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Rating: Going to Dublin to attend the preview of Sinéad O'Connor's new album (scheduled for release in February 2012, title: "How about I be me and you be you?") and visiting the places where the Irish Princess first took her steps in the music biz meant, first of all, paying homage to that fourteen-year-old who spent the afternoons many years ago dancing on the living room table to the rhythm of "Mandinka," shouting at the top of his lungs "I don't know no shame, I feel no pain, I can't see the flame." So in Dublin, I primarily wanted to think of him because that happy and enthusiastic fourteen-year-old hasn't been seen since.
The rest of the stay is lost in the technical and, if you will, also sterile observation that Sinéad is in great shape: slimmed down, radiant, and with her usual, powerful, splendid voice. The Olympia Theatre is an old style Victorian theater, approximately 1500 seats. And it's full. Despite her misdeeds, Dublin still loves its most famous female musical representative. And from her words and thanks, it's clear that the feeling is mutual. The set begins with a couple of new pieces sung already with open voice "Take Off Your Shoes" and, I guess the title, "I Had a Baby." The band (there are 7 on stage: 4 women and 3 men) nicely complements Sinéad's precise virtuosity. As Sinéad had already mentioned in her forum, it's a return to the pop songs of her early albums, so no more themed albums. The arrangement of the pieces makes me think a lot of "Universal Mother" from '94, and that can only excite me. In total, Sinéad will present 8 pieces from the new album, including a splendid version of "Queen of Denmark" by John Grant. Spiritual influences, reggae rhythms, all the elements of Sinéad from these last ten years are in the new material.
But the real surprises come with the revisits of the past (I'm getting chills as I write): from "The Lion and the Cobra" she brings back "Never Get Old," "Jackie" and "Troy": three masterpieces that no fifteen-year-old today could write, yet she did. From "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" withstands the passage of time less "The Emperor's New Clothes", while "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" is a cappella and maybe set a bit too high. Then there's "Nothing Compares 2U," which Prince rightly considered a B-side, and which Sinéad highlighted also thanks to the production of Nellee Hooper. On this occasion, she chooses the 2.0 version, all acoustic, which Sinéad sings excellently but it's not the same. Almost closing the concert with "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance," a piece unparalleled in terms of pathos and emotion.
Also from the past a touching version of "Red Football" from the aforementioned "Universal Mother," a very reggae version of "The Lamb's Book of Life" ("Faith & Courage" from 2000), and then an unexpected "Petit Poulet" from the Gospel Oak EP from '97.
The Irish audience applauded, participated, and drank before, during, and after the concert so much so that I lost count of the times I had to get up to let people through who wanted to go to the bathroom and/or bar. I wouldn't say unpleasant, but there you go...
Now I only hope that the beauty of the voice and the new songs is not overshadowed by an overly glossy and invasive production. We'll see in February. The highest marks for the concert are explained in the first paragraph. Thank you for your attention.
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