The rock icon Sinéad O'Connor is coming to Dubai this month. The Irish singer will perform on January 29 at The Irish Village as part of a world tour promoting her latest album, I'm Not Bossy, I'm The Boss.
Released in August, her 10th album is a welcome return to form, with the 48-year-old doing away with the more esoteric styles of her recent releases in favour of a tighter rock sound.
Her live shows are renowned for their mix of intensity and droll humour. At one show in London last year, she took to the stage in a wig, colourful clothing and glam make-up, as a send-up of today’s image-conscious pop stars.
O’Connor’s stirring live shows are perhaps the only consistent feature in a wild and varied career.
Born in Glenageary in County Dublin, O'Connor found solace from her troubled childhood in writing and composing music. After a short stint as a singer with the band Ton Ton Macoute, she branched out on her own and released her 1987 debut album The Lion and the Cobra.
The album was an immediate success because of its varied influences, ranging from rock to hip-hop and funk.
Coupled with O’Connor’s striking, shaven-head appearance and outspoken opinions, it didn’t take long for the singer to attract equal amounts of controversy and acclaim.
Sometimes the latter won out – her 1989 follow up album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got was another winner, thanks in no small part to her smash-hit single and signature anthem Nothing Compares 2 U.
But at times O'Connor has been mired in controversy, the biggest of which was her notorious 1992 live performance on the American comedy show Saturday Night Live during which she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II, triggering a public spat with her fellow provocateur Madonna.
In 2013, O’Connor wrote an open letter to Miley Cyrus, criticising the young singer for her salacious image, saying: “The message you keep sending is that its somehow cool to be prostituted. It’s so not cool Miley.”
While her views haven’t lost their edge, nowadays the drama surrounding O’Connor is mostly restricted to her concerts. Her performance at The Irish Village should be a treat.
Sinéad O'Connor is at The Irish Village in Dubai on January 29. Tickets are Dh165 from www.timeouttickets.com
sasaeed@thenational.ae