In 1997, Sinéad O'Connor covered Abba's "Chiquitita", which was released the following year on Across the Bridge of Hope - a benefit album for the families of the Omagh bombing tragedy. As usual, she blows the original out of the water...
On a recent YouTube expedition for this song, I stumbled across a number of videos from the early 90s - probably the most controversial period of her career. On the 3rd of October 1992, she appeared on Saturday Night Live and tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II. NBC refused to let the footage be re-broadcast and with no evidence available for the public to make up their own mind, O'Connor was vilified and devoured by the press - effectively paralysing her professional career.
Two weeks later, she appeared at a Bob Dylan tribute concert in Madison Square Garden. Introduced by Kris Kristofferson, she was greeted on stage by a bizarre chorus of cheers and boos. Despite a number of failed attempts to play the arranged song by her backing band - and Kristofferson himself coming on stage to encourage her - after a two minute stand-off she launches into a furious version of Bob Marley's "War". It's quite uncomfortable viewing - and easy to see how it could be taken out of context.
Based on the video above, its easy to see how NBC almost destroyed an artist's career, and at the same time frightening to realise how close they came to destroying a fragile human being.
As a direct result of watching this video, my opinions of Sinéad O'Connor and the whole Saturday Night Live debacle have changed considerably. Today, as the catholic church is on its knees begging for attention from a world that couldn't care less, I believe that this haunting and brave performance has more relevance now than it did back in October 1992.
You decide...
