Wasn’t expecting this. RIP. 
Saw that and felt very sad. What a complicated life.
I’m not surprised. I heard a story about her on NPR a while ago. From the Variety obituary:
In August 2017, she posted an emotional video to her Facebook page, stating that she had three mental illnesses and felt alone after losing custody of her 13-year-old son Shane. She continued that she had wanted to kill herself for several years and that only her psychiatrists and doctor were keeping her alive. She pleaded for someone in her family to take care of her, and added that she was “one of millions” who are stigmatized for their mental illness.
O’Connor is survived by her three children. Her son, Shane, died by suicide last year at age 17.
This one hit hard. What a fantastic voice and amazing talent. I remember fondly going on a road trip with my girlfriend at the time, and playing the recently released album ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’, which we both loved, over and over.
RIP Sinead. Nothing Compares 2 U.
One of the most uncanny voices in music, for sure. I saw her only once, sadly, in 1997 (not sure the name of the tour). What a powerhouse.
Very saddened but not at all surprised. She lost her son and said she was thinking about killing herself.
What a sad day. I wore out I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got as well.
She was treated horribly throughout her life. It seemed like she was always facing one tragedy after another.
How very sad, particularly for her three surviving children. “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” is brilliant.
mmm
I didn’t know she lost a child to suicide! How incredibly tragic. Even without this, I’m surprised she lived this long.
RIP, Ms. O’Connor.
All that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. She was a disturbed and self-destructive person who was damaged by a lot of childhood abuse. I’m certain that many lazy articles will pop up today citing these quotes as facts, but we don’t have any outside confirmation of it (not that anyone is entitled to it).
She had a beautiful voice, some good songs and I respect non-conformists. She went through a lot. I don’t generally judge entertainers by their politics, but the stuff that seemed shocking in the 80s might seem less dramatic now. Not for me to say if her friend Kris Kristofferson best summarized things in his song Sister Sinéad:
“And maybe she’s crazy and maybe she ain’t.
But so was Picasso and so were the saints.”
Still, too young for the departure of so much talent.
I loved her first album, “The Lion and the Cobra”. Incredible voice.
Very sad to hear this. One the greatest vocalists within the rock realm. I began reading her autobiography just a couple days ago. What a talent. Nothing but respect, that woman had nerve.
I would not have guessed she was only 56. That really isn’t that much older than me, but when she was big she seemed so much older and “life experienced” than me and my friends.
I guess a rough childhood does make someone grow up too fast
Her version of the old Irish Folk song “She Moved Through the Fair” was a highlight of The Chieftains’ Irish Heartbeat album. Here’s a live version. Absolutely haunting:
We do have confirmation that she posted a desperate Facebook video. [Warning: Heart-wrenching video of Sinead O’Connor] Here she is, talking directly to the camera.
I’m not saying that she killed herself. I’m only saying that I’m not surprised she died.
This record was my first thought when I read the sad news. I had lobbied to have this played as part of our 1995 wedding as sort of an intro before the march down the aisle started, but other stakeholders (M-I-L) were not keen on playing Sinead in an RC church.
I recently saw a documentary about her. A truly amazing woman. My favorite quote from that documentary was something to the effect of:
“They thought they buried me, but what they didn’t realize is they buried a seed”.
And judging what I learned about her from that documentary, that was no lie.
I’m a huge cynic when it comes to just about any celebrity except for maybe her.
RIP.
Terrible, tragic news, if not entirely surprising. Sinéad has always been a musical hero of mine. Her vocal range, power and control were just astonishing. Here’s one of my favorites, Drink Before the War.
She took soooo much grief for her SNL appearance in the early 90s, tearing up the picture of the pope. She tried to warn us and we did not listen. She deserved better.
RIP Sinéad. You were one of a kind.
Oh, Lord! I can’t imagine the nightmare and the pain. 