MovieChat Forums > Sinéad O'Connor Discussion > Coasted On One Song?

Coasted On One Song?

posted a year ago by FootOfDavros (7282)
34 replies | jump to latest

First of all, RIP once again to Sinead.

Secondly, did she, in reality, coast along on that one song?

Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant song. Absolutely a timeless classic. But 1. She never wrote it and 2. I've never heard any other song by Sinead O'Connor.

Sure, I could go on the youtube and - after watching multiple adverts - probably hear a few other songs she sang. But what I am saying is that in her entire career, from the 80s onwards, I never heard one other song of hers on the radio or being championed elsewhere in the media. Absolutely nothing.

Yet we hear now - and not just now because she's died but also previously - that she was an "amazing" talent, a wonderful songwriter, etc. But was she really?

She's arguably the most famous one hit wonder singer of all time... Apart from maybe Glenn Mederios.

[–] capuchin (2797) a year ago

She had a few more hits in the UK. Nothing as big as Nothing Compares 2 U, of course. That was ma-hoo-sive.

But Mandinka was top 20, her version of Am I Not Your Girl? was a hit here as I recall, Fire on Babylon (Probably my own favourite. Big bassline and screaming. What's not to like?) was a minor hit, Thank You For Hearing Me -- from the same LP -- also.

She also made a few decent albums. The first three albums of original material -- The Lion & the Cobra, I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got and Universal Mother are all worthwhile. The covers album she made during that period is a bit eccentric... and then she wandered off into spiritual and folk music for a bit and I lost track of her.

She became more known for her personal troubles and private life than her music by the end. But she definitely had a great voice. And there was more to her career than that Prince song.

Popularity, as you know, is no reliable guide to quality.

[–] FootOfDavros (7282) a year ago

Interesting, thanks.

Honestly, I never heard of any of these other songs at the time. However, like you said, she definitely had a great voice so maybe I'll check out one of these early albums at some point...

[–] capuchin (2797) a year ago

Her song writing isn't necessarily everyone's cup of tea, which is possibly why her biggest hit by far was with someone else's song. She tended to write highly personal, very passionate and disarmingly honest songs, most of which were never going to be major hits. Even a stonking pop tune like Fire On Babylon, for example, is about her own abusive mother.

But, yeah, some of it is worth checking out.

[–] TheArgentinian (6651) a year ago

Because MTV and radio boycotted her after her SNL stunt. If you only listen music that get airplay, then yeah, she was a "one hit wonder"

[–] FootOfDavros (7282) a year ago

Maybe it would have been better received if she'd ripped up a photo of the Nazi pope rather than everyone's favourite, JP2.

But nonetheless, I don't really recall that particularly either. Maybe a bigger thing in America. Anyway, only music which gets airplay will be a hit, so yeah, she was a "one hit wonder".

[–] TheArgentinian (6651) a year ago

It was a huge thing everywhere. And the USA is not even a catholic country.

And you doubted her talents just because you only heard one song from her on the radio. That's bullshit.

[–] FootOfDavros (7282) a year ago

Her talent is irrelevant.

I questioned whether she had coasted as a one hit wonder. Whether you - or I - reckon she's the best song / songwriter ever is irrelevant because she had no further hits than that written by another songwriter.

Your claim appears to be that her amazing talent was negated by a SNL appearance. Which may be worthy of consideration but doesn't change the fact that her fame was from nothing further than that one song.

[–] TheArgentinian (6651) a year ago

Hits = talent. Got it.

[–] FootOfDavros (7282) a year ago

For more information please re-read.

What you are saying does not equate to what I am saying and therefore it would be worthless to add anything further 👍.

[–] capuchin (2797) a year ago

Your claim appears to be that her amazing talent was negated by a SNL appearance

It certainly had a major impact on her career. She was persona non grata for a while. There were people publicly burning her records. Crowds booed her. It got ugly.

But I'm not at all sure that without that incident she would have become a hit maker. She was never really going to be a pop star. She was fairly uncomfortable with the level of fame she briefly achieved, because she had genuine integrity. She was a musician. She wasn't a pop star.

[–] Noufa (383) a year ago

I don't buy this. It made her seem edgy, which was a huge plus in a scene dominated by gangster rap & grunge. People were more turned off that she remained religious.

[–] legnadibrom (5856) a year ago

thank you, Captain Obvious

[–] TheArgentinian (6651) a year ago

OP didn't seem to know that, asshole

[–] legnadibrom (5856) a year ago

"If you only listen music that get airplay, then yeah, she was a "one hit wonder""

so if you don't only listen to music on the radio she doesn't count as a "one hit wonder?"

goofy ahh

[–] TheArgentinian (6651) a year ago

you're one dumb mf

[–] legnadibrom (5856) a year ago

put a sock in it will ya

[–] Wuchak (8298) a year ago

Capuchin said:

Popularity, as you know, is no reliable guide to quality.

In many cases, the 'hits' by musicians are not representative of their discography and are arguably their lesser material, like Judas Priest with the bubble gum 'hits' "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight." The great stuff, like "Dreamer Deceiver," "Saints in Hell," "Burnin' Up," "Blood Stained," "Bullet Train," "Hell Is Home," "Lochness" and "Secrets of the Dead" you'll never hear on the radio.

[–] CupidDeLocke (274) a year ago

“I never heard one other song of hers on the radio or being championed elsewhere in the media.”

Since when has radio play and media attention been criteria for determining talent and quality?

[–] FootOfDavros (7282) a year ago

Since when has radio play and media attention been criteria for determining talent and quality?

It isn't. But is it a barometer for whether you're going to have a successful career as a musician.

Perhaps re-read the OP. Like someone else above, you're jumping on the wrong wagon and trying to make some false equivalency between the question of whether she effectively had a career off the back of one song and whether having talent equates to hits / radio play. These are two completely different things...

[–] Kowalski (63699) a year ago

HER FANS FOLLOWED HER WORK...MY "WIFE" HAS HER WHOLE DISCOGRAPHY.

[–] liscarkat (17106) a year ago

If she hadn't been bald, tattooed, mentally ill, and a pain in the ass, she would have been forgotten twenty-five or thirty years ago.

[–] Mustang (5274) a year ago

Lol true or perhaps with hair at the start she may have had a better career. I think the bald head made her a novelty act.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10901) a year ago

I preferred Sinead O'Connor when she did rock before she was co-opted by Prince.

Here's two great songs by her:

"Jump in the River":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ORbUdApLhk

Great Christian Identity ballad "Jerusalem":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLBhlRo4-rI

[–] Noufa (383) a year ago

Being easy on the eyes helps with that. Also explains her fading popularity with age.

Will say that Emperor's New Clothes was a solid pop song.