Over 30 years later, Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 live performance of “The Last Day of Our Acquaintance” on Saturday Night Live remains a testament to the enduring artistry and impact of both the artist and the song itself.
Two years before her infamous tearing up of the Pope’s photo in 1992, O’Connor brought her signature intense, raw vocals to the SNL stage, backed by her full band. Gripping an acoustic guitar, she unleashed the full force of her voice, channeling the dark emotions of the break-up ballad.
O’Connor embodied the haunting lyrics that still resonate decades later:
This is the last day of our acquaintance
I will meet you later in somebody’s office
I’ll talk, but you won’t listen to me
I know what your answer will beI know you don’t love me anymore
You used to hold my hand when the plane took off
Two years ago there just seemed so much more
And I don’t know what happened to our loveToday’s the day our friendship has been stale
And we will meet later to finalise the details
Two years ago the seed was planted
And since then you have taken me for grantedBut this is the last day of our acquaintance
I will meet you later in somebody’s office
I’ll talk, but you won’t listen to me
I know your answer alreadyBut this is the last day of our acquaintance (oh-oh-oh)
I will meet you later in somebody’s office (oh-oh-oh)
I’ll talk, but you won’t listen to me (oh-oh-oh)
I know your answer already (oh-oh-oh)I know your answer already (oh-oh-oh)
I know your answer already
Toward the end, O’Connor unleashed her full vocal range, belting out the title with astonishing force.
The performance highlighted her versatility as a live performer able to mesmerize with both her soaring vocals and musicality. O’Connor would go on to deliver her iconic a cappella performance of Bob Marley’s “War” in 1992.
But it was her delivery of “The Last Day of Our Acquaintance” on SNL in 1990 that exemplified the sheer intensity and mastery that made Sinead O’Connor such an electrifying performer. Over 30 years later, it remains an extraordinary display of her singular talent and the timeless nature of the song itself.
In 2022, the song was featured in the climactic scene of the season one finale of the coming-of-age series High School on Amazon Freevee, based on the memoir by Tegan and Sara chronicling their teenage years in the 1990s. It played a pivotal role in the show’s dramatic conclusion, demonstrating the continued resonance of O’Connor’s music decades later.
As we reflect on this iconic performance in July 2023, just days after O’Connor’s untimely passing on July 26th, both the artist and the song stand as enduring emblems of creative genius and emotional authenticity.
Watch the performance below.
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