Archive for Sinead O’Connor

R.I.P. Sinéad O’Connor (1966-2023)

Posted in Music, R.I.P. with tags , , on July 26, 2023 by telescoper

I just heard the truly awful news of the death at the age of 56 of Sinéad O’Connor. Words fail me, so here’s her classic Nothing Compares 2 U from 1990, when it was a worldwide hit.

There can’t be many pop videos done like this, entirely in close-up.

Incidentally I once saw Sinéad O’Connor in person, at the Zap Club in Brighton, when I literally bumped into her trying to get to the bar. When she turned around I was staggered to see such a beautiful face looking at me, although to be honest I did for a moment assume she was a boy. I was expecting an angry response to my clumsiness, but all I saw was an impish grin and those amazingly lovely eyes. That must have been in 1990 or earlier. Anyway, she was wearing the same leather jacket and cropped hair as in this picture, taken in 1988.

Back then, the time of the AIDS crisis, Sinéad O’Connor stood up for LGBTQ+ rights. She sang at Pride when it was far from fashionable to do so, and participated in the Red Hot and Blue album, which featured a wide range of artists doing covers of Cole Porter songs. I’ve always loved her satirical take on You So Something To Me, in which she is done up to resemble Veronica Lake:

Life had often been a struggle for Sinéad – she suffered from mental health problems and had to endure the loss of her son just 18 months ago – but she was a uniquely talented artist who enriched many lives. I just hope she knew how much she was loved by so many people.

R.I.P. Sinéad O’Connor (1966-2023).

1 Comment »

Nothing Compares

Posted in Biographical, Music with tags , , on April 25, 2016 by telescoper

For some reason I just remembered this morning that a song that is full of nostalgia for me was written by Prince, who died last week. The version I still have on vinyl was a huge hit for Sinead O’Connor in 1990:

Incidentally, I once saw Sinead O’Connor in person at the Zap Club in Brighton during my previous incarnation here as a research student and postdoc. I literally bumped into her trying to get to the bar to buy a drink. When she turned around I was staggered to see such a beautiful face looking at me, although to be honest I did for a moment assume she was a boy. It was, I should explain, a gay night at the club. Fortunately she was very nice and friendly and forgave my clumsiness with a gracious smile.

There aren’t many any other pop videos done like this, almost entirely in close-up. Can anyone think of any others?

 

 

2 Comments »

Facing the Music

Posted in Music with tags , on August 24, 2010 by telescoper

Just by way of a change I thought I’d put up these two classic videos featuring very different singers. One connection between them is that both of them are records that I bought when they came out. The other is that both videos essentially consist of nothing but close-ups of the artiste’s face. The first is Private Life, by Grace Jones

and the second was a big hit for Sinead O’Connor in 1990:

Incidentally I once saw Sinead O’Connor in person at the Zap Club in Brighton when I literally bumped into her trying to get to the bar. When she turned around I was staggered to see such a beautiful face looking at me, although to be honest I did for a moment assume she was a boy…

Anyway, that wasn’t the point of this post. In fact I was wondering if anyone can think of any other pop videos done like this, entirely in close-up? Answers through the comments box please!

13 Comments »