Category Archives: song of the day

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Song of the Day #2,845: ‘War (Live)’ – Sinead O’Connor

sinead_war_popeIn late ’92, Sinead O’Connor performed her most controversial act, performing an a capella version of Bob Marley’s ‘War’ on Saturday Night Live, tying the lyrics to sex abuse in the Catholic Church, and finishing by tearing up a picture of the Pope.

That didn’t go over very well.

SNL was caught by surprise, as O’Connor has shown another picture (of a refugee child) during rehearsals. The network fielded hundreds of complaints and O’Connor became a target for politicians, religious figures and celebrities alike.

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Song of the Day #2,844: ‘Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina (Live)’ – Sinead O’Connor

sinead_argentinaI’ve featured two very raw and angry Sinead O’Connor performances this week, so I’m changing pace with today’s cut. It’s hard to imagine a more delicate or gentle reading of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic Evita standout, ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.’

I’m not sure when this live orchestral performance was recorded. O’Connor included this song on her third album, 1992’s Am I Not Your Girl?, so I’m guessing it’s around then.

🎵 The Sinead O’Connor Deep Dive 🎵
→ My exploration of Sinead O’Connor’s catalog

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Song of the Day #2,843: ‘Troy (Live)’ – Sinead O’Connor

sinead_troyIf you thought yesterday’s Sinead O’Connor performance was fierce, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

This performance of ‘Troy,’ also from 1988, shows O’Connor at her most raw. ‘Troy’ is a fabulous, biting broken heart song that feels more like a session in the confessional. The album performance is emotionally epic but it’s outdone by the naked ferocity on display at the Pinkpop festival in this clip.

🎵 The Sinead O’Connor Deep Dive 🎵
→ My exploration of Sinead O’Connor’s catalog

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Song of the Day #2,842: ‘Mandinka (Live)’ – Sinead O’Connor

sinead_mandinkaAs promised a week ago, I’m dedicating this week to the unique and extraordinary talent of Sinead O’Connor, specifically through her live performances.

Today’s clip is from O’Connor’s network television debut, on Late Night with David Letterman. Letterman had so many wonderful musical guests on his show in those early days, and right through the Late Show years.

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Song of the Day #2,841: ‘Star 69’ – R.E.M.

monsterR.E.M.’s Monster was a true WTF album. Following the mega-success of the warm, elegant pop albums Out of Time (1991) and Automatic For the People (1992), this 1994 release hit fans like a bucket of cold water.

Steeped in grunge and drowning in reverb and feedback, Monster was the loudest and least pretty collection R.E.M. ever recorded. But listening to it 22 years later, it doesn’t seem all that scary.

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