"I'd been suffering from depression for some years, which I don't think is a surprise for anyone to learn," she said. "When my third child was 5 months old, it got more severe. It's all under control, and I'm on the drugs.And yet, this is how that very article begins:
"My life is much better. I've settled down a lot more. I have a lovely boyfriend, and I'm happy with my kids. It's a much more normal, kind of quiet life."
This may be hard to believe, but Sinéad O'Connor says she is trying to live a normal life.There's a lot that could be unpacked there -- normalcy versus political protest of Catholicism, normalcy versus motherhood via serial monogamy, normalcy versus sexual exploration, normalcy versus religious exploration and normalcy versus musical exploration. Admittedly, O'Connor's turbulent past has played out publicly to the curiosity of many. And, yes, she discussed finally being diagnosed as bipolar on Oprah this past fall, but I've always thought of O'Connor and her passionate music and politics as intrinsic parts of her character rather than symptoms of being abnormal. You know, part of what makes her voice so original and her music so captivating.
That's the same O'Connor who tore up the pope's photo on "Saturday Night Live," bore four children with four different fathers, declared her lesbianism and then denied it, was ordained a priest, made a record of reggae tunes and now one of songs about God.
To prove she's trying to be normal, the Irish pop star promises to sing some oldies, including her classic, "Nothing Compares 2 U," when she performs Monday at the Pantages Theatre.
Other good linkage:
Recent SFGate interview about bipolarism, depression, religion and O'Connor's newest album Theocracy
Blog commentary at The Neurocritic
Here's YouTube video of one of my early favorites from The Lion and The Cobra. "Troy" performed live at the 1988 Pinkpop Festival, just her and her acoustic guitar before an audience of thousands. The song seems to be about a lover, and refers to both the legend of the ancient Greek city of Troy and W.B. Yeats' poem "No Second Troy."
Lyrics:
I'll remember it
And Dublin in a rainstorm
And sitting in the long grass in summer
Keeping warm
I'll remember it
Every restless night
We were so young then
We thought that everything
We could possibly do were the right
Then we moved
Stolen from our very eyes
And I wondered where you went to
Tell me when did the light die
You will rise
You'll return
The phoenix from the flame
You will learn
You will rise
You'll return
Being what you are
There is no other Troy
For you to burn
And I never meant to hurt you
I swear I didn't mean
Those things I said
I never meant to do that to you
Next time I'll keep my hands to myself instead
Oh, does she love you
What do you want to do?
Does she need you like I do?
Do you love her?
Is she good for you?
Does she hold you like I do?
Do you want me?
Should I leave?
I know you're always telling me
That you love me
Just sometimes I wonder
If I should believe
Oh, I love you
God, I love you
I'd kill a dragon for you
I'll die
But I will rise
And I will return
The Phoenix from the flame
I have learned
I will rise
And you'll see me return
Being what I am
There is no other Troy
For me to burn
And you should've left the light on
You should've left the light on
Then I wouldn't have tried
And you'd never have known
And I wouldn't have pulled you tighter
No I wouldn't have pulled you close
I wouldn't have screamed
No I can't let you go
And the door wasn't closed
No I wouldn't have pulled you to me
No I wouldn't have kissed your face
You wouldn't have begged me to hold you
If we hadn't been there in the first place
Ah but I know you wanted me to be there oh oh
Every look that you threw told me so
But you should've left the light on
You should've left the light on
And the flames burned away
But you're still spitting fire
Make no difference what you say
You're still a liar
You're still a liar
You're still a lawyer
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