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.
Small Town Big Dreams
Sinéad Quinn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
even though i'll be gone, this is where i still belong, can you tell by my demeanour
i'm away, i can't wait
and the only bus is way past late
it's not you, don't you see, if i don't leave now
i'll seal my fate
cos we all want something greener
there must be something greener...
all i wanted was to let it all out
let my hair down take a good look and see
all i wanted was to show how i felt
go a little mental, baby that's no big deal
small town, big dreams ... that's just me
i don't know, i don't care, if my curtains match my underwear
got the taste, i want more, it's the big bad world i'm starving for
if it's tough, then i'll be meaner
i can't breath it's like i'm half dead
i'm an ordinary weirdo in my head, not a freak
just a little lost and incomplete
can you tell by my demeanor, gotta find that girl have you seen her?
all i wanted was to let it all out
let my hair down take a good look and see
all i wanted was to show how i felt
go a little mental, baby that's no big deal
small town, big dreams ... that's just me
so i gotta find out for myself
even if it is my living hell
i gotta learn by my mistakes
and prove that i wasn't crazy
for believing that i might have
what it takes
The lyrics of Sinéad Quinn's song "Small Town Big Dreams" explore the inner conflict of a young woman who dreams of something more in life. The first few lines indicate that she is leaving her small town, but despite her departure, she feels a sense of belonging there. The line, "can you tell by my demeanor," suggests that she has been misunderstood by those around her and that her ambition is not meant as a rejection of her hometown but an aspiration for more. The singer is eager to leave and has no qualms about abandoning the familiar for the unknown. She is ready to face the challenges of the "big bad world" and is willing to be tough and mean to succeed.
The chorus reveals the singer's desire to break free from the constraints of her small town and let her hair down. She wants to express herself freely without any judgment or limits. She acknowledges that she may be a little lost and incomplete but is willing to take risks to find herself. The line, "small town, big dreams ... that's just me," reaffirms the singer's identity and shows that even though she's leaving her hometown, she's taking a part of it with her.
Line by Line Meaning
step outside, close the door, i guess i'll see you later on,
Leaving home with the intention of returning later and bidding adieu to someone.
even though i'll be gone, this is where i still belong, can you tell by my demeanour
Although physically away, this place holds emotional significance and can be inferred from the singer's behavior.
i'm away, i can't wait
Excited to leave and explore outside of their comfort zone.
and the only bus is way past late
The only mode of transport is delayed, signifying obstacles that may arise in pursuit of their dreams.
it's not you, don't you see, if i don't leave now i'll seal my fate cos we all want something greener there must be something greener...
Not wanting to hurt those left behind, realizing that staying in the current place shall lead to stagnation, which is undesirable; the pursuit of something better, a greener pasture, is the motivation.
all i wanted was to let it all out let my hair down take a good look and see all i wanted was to show how i felt go a little mental, baby that's no big deal small town, big dreams ... that's just me
The expression of feelings in a suppressed environment is the desire; being free to be oneself wholly, chasing big dreams despite being from a small town are key identifiers for the singer.
i don't know, i don't care, if my curtains match my underwear got the taste, i want more, it's the big bad world i'm starving for if it's tough, then i'll be meaner i can't breath it's like i'm half dead i'm an ordinary weirdo in my head, not a freak just a little lost and incomplete can you tell by my demeanor, gotta find that girl have you seen her?
Not caring about superficialities, desiring more opportunities, and being ready to face obstacles are motivations for the singer. Feeling lost and incomplete is acknowledged, and there is a search for a version of themselves they feel comfortable with.
so i gotta find out for myself even if it is my living hell i gotta learn by my mistakes and prove that i wasn't crazy for believing that i might have what it takes
Despite the struggles, the singer is determined to pursue their dreams and learn from their mistakes, hoping to prove to themselves that their beliefs and aspirations were not unrealistic.
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.