Sinead O’Connor is crazier than a craphouse rat, but for once, she’s actually talking a bit of sense. Since no one is talking about her anymore – they’re talking about her even less than they ever were, in fact – she’s wrangled her way back into the public eye by posting an open letter on her website directed at Miley Cyrus, who just so happens to be the center of the world’s attention at the moment. Very clever.
It’s a long one, but it’s damn good (and also, Sinead’s website is over capacity so if you want to read it, you’ll have to do so here) and she has a lot of points. Yeah, Miley is out of control. Yeah, the music industry cares about you only insofar as they can make money off you. Will it make a lick of difference? Of course not, but you go girl:
Dear Miley,
I wasn’t going to write this letter, but today i’ve been dodging phone calls from various newspapers who wished me to remark upon your having said in Rolling Stone your “Wrecking Ball” video was designed to be similar to the one for “Nothing Compares” … So this is what I need to say … And it is said in the spirit of motherliness and with love.
I am extremely concerned for you that those around you have led you to believe, or encouraged you in your own belief, that it is in any way “cool” to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos. It is in fact the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it’s the music business or yourself doing the pimping.
Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited, and it is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sexual appeal than your obvious talent.
I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you.
The music business doesn’t give a sh– about you, or any of us. They will prostitute you for all you are worth, and cleverly make you think its what YOU wanted.. and when you end up in rehab as a result of being prostituted, “they” will be sunning themselves on their yachts in Antigua, which they bought by selling your body and you will find yourself very alone.
None of the men oggling you give a sh– about you either, do not be fooled. Many’s the woman mistook lust for love. If they want you sexually that doesn’t mean they give a f— about you. All the more true when you unwittingly give the impression you don’t give much of a f— about yourself. And when you employ people who give the impression they don’t give much of a f— about you either. No one who cares about you could support your being pimped.. and that includes you yourself.
Yes, I’m suggesting you don’t care for yourself. That has to change. You ought be protected as a precious young lady by anyone in your employ and anyone around you, including you. This is a dangerous world. We don’t encourage our daughters to walk around naked in it because it makes them prey for animals and less than animals, a distressing majority of whom work in the music industry and its associated media.
You are worth more than your body or your sexual appeal. The world of showbiz doesn’t see things that way, they like things to be seen the other way, whether they are magazines who want you on their cover, or whatever.. Don’t be under any illusions.. ALL of them want you because they’re making money off your youth and your beauty.. which they could not do except for the fact your youth makes you blind to the evils of show business. If you have an innocent heart you can’t recognise those who do not.
I repeat, you have enough talent that you don’t need to let the music business make a prostitute of you. You shouldn’t let them make a fool of you either. Don’t think for a moment that any of them give a flying f— about you. They’re there for the money.. we’re there for the music. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the sooner she can be REALLY in control.
You also said in Rolling Stone that your look is based on mine. The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company were encouraging me to do what you have done. I felt I would rather be judged on my talent and not my looks. I am happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 yrs of age.. which unfortunately many female artists who have based their image around their sexuality, end up on when they reach middle age.
Real empowerment of yourself as a woman would be to in future refuse to exploit your body or your sexuality in order for men to make money from you. I needn’t even ask the question.. I’ve been in the business long enough to know that men are making more money than you are from you getting naked. It’s really not at all cool. And it’s sending dangerous signals to other young women. Please in future say no when you are asked to prostitute yourself. Your body is for you and your boyfriend. It isn’t for every spunk-spewing dirtbag on the net, or every greedy record company executive to buy his mistresses diamonds with.
As for the shedding of the Hannah Montana image.. whoever is telling you getting naked is the way to do that does absolutely NOT respect your talent, or you as a young lady. Your records are good enough for you not to need any shedding of Hannah Montana. She’s waaaaaaay gone by now.. Not because you got naked but because you make great records.
Whether we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women. The message you keep sending is that it’s somehow cool to be prostituted.. it’s so not cool Miley.. it’s dangerous. Women are to be valued for so much more than their sexuality. we aren’t merely objects of desire. I would be encouraging you to send healthier messages to your peers.. that they and you are worth more than what is currently going on in your career. Kindly fire any motherf—er who hasn’t expressed alarm, because they don’t care about you.
Well. That’s that, then.
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You can’t see it right now but I am giving a STANDING fucking OVATION. TELL IT, mama Sinead!
Dear Sine-aid: Everything you say is perhaps true except that the sheer money she has earned comes with it taxes paid that benefit society (were it ever spent well, but that’s another issue) than you’ll ever, ever earn. On that singular basis she has far exceeded your benefit to society. I gently remind you that you earned ALL of your fame and fortune off of a cover song. That begat the attention you wanted for all the other non-musical escapades you unleashed on the public. I’d respect your ideals much better if you had self-penned a rock opera, for example, on the level of Tommy, JC Superstar, Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake, or Odessey and Oracle. Other examples abound. Perhaps I’ve overlooked those gems in your catalogue. As for Miley, she’s got a good body (purely for the record, I prefer Sofias Loren and Vergara) and has an ok voice and they write her some ok songs. Wrecking ball ain’t half bad, whoever wrote it. Point is, I don’t care if you wear a nun’s habit or are stark naked upside down on a brass pole. If the sheer musical talent is there, which I think in your case is not, I’ll appreciate the music for what it is…. then.. now.. and forever. Just sayin’
I have to disagree on one point – Sinead O’Connor is a MUCH better singer than Miley EVER will be. Sinead is a singer – Miley is a performer.
Wolds of wisdom from crazy lady. Either bullshit or purest truth. This time the second.
And Muttley Macclad, freedom of speech does not depend of your taxes level neither subiective opinions on your work.
What on earth are you talking about? My point was nobody would listen to that kooky broad unless she sang some cover song. She’d just be some ranting loony somwhere.. I stated the contribution to society Miley makes in the only real way it matters: Money redistributed to others. Subjective opinions? Bwaaaaaah haaaah haaaah! Certain works of music (and art) transcend opinions. I know, it’s tough to grasp, but in the upper pantheon, it’s very, very true.
Terrible times we live in, if value of supposed artist counts in dollars.
Certain works of music? Maybe, but certainly by neither of them.
she is known to be diagnosed with a mental illness. i think it is horrific that people use this as an excuse to dismiss everything she says.