Why Sinéad O'Connor Matters

By: Allyson McCabe

Narrated by: Allyson McCabe

In 1990, Sinéad O’Connor’s video for “Nothing Compares 2 U” turned her into a superstar. Two years later, an appearance on Saturday Night Live turned her into a scandal. For many people—including, for years, the author—what they knew of O’Connor stopped there. Allyson McCabe believes it’s time to reassess our old judgments about Sinéad O’Connor and to expose the machinery that built her up and knocked her down.

Addressing triumph and struggle, sound and story, Why Sinéad O’Connor Matters argues that its subject has been repeatedly manipulated and misunderstood by a culture that is often hostile to women who speak their minds (in O’Connor’s case, by shaving her head, championing rappers, and tearing up a picture of the pope on live television). McCabe details O’Connor’s childhood abuse, her initial success, and the backlash against her radical politics without shying away from the difficult issues her career raises. She compares O’Connor to Madonna, another superstar who challenged the Catholic Church, and Prince, who wrote her biggest hit and allegedly assaulted her. A journalist herself, McCabe exposes how the media distorts not only how we see O’Connor but how we see ourselves, and she weighs the risks of telling a story that hits close to home.

In an era when popular understanding of mental health has improved and the public eagerly celebrates feminist struggles of the past, it can be easy to forget how O’Connor suffered for being herself. This is the book her admirers and defenders have been waiting for.

©2023 Allyson McCabe (P)2023 Spotify Audiobooks

3D journalism

I really liked hearing so many perspectives and as a result I’m surprised it wasn’t longer.

I recommend read if you want to know more about O’Connor but also about the music business and how far we really haven’t come in 4 decades.

Thank you this book.

The Follow-Up I Needed After Sinéad’s Memoir

Thank you, Allyson, for a beautiful, tender and brilliant tribute to Sinéad. Putting her into the historical and social context of her time, Sinéad burns brightly. Your compassionate and honest treatment of her life, music, actions and words was truly kind and helped me to understand her. And your openness about your own life was courageous. Thank you for narrating your own words. I loved Sinéad, and I miss her.

Thank you, Allyson, for sharing so much about Sinead

Allyson thoroughly shared the good/bad/ugly (righteous, heartbreaking, unpolished) parts of Sinead’s life and personality. Her journalism is well written and thought out, her speaking keeps you engaged and is easy to listen to. As a Sinead fan, I thank you for documenting this, because she has been so misunderstood and should not be forgotten.

Personal story

I appreciated this book and the personal sharing as she examines the forces in place to discount and disrespect Sinéad O’Connor. She doesn’t portray Sinéad as just a victim or without power in shaping her life and actions. Anyone interested in this brilliant artist and those who existed at the same time will find this a worthwhile read.

nothing new

The only part of this book that isn't regurgitated is the story about the authors life. Feels mistitled.

To Know Sinéad Listen to Sinéad

Two stars for effort. Fortunately, O’Connor wrote her own story in her autobiography, “Rememberings” and cooperated in the production of Kathryn Ferguson’s “Nothing Compares.” In fact, O’Connor has said, ‘’To be understood was my desire. Along with that was my desire to not have the ignorant tell my story when I am gone.’’ This is not to suggest that McCabe’s book is ignorant, but the feeling for me is that it is misguided. There is more of McCabe’s life story than O’Connors, and many of the interpretations of O’Connor’s story seem off. As O’Connor stated, forcefully, “If anyone wants to truly get to know me, the best way is through my songs.’’ Appreciation of art resides in the mind of the beholder. We don’t need a timeline of the music business; a timeline unfortunately inhabited by a ghost that haunted the writer before the ghost died.

Why this Book Doesn’t Matter

This book was good—almost insightful— for a minute. Then it was just a regurgitated version of Ms. O’Connor’s autobiography. Later, about 2/3 into the book, the author attempts to editorialize and, in fact, projects her own self onto Ms. O’Connor, and imminently completely loses credibility. I can’t even bear to finish the book. The author gives zero insight nor even a shred of journalistic integrity to back up her book’s title.
Sinead matters. But not this book. I’m going to forget I even read this rubbish.