Nothing Compares To Sinéad
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2023
- #sineadoconnor #nothingcomparestoyou
It’s been several hours and one day since we lost you, Sinéad! You will be greatly missed! Nothing compares to you.
Here’s the link to the original song by Sinéad O'Connor:
• Sinéad O'Connor - Noth...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Sinéad O'Connor
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Rest in peace Sinead. 🙏
With all the other Dead IRA supporters, good riddance!
My first recollection of Sinead O'Conner was hearing Troy. Troy is one of those songs that hits you between the eyes and makes you realise straight away you've just listened to something very special.. As a song, it defines Sinead. The beauty and the anger all rolled in to one.
Prince and Sinead are two of the greatest artists. Prince died aged 57 and Sinead at 56. Prince wrote Nothing compares 2 U and Sinead gave it the beauty it deserved.
Please think about watching the Troy videoclip ❤ rip sinéad
Troy is an amazing song. Just heard it for the first time yesterday.
IMO, Troy is her masterpiece. The Lion and Cobra album is such an incredible debut.
@@ibg3613 the greatness of TROY cannot be expressed in words alone, not even by the greatest poet. It is something that you have to hear. One of the greatest, most beautiful, powerful and emotional songs ever created. A true masterpiece. Amy, I hope you react to it.
@@randylevy Unfortunately she never made anything better or equally great.
I read yesterday that she had once commented that everyone said she ruined her career when she ripped up the picture of the pope. She said she always felt her career was ruined by having a number one hit song.
Such an interesting perspective that tells you a lot about Sinead.
Shuhada' Sadaqat aka Sinéad O'connor didn't see the SNL photo protest as wrecking her career. It wrecked the career other people expected her to want.
"Mandinka" is the song that really got her noticed and started her on the path to fame. It's more of a rock song too. She really uses the bounds of her voice in that song too. Great tune that I forgot about until I played it again today. You need to see her face when she sings to get a sense of how hypnotic she was. Big eyed beautiful Irish woman with a shaved head that just knocked everyone out.
As usual, a brilliant analysis, and a warm and beautiful way to remember her.
To be honest, I was never a fan, but this song, or rather, her interpretation of this song is a truly work of art. Do watch the official video of this one, because it does add a lot more to her interpretation. It is quite unique, I haven't seen many people willing to show so much vulnerability as she did on that one.
RIP Sinead ❤
I saw her twice, and met her once. Fantastic singer, and important back in the 80s as a voice for quite a few people. Tragic life, and she will be missed.
One of the great thing about being an artist and activist is that while certainly you will be missed after you're gone, a part of you will always remain through your works. She will be missed but her music and the efforts she made to speak out on issues dear to her are forever.
Thankyou so much for this careful consideration of Sinead. Her style was of course heavily informed by the Irish keening and folk traditions.
I understand and appreciate your usual procedure of not using video but it some cases they are integral. and this is one of those times. her performance was superb. I was once in the presence of Sinead for a short while, and it was a presence I can assure you. she was a beautiful person.
I'm singing this song for my sister Sinead
Concerning the god awful mess that she made
She told them her truth just as hard as she could
Her message profoundly was misunderstood
There's humans entrusted with guarding our gold
And humans in charge of the saving of souls
And humans responded all over the world
Condemning that bald headed brave little girl
And maybe she's crazy and maybe she ain't
But so was Picasso and so were the saints
And she's never been partial to shackles or chains
She's too old for breaking and too young to tame
It's askin' for trouble to stick out your neck
In terms of a target a big silhouette
But some candles flicker and some candles fade
And some burn as true as my sister Sinead
- Kris Kristofferson, "Sister Sinead"
Safe now Sinead.
Thank you for doing this. I wept for a long time yesterday when I heard. I have never done that for any other musical artist, including Bowie. But it came gushing out of me and could not be stopped. We didn’t deserve her.
Same mate and not ashamed of it ❤
You should check out her appearance on the Grammy’s from 1989 when she performed Mandinka.
She was 20 years old and seemed so small, but fierce on that stage alone. It was her real introduction to US audiences and her voice, attitude, and appearance were truly striking.
She had the Public Enemy logo painted on the side of her head in solidarity for the way that band had been treated.
Thank you for the analysis...she is unforgettable. Here is what I found amazing in one of her interviews about this song: She said that she was thinking of her mother while performing this song...not a past lover!! I went back to listen to it after hearing this with her perspective. Many thanks I love your channel
Yeah, I was just reading, but of course, I forgot what article or where from,that during the recording, she was going through a break up and did it the main voice track in one take. It was making the video that her mother had recently passed,so at the end of the video, the tears she had were real because she was thinking about her mother. The article could be wrong, though, even though the article did say there the rumors around what gave her the emotional voice so perfect in the song and the real tears in the video.
And of course it did mention that for whatever reason Prince did not like her cover. It probably did, though, even I have forgotten it,but that she still had admired him and his work.
And yet her Wiki article includes claims that at least her mother abused her as a child...
I think one of the reasons her career took such a hit was misogyny. How many men have writen and sung protests song and expressed strong opinions through their art and they are not vilified nearly as much. Hell, Ozzy got his own TV show.
The other thing is, no one knew what she was protesting when she ripped the picture. I saw it live. I was not offended ,but I was confused. It was only earlier this year that I learned what she had been protesting. If only media had investigated instead of criticizing without enough info.
Now that you have opened up Pandoras box you HAVE to do a deep dive into Prince...😁😁😁
Oh, that'd be great!
Yes, please.
Her skill as a singer is based entirely in the emotion -- BUT through exquisite intelligence that simultaneously steps aside so as not to interfere with the honest unmediated expression of the emotion. Extraordinary intelligence and delicacy.
And the self-doubt/blame adds another layer of pain.
A true force of nature. She could melt mountains
I'll never forget the time Sinéad got on the bus I was driving in Bray just south of Dublin. I was allowed to listen to the radio Mother with Sinéad O’Connor singing (Roger Waters The Wall at Berlin). Bad timing for that song it brought back bad memories to her.
Wow….what a memory to have…
Back in 1990 this song was played so much on the radio and every shopping mall that I got hearty sick of it ! Lol. Today however you listen to it as an elegy to her. I suspect the reason Prince hated this version was sheer jealousy! He wrote it as a tossed off song about losing his housekeeper in 1984 ! Lol. When o Connor sang it he must have kicked himself for screwing up the song completely! That should have been my big hit he must have thought. Yet here comes this little Irish girl who has more talent than he does. Lol.
Hello Amy and Vlad. What a wonderful tribute to Sinead O'Connor. Well done. We also just lost Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles. He wrote and sang their top 10 hit "Take it to the Limit." It would be great to hear and see a reaction to that song and to the Eagles in general, but I hear that they are quite stringent with regards to copyright issues. Just ask Rick Beato.
Her song #Mandinka and her live Performance at the Grammy Awards 1989 is much more powerful I find
I appreciate your review of the late great Sinéad O'Connor. She was an angel who was mistreated by many and misunderstood by most. 😢🖤
Amy, we appreciate you giving homage to this artist by posting a sensitive video with your heart in the right place. This reaction is also a great learning lesson for you in how to, sometimes, appreciate modern music, ways that it often is different from appreciating classical music, sometimes it is some stylistic choices in expression and/or performance that create a vibe and then the vibe around the music becomes the art that is appreciated and musical expertise and prowess are not really the art factor but rather merely a medium to travel through.
I learned of Sinead when she started her career, perhaps around 1983. She was one of the earliest portrayals of women wearing masculine combat boots, non-feminine clothing and her hair was short, a boy's haircut, This physically quite beautiful woman did everything she could to mask, hide even, her female beauty and she was full of piss and vinegar, angry at the whole world, and she intended to shock people and hurt people with the shock, all in the name of raising conscience for what her plights were. These were politically conservative times and I didn't like it. You have messages you want to tell the world! Just make music and do it through music, no gimmicks, thank you. But I grew wiser over the years, Sinead grew up as a child in the middle of the Ireland/England war with car bombings and automatic weapon shootings in the very streets where children played (and died) in a conflict that evolved to a state where people couldn't even figure out anymore who was on the righteous side of the debacles. Maybe I shouldn't fault a young adult for turning out a bit troubled when they experienced such devastation in childhood. Also, Sinead is a person with a heart too large for her own good, a heart bleeding artist as we say and lacking the development to deal with her emotions and issues in better ways.
Prince was a master performer and an incredible songwriter. And this is a great song, but Prince could not convey the sensitivity and gist of this song in the way Sinead did. She made this song her own. It was a great hit worldwide even though the song doesn't contain the typical tenants/attributes of what makes music great commercial successes. And that is because people can instantly connect with, feel what she sings.
I am still not the greatest fan of Sinead but I have learned that she is a true artist and this song I still listen to regularly, just enjoying the sheer quality of expressing such sensitivity.
There was a place, a slot, in this world for Sinead O'Connor, she did make her mark and she will be missed.
Thank you guys.
There was a fictional sci-fi comic hero in the UK in the late 1970s and early 1980s called "Halo Jones " in the famous weekly comic featuring Judge Dredd called 2000 AD ,this female character dressed a lot like Sinead,maybe being the same age ( a year difference) as myself Sinead had seen this comic and took inspiration.
Her performance at the Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert was one of the most heartbreaking moments I have ever seen on stage.
She indeed was really brave. Kudos to Kris Krisstofferson for standing up for him and comforting him.
The song he finally performed(War) was not Dylan's, but Bob Marley's.
The drums on this rendition are so sensitive and appropriate, tasteful. They balance the intense emotion with a solid beat....moving the song forward with a steady inevitability. Great song. Fragile!
Love the look on Amy’s face when Sinead hits those pitch-perfect blue notes on ‘blues’ and ‘to you’. Sinead’s intonation was spectacular.
Beautiful, powerful, poetic, rebellious, courageous, talented , creative, expressive, and ultimately fragile. Sinead IS and always will be special to me!
Yes, a fine tribute to Sinead and the pure human (can we say 'womanly') performance of that song.
There was an old Star Trek Episode called "The Empath". About a woman whose extreme concern for others was tragically self-destructive. She always reminded me of that character.
Good call. I remember that episode well.
Religious bigots didn't like someone who was freely expressing themselves. Sinead Rips! Amy Rips Too!!!! The best eyes and eye brows on the web!
An unexpected sad video, I didn't realize she had passed. I remember seeing that controversial Saturday Night Live performance at the time. I found it a bit ironic that many who were outraged that she as an artists expressed her view, were the same people who grew up with and admired the 1960s protest singers. I guess for them protests are only valid when they support their own worldview. I loved your words in this tribute. I have had the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary DVD for several decades, which has lots of great performances from a number of great artists paying tribute to Bob and singing his songs. Most of whom you have yet to hear, though George Harrison was one of them.
Thank you. Having a little cry and I know I’m not the only one.
'The lion and the Cobra' was her first album. Recommend listening to it.
She was an artist, a complicated person not easily understood at the time, and not some vapid pop star. She was a breath of fresh air when "Lion and the Cobra" came out, what an expressive voice! And even her a capella stuff was haunting and beautiful as well. I hadn't kept up with her over the years, but she left us too soon. RIP, Sinéad, thank you for the art you gave us
This video is a beautiful tribute to an incredible artist and wonderful human being. Thanks for this.
I always loved her music and this song in particular but your analysis amplified my appreciation! RIP
Also the video she made for this was so impactful. Her look was a little shocking but so refreshing and real. Thank you so much for this in this sad time. Sinead had a lot of trauma and I think she is teaching us all something we all need to remember.
Sinead's courage has inspired me for decades. Her singing ain't bad, neither. She had not a lot of light in her tunnel. She, like millions of folk, could not articulate a "prayer". As corny as it sounds one could actually write and sing a song that reflects the darkness AND the light. Not impossible. I turned a Catholic thing into a song about the Virgin Mother - Mary, Yeshua's mom - and it's beautiful. I also interpret the Lord's Prayer occasionally because I have it memorized. I much prefer my versions (different every time) to the Beach Boy's version - too sentimental but I love Brian's innocence. Sinead's eyes, y' know? Yes, I sometimes sing a prayer on Hollywood Boulevard - The Walk of Fame (stars) and the tourists LOVE it. I also sang Sympathy For the Devil to a Christian songwriter who was performing one day. I didn't know that he was a Christian songwriter till I saw the rage in his eyes. Run! Hollywood (the neighborhood, not the industry) IS a movie. Performances can transcend surreal. When you close your eyes and sing what inspires you you change reality. Hendrix? Sure! Stones, you bet! Beatles? Naw, I never sing Beatle songs. Kidding! The Pope? What was his response? "Alright, we eliminated the abuse that never happened and I channeled God for that response...". People are not as dumb as celebs think. This song makes me cry everytime.
One of the rare examples of a cover song being more influential (and I dare say better) than the original. R.I.P Sinead
This loss has been very difficult. When I heard, of course it was somehow not a surprise, it felt as if she had been released from the intense torment that she clearly suffered, and that was so hard for those of us who loved her artistry and integrity to witness. Thank you for honouring her, and for helping us to grieve her. It’s unjust that someone who provided so many with such great joy and solace received so little of it in return.
This was a great breakdown of the song and performance, Amy. Very thorough and insightful. Good job.
But I'm frankly astonished that there is anyone in the world who was only 'vaguely aware' of Sinéad O'Connor, and had never heard her performance of 'Nothing Compares 2 U'!
Then again, I am Irish and we absolutely adored Sinéad, so I'm a wee bit biased.
For us, she was like a troubled sister or daughter who had more talent than probably the rest of the country put together, and we just wanted to give her a big hug every time we saw her.
Poor Sinéad, she carried her demons with dignity and honesty, and she always wore her heart on her sleeve.
When I heard she had died, I was stunned into silence, and all I could do was sit and listen to her music quietly, with tears trickling down my face.
Some losses hurt. This one cuts to the bone.
And yes, I'm crying again as I write this.
Slán abhaile, Sinéad. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.
[ Edit: it was a bit inconsiderate of me to just pop that there in Irish without explanation.
For the 99.99% of people who don't speak Irish, it translates roughly as "Safe home, Sinéad. There will never be her like again".
To Irish people, these are two familiar phrases and they perfectly sum up my feelings at the moment in a way that sounds clumsy in English, but not so in Irish. ]
Lovely tribute to her. Heartfelt and true. When I read the Irish (Gaelic?) phrases, even though I did not understand, it was THEN that my eyes teared up. To me, your language carries such beauty within it….much poetry….and also, tears.
@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 Thank you. There were many tears shed in Ireland these last few days.
We loved her despite her flaws and occasional outbursts - perhaps we loved her *because* of them.
What I find awesome is first tuning in to your channel to take you on a guided tour of some amazing music. Now you are giving the amazing tour. You have nurtured your rock flower and it has bloomed! I appreciate the insights, despite knowing the song since it came out, i maybe never looked that deep at parts. Sadly now she’s gone but she left us with this gift.
This is one of my all time favourites. The raw emotion that's put into this track is just so powerful. But like others have said, you have to see the video, it just adds so much to more to the piece. As she looks straight into the camera, she's looking into your heart and placing her emotion there for you. It's powerful stuff. Beautifully written by Prince, but it takes a great artist to bring the best out in it, and I don't thing there was anyone better than Sinead O'Connor.
So sad her loss, so young with so much more to give. RIP
Everytime I hear this song I begin to fingersnap when Sinead begins to swing here and there (3/4 vocals on 4/4 song). Old-school loves swing.
She was beaten physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually by her mother who herself suffered her own mental problems all of which traumatised Sinead for all her life and yet Sinead wanted to love her mother and somehow heal her, blaming the Church and organised religion in Ireland for much repression of women from which they are still recovering and healing, Sinead said she thought of her mother when recording this, its a cry of pain, there's a line 'All the flowers that you planted mother' in it and despite it all it sounds like a desire to be close to her mother and her young son who took his own life and now of course she is.....RIP....a voice never tobe quietened or silenced..
This version of this song is everything.
This is going to be really interesting. Gonna wait right here 'till it starts.
I am a 55 year old man, and Sinead is something special, you can have your Adele's no one sing with that much raw emotion, she leaves everything on stage and maybe some ways was her dark side that took her from us. When she spoke about the church everyone ran for cover but not her and for those that have suffered like Sinead you are stronger than the monsters that abused you ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for doing this, Amy. And you got a little taste of Prince, also. He might be the most brilliant of the musical geniuses of the 19th and 20th centuries. She did a phenomenal cover of this song. I will never stop loving it. I also love The Emperor's New Clothes (even more).
Very nice and detailed analysis of her performance, Amy.
Definitely always been in my top 5 singers of all time...i love Sinead and am devastated...thank you for your tribute ...you're the only reactor I follow who dedicated a reaction to her today an i genuinely appreciate it. Sinead stood up for what she believed and she was ahead of her time and a brave pioneer in speaking out against abuse. RIP Sinead...I always appreciated your talent and courage and honesty
Nobody fell for my little fib-trap. Sinead's entire body of work is a prayer. C'mon, kids.
Hi 👋 Mrs. Amy,
They’re geniuses. I mean Prince who has been able to transform an apparently simple blues (which is the quintessential of sadnesses an struggling expression)into a masterpiece, and here comes her. I listened to a lot of covers of this song, from incredible artists, included Pink and Prince himself, but I(I would say) “nothing compares” to her voice and the way she felt this song tailored for her. And in order to substantiate it, may I politely suggest to watch the live performance (same song obviously) in Chile? It’s so simple and powerful at the same time.
Thank you for this little space.
This a lovely and loving tribute to Sinead O'Conner
Amy i know youve done a lot of Pink Floyd...Sinead sings Mother live and its truly magical.you should check it out...imagine her beautiful voice with that song....RIP Sinead❤
Thank you for sharing your appreciation of this special soul. Please watch the official video. You will experience even more when you see her sing directly to you, and experience the honesty and gravity of her performance.. Powerful.
First time I noticed Sinead was her appearance and Performance of "Mother" during The Wall, live in Berlin, Roger Waters. Awesome !
R.I.P.
Her best collab was with the Chieftans. Check it out.
BTW, that TV show you refer to was SNL. The producer did not approve of her doing that pope picture tearing without telling in advance. She was scared she might be censored had she told them. In any case, just to insult to her, the very next week's guest on that show was the actor Joe Pesci. He taped the torn pieces of the pope's photo for some cheap laughs.
Years later when the pedophile priests were being outed in every major diocese in the U.S., it dawned on all that Sinéad was right all along. No one apologized to Sinéad.
She was to sing a Bob Dylan song. Instead she sang "War," ascribed to Bob Marley, who was known for REGGAE (look it up).
Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another
Inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned -
Everywhere is war -
Me say war.
You are right. The song she sang is Bob Marley's 'War' from the 'Babylon by Bus' album. She didn't finish the song, the crowd really got to her and Kris Kristofferson led her back stage.
I was, first, introduced to Sinéad, because a friend of mine had picked-up her debut album (which I had, then, not yet heard of!! -which was a RARE occurrence at that time! -ME not knowing all of the new releases and, particularly, "outsider"/unique ones!) and said that it featured "ex-Ants" [from Adam & The Ants -the, by then, sadly defunct band ...and one of MY/our -collective group of friends'- absolute FAVORITES!]. ...really it was, only, Marco Pirroni from Adam's band, but: the rest of the musician-contributors were equally spectacular and Sinead's voice -whoooo!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 ..."fire on high" and whatnot! 🤘🤘
It was an IMMEDIATE, unequivocal, LOVE AFFAIR! [Her music, her and me....].
By the time that she "hit" (with THIS song and the album it is on), circa 1991 (maybe: late '90🤔🤷), WE (my friends and I) had been devoted fans for 3-4 years, already and were eager to hear how she was developing/what her new ideas were!
...The entire "backlash" thing, after SNL??? I could never comprehend. Not one whit! ...and I despised all of those who felt they had ANY right to react, somehow, "negatively" or angrily or dismissively towards her because of it, for I recognized, somehow, that she was addressing an unseen/unmentionable truth (which turned-out to be the case).
...But whatever that...
She continued to turn out delectable music for years and years afterwards. It, mostly, went unnoticed by the majority of casual listeners and (certainly) the vast population who were, purportedly, "entranced" by the video made for this song and so-forth.
...but: her voice and her capabilities never diminished.
She was POWERFUL (and people fail to recognize/understand that: those who possess or display strength or power (in their convictions, especially), often, need help and need support, as well.
People seems to assume that "it's all there"/"they don't need any help/anything...."
if they sense such aspects in a person, even once. ...but that is a fallacy.
--I will, clearly and openly admit that: The Lion And The Cobrta (her debut album) remains my favorite work of hers, overall.
Her writing is indelible. Her voice is (almost equally-and, always at the correct moments: precisely what it needs to be!) celestial and visceral.
It is a stand-alone magnificence and base-pillar of what became called: "alternative music" (alternative to WHAT?? Other music???🤦🤦 ) and many things which came to the foreground in the 1990s.
In any case: If you want to hear her writing and her capabilities at arrangement (moreso than you, already, have!), you ought to go through that album.
[The Lion And The Cobra]
I shall recommend:
"Jerusalem";
"Just Like U Said It Would Be";
"Drink Before The War";
"Just Call Me Joe";
"Troy"
...of course: "I Want Your (Hands On Me)" is something of an underground classic and a high-point dance track from the '90s.
It is, also, (purportedly) the first song that the band (then, barely cobbled-together) wrote, improvisationally (basically), in the studio, the first day they started, together (just coming out of jamming together). ...Sinéad coming-up with the vocal lines and the lyrics, basically, "off-the-cuff"
[Sinead's love for hip-hop (prior to it, really, being "a commercial juggernaut" or 'accepted in white culture,' widely, also, enters into that (AND "Nothing Compares 2 U" -with its, spare, direct "drums and bass"/Run-D.M.C.-created style "boom-bap" basics), as she had M.C. Lyte come in and "spit some bars" (although, I do not believe THAT jargon existed, yet, when they created THIS song!) over the finished track, before they completed it, as well.]
Prince may have wrote this song. But sinead felt it.
The emotion in this performance is so powerful. I also appreciate the wisdom in the sparse instrumentation because the vocal, lyric and melody is the song. I love and admire Sinead, she had guts and integrity. Such a beautiful listen and analysis Amy. I really really appreciate it. 🙏🏻 Rest In Peace Sinead O’Connor 🙏🏻
30+ years of hearing this song and it still gives me goosebumps before the first line ends.
Another great voice that has fallen silent forever. Goodbye, sad Sinead. 😢
So much more than a musician.
Her voice modulations are genuine emotional manifestations, not manipulations.
This was the first CD I ever bought. As Xmas comes around you should listen to Sinead’s version of Silent Night…one of the best
Thank you. Very moving. "Last day or our aquaintance" also shows Sinead's beautiful voice.
The song was first written for and recorded by The Family which was one of many side projects of Prince. The original was clearly about a relationship breaking down. When it became a hit with Sinéad Prince recorded it himself. Sinéad transformed the song by reinterpreting it to be about her relationship with her mother. That is how she injected so much genuine emotion into what was an otherwise pretty conventional love gone wrong song up until then. Sinéad reported that Prince had been physically violent when they actually got to meet.
Prince never released "Nothing Compares 2 U", personally (not before Sinèad's cover of it_.
He had given it to a side-project band: The Family (-featuring Prince's then-love interest: Susannah Melvoin. The Family did the first recorded version of the song); which was released to: some notice by Prince "deep" fans -who were rabid and paid attention to everything that came from his camp, which they could find) and no notice, whatsoever, by the rest of the world,
Most people never heard "Nothing Compares 2 U" before Sinèad released her version, on her sophomore album.
Prince was (inarguably) a genius composer and musician. He had a manner of being able to create a song out of: things which others, simply, had no concept of how to pull-off, accurately/effectively.
I feel as if Sinead was able to internalize and add her own deep well of emotions to Prince's composition and deliver it in the most intense, intimate, overwhelming manner which anyone ever could.
(Prince would not have allowed her to cover this song if he, personally, did not feel, at the very least, similarly.)
I was, first, introduced to Sinéad, because a friend of mine had picked-up her debut album (which I had, then, not yet heard of!! -which was a RARE occurrence at that time! -ME not knowing all of the new releases and, particularly, "outsider"/unique ones!) and said that it featured "ex-Ants" [from Adam & The Ants -the, by then, sadly defunct band ...and one of MY/our -collective group of friends'- absolute FAVORITES!]. ...really it was, only, Marco Pirroni from Adam's band, but: the rest of the musician-contributors were equally spectacular and Sinead's voice -whoooo!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 ..."fire on high" and whatnot! 🤘🤘
It was an IMMEDIATE, unequivocal, LOVE AFFAIR! [Her music, her and me....].
By the time that she "hit" (with THIS song and the album it is on), circa 1991 (maybe: late '90🤔🤷), WE (my friends and I) had been devoted fans for 3-4 years, already and were eager to hear how she was developing/what her new ideas were!
...The entire "backlash" thing, after SNL??? I could never comprehend. Not one whit! ...and I despised all of those who felt they had ANY right to react, somehow, "negatively" or angrily or dismissively towards her because of it, for I recognized, somehow, that she was addressing an unseen/unmentionable truth (which turned-out to be the case).
...But whatever that...
She continued to turn out delectable music for years and years afterwards. It, mostly, went unnoticed by the majority of casual listeners and (certainly) the vast population who were, purportedly, "entranced" by the video made for this song and so-forth.
...but: her voice and her capabilities never diminished.
She was POWERFUL (and people fail to recognize/understand that: those who possess or display strength or power (in their convictions, especially), often, need help and need support, as well.
People seems to assume that "it's all there"/"they don't need any help/anything...."
if they sense such aspects in a person, even once. ...but that is a fallacy.
--I will, clearly and openly admit that: The Lion And The Cobrta (her debut album) remains my favorite work of hers, overall.
Her writing is indelible. Her voice is (almost equally-and, always at the correct moments: precisely what it needs to be!) celestial and visceral.
It is a stand-alone magnificence and base-pillar of what became called: "alternative music" (alternative to WHAT?? Other music???🤦🤦 ) and many things which came to the foreground in the 1990s.
In any case: If you want to hear her writing and her capabilities at arrangement (moreso than you, already, have!), you ought to go through that album.
[The Lion And The Cobra]
I shall recommend:
"Jerusalem";
"Just Like U Said It Would Be";
"Drink Before The War";
"Just Call Me Joe";
"Troy"
...of course: "I Want Your (Hands On Me)" is something of an underground classic and a high-point dance track from the '90s.
It is, also, (purportedly) the first song that the band (then, barely cobbled-together) wrote, improvisationally (basically), in the studio, the first day they started, together (just coming out of jamming together). ...Sinéad coming-up with the vocal lines and the lyrics, basically, "off-the-cuff"
[Sinead's love for hip-hop (prior to it, really, being "a commercial juggernaut" or 'accepted in white culture,' widely, also, enters into that (AND "Nothing Compares 2 U" -with its, spare, direct "drums and bass"/Run-D.M.C.-created style "boom-bap" basics), as she had M.C. Lyte come in and "spit some bars" (although, I do not believe THAT jargon existed, yet, when they created THIS song!) over the finished track, before they completed it, as well.]
She sang with Roger waters in the wall album life in Berlin / Germany after braking of Berlin Wall
She sang (mother) very very beautiful you must listen to her there
Truly sad. Im old enough to have been an adult when she began. What a crush i had.🤗❤
No Hair, No Shoes, No Autotune, Just a beautiful Soul and the voice of an Angel , Rest well Dear Sinead
Thanks Amy, Sinead was wonderful. The fadeout was a notable addition to the pantheon of music in the 20th century, initially to allow the radio dj to talk over. The fadeout is an artform in its own right when creatively used.
She caught a lot of flack for what she believed in. Her voice was one of the greatest of the time. It is sad that she is only really known for the Prince cover as a singer. But as an activist, she was well know. Nothing but respect for her. Rest In Peace.
Small correction:
War was written by Bob Marley, not Bob Dylan. it's inspired on a speech by Haile Selassie
Thank you for this - it's such a sad loss and so many of us are grieving today. You should definitely watch the video for this song, as it adds to the emotional power of the performance and she won an MTV music video of the year award for it in 1990. I can't think of another music video which has had the same impact on me as this one. I also recommend Mandinka and This Is To Mother You - my two favourite songs by her. May she rest well now.
What a beautiful tribute. It got me really emotional🥺❤. I hope Sinead knew how much people really admired her.
Wonderful. Thank you.
Amy thank you for your analysis of this song. I was never a great fan of Sinead (maybe because I never listened deep enough) However your deeper interpretations has mad this song one of my favourites from today. I love your deep breakdowns of modern music structures as they really give me better understanding of the composers and musicians feelings and thought chains making music listening so much more pleasurable. I am not a musician of any sort but love music and your analysis gives me pure enjoyment of music. Once again thank you.
An Enya reaction would be fantastic
Hello from Dublin . Beautiful presentation . I have only found your videos recently and I love them . Your analyses are always fantastic and wonderfully delivered . Many thanks . RIP Sinead .
Don't want to get in to the arguments, good song well sung by a talented artist. Also a principled person who would put those principles above money and career. Much to be admired and mourned with their passing.
Ya.. she was a tortured soul... a very misunderstood woman, very talented musician! I totaly like her as a person and a musician. Hipe she finds absolute bliss and peace! God rest her soul.
A transcendent review of a beautiful artist and her work. I was very moved. Thank you
Although this was composed by Prince, i think she saw much of her own life in these lyrics. This is why you see the raw emotion in the video, which ends with her crying real tears.
Thank you for doing this, Amy! I have not been thinking much about Sinead for many year. But 2-3 weeks ago I watched a documentary about her, and was reminded about what a remarkable person she was. Such an intelligent, talented, beautiful and brave person! Today is a very sad day.
It's the ability to mean what you sing. She did, she had it!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this!
Thank you for making that video.
Sad.... she will be missed....😥
@Virgin_Rock of all of your 'reactions, this is my favorite. Thank you so much for painting Sinead and the music into our souls--where she belongs! Your 'sign off' requiem to Sinead is moving 💯🤗🤗
You should do a reaction to her song Troy. That will move some souls.
a great loss. her voice and music will live forever.
Her performance in Richard Wright's Broken China are the added value to the album. Breakthrough is a masterpiece that seems written exactly for her voice
She is truly an amazing talent. There is a bit too much focus on this one song, making it seem like she was a one-hit Wonder. Troy (and everything else on her first album) is absolutely brilliant.
And everything else on her second album. "Nothing Compares..." is literally the *least* good song on "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got"; it's that good. And many of her other records - and her LAST record was just being finished when she passed, so they'll likely be releasing it. She was getting ready to go on a World Tour for it next year. I think we'll find that this was natural causes or a prescription accident, as she was excited about everything, just on the 11th and had just bought a new Martin guitar she shared. That doesn't sound like someone on the verge of ending their life to me. I truly hope it wasn't that.
4:35
''Silence can speak volumes when presented to mankind's many sins.
How much more then... that of the corrupt papacy ?'' ~Just Now Inspired
Strong within her inflective/inflictive end of the word ''compares'' lives the confirmational plea to ''Don't Give Up'' of Kate Bush, & Peter Gabriel's song of the same name, on the album: "So" (1986).
-Continuous be the blessings upon your revealments of these artists & their works of the heart.
If you have ever watched the film "The Young Victoria" there is a beautiful song during the credits called "Only You" - it is sung by Sinéad O'Connor.
If you have ever watched the film "Wild Mountain Thyme" there is a beautiful song during the credits called "I'll Be Singing" (interestingly another Emily Blunt film) - it is sung by Sinéad O'Connor.
Both keep you riveted in your seat whilst the credits scroll along.
These, and Nothing Compares To you, and Three Babies ... when it came to expressing love in a song hers was the voice that did it best.
We will miss you beautiful lady, God Bless.
Beautiful⚘
Minor correction Amy, the song “War “ O'Conner covered belongs to Bob Marley, not Bob Dylan. Bob Marley was another fantastic protest singer worth listening to and exploring his works. As usual, another great analysis. Thank you.
Sinead é como uma dessas personalidades que conseguem transmitir a suavidade e também a energia poderosa de sua voz, com versatilidade e emoção; parecido com artistas como Roger Waters, Steve Ray Vaughan, Peter Gabriel, Adrian Belew, David Byrne, Elis Regina, Grace Slick,...
Thank you for covering Sinead, she was a brilliant but troubled soul.
The video of her performance of this is available on line.
hey Amy.... if you liked Sinead (without a doubt a gorgeous song) you are going to LOVE your cousins "THE CARPENTERS" you have to listen to "LONG VERSION OF CLOSE TO YOU" you will love it. And if you want a violin that REALLY AND I MEAN REALLY gets into you, you have to experience "ADAGIO FOR STRINGS" OF SAMUEL BARBER.... SUCH AN EXPERIENCE.... EVEN DEEPER THAN WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IT. IT IS "ORGASMIC" .--- SUUUUUPER MAGNIFICENT MELODY.