Oh that’s such saddening news. I just heard it. She had such a troubled life. I’ll never forget Kris Kristofferson coming on stage to console her after the audience at the Bob Dylan anniversary concert booed the shit out of her because of her protest against sexual abuse by the Catholic church.
Saddening news.
Very sad news. I got to see her twice live back in the 90s and she was stunning, her voice just penetrated to the marrow. She also seemed to genuinely be having a great time performing and smiling to the crowd. At her Seattle show, she signaled a few times that the system wasn’t loud enough, wasn’t satisfied with the mix until her voice was rumbling the whole pier.
And then having the guts to sing Bob Marley’s “War” a-capella instead of the rehearsed Dylan song (she was supposed to sing “I Believe In You”. On the double CD of the concert, there’s the sound-check version, and of course it’s beautiful). That was the bravest thing I ever witnessed.
Yes, this hits me hard, as a fellow victim of mental illness I always could relate to her problems, hardships and quirks. And I just loved her as an artist.
I’m listening to The Lion and the Cobra right now. My god what a brilliant record. I’m just sorry it took her dying to nudge me to revisit it.
She was a very brave woman. A very brave and very crazy woman. She left her mark on this world, and it marked her as well. I hope she’s finally at peace.
I agree completely with your statement.
I remember when she tore up the pic of the pope and people were horrified. But now, who can look at the Catholic Church and say she was wrong to try to bring attention to what was going on? A beautiful but damaged soul struggling to be herself, struggling to survive like so many of us out here. I’m glad she brought mental health issues to our attention. I’m sad she had to lay herself out to show us what it can be like.
I’ve suffered from depression most of my adult life and to her I say thank you. For her talking about it made it easier for me to talk about it.
Gut wrenchingly beautiful song
I just came here to link to the 2021 Amanda Hess profile that is included in the gift link above.
11:03
A statement from the Met Police in London said police were called at 11.18am on Wednesday, July 26th, to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area, Herne Hill, in south London.
“Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified,” the statement said.
The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner, police said.
On July 12th, O’Connor posted on her official Facebook page that she had moved back to London, was finishing an album and planned to release it early next year. The circumstances of her death remain unclear.
Gorgeous - thanks for posting that one.
Yeah, that’s around the time she was found wandering the streets of the northern suburbs here in Chicago, and described as “possibly suicidal.” Actually, it looks like it was before, in 2016.
RIP. I hope she’s in a better place now.
TIL that she converted to Islam in 2018.
I don’t know that I ever heard her music or read much about her except from the Pope photo rip before now. Remarkable lady.
Even more haunting song now.
Oh, this was such sad news to hear. Beautiful art to remember her by, but…
Pain and trouble never let up, did they… so sorry for her children especially.
Not to mention the absolute horrific abuse the Catholic Church directly did to the girls and women of Ireland - fucking hell, they treated them as badly as they did the “nasty dirty indians” in Canada [and the US to quite an extent] and that crud that came out about how Mother Theresa treated her India Indian patients - “pain heals the soul” my fat arse.
Her cause of death has been ruled “not suspicious”.
A 56-year-old drops dead and that’s “not suspicious”?
I took that to mean the cause of death was clearly not homicide and no other person was involved.
Either it was obviously natural causes, self-inflicted causes, or an accident. “Suspicious” means a crime.
I wasn’t a fan of her music, but I completely sympathize with anyone who never got a fair shake in life and took all kinds of crap for the most goddam stupid reasons imaginable.
And now I just reflected on the career of Madonna, who became a global pop sensation by giving a giant middle finger to Catholic values. It’s astounding how thin the lines are.