Sinead O'Connor: The controversial singer turns to the Bible for new album

Tuesday 26th June 2007

With the release of her 'Theology' double CD, SINEAD O'CONNOR was willing to talk to Cross Rhythms' Tony Cummings.



Continued from page 1

Tony: Those vocal performances on the acoustic version are very intense. Was it draining recording those songs?

Sinead O'Connor: The controversial singer turns to the Bible for
new album

Sinead: It's not draining at all! To a singer that sort of stuff comes easily. I mean if you feel a lot about what you're singing, it's no problem to sing it and it doesn't really take as much energy as you might think. Like some one might say to you, well it takes a lot of energy to do what you do but then you would probably say well, no I could do it in my sleep - whereas if I tried to do what you do, I'd probably be knackered!

Tony: You said in a press statement that you believe that some of these songs are "modern day hymns." I'm a member of an evangelical Protestant church which worships God mostly with newly composed songs. Could you imagine one or two of the songs on 'Theology' making it into congregational worship in churches?

Sinead: Well, I would love them to - that would be a dream of mine. Also, I'd love to see them being sung with choirs. For example, when you have the children's choirs at school and things like that. That's an area in which I would dearly love to work. I think I have a lot to offer in that area.

Tony: One of the songs, "Thank You For Hearing Me", from one of your earlier albums has been recorded by the David Crowder Band. Have you heard of them?

Sinead: I only heard about that recently, I never knew that! I'd love to hear it.

Tony: I'll get the record company to send you a copy. David is what in evangelical Protestant circles we now refer to as a worship leader - with a rock and roll band.

Sinead: I love that idea of music as a priesthood - that's why I love the Rastafarian Movement because they very much see music as a priesthood. I learned an awful lot of Scriptures through Rasta records, actually.

Tony: Way before I became a Christian I hung with a lot of Rastas. Even if you're initially going for the vibe or the bassline or whatever, eventually the lyrics can have an effect on you, can't they?

Sinead: Absolutely - it's a brilliant medium. Getting back to the point of religion - whatever I may say about religion I actually love religion. I'm very inspired by love in the different religions and so if I critique it, it's not from the point of not liking it - you know what I mean? But I think that sometimes the nature of the God character can be portrayed perhaps inaccurately, in a way which can be off putting to a lot of people. So music can be one of the areas where people can have an experience of God outside of religion.

Tony: What are you views, say, about the different kinds of Protestant Christianity? I mean surely Catholics and Protestants worship the same God and there is far more in common than any theological differences we have?

Sinead: I wouldn't have much experience of any conflicts between Protestants and Catholics - certainly Ireland has changed a lot but I do remember when I was a kid, there were ridiculous things going on. In the area in which I grew up in which I also live now, down the road there were two churches in the village, one is Catholic and one is Protestant, and when we were kids we were told that it was a sin even to go in the car park of the Protestant church, that it was an actual mortal sin to even enter the church. There's a famous joke in Ireland - it's a little crude but. . . about a girl who moves to London and she rings her mother up in the countryside in Ireland and after a while and she says, "Oh mother I'm a prostitute," and the mother faints on the floor and when the mother wakes up again, she says, "What did you say? What did you say?" and the girl said, "I'm a prostitute" and the mother says, "Oh thanks be to God, I thought that you said that you were a Protestant!" And that was the attitude in Ireland for years.

Tony: But again, if you look at the Bible, surely it was the religious leaders who crucified Christ.

Sinead: Absolutely and that gets back to the point we were talking about earlier about God being held hostage! It could be argued in many ways that the same thing is happening now but not just by religion obviously - it's that old saying which is on the record that says you know if God lived on earth people would break his windows!

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Reader Comments

Posted by David Hallidfay in Newcastle @ 12:29 on Mar 23 2008

Hi ,
I was extremely moved by Sinead's version of an old hymn on the radio many weeks' ago . But , in time honoured fashion , I have forgotten the hymn's title .Could you tell me what it was ? It was slow and sung with such sincerenity .
Thank you
David



Posted by Simeon Bar-Kochva in Israel @ 20:21 on Mar 6 2008

I am jewish and find sineads versions of the pslams of Issaiah & Jeremiah very beautiful and authentic, as do i the song 'if you had a vineyard'



Posted by Colin Blatchford-Bro in Somerset, England @ 20:02 on Jul 25 2007

I believe if only Christians were interviewed or promoted on this website, then there would be little or no opportunity for the Word to be spread in the way we have been instructed. Reaping and sowing comes to mind, we need to be mindful not to judge, lest we be judged in turn. Well done, great interview and I for one will go and buy this album now, and by playing it to friends and family, this will be another route for God's Word to be conveyed. Thank you


Reply by K Piette in Horsham @ 19:41 on Aug 10 2007

True, we are indeed to preach the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth, but then so do muslims preach their way, and many others. Not all roads lead to Rome. I think people are very easily deceived by this way of thinking. Satan knows God's word too - he tried to tempt even Jesus to do his own thing.
The Word of God is clear, the road is narrow and not all shall pass through the gate.
My heart is certainly not to judge those who are searching for the right way to live, but to teach people Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life and none can come to God except through Him. God is not a God of confusion, he brings peace beyond understanding and his voice will always resound among the loudest noises. There is so much more power in obeying God alone than trying to follow several paths.
Think about it!

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Posted by Katie Piette in Horsham @ 17:57 on Jul 7 2007

I am somewhat surprised - even shocked - that you choose to put forward Sinead O'Connor as a "christian artist". She's uncertain of her sexuality, she is an ordained priestess of a sect, she agrees with rastafarianism, she thinks it's ok for people to be intimate with "whatever they call God"... Is this the testimony of someone you should be spotlighting?
Anyone can use Biblical texts in their songs, but does what they say match their lifestyle and the way of life you advocate on this website? Are they wholeheartedly committed to God or is He just a philosophy to go hand in hand with any other "nice" tolerant ideas or world views?
I agree the interview is a good one - eye-opening - sadly it shows me that more discernment is needed when it comes to the artists you promote. Please don't be too hasty to elevate people just because they sing about God.


Reply by George Robinson in UK @ 13:58 on Sep 3 2017

Thankfully Christ was not as choosy as to whom he welcomed into the flock. Love and exposure to the light are so much more beneficial that calls for censorship and judgement.

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Reply by B Punzel in USA @ 19:50 on Jul 23 2007

I have to say that I am surprised as well that this woman would be promoted as a Christ-believer. I also don't agree with most religions, and believe that most of us pigeon-hole God with our human ideals. Our faith ought to come from the Bible, the inspired Word of God, which He said would not change although everything in heaven and earth would pass away. He also said that no one was to add or take away from His Word and if they did, they were in violation. Jesus says that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him. That is pretty direct and straight forward, there is no choosing our own ways. trying to find loop holes in the system to allow ourselves to do whatever we want and relate to God in whatever way we want is to find a loop hole right out of the Will of God. God gave His children strict instructions on how they were to live, which means He has a way that He believes things ought to be done. Rules and Reg's that's how He does things - instead of the Law of Death, we now live under the Law of Life and that is accessed in One Way. We are to live under God's Law and that doesn't mean that we come up with our own way of doing things. We live by the Spirit. We are all to be growing in maturity of the Word everyday, reaching to attain and allowing God's Grace to rule and reign in our lives. I believe some of the things said by this sadly lost individual may truly be sincere, but all the same, sincerely lost... my prayer is that people will see God for who HE is and look past all of us who shed bad light on His Name.

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Posted by beaux mitchell minet in The Motorcity @ 17:15 on Jul 7 2007

She would indeed be a heavy-hitter for Jesus Christ if in fact she has turned her life over to Him.And it is not my place to make that judgement.I will surely keep Sinead O'Connor in my prayers.We could use another talented singer out here speaking the Truth.
Sincerely,beaux mitchell minetola
(singer from Bloodscrubed )



Posted by Spot in UK @ 19:19 on Jun 26 2007

Nice interview. In a similar vein, Rickie Lee Jones has released an album about Jesus this year.



Posted by Efstathiou Maria in Bucharest - RO @ 12:07 on Jun 26 2007

She is The best singer!



Posted by Efstathiou Maria in Romania @ 12:01 on Jun 26 2007

Firstly My congratulation FOR SINEAD, for her upcoming disc THEOLOGY. There are special songs based on Bible psalms. I read just all her reviews in all newspapers which I can find online. She is The Best Singers which I have ever heard. All my best wishes in HER career. Love PHEIDIAS



Posted by C in west midlands, UK @ 09:34 on Jun 26 2007

i have'nt listened to much Sinead O'Connor, aside from hits like "Nothing Compares.........", but i heard a song from her recent albums on CR, and i was touched by the spiritual depth of the song. i grew up in a similar home environment to Sinead (except not Catholic), so i can really relate to her comment about how she had to "cling to Jesus" during those times of being hurt, and also the effects it had on my own mental health later in life. i became a "real" Christian during the time i was at my most unwell, and i am struck by how God can use things like this to bring his "strayed" children home. i believe that God may have used Sinead's Bipolar Disorder to do this for her too, altho' i'm no prophet, so don't quote me on that!
i will be listening to more O'Connor now, i think she deserves respect, not criticism. some Christians criticise Bono and KevinMax 'cos their histories and lifestyle have been "not Christian enough", but God can use anyone even if they drink, swear etc, or have lived "unconventional" lives; what is in a person's heart is more important.


Reply by Brenda in US @ 19:04 on Jul 23 2007

I agree, while none of us are perfect, we ought to be working towards perfection in Christ and doing our best to follow his example. We all need healing in our lives and need to learn how to deal with our hurts and pains God's way, being continually transformed by the Word on a daily basis - not being conformed to the world and taking advantage of our salvation. All things lawful, not all things expedient. Taking our sins at the cross should not be in vain, but we ought to work everyday to walk out that victory in our lives. He overcame the world so that we might be overcomers as well.

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Reply by george in the wirral @ 22:32 on Jul 7 2007

I agree that the interview was well done and sensitive.However not sure that I agree completely with C .Yes ,God can use anyone but we should be convicted of not swearing etc. as we commune with the Holy Spirit. What comes from the heart is what lives within .So what lives in our hearts ?

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