Sinéad OConnor on religion, sex abuse and how Geldof failed Ireland

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Sinéad O'Connor inspired by Rats on TOTP ...

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Incredible connections. Sinéad O'Connor was on Ensign whom she had a number one single with, went to the same school as two Rats, had the same manager (Fachtna O'Kelly), had a brother who was big fan, ripped up photos on TV. She has to be a big fan!

-- Edited by ArrGee on Tuesday 25th of September 2012 08:20:13 PM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Hey Bob was a lot braver- tearing up a poster of a well known Scientologist can get you into a lot of trouble with big Ron L. The history of Scientology makes very interesting reading.

suss · In the Long Grass

Am I right in thinking Sinéad O'Connor attended same school as Garry and Simon, albeit much later on? Sure I heard/read that once.

Wonder how much the "connection" to band inspired her in first place if so?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Hey Bob was a lot braver- tearing up a poster of a well known Scientologist can get you into a lot of trouble with big Ron L. The history of Scientology makes very interesting reading.

I did one of their personality tests when I was in Amsterdam. Apparently, I'm quite cynical. Nothing that purchasing Dianetics wouldn't solve. So they told me. I don't know. I was too much of a cynic to buy it.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Am I right in thinking Sinéad O'Connor attended same school as Garry and Simon, albeit much later on? Sure I heard/read that once.
Wonder how much the "connection" to band inspired her in first place if so?

You have to remember her brother is possibly the most famous Rats fan to actually write about them in a book. I suspect that like my slightly younger sister, the songs of The Boomtown Rats are deeply ingrained thanks to repeated listening.

http://www.josephoconnorauthor.com/erm-banana-republic-reflections-on-a-suburban-irish-childhood.html

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Am I right in thinking Sinéad O'Connor attended same school as Garry and Simon, albeit much later on?

You are. And quite incredilbly Ralph Fiennes as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtown_School,_Waterford

suss · In the Long Grass

Good point. And not a bad book either (Irish Male at Home and Abroad). Bought my copy purely for the Rats chapter in that link.

She was obviously indoctrinated wink . Interesting info though - I'd always considered her a bit aloof and highly unlikely to be the sort who'd admit to liking or being inspired by the Rats. I take it all back.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Ms O Connor, if you check her history, was an unapologetic supporter of a well known Irish terrorist organisation- the sort that defends murder and god knows we have seen enough of that in Ireland over forty years. Her obsession with religion and the Catholic church just baffles me. Her music is basically crap and I suspect that a lot of what she does is just attention seeking- even for one nearing 50. Don't even mention her marriage failure rate.

Big deal if she saw Geldof tearing up a poster on TOTP- so did millions of others. Was she a big fan of the Rats when Geldof was criticising the IRA ?- I doubt it very much. I grew up in an Ireland that was somewhat ambigious about killing, British soldiers or Ulster policemen so long ago decided which side of the argument to take. MS O Connor and her ilk obviously saw things differently-she has to her credit admitted being a bit naieve regarding Irish nationalism, better late than never.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Ms O Connor, if you check her history, was an unapologetic supporter of a well known Irish terrorist organisation- the sort that defends murder and god knows we have seen enough of that in Ireland over forty years. Her obsession with religion and the Catholic church just baffles me. Her music is basically crap and I suspect that a lot of what she does is just attention seeking- even for one nearing 50. Don't even mention her marriage failure rate.
Big deal if she saw Geldof tearing up a poster on TOTP- so did millions of others. Was she a big fan of the Rats when Geldof was criticising the IRA ?- I doubt it very much. I grew up in an Ireland that was somewhat ambigious about killing, British soldiers or Ulster policemen so long ago decided which side of the argument to take. MS O Connor and her ilk obviously saw things differently-she has to her credit admitted being a bit naieve regarding Irish nationalism, better late than never.

OK, she's not perfect! To be fair to her, she made many of her pro-IRA comments when she was young and has renounced them as really sh!t and b0ll0cks.

I'm no fan of hers (never bought one her records) and I know a lot is attention seeking, but arguably Geldof has done likewise through his career, though his attention seeking has overall been more positive.

Mark L · Loudmouth

I didn't know any of that Noel, but frankly I despised 'Nothing compares' which spoilt 1990 for me music-wise and even allowing for 'errors of youth', I have even less time for her now.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

It's probably a good idea to steer clear of politics- that's maybe for another platform. Mark, you are not alone in not liking Nothing Compares To You. It's a song that always leaves me cold- fodder for boring afternoon's on Safe FM.

I am equally qualified as you ArrGee, in having never bought any of her albums! Surely there are more interesting things to talk about?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Surely there are more interesting things to talk about?

In the world of The Boomtown Rats we live on crumbs...

... but I'll see if I can find a more interesting topic.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Well at risk of being controversial - and in a minority of one - I quite like "Nothing Compares". Like the way she sings it, haunting voice and sung with passion - maybe it's a girl thing! Am sure I've got a compilation CD somewhere of hers as well. But don't agree with her politics, and admit she's gone even weirder in recent years. But maybe it's good to be different

suss · In the Long Grass

I'll take your side...always liked the song myself. Bought the single when it was out, but apart from odd track on compilations (Mandinka was it?) know little else about her catalogue, even less her politics or marital history.

Do remember amusing....aMusing...myself (and myself alone) by thinking there was a 'k' missing from her name on the single. Surely with that hairstyle she should have been Skinead O'Connor.

Anyone who admits to liking or being inspired Rats is fine by me. Must be all too easy to be in denial and suppress that claim for many...sooo shallow.

Now, how to coax ArrGee into admitting he also used to really like Boney M confuse wink .

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Do remember amusing....aMusing...myself (and myself alone) by thinking there was a 'k' missing from her name on the single. Surely with that hairstyle she should have been Skinead O'Connor.
Anyone who admits to liking or being inspired Rats is fine by me. Must be all too easy to be in denial and suppress that claim for many...sooo shallow.
Now, how to coax ArrGee into admitting he also used to really like Boney M .

Skinead - ho ho - I never thought of that! [sarcasm!]

The trouble with forums is tone. Nuances are hard to put into words, and you can appear to be incredibly shallow/deep in black and white. I once got berated on here for discussing a previously unseen clip of Having My Picture Taken during yet another Live Aid/Band Aid/Feed The World documentary. Obviously the documentary was very serious, but having seen umpteen down the years, the only new and interesting thing from my viewpoint was the clip. So pleased I hived off the Live Aid/Band Aid/Feed The World forum. The nutters it attracted disbelief

Boney M disbelief I don't have any of their records either.

suss · In the Long Grass

Another problem I find is I lose the thread a bit.

I was saying thumbs up to Sinead for even saying it where others might have chosen to ignore their youthful admiration, then playfully suggesting you might similarly deny Boney M, knowing full well you weren't ever a fan. Can't say I was a 'fan' either really, just had a couple of singles then bought a hits CD for about £3, which caused some consternation on here as I recall smile .

Sorry if that didn't come across.

p.s. Glad I wasn't the only one who saw Sinead as Skinead.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
suss wrote:
Do remember amusing....aMusing...myself (and myself alone) by thinking there was a 'k' missing from her name on the single. Surely with that hairstyle she should have been Skinead O'Connor.
Anyone who admits to liking or being inspired Rats is fine by me. Must be all too easy to be in denial and suppress that claim for many...sooo shallow.
Now, how to coax ArrGee into admitting he also used to really like Boney M .
Skinead - ho ho - I never thought of that! [sarcasm!]
The trouble with forums is tone. Nuances are hard to put into words, and you can appear to be incredibly shallow/deep in black and white. I once got berated on here for discussing a previously unseen clip of Having My Picture Taken during yet another Live Aid/Band Aid/Feed The World documentary. Obviously the documentary was very serious, but having seen umpteen down the years, the only new and interesting thing from my viewpoint was the clip. So pleased I hived off the Live Aid/Band Aid/Feed The World forum. The nutters it attracted
Boney M I don't have any of their records either.

The tone issue happens at work all the time and is the problem with emails too. At work, you can pick the phone up and generally come to understand the issue is often one of delivery rather than interpretation or the other way round, or a mixture of the two, and then move on.

I also remember the HMPT clip. Wasn't the documentary presented by Michael Burke and if I'm not mistaken he wasn't that complimentary about the Rats career and the clip included a plane displaying their name on a banner? Was it perhaps earmarked as a potential single (wish it had have been released rather than Diamond Smiles) and what we saw was a clip of the proposed video promo? We can't keep asking Jules to go back and check these things!....can we?!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/article3713617.ece

Sinéad OConnor on religion, sex abuse and how Geldof failed Ireland

I'd like to read this, but The Times is subscription only...

Guess she won't be on the Cork guest list.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/article3713617.ece
Sinéad OConnor on religion, sex abuse and how Geldof failed Ireland
I'd like to read this, but The Times is subscription only...
Guess she won't be on the Cork guest list.

I haven't read the article either, but I just wish pop stars would stick to music and not try to be politicians.If Ms O Connor has such outspoken political views she should stand for election rather than wanting singers to solve every social/ political problem that gets her attention.

Same goes for Geldof. He was in Australia a few years ago banging on about Aboriginals rights and how they were mistreated by the Australian government. No doubt they got a raw deal over the years, but a foreigner coming over to Oz to tell them what they are doing wrong is a bit rich. It's all easy enough on the after dinner circuit.Geldof seems to earn a decent crust on the business speak crap circuit. Spout any nonsense about the need to create jobs and get well paid for it. Well it certainly beats working.