The Music World Remembers Sinéad O'Connor

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On Wednesday, July 26, Irish singer and activist Sinéad O’Connor died. The 56-year-old, Grammy-winning artist had a striking and beautiful voice that transcended her work. O’Connor began her career as a singer, but she is best known for her ability to speak up for the voiceless.

Over the years, O’Connor tirelessly advocated for victims of abuse, racism, and sexism. In a 1992 SNL appearanceshe famously protested child abuse within the Catholic church. During her musical performance, O’Connor held up a photo of Pope John Paul II and ripped it to shreds. Then, she looked at the camera and said, “Fight the real enemy.” O’Connor’s actions were highly controversial and led to brutal criticism, but that never stopped the artist from voicing her beliefs. In her 2021 memoir, RememberingsO’Connor reflected on the incident. “Everyone wants a pop star, see?” she wrote. “But I am a protest singer. I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”

Even so, O’Connor will remain a towering figure in the music industry. Her career took off in 1990, in part due to her cover of the Prince song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” In the following years, O’Connor released her own critically-acclaimed music—and made a name for herself as a powerhouse, both in and out of the studio. In the wake of her death, O’Connors’ famous friends and fans are remembering her legacy on social media.

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Bria McNeal

Associate Staff Writer

Bria McNeal is a Manhattan based journalist who is patiently awaiting B5’s revival. When she’s not writing about all things entertainment, she can be found watching TV or trying to DIY something (likely, at the same time). Her work has appeared in NYLON, Refinery29, InStyle, and her personal newsletter, StirCrazy.