Dolores O'Riordan, the Irish solo artist and frontwoman of The Cranberries, died unexpectedly in London on January 15, 2018.
It is impossible to state how important the music of O'Riordan and The Cranberries - Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler - was to so many people around the world, but especially their native Ireland.
The rock band with humble Limerick beginnings finally made it into the mainstream music scene in the early-mid-90s after a few fits and starts, channeling a wide range of emotions, from the longing and melancholy of unrequited love to the anger and pain of The Troubles, in Northern Ireland. The power and adaptability of O'Riordan's voice made you believe she could do anything as an artist.
Here are some of the best songs by The Cranberries and from Dolores O'Riordan's solo career:
"Dreams"
Though their song Linger would become The Cranberries' first big hit, "Dreams" was, in fact, the first single they released, back in 1992, as a lead-up to the album "Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" It's a delicate yet soaring track, and what is often described as O'Riordan's "Irish power yodel" is a real tour de force.
"Linger"
This was their first big hit, and it's very easy to hear why. "Linger" was one of the first songs The Cranberries worked on when O'Riordan joined the band, and it was all about first attraction and rejection. In an interview with The Irish Times, O'Riordan explained the song's very relatable origins:
“It was inspired by a night I had at a club called Madonna’s. This guy asked me to dance and I thought he was lovely. Until then, I’d always thought that putting tongues in mouths was disgusting, but when he gave me my first proper kiss, I did indeed ‘have to let it linger’.
“I couldn’t wait to see him again. But at the next disco, he walked straight past me and asked my friend to dance. I was devastated. Everyone saw me being dumped, publicly, at the disco. Everything’s so dramatic when you’re 17, so I poured it into the song.
"Zombie"
With "Zombie", their next big hit, O'Riordan proved her voice could also harness sheer power and anger. "Zombie" was the number-one hit from their 1994 album "No Need to Argue". They wrote it while on tour in 1993, in memory of Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, two young boys who were killed in the IRA bombings in Warrington.
"Ode to My Family"
Their second single from "No Need to Argue", "Ode to My Family" dreamily contrasts the happiness and comforts of childhood with the loneliness of adulthood and fame. From the framed photos of JFK to singing in the back room of a pub, the music video did an excellent job conjuring that place and time as well.
"Salvation"
Has there ever been a more rocking song that encourages a generation of fans to say no to drugs than The Cranberries' 1996 song "Salvation"? Unlikely. It was the lead single from their third studio album "To the Faithful Departed."
"Ordinary Day"
The lead single from O'Riordan's 2007 debut solo album "Are You Listening?", "Ordinary Day" very honestly grapples with O'Riordan's own struggles.
The Cranberries on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert
And lastly, for an especially intimate acoustic set, marvel at this 2012 Tiny Desk Concert The Cranberries did at NPR headquarters for the release of their 2012 album, Roses.
Rest in peace, Dolores.
*Originally published in 2018. Updated in 2024.
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