The void left by Sineád O’Connor and the covers that marked our lives

Another mourning in the world of pop music. Irish singer Sineád O’Connor died, from causes not yet disclosed, at the (early) age of 56, according to the Irish Times newspaper. The singer, who became known worldwide for her emotional cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, by Prince, caused controversy by tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on the American program Saturday Night Live. Despite never having stopped releasing records, in recent years she has been reclusive, trying to overcome the suicide of her 17-year-old son in 2022.

Although in my pitiful Catholic adolescence I was taught to demonize the singer, puritanism and hypocrisy did not stop me from following her career, having her best album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” packed my youthful loneliness like no other other. Sineád’s ringing voice has always moved me. It’s as if she reflects all the sadness I’ve been holding back, that I had no idea how to get out. I say this because I believe it is unfair that she is more recognized for her (beautiful) cover of Prince, because it’s as if her work had no relevance due to this cover and the controversies she got into throughout her life.

The Irishwoman had such authenticity that she was one of the few artists who managed to turn someone else’s song into her own. (Maybe that explains the beef with Prince). Another moving Sinéad cover that few may remember is Nirvana’s “All Apologies”.

In this post, I choose more artists who made beautiful work from third-party songs. Perhaps they are recognized for their covers, but the fact is that they also bring a beautiful collection of original songs in their luggage.