In the captivating documentary “Nothing Compares” by Kathryn Ferguson, which delves into the life and career of the late Sinéad O’Connor, there is a striking moment where the singer reveals her unexpected journey to pop stardom. O’Connor confesses, “It was such a shock for me to become a pop star. It’s not what I wanted. I just wanted to scream.” At the tender age of 56, O’Connor passed away yesterday, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry. Emerging in the late ’80s, she gained fame with her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a chart-topping sensation that propelled her into the limelight and subjected her to intense global scrutiny.
Despite the pressure to conform, O’Connor remained true to her voice and continued to express herself with boldness. Unfortunately, over the years, her controversial protests and statements overshadowed her remarkable body of work. It becomes challenging to redirect attention to the very thing that propelled her to stardom—her music—when faced with death threats (as she received after tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on “Saturday Night Live”) and public threats of assault (such as when Frank Sinatra threatened her for refusing to play the American national anthem at a concert in New Jersey in 1990).
However, the fact that O’Connor became an influential and extraordinary pop star should not have come as a surprise to her fans. The proof lies in her first hit, “Mandinka,” from her brilliant 1987 debut album, “The Lion and the Cobra.” This standout single, which reached the Top 20 in the UK, served as an energetic invitation amidst the album’s darker and more introspective tracks. “Mandinka” perfectly blended pop and alternative rock, showcasing O’Connor’s ability to create a compelling fusion of sounds. The lyrics may not follow a traditional narrative, but they skillfully intertwine images, criticisms, and mantras—a potent critique of the patriarchal norms she refused to let go of. The song’s title draws inspiration from Alex Haley’s “Roots,” where the Gambian ethnic group of Mandinka is mentioned. “Mandinka” was ahead of its time, yet it resonated with contemporaneous songs like Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” and Enya’s “Orinoco Flow.”
At its core, “Mandinka” serves as a defiant anthem. O’Connor channels her strength through snarls, chants, coos, and yes, even screams, infusing the song with texture and range that defies conventionality. Despite the presence of pain within its DNA, “Mandinka” showcases O’Connor’s ability to endure and proudly wear her scars, using them as catalysts for her art.
In the end, O’Connor’s true heart is revealed in her later hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” This deeply romantic song became synonymous with her name, but its power stemmed from the raw force she had already demonstrated in “Mandinka” and throughout “The Lion and the Cobra.” Her debut appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman” showcased her resilience, as she wore a spiked denim jacket like punk-rock armor and moved with the grace of a boxer evading blows.
A testament to the enduring impact of “Mandinka” can be found in a video of Fiona Apple, posted on YouTube in 2017. In the video, Apple lies in bed, singing and air-punching along to O’Connor’s Grammy performance from 1989. It was a historic moment when O’Connor, nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal, drew Public Enemy’s bull’s-eye logo on her head in protest of the Best Rap Performance award being presented off camera. Even Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav remembered the protest on Twitter yesterday.
When the chorus of “Mandinka” resonates, Apple turns up the volume and kisses the screen—an expression of joyous release and empowerment that mirrors the essence of the song itself. As O’Connor states at the beginning of Ferguson’s documentary, she didn’t intend to be strong, nor did she consciously strive for strength. She simply didn’t know she possessed it. Yet, one listen to “Mandinka” reveals an undeniable strength that touches and empowers anyone fortunate enough to experience it.
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