another one gone. i saw her at the guinness fleagh irish festival in 1998 nyc randall’s island. on the bill was the chieftains, patti smith, indigo girls, tracy chapman and sinead o’connor among others… the first i’d heard of her was back in ’87. i was listening to wlir – alternative radio while living in my second apt in brooklyn ny. it played mandinka. she had a shaved head. her singing voice could be soft as fur or so hard and strong it could knock down walls.
she stayed true to herself. took the tough road. rattled the cage doors. and got a lot of shit for it. she championed against female genitalia mutilation (Mandinka), police brutality towards people of color (Black boys on mopeds), and the roman catholic church’s years of silence and inaction over its priests committing sexual abuse (infamous SNL appearance where she ripped a photo of Pope John Paul).
years and years later… the world fucken caught up.
RIP blue bird.
