Editing Sinéad O'Connor (section)

=== 1987–1989: ''The Lion and the Cobra'' ===
[[File:Sinead O'Connor 1988.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|O'Connor in 1988]]
O'Connor's first album, ''[[The Lion and the Cobra]]'', was "a sensation" when it was released in 1987 on [[Chrysalis Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lion-and-the-cobra-r14360 |title=The Lion and the Cobra |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=18 March 2012 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726083442/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lion-and-the-cobra-r14360 |url-status=live}}</ref> O'Connor named [[Bob Dylan]], [[David Bowie]], [[Bob Marley]], [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], and [[the Pretenders]] as the artists who influenced her on her debut album.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gaisne |first=Julien |date=April 2012 |title=Sinead O'Connor interview |magazine=Rolling Stone (French Version) |issue=42 |quote=Q: Qui étaient tes artistes préférés quand tu as commencé? A:Bob Dylan, il l'est probablement toujours. Il y avait aussi David Bowie, Bob Marley, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Pretenders. ''(Translation) Q:Who were your favourite singers when you started? A:Bob Dylan, he probably still is. There were also David Bowie, Bob Marley, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Pretenders.''}}</ref> ''The Lion and the Cobra'' was the first of a serie of albums that she co-produced. The single "[[Mandinka (song)|Mandinka]]" was a [[college radio]] hit in the United States, and "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" received both college and urban play in a [[remix]]ed form that featured [[rapper]] [[MC Lyte]]. The song "[[Troy (song)|Troy]]" was also released as a single in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, where it reached number 5 on the [[Dutch Top 40]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=5811 |title=De Nederlandse Top 40, week 3, 1988 |work=[[Radio 538]] |access-date=8 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120160334/http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=5811 |archive-date=20 January 2008}}</ref>

In her first US network television appearance, O'Connor sang "Mandinka" on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' in 1988.<ref name="BBC obituary">{{Cite web|date=27 July 2023 |title=Sinéad O'Connor obituary: A talent beyond compare |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35031186 |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref> She was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and performed "Mandinka" at the [[31st Annual Grammy Awards]]. She painted the logo of the hip hop group [[Public Enemy]] on her head to protest the first-ever Best Rap Performance award being conferred off-screen.<ref name="McCabe-2023b">{{cite web |author=McCabe |first=Allyson |date=26 July 2023 |title=When America Met Sinéad O'Connor |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/sinead-oconnor-nothing-compares-grammys.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |url-status=live |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801210649/https://www.vulture.com/article/sinead-oconnor-nothing-compares-grammys.html}}</ref>

In 1989, O'Connor provided guest vocals on [[The The]]'s album ''[[Mind Bomb]]'', on the duet "Kingdom of Rain".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.djdmac.com/blog/song-day-the-the-kingdom-rain/|title=Song of the Day: The The "Kingdom of Rain"|first=Alex|last=Deley|website=djdmac.com|date=31 March 2020|accessdate=26 July 2023}}</ref> That same year, she made another foray into cinema, starring in and writing the music for the Northern Irish film ''[[Hush-a-Bye Baby|Hush-a-Bye-Baby]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hush-a-bye Baby (1989) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7a0d5343 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413031211/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7a0d5343 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2019 |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Sinéad O'Connor - The Boston Globe (1988).jpg|thumb|left|O'Connor performing in 1988]]