Sinead O'Connor Performs "Mandinka" | Letterman 

The band just scream 80s L.A. and are totally the antithesis of her music. As well as being about 7 feet tall.

Great observation. She resided in timelessness.

And they're not even looking at her --- it's strange. She's singing like a goddess, but they're looking at each other, as if ....I'm trying to articulate this .... she weren't there, but a recording of her voice only. They seem to have no respect at all for this astonishing artist.

@@patricias5122 Paul Schaffer is staring directly at her the entire performance. Will Lee, bass, is watching her, and keeping an eye on rhythm guitar. Sid on guitar and Anton on drums look to be having a great time. Great song, great performance by lead singer and band.

They're focused on performing the song effectively, respecting her music. This is Letterman's band...they're professionals, they know what they're doing. Anton (the drummer) is clearly into the music@@patricias5122

Same .

Always thought this was a b52s song

I believe that too,that she died of a broken heart

One of the great albums. Drink Before the War never fails to give me the chills.

🙏

❤

Well said.

Yessssssssssssss 100% ! Brilliant Beautiful Stunning Soul ! Always Loved Her Her Music Magnificent Voice Will Live On Forever In My Heart . 💔😢🙏🏼💫✨

So beautifully articulated. And so very true. ❤

She was a true ally. She was a real one.

Grew up with both of them. RIP

I remember the performance as well. And I remembered back then thinking how I could tell David respected (and admired) her based on how he rushed over to thank her and shake her hand.

Took the words out of my mouth Delores and Sinead... 2 absolute Titans.. 2 of the strongest, inspirational, iconic Irish women to ever exist... You'll be missed Sinead... You really were one of a kind 💪💙😭😭

​​@@stoicsavage509Amen to that. 🙏💕 Two female musical better still Irish icons. RIP both. Sinead was a warrior. ♥️

Don't forget Lisa Hannigan

I too remember the first time I saw Sinead, I LOVED her so much!! Still do! She was a total TRAILBLAZER!! So brave and unique!! The world is worse off without you, Sinead! We REALLY needed you here!!

Solid take.

Yeah, CFNY was where we heard everything before everyone else. Not in the UK though, but here in Canada it was the window to the past-future of music. I too heard Sinead O'Connor early on with her first record when she was still considered something of an alternative outsider. I don't remember "Mandinka" as much as the power of "Troy" which seared into my head in a way that few songs ever did. My sister's friend went out and bought the record and left it at our place. I put it on tape and would listen on my Walkman and one time a friend asked me what that weird record was. It crept under people's skin and made an impression, but O'Conner was still a fringe artist at the time. Thankfully, not for long though and the whole world got to know her soon enough. I still have the record today.

Amen

CFNY was where all new and cool things were heard waayyyy before everyone else, and this song was new and cool at the time, her ethereal voice captivated me the moment I heard her. RIP punk warrior.

Cheers... for a minute there I thought every guitarist in America was about 16ft tall

Would you say that if she was a small man? Refer to him as "vulnerable" or "small, yet strong"? No. Her dedication to feminism obviously did not alter your bigotry.

@@dHolbach77 aw. Who hurt you. Show us on the doll.

@@dHolbach77 Strong yet vulnerable is a very important combination. You don't want to be weak, but you also don't want to have a wall up all the time either.

​@@dHolbach77you're really stretching to be offended here. Many men have these comments made about them. Small, strong and vulnerable describes many artists. David Bowie described Trent Reznor of NIN in the same way back in the 90s, in an interview with Trent sat to his side. These comments are not made in any way negatively, so I'm finding it real hard to see any bigotry here. Relax!

Sadly, tragically, that’s about the size of it. Where was her record label?

she was black lives before the thought. she was pro choice. she spoke out against the wrongs..and that disturbs the masses. 30 years have passed and we're still in the same messes. rip rebel girl.

Never forget she was completely right about the church. She should have been hailed for that alone in her lifetime.

She was banned by the very same NBC that hosted Letterman. Now that she's dead they all want to adorn themselfes with her and earn some more clicks for more revenue. Disgusting.

Nonsense, Madonna constantly debased Christianity in her music and videos time and again. I don't recall any kind of substantial backlash against O'Connor just because she ripped up a pic of the pope on SNL. It's a tame/lame, self-serving gesture that really got her nowhere because she never bothered to address what the gesture meant contextually. It was just a stunt. She wasn't crucified or martyred or blackballed. Her career wasn't shut down or bliwn up. She just faded away like so many other marginally talented flavor of the day pop chanteuses before her. She had issues and tissues and cause celebre galore, but in the end it all came down to how useful she was to the industry and to the agenda at large. As it turns out, she wasn't very useful at all; at least not in the long run.

Yes. I think Paul Schaeffer had a lot to do with suggesting & choosing the musical talent invited to perform on the show - he was so plugged in, and truly recognized awesome talent. He & his band, arguably the best ever group of musicians on tv, provided fantastic backup for so many of them. So talented. I miss them as much as I miss the old Dave.

​@@HRHDMKYT I mean how amazing is it that they could play a version of this song so close to the album version like, the MONTH that this song came out! Amazing band. And then she gives a killer performance that is spot on! Rest in power Sinead O'Conner🌹

​​@@hustler3of4culture3 Just utterly brilliant stuff! 🙏🎵💕Rest easy Sinead, fearless and a rebel to the end.

How to make Dave 40 again? Shave that dam beard lol

@@PeteDavidson-yl3ps How very true!!!....... 😅 That always works when I shave! 😛

Fiona Apple was another

I don't think Bjork was influenced by anyone

She didn't influence Bjork... Bjork been singing since she was a kid, before Sinead... if anything Bjork influenced Sinead

Aren't all eyes just that

Semoga ia bersama orang baik dalam ketaatan pada tuhan yang satu Al-Fatihah to sinéad shuhada ameen

Maybe spell her name correctly 🤔

@@Lulumac-p9l it's rather telling of your nature that all you had to add about a person's death was a comment on my misspelling.

@michaelparks6120 not really it's called respect! If you're gonna comment on someone's death have the decency to spell their name correctly..js

Couldn’t have said it better.

The best artists are tortured .you suffer for your art .Her suffering is ended now, though, and Her art will persevere . Rest in Peace Sinead ,and as a proud Irish native , we will love you forever .

Rip Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor, you will be missed

So full of herself.

​@@kenadams5504pretentious

She was ahead of her time in her criticism of the Catholic Church and it’s abuses. As we are finding out more now.

And it’s just getting worse

Sadly, the piling on is still here.

​@@adrianpoesiatI chuckled when CNN recently reporting on her death called it controversial instead of what it is. Very sad its this reality that can't be spoken of. CNN and FOX News are one in the same to me.

​@@meg-k-waldrenpeople don't realize Fox, Cnn, Nbc are all part of the same entity (comcast). the rich and religious institutions are all on the same side & its getting worse. i'm glad Sinead could cut through them like a knife. i think they were threatened by her honesty

Yeah! I just watched a clip of her on Arsenio and she did a song with no instruments, just her beautiful powerful voice. Magical.

It’s Mandinka. Missing the n

She wrote it?! Are you sure.

​@@think-islam-channelyes

@@RazorMouth amazing. Not just a good voice then.

Agreed. The only people who were courageous enough to have her back when the press attacked her were musical friends like Kris Kristofferson.

And Morrissey.

Bravery isn't "having no fear," it's fighting on despite your fear. Overcoming fear. That is bravery.

True, but the industry does that to all the people they destroy--Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, and on and on.

That s**t happen to brave people that way ahead of their time. There are only a few good people like this

Warrior queen 😂😂😂

@@redmanmr2 An absolute beast. Anyone who can endure mental suffering - the worst pain in the universe - not to mention stand up to that crowd at the Dylan concert is a true warrior in my eyes

Couldn't agree more!

Meh, not all 80's bands. The Clash, Descendents, X, Specials, Selecter, GoGo's, Red Hots, Minutemen, Pretenders... I could go on and on. You weren't listening to the right bands. ❤

@@NotARussianBot999 i interpreted their comment as referring to the house band, not '80s bands as a whole.

It was a really jarring contrast, this glorified wedding band mugging and goofing around while Sinéad was trying her best to focus. Very awkward to watch.

And breathtakingly beautiful ❤

Well stated! I couldn't agree more.

It's an absolute belter of a song for sure!!!....... 🎵🙏💕 RIP Sinead. 😓

When people say Pop Punk I wish this is what it meant. Instead of Blink 182.

I don't think they had a clue what Sinéad was about. It's obvious they thought her music was beneath them, the way they were goofing around and mugging through the whole thing. It wouldn't be the last time she had to deal with music-boy condescension, unfortunately.

Someone else noticed that the drummer was having a blast, it is noticeable how quickly they picked up on her energy.

had to watch it again because 0f your comment. Wow you're right!

@@loosilu They're totally into it by the end. I don't get why Dave seems underwhelmed. Normally he'd say "That was great!" Instead he just thanks her. But maybe he was full awe and struggling not to cry like the rest of us who hear this.

Too bad to remind you, mr. Bono cuddled so much in-bed-ded with World big shots he sold out his soul. Sinead was crushed for exposing one of the biggest honchos in Pedophilia and other clerical A-BUSES. She was railroaded, she expected a different mass reaction than what done against her, however she knew there would be some price to pay, but she said she would do it again a 100 times until listened, if only stopped or reduced, spared some off the abuses.

I agree, I felt like she was speaking for me and standing up for me, it was so personal! And the emotion in her voice could get into your heart and soul!

Right, her voice is causing chills to travel up and down my body !

Kstepko: 👍👍👍👍

Well said.

Very well sad. Is she dead?

Unfortunate how through many years, the church warnings are still heard.

@@janetglover999 Yes - she died today at age 56.

Absolutely. Also why is Jerry Vale holding her hand like a creepy granddad at the end. Yuck.

first thing I noticed lol, she was having none of it

Well put ... Me too ❤️🕊️

Amen. 🙏♥️🎵 RIP Sinead O'Connor.

Now that the sexual abuse crisis and her own abuse by her mother has come to light, we realize how cruel and undeserved all of the jokes made about her in the 1990s were.

@@kstepkono.

@@kstepko I do know she was abused , but she was I'm sure loved by many, some in her family aswell ! She conveyed her pain in her music and behavior. I hope her abusers are carrying a heavy guilty burden .

Good words