Why was Sinead O’Connor so controversial? Views on religion, war, sex and feminism

Sinead O’Connor, the renowned Irish singer recognized for her powerful voice and chart-topping hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” passed away at 56, as reported by her family to Irish media on Wednesday.

Related: Sinéad O’Connor dies aged 56- 18 months after son’s tragic death

With her bold and unapologetic persona, including her shaved head, pained expression, and unconventional wardrobe, O’Connor defied traditional notions of femininity and sexuality, leaving an indelible mark on the image of women in the music industry.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time,” posted the singer’s family.

O’Connor’s legacy

O’Connor burst onto the global music scene in the early ‘90s with her captivating rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” originally written by Prince. The music video, where she faced the camera directly, shedding tears, has garnered almost 400 million views on YouTube.

The artist was known not only for her music but also for her outspoken views on religion, sex, feminism, and war. Some may recall her tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a television appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” as she courageously advocated for child abuse.

“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” posted Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

O’Connor: one in a million

Born on December 8, 1966, in the affluent Dublin suburb of Glenageary, O’Connor attended a reform school for girls but left in her mid-teens to pursue a music career after co-writing a song for the Irish band In Tua Nua.

Moving to London in 1985, she took control of her debut LP’s production, titled “The Lion and the Cobra,” after discarding the initial tapes due to Celtic influences. The album earned her a Grammy Award nomination.

However, it was her rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” on the follow-up album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” that catapulted her to global fame. The song became a UK and U.S. number-one hit, earning O’Connor four more Grammy nominations and a win for best alternative music performance. Yet, she boycotted the ceremony, expressing her protest against the “false and destructive materialistic values” of the music industry.

In the years that followed, the artist released two more albums in the early ‘90s and several more in the 2000s, all while openly sharing her struggles with mental health issues. Tragically, her teenage son took his life last year.

In 2018, O’Connor converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, but she continued to perform under her well-known name, Sinead O’Connor.

“Everyone wants a pop star, see?” she wrote in her 2021 memoir “Rememberings”. “But I am a protest singer. I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”

O’Connor will always be remembered for the human being she was.