4 ms·

I think it speaks less to people's religious feelings and more towards the rather apolitical and apathetic alternative music culture at the time. If I recall th

I think it speaks less to people's religious feelings and more towards the rather apolitical and apathetic alternative music culture at the time. If I recall the atmosphere at the time it was less "how dare she say that about the Pope?!" and more "how dare she co-opt the public stage for controversial/'political' speech?!" I also don't recall the outrage at her SNL performance even being particularly or especially by Catholics in particular, though I'm sure it was stronger among them. The rage around her Pope-photo-tearing photo on SNL I think was about: we're trying to sell/watching a entertainment products here, and now you've just gone and made things intense. They just wanted the dancing bear. She was an intense personality, an artist, not an entertainer. Maybe getting a billboard #1 single and becoming a sensation was the worst thing that could have happened for her. People just wanted to be entertained -- they wanted the fantastic voice but without the powerful emotions and convictions behind it -- and she didn't want to be a 'product' I agree it's especially jarring in the context of a Bob Dylan tribute.

jgwil2 3y ago
> Maybe getting a billboard #1 single and becoming a sensation was the worst thing that could have happened for her. She said as much herself in her recent memoir: “I feel that having a No. 1 record derailed my career, and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.”
lamontcg 3y ago
> "how dare she co-opt the public stage for controversial/'political' speech?!" i don't know if the religious or the apolitical/centrists are worse.
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  It's also important to remember how different that era of broadcast TV is from today though. It was far more centralized. Pre-streaming services, obviously, but also less penetration of cable and satellite TV, and so when something made it onto live broadcast television, there was a large audience, and they didn't have as many choices about what to watch, instead. So to get yourself onto live television in a popular spot, and do what she did was ballsy, and obviously clearly intended to make impact... but you can also see how people who tuned in expecting one thing and got something else could get angry. Which was of course her intent.
  - jacquesm 3y ago
    They were directing their anger at the wrong person.
jacquesm 3y ago
I hope none of that audience ever goes to see Anne Clark then.
listenallyall 3y ago
> we're trying to sell/watching a entertainment products here, and now you've just gone and made things intense I know the enlightened viewpoint is that tearing up the pope's photo was brave and progressive, that Sinead was ahead of her time in recognizing the faults of the Catholic church -- but yes, exactly, she absolutely failed to "read the room." SNL in the early 90s was one of the best eras, but it was also one of its silliest. Hans and Franz, Wayne's World, Farley, Sandler, Spade. There was absolutely no way, at that time, any kind of serious mid-show protest would gain positive attention. She screwed up, no way around it.
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  Why do you think she wanted positive attention? Believe it or not, not everybody is selling themselves all the time.
  - listenallyall 3y ago
    I don't claim she wanted positive attention to her music, to sell more records or anything. Likely the opposite, who knows. But when people protest, they do so to bring attention to some cause, that's the point of the protest. As she tore the photo, Sinead said into the mic on live television "fight the real enemy," referring to the church. But it totally backfired, instead of taking her claims seriously, the majority of Catholics rallied behind the church and the very popular pope, and any investigation into the darkside of the church was likely delayed for a decade or more.
    - beedeebeedee 3y ago
      > But it totally backfired ... and any investigation into the darkside of the church was likely delayed for a decade or more. That is completely debunked by the facts and a very bonkers statement. It provided survivors with a sympathetic voice that helped many of them come forward, especially in Ireland. Please get your facts in order before making such an egregious statement.

jgwil2 3y ago

> Maybe getting a billboard #1 single and becoming a sensation was the worst thing that could have happened for her. She said as much herself in her recent memoir: “I feel that having a No. 1 record derailed my career, and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.”

lamontcg 3y ago

> "how dare she co-opt the public stage for controversial/'political' speech?!" i don't know if the religious or the apolitical/centrists are worse.

cmrdporcupine 3y ago
It's also important to remember how different that era of broadcast TV is from today though. It was far more centralized. Pre-streaming services, obviously, but also less penetration of cable and satellite TV, and so when something made it onto live broadcast television, there was a large audience, and they didn't have as many choices about what to watch, instead. So to get yourself onto live television in a popular spot, and do what she did was ballsy, and obviously clearly intended to make impact... but you can also see how people who tuned in expecting one thing and got something else could get angry. Which was of course her intent.
- jacquesm 3y ago
  They were directing their anger at the wrong person.

jacquesm 3y ago

I hope none of that audience ever goes to see Anne Clark then.

listenallyall 3y ago

> we're trying to sell/watching a entertainment products here, and now you've just gone and made things intense I know the enlightened viewpoint is that tearing up the pope's photo was brave and progressive, that Sinead was ahead of her time in recognizing the faults of the Catholic church -- but yes, exactly, she absolutely failed to "read the room." SNL in the early 90s was one of the best eras, but it was also one of its silliest. Hans and Franz, Wayne's World, Farley, Sandler, Spade. There was absolutely no way, at that time, any kind of serious mid-show protest would gain positive attention. She screwed up, no way around it.

cmrdporcupine 3y ago
Why do you think she wanted positive attention? Believe it or not, not everybody is selling themselves all the time.
- listenallyall 3y ago
  I don't claim she wanted positive attention to her music, to sell more records or anything. Likely the opposite, who knows. But when people protest, they do so to bring attention to some cause, that's the point of the protest. As she tore the photo, Sinead said into the mic on live television "fight the real enemy," referring to the church. But it totally backfired, instead of taking her claims seriously, the majority of Catholics rallied behind the church and the very popular pope, and any investigation into the darkside of the church was likely delayed for a decade or more.
  - beedeebeedee 3y ago
    > But it totally backfired ... and any investigation into the darkside of the church was likely delayed for a decade or more. That is completely debunked by the facts and a very bonkers statement. It provided survivors with a sympathetic voice that helped many of them come forward, especially in Ireland. Please get your facts in order before making such an egregious statement.