Johnny Depp and Imelda May have joined forces for ‘Haunted’, the second single from the upcoming tribute album 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan, out November 13 via Rubyworks.
Originally penned for the Sid and Nancy soundtrack, ‘Haunted’ was a 1995 duet featuring Sinéad O’Connor that transformed a ballad into a hauntingly beautiful anthem of eternal devotion. Following the tragic passing of both Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor in 2023, the song has evolved into a deeply poignant piece about friendship and artistic kinship.
Listening to the new release, it is genuinely nice to hear the singing voice of Johnny Depp taking a prominent role. Alongside Imelda May, the duo delivers a cute and deeply endearing cover of the beloved classic, keeping the spirit of the original alive while adding their own heartfelt touch.
Johnny Depp spoke warmly of his late friends, stating that Shane was one of the greatest poets of his generation whose words have a way of cutting right through you. He praised Sinéad O’Connor for her unique voice, her immense courage and her refusal to be anything less than completely herself.
Imelda May added that it is an absolute honour to pay tribute to her beloved friends by singing this beautiful song alongside her incredibly talented friend Johnny Depp. In a deeply touching detail, May revealed that her vocals were recorded using the exact microphone once owned by Sinéad O’Connor, courtesy of her long time producer and right hand man John Reynolds.
This new single follows the global success of the lead track ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ by Bruce Springsteen. The full album features a massive roster of legendary contributors including Hozier, Tom Waits, The Libertines, The Murder Capital, Primal Scream, Lisa O’Neill and The Pogues.
In keeping with the lifelong empathy of Shane MacGowan, half of the artist royalties will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community to support people experiencing homelessness. A limited edition deluxe physical release featuring an extensive book of memorabilia is available to pre order now.
