Sinéad O’Connor Posthumously Charts A New Top 40 Collaboration

Years after their deaths, Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan are back on the charts in the United Kingdom with a song that first arrived three decades ago. Their duet “Haunted” makes a very special return, appearing on multiple tallies as it both debuts and returns, depending on the list. The two late superstars still claim large fan bases in the country, where they found great fame during their heydays, and it’s these listeners who headed out to brick and mortar record stores to pick up the special edition of their joint tune.

“Haunted” Returns as a Bestselling Vinyl

“Haunted” makes a home on three different U.K. rankings. The song, a collaboration between The Pogues frontman MacGowan and the unmistakable O’Connor, reenters the Official Physical Singles chart at No. 18. That’s a new high for the track on that particular list, which tracks purchases on formats like CDs, cassettes, and vinyl.

Back in April 1995, “Haunted” debuted on the same tally at No. 30. It fell to No. 55 the following week before dropping off entirely. Now, 30 years later – almost exactly – the cut doesn’t just reappear, it surges to a new all-time best placement, entering the top 20 for the first time.

Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan Score Another Hit

Alongside its success on the physical sales list, “Haunted” also debuts on two other rankings in the U.K. The reissued cut launches at No. 17 on the Official Vinyl Singles chart, its best position among the three tallies where it can be found. It also narrowly lands inside the top 40 on the Official Singles Sales roster, which counts all purchases across every physical and digital format. On that list, it starts at No. 39.

Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan’s Classic

Originally released in 1995, “Haunted” wasn’t a brand new song even then. MacGowan first recorded the track with his band The Pogues years earlier, but it was reimagined as a duet when he brought O’Connor in to create a new version. That take proved to be a hit, reaching No. 30 on the Official Singles chart.

Sinéad O’Connor’s Massive Record Store Day

When “Haunted” was new, it was issued as a four-track collection on CD and cassette. The product featured several covers and B-sides from MacGowan, and the four cuts made it more enticing to buyers back in the ‘90s. That original tracklist was pressed on vinyl for the first time on a 12-inch wax record. The Record Store Day exclusive was obviously something that fans of both late musicians were interested in, as the decades-old cut is a quick bestseller.