Sinéad O’Connor - I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss

When Sinéad burst forth in 1990 with her riveting performance of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” the Irish singer seemed destined for superstardom. With her shaved head and emotionally charged vocals, there was no one like her. But Sinéad proved to be as difficult as she was talented, famously refusing her Grammy Award and infamously tearing up the Pope’s photo on Saturday Night Live. Since then, controversies triggered by her strong views on organized religion and women’s rights have continued to follow her, even as she’s made critically acclaimed recordings. Now the outspoken mother of four has released her 10^th studio album, which she calls simply “a set of love songs.” Romance is at the centre of “The Vishnu Room,” a song of intense longing, and the unabashedly sensual “Kisses Like Mine.” Sinéad also gets funky on the kinetic “James Brown” and bravely confessional on “8 Good Reasons,” in which she reveals, “You know I love to make music/But my head got wrecked by the business.” She may never fit comfortably in the music business, but Sinéad remains refreshingly real.