Born on September 6, 1971, Dolores O'Riordan has earned the title of the greatest singer in Irish history, and for good reason. Her work with The Cranberries shaped the alternative rock, post-punk, and indie pop scene, even before it reached the mainstream .
The band, since its formation in 1989, released eight studio albums, the last one, In The End , released in 2019 as a tribute to Dolores with her final recordings. With the singer's death in January 2018, at the age of 46, the band came to an end, but her legacy and influence are eternal.
Here, we celebrate the life and career of Dolores O'Riordan, mostly alongside colleagues Michael Hogan, Noel Anthony Hogan , and Fergal Patrick Lawler , with their best songs.
11. “Salvation”
For their third studio album, To The Faithful Departed , from 1996, the group teamed up with hard rock producer Bruce Fairbairn ( Aerosmith , Bon Jovi) and the result was a bestseller at the time. “Salvation” deals with the world of drugs and discusses its problems.
10. "I Can't Be With You"
The only single from No Need To Argue that didn't explode on the charts was "I Can't Be With You," an instant classic for the band. With their rock side in full force, the group delivers a heartbreaking yet beautiful love song.
9. “When You're Gone”
One of the songs that best explores the range and power of Dolores' vocals comes from "When You're Gone," a love song that shows both sides of a relationship. Here, the Cranberries once again demonstrate their pop side.
8. “Ordinary Day”
Shifting the focus away from The Cranberries and looking back at Dolores' solo career, "Ordinary Day" immediately comes to mind. The lead single from her debut album, Are You Listening?, explores difficulties the singer has experienced in her life.
7. “The Pressure”
In April 2019, the band decided to release one last album, celebrating Dolores' life and career. With their final recordings, The Cranberries released eleven incredible tracks that make us mourn her loss while also giving thanks for the art she left behind. "The Pressure" is the penultimate song on the album, but it's a work that unites all the band's basic elements, like a classic Cranberries track.
6. “Ode To My Family”
No Need to Argue , a major hit for the group, begins with “Ode To My Family,” a blend of the Cranberries’ melody and power with a light, upbeat pop sound. The track is inspired by her childhood: “Because we were raised to see life as fun and take it if we can,” she sings.
5. “Free to Decide”
With the success of The Cranberries, Dolores and the band members found themselves bombarded by journalists and paparazzi trying to get to know them better. Fame didn't please them so much and inspired "Free to Decide," a song that questions the importance of time and the decisions people make with it: "You must have nothing more to do with your time/There's a war in Russia and Sarajevo too."
4. “Animal Instinct”
After the release of To The Faithful Departed , the group went on hiatus and Dolores had her first baby around that time, which inspired some changes in the Cranberries' sound when they returned. Like "Ode To My Family," the track is inspired by the vocalist's experiences, but this time about her life as a mother and how the process changed her in many ways. The single was one of the biggest hits from the 1999 Bury The Hatchet
3. “Dreams”
The band's first single and one of their most famous songs, "Dreams" was responsible for their commercial success and has since been featured in numerous soundtracks. Delicate yet powerful, the song showcases the strength of Dolores' vocals. A classic from the band.
2. “Linger”
This was the band's first hit, and listening to it, it's easy to understand why. "Linger" is an important milestone for The Cranberries, not only for its commercial success but also for marking their first collaboration with O'Riordan in the band.
1. “Zombie”
Power and rage overflow from Dolores in the group's second hit. "Zombie" was an immediate success for the band when they released the album No Need to Argue in 1994. The track was composed during the previous year's tour in tribute to Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, two young men who died in the IRA (Irish Republican Army) bombing in Warrington, United Kingdom.
