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Hayley Williams paid tribute to Sinéad O’Connor by performing a cover of “Mandinka” during her recent concert in Dublin. Watch footage of the performance below.
The Paramore frontwoman included the song in her set during the second of two performances at Dublin’s National Stadium on Tuesday, June 30, bringing the European leg of her “Hayley Williams At A Bachelorette Party” tour to a close.
Before beginning the cover, as the audience chanted “Free, free Palestine,” Williams addressed the crowd, saying: “This goes out to all the Irish artists who use their voice, they’re so inspiring. And of course, Queen Sinéad O’Connor.”
“Mandinka” originally appeared on O’Connor’s 1987 debut album, “The Lion And The Cobra,” and became one of the songs that introduced her to a wider audience. The track drew inspiration from Alex Haley’s Roots, the groundbreaking novel and television miniseries that follows the story of an African American family back to Kunta Kinte, a Mandinka man who was captured and forced into slavery.
Watch footage of the performance here:
O’Connor passed away in July 2023 at the age of 56. Since then, she has continued to be remembered as one of Ireland’s most influential and uncompromising artists, celebrated not only for her music but also for her outspoken views on political, religious and social issues.
More recently, several artists have honored O’Connor by recording their own interpretations of her songs. Fontaines D.C. contributed a version of “Black Boys On Mopeds” to the War Child charity album “Help(2)” earlier this year, while Kate Nash released her take on “Famine” in April.
NME attended Williams’ recent performance at Manchester Academy, awarding the show five stars and describing it as an intimate concert that balanced “joy and rage,” adding that it “felt like an old school reunion with family you only see once every five years.”
During the UK and Ireland tour, Williams also welcomed special guests to the stage. Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale joined her at London’s Roundhouse for a performance of “Parachute,” while The xx’s Romy appeared at an earlier London show to perform a duet of Prefab Sprout’s “Wild Horses.”
Williams officially released “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” last August after first surprising fans by making 17 songs available through her website. In a five star review, NME praised the album, saying it saw her “fearlessly stepping between familiar and fresh influences.”
Alongside her solo work, Williams has also been releasing music with Daniel James under the name Power Snatch. Last week, the duo unveiled two new singles, “Great” and “Training,” following the earlier releases “Copy,” “Rub” and “Love Plus One.”
Williams is next scheduled to appear at the Newport Folk Festival later this month before heading back to North America and Latin America in September for “The Hayley Williams Show” tour.
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Miley Cyrus has officially joined the Barbie universe with a collector doll created in her likeness.
The Flowers singer is the latest star to receive a collectible figure as part of Mattel's Barbie Signature Series.
According to Mattel, the new doll recognizes Miley's lasting influence as a musician, actress, and champion of self expression while celebrating the impact she has made across music, entertainment, and pop culture.
The design is inspired by the custom Alaïa outfit Miley wore in her Golden Burning Sun music video. The doll is dressed in a faux leather two piece pants ensemble with a hooded jacket, black pointed toe heels, and comes complete with a microphone.
In a statement, the 33 year old shared that she worked closely with the Barbie team, saying she spent "so much time digging into the details" to make sure the doll truly reflected both her creativity and personal style.
"Seeing my Barbie for the first time is a dream come true," she said. "We did not miss any marks when it came down to the design of my doll from the look, the hair, the accessories, the makeup, and the structure. Every detail was purposeful, and we spent a lot of time perfecting her not to be perfect, because that wouldn't be representative of me, but to really get down to the details of this Golden Burning Sun look."
Miley also celebrated the milestone in an Instagram video, describing it as a "full circle moment" and recalling how she used to braid her Barbie dolls' hair and switch their outfits when she was younger.
"She's something I'll never outgrow as she evolves with me," she captioned the video. "As an adult, I treasure my collection I never take out of the box. Holding my Barbie in my hands is a true full circle moment."
The former Hannah Montana star now joins fellow music icons including Kylie Minogue, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, and Elton John, all of whom have previously been honored with their own Barbie Signature Series dolls.
The Barbie Signature Miley Cyrus Collectible Doll is available now and sells for $92.77 (£69.99).
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