Misunderstood

Sinead O'Connor: a Protest Life

I've been wanting to write about Sinead for many reasons since her passing, and before, but the author of this article says it better and deeper than I ever could. For me, though, seeing Sinead herself perform in '92 was incredible. Peter Gabriel had played at a concert venue, SPAC in Saratoga Springs NY, not too far from me, and one I'd hitchhiked to many times since I my first show in 1972 at age thirteen. But as an adult, a friend and I decided to go see Peter on the spur of the moment, as shows often happened for us then, when tickets were inexpensive and life more spontaneous, and we bombed around in our old beat up cars to take us away. Having been long time fans of Peter's solo career of superb, high spirituality and his bringing world music to the mainstream, we two were young mothers who arranged trustworthy coverage for our beloved kids and took off down the back roads to short cut the journey. The night was rich with surprise, as the concert turned out to be more of a day long World music festival complete with rustic food venues run by people from all over the globe offering very low cost regional food fare cooked over for pits and served open heartedly. My first taste of African food still lingers on my taste buds memory! We'd also been treated to an open air trade market of handmade world crafts, and I've still got the necklace given to me with relish by a middle aged Rasta whose face had lit with joy when seeing mine and the selfmade iridescent purple beaded necklace I wore. He and I spoke without words, just smiling faces and glassy laughing eyes, then traded the very necklaces from around our necks to each other. If not for my friend and family waiting at home, I probably would've hopped on the bus with the man and took off to a way different life. But that wasn't to be, gratefully, as I look back now. That kind of behavior had been my style as a rebellious teenager and through my pre-mothering days of touring with the Grateful Dead (honestly I can't even remember all the shows as I'd hitched with folks on buses and in vans for almost a decade). On that night, though, as the outdoor air dimmed with a glorious sunset and the second stage packed up, we'd beat it to the lawn just as Peter began his show. His voice was crisp and he wore a white robe and we were enthralled by the singers and musicians from around the world who joined him. After a brief intermission, with a full night sky of stars above us, we heard the opening of "In your Eyes" and the entire audience stood and roared. Then a spotlight hit a slight figure and it was Sinead. That year, She'd been through it as audience after audience booed her in the days and weeks after the controversy of her SNL action. And, yes, even that crowd began to boo. But we, the people who understood the meaning behind her action, we cheered so loudly and clapped so long that the disapprovers were washed out. I had my eyes glued on Sinead and saw her hold her back straighter and head higher. We were then grabbed by the sweetest versions of several of Gabriel's most profound songs. It was sacred and truly I still feel the cold chills now, some thirty years later. Sinead left the stage to uproarious applause and, Peter among us, tears of gratitude, for her voice, her ringing voice, a gift for our wide open ears and minds. Hearts bursting with joy and, truthfully, relief as to our overriding acceptance of Sinead, much more than the has-been the media had blasted her as and the patriarch had ousted. That woman was far more a person of grit and a force for the world: her presence cancelled the evil everywhere she'd gone. A few months ago, I'd picked up her autobiography "Rememberings" and was again blown away by the force of her words. I feel so sad for her young body/mind abuses and more recent loss of her son to suicide, and the instability of her tortured mind leading up to her death. And those misunderstandings. Sinead, you fought every step all your life for

the wounded and I will love you always for surviving the years and standing for the truth. Blessed be.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-07-27/sinead-oconnor-dies-snl-catholic-church-protest