6 Facts About “Zombie” by The Cranberries

In the aftermath of a bombing in England at the hands of the IRA, The Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan wrote “Zombie,” an intense rock song criticizing the violence. It was a total departure from the lighter, more pop-oriented songs on their debut album, but it became their biggest hit.

Hit Song

“Zombie” became The Cranberries’ biggest hit, hitting No. 1 in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and Iceland. Although it was not eligible to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, it hit No. 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart. Its popularity has endured, and in 2020, it became the first song by an Irish artist to receive one billion views on YouTube.

Controversy

O’Riordan was accused of taking sides in the conflict, a claim she pushed back on. “I care about the fact that innocent people are being harmed,” she said at the time. “That’s what provoked me to write the song… It doesn’t name terrorist groups or organizations. It doesn’t take sides. It’s a very human song.”

Banned

The BBC, as well as Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ, banned the music video for “Zombie” due to its “violent images”—the video was filmed in Belfast, Ireland, and featured actual footage of the Troubles. Instead, they aired a different version featuring footage of the band performing live.

Label Interference

The Cranberries’ label, Island Records, was hesitant to release such a politically charged song as a lead single and worried its subject matter would prevent it from getting radio airplay. They reportedly offered O’Riordan $1 million to record and release a different song instead.

Reaction


One of the victims of the bombing was 12-year-old Tim Parry, whose father, Colin, commented on the song after O’Riordan’s death. ”To read the words written by an Irish band in such a compelling way was very, very powerful,” he said. He also thanked her for “both majestic and also very real lyrics.”

Cover Version

Before her death, O’Riordan was scheduled to contribute vocals to a cover version of “Zombie” by Bad Wolves. The song was released just days later. Bad Wolves member Tommy Vext spoke of the song’s legacy, saying, “People still love ‘Zombie.’ It shows how masterful her craft was. It stands the test of time.”