Ode to The Cranberries Trivia Quiz

Answer: Zombie

"Zombie" was the first single released from the second Cranberries studio album, "No Need To Argue." It was written as a protest song after the death of two very young victims (a three year old and a twelve year old) as a result of bombings in the UK in 1993.

The song reached number one in a number of countries, including Australia, Denmark, France and Germany. It also reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song is a statement against violence that won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song.

The video was nominated for Best Alternative Video at the MTV Europe Music Award but was banned by the BBC for violent images. The song was banned in Britain during the Iraq war because of the fear that it might be seen as a statement against the war!

Answer: Linger

"Linger" was released as a single from the debut album by The Cranberries called "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" The song was a top ten hit in Ireland and in the United States and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for over twenty weeks.

The story behind the writing of the song is quite interesting. Apparently when sing Dolores O'Riordan auditioned for the band, she was given a tape with the music for the song "Linger" and came back a week later with lyrics she had written about regret and a first love.

The popular Cranberries song has been covered quite a bit, including by Canadian band The Philosopher Kings and American punk band Screeching Weasel.

Answer: Dreams

"Dreams" was the very first single released by The Cranberries. It was released in 1992 as the first single from their debut album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" The song broke into the top ten in Ireland and reached number fifteen on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Toward the end of the song there are backing vocals that are sung by singer O'Riordan's ex-boyfriend, Mike Mahoney.

This is another very popular Cranberries song that's been covered a number of times. Electronic music trio Dario G covered it and changed the title to "Dream to Me" in 2001.

In 2020 a number of female Irish singers released a version of the song to raise funds for victims of domestic abuse (as a result of an increase in domestic abuse violence during COVID-19 lockdowns).

Answer: Salvation

"Salvation" is a short track with an upbeat tempo and a serious message. Clocking in at under two and a half minutes long, the lyrics talk about drug abuse and the idea of not being controlled by substances. The song reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and stayed there for four weeks.

In Ireland, Italy, Australia and New Zealand it reached the top ten. There have been some interesting cover versions of this song, tied to its anti-drug sentiment. The Christian rock group Earthsuit performed it live in concert. Hardcore vegan and clean living group Prayer For Cleansing also covered it for their 2004 EP "The Tragedy."

Answer: I Just Shot John Lennon

This is an up tempo rocking track that is included in the 1996 album "To the Faithful Departed." The song details the events of the murder of John Lennon and ends with the sound of gun shots. The lyrics "What a sad, and sorry and sickening sight" are included throughout the song.

The title of the song comes from the words of the killer who was asked "do you know what you've done?" The song was performed live by the group on "The Late Show with David Letterman" in 1995. A live recording of the song is included as a B-side to the single "Salvation" on some of the singles released in Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom.

Answer: Free to Decide

"Free to Decide" was the second single released from the 1996 album "To the Faithful Departed." It reached number twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number two in Canada (it charted the highest in Canada). It reached the top ten in Iceland the Czech Republic.

The song is about the treatment of the band by the media judging their actions and the band being able to make the decisions that they want to.

Answer: When You're Gone

"When You're Gone" was the third single released from the 1996 album "To the Faithful Departed." It is a beautiful ballad about love and loss and carrying on despite missing someone who's no longer around. The song reached top ten in Iceland, Norway and Belgium and reached number twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100.

In January 2018, singer Dolores O'Riordan suddenly and tragically passed away at the age of forty-six and this song was played at the end of her funeral. A number of Irish radio stations played the song on the radio at the same time.

Answer: Animal Instinct

'Animal Instinct" was released as the second single from the fourth studio album by The Cranberries called "Bury the Hatchet." It was released in 1999 and didn't do particularly well on the charts. It reached number fifty-four in the United Kingdom, becoming the first single by the band to not make the top forty (not including the original release of their song "Linger.") It broke the top one hundred in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The lyrics deal with the topic of motherhood.

Answer: All Over Now

"All Over Now" is a song on the eighth and final Cranberries studio album called "In the End." The album was not finished when O'Riordan tragically passed away and so the surviving band members mixed and completed the recordings after her death. O'Riordan had recorded demo versions of the songs that were used for the album. "All Over Now" was released as a streaming single on the first anniversary of O'Riordan's death and reached number twenty-five on the Adult Alternative Songs chart.

Answer: Ode to my Family

I'd like to finish my quiz with the beautiful song "Ode to My Family." The song showcases singer Dolores O'Riordan's very unique voice and lilting vocal style. It was released as the second single from the second studio album by the band, "No Need to Argue." The song was released in 1994 and reached top ten in New Zealand, France, Australia and Iceland (reaching number one there).

The song is about yearning for the simpler times of life as a child. In 2011 singer O'Riordan's father passed away and for a while, she was so grief-stricken that she couldn't perform the song.