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I think I may have developed somewhat of an obsessive preoccupation with Sinead O’Connor at this point. I don’t really remember spending many of my thoughts on her growing up especially since at the time Nothing Compares 2 U came out, my music collection consisted of The Bodyguard Soundtrack, my father’s CCR and Beatles albums and Rap Trax 5. Sadness. Anyway, her music and bio landed back on my desk and in my head recently in preparation of an interview in promotion of the Irish Grammy award winning artist’s latest release called Theology.

It can be a little unnerving to prepare to sit down and talk to someone about their life for many reasons - including the fact that you don’t know them and in certain cases that life can be unquestionably iconic. Sinead O’Connor’s is definitely that. In case you need a refresher she landed in the music scene during the eighties as a seventeen year old kid with angst, passion, a shaved head and a voice for the angels. Literally as it turns out. She grew up in a very troubled, religious family in Dublin and would later use her pop beginnings to explore many different music styles from traditional Irish songs to reggae classics spanning 12 albums, all the while being ordained as a minister, having four children and back in October 1992 ripping up a photo of the Pope live on Saturday Night Live (in protest over the headlines of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.)

Whoa…when you think about all of this and closely examine O’Connor’s life, controversies, accomplishments and for lack of words essence, I guess, it becomes a little intimidating, right?? For instance, just 13 days after the infamous SNL performance she was slated to take part in a Bob Dylan Tribute concert and was greeted onstage with such an emotional combination of loving cheers and hateful jeers that she abandoned the original scheduled song, cut the band, turned up her microphone and screamed back at the audience that same song she had sang on SNL, an acapella cover of Bob Marley’s War. If you haven’t seen this you HAVE TO.

It’s insane and made me cry. OK, I’m a crybaby, I know. I just couldn’t believe how incredible this woman must be, with not only one of the most beautiful, powerful, soulful voices in music but also such passion, determination and defiance.

Recently she made an appearance on Oprah where she spoke about her lifelong struggle with depression, bi-polar diagnosis, suicide attemps and currently medicated and healthy state. If you or someone you love has suffered from mental illness or depression, it’s definitely an inspirational interview to view.

When I asked her if she considered herself brave she looked as me with her giant doe eyes, took a drag from her cigarette and said, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not afraid. Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared - it just means you do it anyway.”

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

Posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 2:24 pm by Kate M. and is filed under Celebrities & Pop Culture.

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