The Cranberries
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The Cranberries is an Irish band with a unique style who has passion in Alternative Rock & Pop music. "Zombie" is one of their hit singles that made them more appealing in the world of music industry.
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About
The Cranberries band formed in 1990, from two brothers of Limerick named Noel and Mike Hogan together with Fergal Lawler- band drummer. The name of the band was formed from a cranberry sauce pun “The Cranberry Saw US”. Alternative rock is the genre of music that this band is inclined to. The band started with a lead singer named Niall Quinn, a friend of theirs who loves in composing song names, like “My Grandma drowned in a fountain in Lourdes”, “ I was always all ways” and “Throw Me Down A big Stairs”. As the lead singer left the band, a fiend of Niall’s girlfriend name Dolores O’ Riordan auditioned and become the band’s lead singer. When the band turned over to her the demo of the melody they have been working on, Dolores shows her extravagant lyrical ability. The band was amazed as when Dolores returned the demo with a full set of lyrics the next day. This song becomes one of their biggest hits, none other than ”Linger.”
The band’s homemade demo tape became locally successful and they soon recorded another demo tape which was sold in record stores throughout Ireland. The group truncated their name to “The Cranberries” after their original run of 300 copies sold out. During their late teens, they made another demo tape at Xeric studios, run by Pearse Gilmore, who later become their manager. They sent another demo tape that features early version of “Linger” and “Dreams” to record companies throughout the U.K.
Their demo tape catches U.K. press and record industry’s attention which become a bidding war between major British records labels. They signed a contract with Island Records, U2 is also one of the famous Irish contract that time. During the recording of their first single “Uncertain”, Gilmore as their producer as well, supported the band during their recording at the studio. The title of their first single is prophetic, where the band did resulted to a poor reviews in the press, which adds tension between Gilmore and the band. The time that the band was scheduled to record their debut in 1992, they discovered that Gilmore had signed a hidden deal with Islands in order to improve their studios. They ended into a broke up due to the great tensions between the band and Gilmore. Because of what had happened, they hired Geoff Travis of Rough Riders Records as their new manager, and Stephen Smith, who previously worked with The Smiths, as the band’s new producer.
The Band:
- Dolores O'Riordan - born September 6, 1971, Limerick, Ireland - Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards
- Noel Anthony Hogan-born December 25, 1971, Limerick, Ireland - Electric & Acoustic Guitars & co-writer
- Michael Gerard Hogan - born April 29, 1973, Limerick, Ireland - Bass Guitar
- Fergal Patrick Lawler - born March 4, 1971, Limerick, Ireland - Drums and Percussion
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | IRMA Award | Best New Irish Band |
| 1994 | Music Week Award | Best Band |
| 1995 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Song "Zombie" |
| 1995 | Music & Media (UK) | #1 Album Act |
| 1995 | Music & Media (UK) | #1 Top Selling Act |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot 100 | Top 40 Main. | Mains. Rock | Modern Rock | Adult Top 40 | UK | France | Irish Singles Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Dreams" | 42 | 33 | - | 15 | - | 27 | - | 9 | Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? |
| 1993 | "Linger" | 8 | 7 | - | 4 | - | - | 3 | - | Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? |
| 1994 | "Zombie" | - | 18 | 32 | 1(6) | - | 14 | 1 | 3 | No Need To Argue |
| 1994 | "Ode To My family" | - | 35 | - | 11 | - | 26 | 4 | 16 | No Need To Argue |
| 1995 | "I Can't Be with You" | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 24 | - | No Need To Argue |
| 1995 | "Ridiculous Thoughts" | - | - | - | 14 | - | 20 | - | 23 | No Need to Argue |
| 1996 | "Free to Decide" | - | 16 | - | 8 | 23 | 33 | 43 | 28 | To the Faithful Departed |
| 1996 | "When You're Gone" | 22 | 27 | - | - | 17 | - | 26 | 21 | To the Faithful Departed |
| 1999 | "Promises" | - | - | - | 12 | - | 13 | 32 | 19 | Bury the Hatchet |
| 1999 | "Animal Instinct" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 71 | - | Bury the Hatchet |
| 1999 | "Just My Imagination" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 71 | - | Bury the Hatchet |
| 2001 | "Analyse" | - | - | - | - | 26 | 89 | 57 | 28 | Wake Up and Smell the Coffe |
Discography
Albums
Studio Albums
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Compilation Albums:
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 Stars: The Best of 1992-2002
Label: ISLAND RECORDS INC. New York |
Singles
| Album | Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early EP | 1991 |
| Xeric Records |
| UK Single | 1993 |
| Island Records |
| 1994 |
| Island Records | |
| UK Single | 1994 |
| Island Records |
| US Single | 1994 |
| Island Records |
| US Single | 1994 |
| Island Records |
| UK Single (Part 1) | 1995 |
| Island Records - UK Single Part 1 |
| UK Single (Part 2) | 1995 |
| Island Records - UK Single Part 2 |
| UK Single | 1995 |
| Island Records |
| US Single | 1996 |
| Island Records |
| UK Single | 1996 |
| Island Records |
| Europe Single | 1996 |
| Island Records |
| France Single | 1997 |
| Island Records |
| Europe/ North America Single | 1999 |
| Island Records |
| UK Single (Part 1) | 1999 |
| Island Records- UK Single Part 1 |
| UK Single (Part 2) | 1999 |
| Island Records -UK Single Part 2 |
| US Single | 1999 |
| Island Records |
| Europe Single | 1999 |
| Island Records |
| Europe Single | 2000 |
| Island Records |
| UK Single | 2001 |
| MCAR Records |
| US Single | 2001 |
| MCAR Records |
| US Single | 2001 |
| MCAR |
| UK Single | 2002 |
| MCAR Records |
| European Single | 2002 |
| Island Records |
| Europe Single | 2002 |
| Island Records |
Compilations & Live Releases
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 Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond the Call of Duty Vol.2
Released: 2001 Featured Track: "Zombie" (remix) |
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 Legacy - A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac's Rumours Legacy
Released: 1998 Featured Track: "Go Your Own Way" |
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Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- During the Spider-Man 2, Dolores O’ Riordan was supposed to appear with her song “Black Widow”, unfortunately the song was edited off, which was said the song will appear on O’Riordan’s solo album, once it will be released.
- April 10, 2005 when Dolores gave birth to a baby girl named Dakota Rain Burton.
- An album named Zucchero & Co., with the song “Pure Love”, where Dolores also appears. Famous Superstars like Sting, Sheryl Crow and Eric Clapton also appeared on the said album.
Reviews
The Cranberries is really influential to their fans. They were also known as the music experts, with songs that are really amazing especially when the lead vocalist Dolores O’ Riordan started to sing with his unique voice. This band proved that alternative rock is one of the music genre loved during their times. - Rjfortyfive, 11/20/2006, 11:20
External Links
The Cranberries official website
