When the world noticed the cranberries

A few days ago a video became viral on social media in which an Iranian singer, Aydin Nazmi, sang “Zombie”Of the Cranberries under the bombing of Israel on Tehran. Turn on a hill of the Iranian city, the clip saw Nazmi reinterpret the verses of the text of the Hit of Dolores O’Riordan and members by linking them to the situation in the Middle East: «But you, it’s not me, It’s not my family / in your head, in your head, they are fighthin ‘ / with their tanks and their Bombs and Their Guns / in Your Head, in Your Head, they are cryin ‘». Saying poignant is little to say. The cover underlined once again The sad topicality of the Cranberries songwhich unfortunately never seems to go out of fashion. O’erordan composed “zombie” in memory of two boys, Jonathan Ball and Tim Parrywho were killed in an attack in Warrington, in the United Kingdom, at the hands ofAngeror the Irish republican army, aTerrorist paramilitary organization that in those years fought for the end of the British presence in Northern Ireland and the reunification with the Republic of Ireland. It was 1993. The song would come out a year later, in September 1994, published as an anticipation of the second album of the Irish band, “No need to argue” thirty years From his exit, “says the drummer of the then semi -unknown Cranberries today, Fergal Lawlerspeaking of the thirtieth anniversary of the album that catapults O’eriordan – who died prematurely in 2018, at just 46 years old – and members at the top of the international rankings.

The reprint of the disc, which marked a turning point for the band

To celebrate the anniversary, a Limited edition deluxe box containing three vinyls, out today. The August 15th instead they will arrive aDeluxe edition in double LP and double CDs, an LP, a CD and a digital edition. Originally published on October 3, 1994, “No Need to Argue” represented one turning For the Irish group, which already with the individual extracted from the debut album of the previous year “Everybody Else is doing it, I know Why Can’t We?” he had captured the attention of MTVat the time a central player for the affirmation of the bands. Compared to their debut album, more Dream Pop and Jangle Pop, “No Need to Argue” showed a darker, more powerful and gritty sound, which squeezed the grunge. Starting right from “Zombie”, the song symbol of the disc, which also marked a clear break with the most romantic and post-adolescent tones of the first album, giving the Cranberries amore political and committed identity. “There was no” second album complications syndrome “. Dolores had no problem writing on tour and, on the contrary, he was full of ideas. Often, once a song was completed, it was inserted directly in the live set, so the audience could listen to many of the songs before they were registered. I remember playing “zombie”, for example, at the beginning of 1993, during our first European tour with the Hothouse Flowers. People loved her immediately, “recalls Lawler.

Criticism for “zombie”

“Zombie” denounced the situation of violence in which in those years he paid northern Ireland. The song spoke of inhumanity and violence: The zombies of the text are those who do not see, addicted as living dead, unable to realize endless violence. «People say we shouldn’t have written” zombies “, but I am Irish. I am a human being. I was allowed to have feelings for Northern Ireland, just as I have allowed me feelings for what is happening in Bosnia. I express them in my songs. It is up to people to decide whether to listen to them or not, “Dolores O’erordan explained in the interviews. “Zombie” was undoubtedly the most openly political and busy song of “No Need to Argue”, but the record also contained other songs which, albeit in a less direct way, touched social or cultural themes. “Serious years“For example, he was a tribute to the Irish poet WB Yeats who then widened to become a Tribute to the band’s Irish rootsto underline – with a patriotic vein – the value of artistic and national memory. “The Icicle Melts“It was inspired by the kidnapping and murder of little James Bulger, a black news case that in 1993 shook the United Kingdom: a hard and critical social reflection that spoke of the horror of violence against children.

The legacy of “No Need to Argue”

“Zombie” conquered the first place in the standings in Australia, Denmark, France, Belgium, Germany, reached the summit of the Billboard alternative Airplay ranking, and was awarded as “Song of the Year” at the MTV Europe Music Awards of 1995. The special vinyl packaging from three LPs in a limited edition of “No Need to Argue” includes an unprecedented demo of “Zombie”, live recordings by Woodstock ’94 and the band MTV of the band, originally broadcast on April 18, 1995. “It was an honor to participate in the MTV UNPLugged and I am really proud that our songs did not need all the frills found in the studio to play better. They worked equally well, essential and played in acoustic », reflects Lawler thirty years. “No Need to Argue” is often mentioned as the album that has contributed to consolidating Irish music worldwide: “I really believe that what pushes people to listen to the Cranberries is the honesty of their music – said Dolores O’erordan – some fans ask:” Don’t you embarrassed to sing about these things? “. But I reply: “This is what makes me what they are. I will not change for anyone”».