Raising her voice

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This article was published 31/07/2021 (1526 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sinéad O’Connor’s ethereal voice, provocative behaviour and choice of hairstyle captured the world’s attention in the early 1990s. She said what she thought. She did what she wanted. And in Rememberings, we learn a little bit about why. But there are gaps in the retelling.

“I was actually present before my first album came out,” O’Connor writes. “And then I went somewhere else inside myself. And I began to smoke weed. I never finally stopped until mid-2020. So, yeah, I ain’t been quite here, and it’s hard to recollect what you weren’t present at.”

Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1966, O’Connor’s recollections are equal parts fascinating and heartbreaking, including a childhood filled with a gut-wrenching amount of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother.

O’Connor’s interest in music started at an early age. Her varied admiration included Sex Pistols, Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, David Bowie, The Supremes, Elvis Costello, Dolly Parton and Bob Dylan.

At the same time she was discovering her vocal abilities, she had challenges with impulse control. O’Connor stole often, and her anger and behaviour resulted in being placed in reform school at 14.

Although Rememberings contains a lot of tragedy, O’Connor shares many of her memories using humour. About her older sister, she says “For one reason and one reason alone, it was hell sharing that bedroom in my father’s house with her: she was in love with Barry Manilow. So her side of the room was papered with massive posters of him while mine was all Siouxsie and the Banshees.”

Each of her siblings, as well as her father, have sections dedicated to them. Whether the relationships are close or distant, O’Connor speaks of her family with love and loyalty.

Her life changed forever when she signed a record deal in 1985. Her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra was released in 1987. Then came her second album, 1990’s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, which included O’Connor’s rendition of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U. The song showcased her incredible voice in a vulnerable way that resonated with music fans across the globe.

In 1992, O’Connor made headlines with her most infamous act. With a goal of highlighting child abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests in Ireland, she performed Bob Marley’s War on Saturday Night Live, followed by ripping a photo of Pope John Paul II and yelling “fight the real enemy!”

Growing up Irish Catholic, O’Connor studied theology from a young age, believing in God while questioning the power and actions of the church. This interest culminated in the creation of her Theology album that contains lyrics from Scripture — and her eventual conversion to Islam in 2018.

Of course, Rememberings also discusses O’Connor’s entire music catalogue. Fans can dig deep into album details — about the music and about her relationships with certain musicians.

Her immense love for her children provides insight into O’Connor as a mother and free spirit. “I have four children by four different fathers, only one of whom I married, and I married three other men, none of whom are the fathers of my children. Lord knows, Father’s Day is a busy day in my house.”

Mental illness is another theme that permeates Rememberings. One of the most significant passages details what happened after her hysterectomy surgery in Ireland in 2015. She sought help in the United States after the Irish healthcare system failed to support her mental and physical health needs with hormone replacement therapy.

Rememberings is intriguing yet disjointed. It’s like a jumbled, marathon catch-up with an old friend, where details and order of events are a bit sketchy but nonetheless extremely fulfilling.

What is consistent is O’Connor’s voice. It’s self-aware, unvarnished and, miraculously, hopeful.

Deborah Bowers is a marketing and communications professional who remembers her punk rock roots with great fondness.