Sinéad O'Connor

Born: 1966-12-08

Sinéad O'Connor (8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer and musician. She was born December 8, 1966, in Dublin, Ireland. After a difficult childhood (her parents divorced early on and her mother was frequently abusive), O'Connor was sent to reform school after being caught shoplifting. Her music career began when she was "discovered" by the drummer of the popular Irish band In Tua Nua and co-wrote their hit song "Take My Hand." Before finishing school, O'Connor ran away to Dublin, where she sang and played guitar on the street and in pubs and worked for a singing telegram service. While performing with a Dublin band called Ton Ton Macoute, O'Connor caught the attention of the two owner-managers of a small London record label called Ensign Records. Ensign released her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, late in 1987. Critics lauded O'Connor's powerful and expressive voice and noted the complexity of her songs, even while acknowledging their decidedly uncommercial nature. Though it had no major hit singles, the album eventually sold over 500,000 copies and went platinum. With the 1990 release of O'Connor's second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, the baldheaded singer-songwriter became an international star. Driven by the phenomenal success of the smash hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U" (a once-obscure song written by Prince and first recorded by a band called the Family), the album shot to the top of the Billboard charts and nabbed O'Connor four Grammy Award nominations including Best Album, Best Song, Best Female Vocalist, and Best Alternative Album. The video for "Nothing Compares 2 U" won the MTV Award for Video of the Year, and O'Connor was named Artist of the Year in 1991 by Rolling Stone. Her next two albums, Am I Not Your Girl? (1992) and Universal Mother(1994), made far less of an impact either critically or commercially. Soon, however, O'Connor became famous for her controversial public outbursts, beginning in 1989 when she announced her support for the radical Irish Republican Army (IRA); she retracted the statement one year later. She again made headlines in 1990 when she refused to appear onstage in New Jersey if "The Star-Spangled Banner" were played before the concert. In 1991, O'Connor boycotted the Grammy ceremony and refused her award for Best Alternative Album, maintaining that her absence was a protest against the extreme commercialism of the Grammy Awards. Even more publicity surrounded a 1992 performance by O'Connor on Saturday Night Live, during which she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II, denouncing the Catholic Church as "the real enemy." Despite her contempt for the clerical hierarchy, O'Connor maintained she was a Catholic and devoutly spiritual.


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Wuthering Heights

as Emily Bronte (uncredited)
Released: 1992-10-16

Young orphan Heathcliff is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family and moves into their estate,...

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Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

as uncredited
Released: 1993-03-02

On October 16, 1992, an impressive and eclectic group of artists gathered at Madison Square...

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The Butcher Boy

as Our Lady/Colleen
Released: 1998-02-20

Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with...

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Nothing Compares

as Self
Released: 2022-09-23

Since the beginning of her career, Sinéad O’Connor has used her powerful voice to challenge the...

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Roger Waters: The Wall—Live in Berlin

as Self - Vocals
Released: 1990-07-20

A global television broadcast of the event in which former Pink Floyd leader singer and composer...

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Music

as Self
Released: 2010-10-15

The story of music and the music industry told through interviews with musicians, composers and...

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Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin

as Self - Guest
Released: 1991-10-01

This film celebrates the long and successful collaboration of Elton John and Bernie Taupin,...

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Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter

as Self
Released: 1990-12-01

This music special is dedicated to dispelling the prejudices associated with the HIV infection...

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The Irish Rock Story: A Tale of Two Cities

as Self
Released: 2015-03-13

This musical celebration charts the lives and careers of some of the biggest selling acts in...

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Kinky Gerlinky

as Self
Released: 2003-06-06

Kinky Gerlinky was the biggest, most fabulous, most stylish nightclub London has ever seen. This...

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A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who

as Self
Released: 1994-12-16

A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who, also known as Daltrey Sings Townshend,...

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The Ghosts of Oxford Street

as Ann of Oxford Street
Released: 1991-12-25

Malcolm McLaren, writes, directs and narrates the "history" of Oxford Street. With musical...

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A Song for Eurotrash

as Self - Special Guest
Released: 1998-05-12

A satirical look at Eurovision featuring cover versions of classic songs.

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Sinéad

as Self
Released: 2024-01-08

With contributions from David Holmes, Christy Moore, Imelda May, Don Letts, BP Fallon and more,...

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Top of the Pops: 40th Anniversary 1964 - 2004

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2004-11-08

Forty years is a long time in pop music, but through the swinging sixties, glam rock, punk rock,...

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The Great Hunger: The Life and Songs of Shane MacGowan

as Self
Released: 1997-03-17

A look at the colourful lifestyle and inspiring music and lyrics of Shane MacGowan, former lead...

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Citizens Of Boomtown: The Story of the Boomtown Rats

as Herself
Released: 2020-05-23

The story of The Boomtown Rats, who fought a conservative Ireland, broke through the UK punk...

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Meteor Choice Music Prize 2014

as Nominee
Released: 2014-03-05

The Choice Music Prize, known for sponsorship reasons as the RTÉ Choice Music Prize is an annual...

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The Best of Sessions at West 54th: Vol. 1

as Self
Released: 1997-12-19

Collecting highlights from the debut season of the acclaimed PBS series "Sessions at West 54th,"...

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Greatest Hits of the 70's & 80's

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-10-03

01 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U 02 Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow Vocals - Maggie...

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Irish Rock at the BBC

as Self
Released: 2015-03-13

A whistle-stop tour of rock from over the water, taking in some of the finest Irish rock...

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Hush-a-Bye Baby

as Sinéad
Released: 1992-04-08

In 1984, a pregnant Irish girl tries to contact her boyfriend in British prison but her letters...

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The Righteous Babes

as Self
Released: 1998-12-22

The Righteous Babes shows how the self-affirmative music of young women is renewing the 90's...

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Sinéad O'Connor - The Year of the Horse

as Self
Released: 1991-07-16

Recorded live at "Forest National", Brussels (Belgium), on 29th October 1990 and "Ahoy Sport...

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Sinéad O'Connor: The Value of Ignorance

as Self
Released: 1989-01-01

Live recording of Sinéad O'Connor's concert at the Dominion Theatre in London, on June 3, 1988,...

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Sinéad O'Connor at the BBC

as Self (archive material)
Released: 2024-03-16

A look back through the BBC's archives at the work of an artist with whom nothing compares – the...

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Sinead O'Connor - Goodnight, Thank You. You've Been a Lovely Audience

as Herself
Released: 2003-01-01

A stunning live performance from O'Connor's native Ireland, at the end of her first Irish tour...

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Sinéad O'Connor - Theology (Live & Accoustic)

as Herself
Released: 2008-01-01

This concert film was recorded live at the Sugar Club, Dublin Ireland, and published on the DVD...

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The Graham Norton Show

as Self
First aired: 2007-02-22

Each week celebrity guests join Irish comedian Graham Norton to discuss what's being going on...

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Saturday Night Live

as Self - Musical Guest
First aired: 1975-10-11

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The...

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MTV Video Music Awards

as Self
First aired: 1984-09-14

An annual award ceremony presented by MTV to honor the best in the music video medium.

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Top of the Pops

as Self
First aired: 1964-01-01

The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s...

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Verstehen Sie Spaß?

as Self
First aired: 1980-01-31

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Behind the Music

as Self
First aired: 1997-08-17

An intimate look into the personal lives of pop music's greatest and most influential artists.

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A Kettle of Colour

as Self - Musician
First aired: 1972-01-29

The show was meant to compete with those on West German television. To this end it was fairly...

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The View

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1997-08-11

ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin,...

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Stars 90

as self
First aired: 1990-09-03

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Rove

as Self
First aired: 1999-09-22

Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television variety show which premiered on the Nine...

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Sinéad

as self
First aired: 2024-01-08

The death of Sinéad O’Connor was both sad and shocking and the reaction to her premature...

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