"Singer Who Resisted" Irish Singer Sin?ad O'Connor Passes Away

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Irish female singer-songwriter Sin?ad O'Connor (photo) has passed away at the age of 56. According to the British daily The Guardian, O'Connor's family released a statement on the 26th (local time) saying, "It is very sad to announce the death of our beloved Sin?ad."

O'Connor debuted in 1987 and rose to global pop stardom in 1990 with the song "Nothing Compares 2 U," composed by pop star Prince, which reached number one on the Billboard charts. Singing with a shaved head and a pained expression, she was credited with changing the image of women in pop music in the early 1990s. She released 10 albums but insisted on her own music style rather than commercial success.

As much as her shaved appearance, she was known for clearly expressing her views on religion, sexuality, feminism, and war, attracting attention beyond music with a rebellious attitude. A representative example is her act of tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during an appearance on the American variety show Saturday Night Live (SNL). In a 1990 concert in the United States, she said she would not perform if the U.S. national anthem was played. In 1991, she refused to accept a Grammy Award. In her 2021 memoir, she described herself as "a singer who resists" and said, "I have no desire to be famous." It is reported that she felt a great burden after her early 20s' massive success. O'Connor, from Dublin, converted to Islam and changed her name in 2018 but continued her music activities under her original stage name. After the death of her 17-year-old son last year, she is survived by three children.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.