament" - "Thank
You For Hearing Me" - "Fire On
Babylon" - "The Last Day Of Our
Acquaintance" |
|
Collaborations
Released: June 21, 2005
Tracks: "Special
Cases" (Radio Edit with Massive
Attack) - "1000 Mirrors" (with
Asian Dub Foundation) -
"Empire" (with Bomb The Bass) -
"Guide Me God" (with Ghostland)
- "Visions Of You" (with Jah
Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart) -
"Release" (with Afro Celt Sound
System) - "Wake Up & Make Love
With Me" (with Ian Dury's
Blockheads) - "Kingdom Of Rain"
(with The The) - "I'm Not Your
Baby" (with U2) - "Tears From
The Moon" (with Conjure One) -
"Blood Of Eden" (Radio Edit
with Peter Gabriel) - "Harbour"
(with Moby) - "Up In Arms"
(with Asian) - "It's All Good"
(with Damien Dempsey) -
"Heroine" (with The Edge) -
"All Kinds Of Everything" (with
Terry Hall) |
|
Throw Down Your
Arms
Released: October 4, 2005
Rolling
Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B
Tracks: "Jah Nuh
Dead" - "Marcus Garvey" -
"Door Peep" - "He
Prayed" - "Y Mas Gan" -
"Curly Locks" -
"Vampire" - "Prophet Has
Arise" - "Downpressor Man"
- "Throw Down Your Arms" -
"Untold Stories" -
"War" |
|
Theology
Released: June 18, 2007
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 168
Rolling Stone: 
Tracks: "Something
Beautiful" - "We People Who Are
Darker Than Blue" - "Out Of The
Depths" - "Dark I Am Yet
Lovely" - "If You Had A
Vineyard" - "Watcher Of
Men" - "53" - "The
Glory Of Jah" - "Womesover
Dwells" - "Rivers Of
Babylon" - "Hosanna Filio
David" |
|
How About I Be
Me (And You Be You)?
Released: February 21, 2012
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 115
Rolling
Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "4th And
Vine" - "Reason With Me" -
"Old Lady" - "Take Off
Your Shoes" - "Back Where You
Belong" - "The Wolf Is Getting
Married" - "Queen Of
Denark" - "Very Far From
Home" - "I Had A Baby" -
"V.I.P." |
|
I'm Not Bossy
I'm The Boss
Released: August 11, 2014
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 83
Tracks: "How About I
Be Me" - "Dense Water Deeper
Down" - "Kisses Like Mine"
- "Your Green Jacket" -
"The Vishnu Room" - "The
Voice Of My Doctor" -
"Harbour" - "James
Brown" - "8 Good Reasons"
- "Take Me To Church" -
"Where Have You Been" -
"Streetcars" |
| Note: Song title and
position links lead you to the song's Top
40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top
40)
and LP links take you to Amazon.com's page for that LP
(often including track listings and sound
samples). |
|
|
