Sinéad did not enter the Fame Academy in the same way as the other contestants. The first eleven contestants were picked by the show's judges, but the final contestant was picked through a public vote in the first programme of the series. Sinéad, David Sneddon and Paul MacDonald sang in this vote but Sinéad won the public's support. She gained 51% of the votes and won her place in the Fame Academy.
The fan base Sinéad built up in the first programme stayed with her during the whole series, and allowed her to reach the final. During this time she sang a range of songs from Macy Gray's "I Try" and Garth Brook's "If Tomorrow Never Comes" to "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Don't Speak".
In the final, Sinéad was up against David Sneddon (who had entered the Academy at a later date due to Naomi Roper pulling out due to illness) and Lemar Obika. She finished second with 2.5 million of the 6.5 million votes cast. Although missing out on the guaranteed record deal and living the "lifestyle of a star" for a year, she had the attention of the music industry.
Within a week of leaving the Fame Academy, Sinéad signed a £1 million, five album record deal with Mercury Records.
Her debut single, "I Can’t Break Down", was released 10 February 2003. It reached number 2 in the British charts, being beaten to the top spot by t.A.T.u.. The single sold around 70,000 copies, finishing in 65th place for the top selling UK singles of 2003.
Sinéad's follow up single "What You Need Is" only reached number 19 in the charts, and her self-written album, Ready To Run, peaked at number 48.
Sinéad's only other releases to date was on the Fame Academy Album alongside all the other Fame Academy contestants and guest vocals on fellow contestant Malachi Cush's debut album.
Both before and after Fame Academy, Sinéad was a keen songwriter and performer. The show allowed her to develop her song writing talents and provided her with her first ever singing lessons. The Fame Academy Tour, which followed the series, gave Sinéad her first major public performances outside a TV studio.
In the three years since leaving the Fame Academy, Sinéad has had a regular list of public performances. With the backing of a guitar based group she went on a University tour in 2003. She has played to a full-house at Music Live 2003 at the National Exhibition Centre and in 2005 she supported Children in Need with a performance and sang at the switch-on of Christmas lights in Coventry. She has also taken part in RTÉ's TV show - "The Lyrics Board" and on New Year's Eve, 2005, she performed on another RTÉ television show - "Everyone's A Winner", singing Sheryl Crow's song - "Everyday Is A Winding Road".
Also in 2005 Sinéad was invited by the Irish President, Mary McAleese, "to a reception to celebrate (her) contribution to the entertainment industry in Ireland" at the Presidents official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin.
Sinéad has been touring with SSVC performing for the British Armed Forces around the world. Of note is the fact that while in Cyprus a special "Going Out Tonight" show was put on for those living on the RAF Akrotiri base, unusual because this meant it was open to anyone living on the base, including families of forces members, whereas these shows are normally reserved for servicemen on operations.
Sinéad played the role of Beth in the 2007 live tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. Also in 2007 she performed at and judged each of the nine regional finals for Girl Guiding UK's talent competition 'Guiding Star' and also appeared at the Grand Final in Sheffield on 30 June 2007 as a performer and a judge.
Whilst she's concentrated on smaller intimate gigs in 2008, mainly in smaller locations in London, she'll be the support act for Lulu at the Chichester Festivities in July.
Fire Me Up
Sinéad Quinn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that enough for any girl?
I want love, but need fun
I got all the time in the world
I try to keep my cool when your eyes wanna play
I could break loose when your lips touch mine that way
Got this electric feeling
(CHORUS)
I can tell you sold it; you charge me up
Make me melt and you know it; it's never too much
Confess, I know it, I love it
When you fire me up
There's no time for wasting; can't let you stop
You make me feel so sedated; it's never enough
I don't care, admit it, I love it
When you fire me up
Fire me up
Nice dreams, kept clean
To make an easy life
Trap me, I'll break free
I'm gonna fly if I can't drive
I won't pretend no more, can't let you win
Move and explore the heat of your breath on my skin
Got this electric feeling
Oh it's set mine screaming
(CHORUS)
Fire me up' fire me up'
Got this electric feeling
Oh it's set mine screaming
(Instrumental)
(CHORUS)
In Sinéad Quinn's song "Fire Me Up," the singer expresses her desire for both love and fun, but wonders if cute things and sweet dreams are enough satisfaction for any girl. She acknowledges her willingness to keep her cool in the face of a potential lover's advances, but admits that when they do touch, she feels an electric feeling that sets her screaming. She compares this feeling to being charged up, melted, and sedated - and asserts that she loves it when the other person "fires" her up.
Line by Line Meaning
Cute things, sweet dreams
Having cute things and pleasant dreams may be nice, but is that enough to satisfy any girl?
Is that enough for any girl?
The singer questions whether simple pleasures like cute things and sweet dreams are enough for a fulfilling life.
I want love, but need fun
The singer desires both love and excitement in her life.
I got all the time in the world
The singer has a lot of time to explore new experiences and relationships.
I try to keep my cool when your eyes wanna play
The singer tries to maintain her composure when the person she is interested in flirts with her.
I could break loose when your lips touch mine that way
Despite her efforts to stay calm, the singer can't help feeling overwhelmed when the person she is interested in kisses her.
Got this electric feeling
The singer has a strong, thrilling sensation inside her.
Oh it's set mine screaming
This feeling is so intense that it makes the singer want to scream.
I can tell you sold it; you charge me up
The singer acknowledges that the person she is interested in has a powerful effect on her.
Make me melt and you know it; it's never too much
The person the singer is interested in knows that they have a strong impact on her, and the singer feels that it's never too overwhelming.
Confess, I know it, I love it
The singer admits that she loves the way this person makes her feel.
When you fire me up
The singer becomes incredibly excited and energized when this person is around.
There's no time for wasting; can't let you stop
The singer doesn't want to waste any time and doesn't want this person to leave her side.
You make me feel so sedated; it's never enough
The person the singer is interested in makes her feel incredibly calm and relaxed, but she always wants more.
I don't care, admit it, I love it
The singer doesn't care what anyone else thinks, she admits that she loves the way this person makes her feel.
Nice dreams, kept clean
The singer has pleasant, pure dreams and aspirations for her life.
To make an easy life
These dreams and aspirations are meant to make her life easier and more fulfilling.
Trap me, I'll break free
The singer won't allow anyone or anything to hold her back from achieving her dreams.
I'm gonna fly if I can't drive
If she can't make progress towards her goals in one way, she'll find another way to reach them.
I won't pretend no more, can't let you win
The singer decides to stop pretending and hiding her feelings to avoid vulnerability. She won't let this person have the upper hand in their interactions.
Move and explore the heat of your breath on my skin
The singer wants to be more active in pursuing what she wants, and she is drawn to the physical intimacy between her and the person she is interested in.
Fire me up
The person the singer is interested in ignites a passionate, intense feeling in her.
Got this electric feeling
The singer still feels the powerful sensation that this person inspires in her.
Oh it's set mine screaming
This feeling is still so intense that it makes the singer want to scream.
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.