Hey, it's Alan, and I just wanted to let you know that you can now listen to the ongoing

history of new music early and ad-free on Amazon music, included with Prime.

When the news broke of Shnate O'Connor's death on July 26, 2023, there were a couple of

different reactions. One was, who's Shnade O'Connor? Which wasn't terribly surprising.

Her last hit album was released in 1990.

A couple of generations had gone by since she was on the charts, and a lot of people may have never, ever heard any of her songs.

The second reaction came from readers of tabloids and gossip columns, those who had at least

peripherally heard about her struggles

through middle age. The third reaction came from those who remembered not only what a talent she was,

but that she was also a force of nature, unlike almost anyone we'd ever seen in music.

And that's why her death was front page news around the planet.

Sheenade O'Connor took a position, many positions, in fact, with her art and her public persona

and never, ever backed down.

She was always herself.

She was a non-conformist.

She would not be put in a box and refused to be silenced.

Sheenade spoke up on things few people would dare talk about,

including her own personal struggles, of which there were many.

She spoke up on women's rights, children's rights,

organized religion, the struggles of gay, lesbian, and transgender people,

AIDS patients, racial minorities,

and the patriarchy of the recorded music business.

...