Sinéad O’Connor

Saw her in concert once. It was fabulous. Opening act was The Pursuit of Happiness. She seemed to see a lot of stuff before any of us knew it was coming. She warned us about the systemic cover up of child abuse in the church a decade before it broke for the rest of us. She wrote “Black Boys on Mopeds” in the early ’90s for FS, and we’ve been seeing that scenario play out via phone cameras now in recent years. What a genuine artist who only cared for the art and the truth. Four vocal ranges and the truth. That was Sinéad O’Connor.

I don’t think I’ve had an artist’s death stab as much as this since 2016. For gravity’s sake give me a second. I also hate that she was only 56. And that she never got a well-deserved apology from us (because she was absolutely right) and that she never got a comeback or an appreciation tour. She deserved better.

I am stretched on your grave, lady. I’ll be playing your stuff more and more now.

American Idol Notes, S21, E6, 605

Kaeyra – “Cold” by Chris Stapleton. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Elise Kristine – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Sarah Mac. “Stone Cold” by Demi Lovato. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Jayna Elise – “Who Wants To Live Forever” by Queen. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Nate Peck – “Lightning Strikes Again” by Dokken. Then, “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, No.

McKenley Brown – “Love on the Brain” by Brianna. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes. Begrudgenly.

Isaac Brown – “Golden Hour” by JVKE, then “Essence” by WizKid. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Cam Amen – “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, holy shit. Platinum ticket.

Sierra Harris – “Barracuda” by Heart, then “Firework” by Katy Perry. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Phil Kane – “Osage County,” Original. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Brooklyn from Brooklyn – “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. Lionel Richie, No. Katy Perry, No. Luke Bryan, No. Me, No.

Fire Wilmore – Again – “Love in the Dark” by Adele. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.

Kaya Stewart – Original – “This Tattoo.” Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Meh, nepo baby.

Oliver Steele – .”In My Life” by the Beatles, then “Change the World” by Eric Clapton. Lionel Richie, Yes. Katy Perry, Yes. Luke Bryan, Yes. Me, Yes.