In the wake of a bombing that lead to the loss of the innocent lives of two children, a song that called for peace, titled “Zombie”, was written. It was written and released by The Cranberries, an Irish punk rock band, in 1993—shortly after the Northern Irish militant group bombed a mall in Warrington. With moving lyrics and a unique style of singing, the song was a worldwide hit, bringing attention to the Ireland-England conflict. Its impact may have possibly aided in the peace that they sought.
On March 20th, 1993, a militant group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted two bombs in dustbins at a shopping mall in Warrington, Cheshire, England. The results were the deaths of two boys and left over 56 people injured. The …show more content…
This song questions the war: it questions whether killing can ever be considered right and wonders why the conflict has lasted so long with no negotiations for peace in sight. It relates the tragedy of the death of the innocent children and protests the war by screaming a section of the song, as to emphasize the pain the victims feel. Towards the end of the song, it makes the firm statement, answering their question, that, yes, this war is a mistake. The title “Zombie”, is meant to describe the militants. They don’t think about their actions or stop to consider if killing people is the right thing to do, but instead just mindlessly follow orders and act violent, like a …show more content…
They are most defined by their singer, Dolores O’Riordan, who has a lilting, soprano voice, a strong Limerick accent, and often yodels in her songs. Lilting is a form of traditional Gaelic singing. The band is composed of the lead singer—who is also a guitarist—a drummer, a second guitarist, and a bass guitarist. The band is often titled as activists, but “Zombie” is their most politically motivated piece. It has a disjunct melody, such that the notes in the melody are far apart from each other in the scale. The lead singer, O’Riordan, displays a wide range in this song, particularly by her way of flipping in and out of falsetto quickly. This singing style is what makes the song and the band most unique. Other elements of the “Zombie” song also include a distinct electric guitar solo, a slow beat, and alternating rhythm. The rhythm is slow in the moments that have sincere lyrics, but the rhythm picks up in the chorus: “What’s in your head? Zombie, Zombie, Zombie”. This accentuates their point and overall motive of the song. Overall the song has a 4/4 meter and has a homophonic texture like that of most rock
On March 20th, 1993, a militant group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted two bombs in dustbins at a shopping mall in Warrington, Cheshire, England. The results were the deaths of two boys and left over 56 people injured. The …show more content…
This song questions the war: it questions whether killing can ever be considered right and wonders why the conflict has lasted so long with no negotiations for peace in sight. It relates the tragedy of the death of the innocent children and protests the war by screaming a section of the song, as to emphasize the pain the victims feel. Towards the end of the song, it makes the firm statement, answering their question, that, yes, this war is a mistake. The title “Zombie”, is meant to describe the militants. They don’t think about their actions or stop to consider if killing people is the right thing to do, but instead just mindlessly follow orders and act violent, like a …show more content…
They are most defined by their singer, Dolores O’Riordan, who has a lilting, soprano voice, a strong Limerick accent, and often yodels in her songs. Lilting is a form of traditional Gaelic singing. The band is composed of the lead singer—who is also a guitarist—a drummer, a second guitarist, and a bass guitarist. The band is often titled as activists, but “Zombie” is their most politically motivated piece. It has a disjunct melody, such that the notes in the melody are far apart from each other in the scale. The lead singer, O’Riordan, displays a wide range in this song, particularly by her way of flipping in and out of falsetto quickly. This singing style is what makes the song and the band most unique. Other elements of the “Zombie” song also include a distinct electric guitar solo, a slow beat, and alternating rhythm. The rhythm is slow in the moments that have sincere lyrics, but the rhythm picks up in the chorus: “What’s in your head? Zombie, Zombie, Zombie”. This accentuates their point and overall motive of the song. Overall the song has a 4/4 meter and has a homophonic texture like that of most rock