Well this sure hurts. To commemorate what should have been Dolores O'Riordan's 50th birthday, the surviving members of the Cranberries released a new video yesterday for the song "Never Grow Old," featuring never-before-seen archival footage of the adorable frontwoman.
And there's more:
“In order to celebrate all that she inspired and the joy that she has given on her 50th Birthday, her bandmates, friends and family, have pulled together a brand new playlist called ‘Remembering Dolores’ which is available now on all streaming platforms,” the band wrote.
The playlist leads with today's SOTD, which was the opening track from the band’s fifth album ("Wake Up and Smell the Coffee").
We miss you, Dolores. Why'd you have to be such a drunken mess?
Although it's not an anniversary or anything, the Cranberries' sophomore album has just been given the deluxe treatment -- a remastered and expanded version featuring 36 tracks including live versions, demos, remixes and more.
Originally released in 1994, "No Need to Argue" was the band's biggest-selling album with global sales in excess of 17 million and contained the band's most commercially successful single, "Zombie." The video for "Zombie" has since been viewed over one billion times on YouTube, making the Cranberries the only Irish band to pass this milestone and putting them in a very small club of artists to do so.
The expanded 2-disc and digital versions of "No Need to Argue" include a remaster of the original album and three B-sides: "Away," "I Don't Need" and "So Cold In Ireland" from the original tapes. Also included are 19 previously unreleased tracks including two songs not officially released in any format: "Yesterday's Gone" -- recorded unplugged for MTV in New York in 1995 -- and a demo of "Serious," which until now has only existed as a low quality live bootleg on YouTube. The 2CD edition features previously unseen photographs taken from the album photo sessions.
I have a bit of a strange relationship with the album. For starters, I wasn't too keen about "Zombie," which was a big departure from "Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We" and its sublime singles, "Dreams" and "Linger." And I acquired the compact disc through the Columbia Record and Tape Club, which made it feel like I hadn't actually paid for it -- so I never put it in heavy rotation like I might have when it was first released. Over time -- and with the help of my '90s hubby -- I've grown to appreciate it though, particularly today's song of the day, "I Can't Be With You" and the title track.
The death of singer Dolores O'Riordan in 2018 was heartbreaking, but not entirely shocking to me. Although most Americans barely remember who the Cranberries were, I can recall being on a flight in the U.K. and picking up an Irish tabloid someone had left on the plane with screaming headlines about the Queen Cranberry, detailing her latest drama and trauma. (There were a lot of them, I learned, ranging from childhood sexual abuse and anorexia to suicide attempts and drug/alcohol abuse.) In her Native Land it appeared she was living under a microscope typically reserved for someone like Liz Taylor, and I specifically remember thinking given her fragile state of mind that it might make sense for her to perhaps relocate to, well, just about anywhere else in the world, where she could have lived in peace. (Apparently she had, at times escaped to Canada and New York City.) Here's hoping she's found it now.
Sickened to see (actual) "breaking news" alerts that Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of the Cranberries, died today. O'Riordan, whose band was known for hits like "Dreams," "Linger" and "Zombie" was just 46. There was no immediate information about the cause of death.
“Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today,” her publicist, Lindsey Holmes, said in a statement, which explained that O’Riordan had been in London for a recording session.
Family members are "devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
As saddened as I am by this news, I can't say I'm entirely surprised. I remember picking up a tabloid in Ireland about 10 years ago -- well after O'Riordan's '90s heyday -- and being shocked to read that she felt like a prisoner because of her fame (depression, anorexia, anxiety), which was totally news to me. Living in the U.S., it never occurred to me that being a famous fish in a small (country across the) pond could be so difficult, and it was my first clue that she wasn't just enjoying the life of a has-been '90s pop star as one would have hoped.
Losing stars of my era who were older than I am (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston) was one thing. But losing one who is actually a tad younger is particularly jarring.
With Superbowl Sunday upon us, I figured there was no better time to get this cut-throat game going. I'm sure I forgot someone --...
Fake Jan Alert
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Little Kenny
Growing up in Madison Heights, Mich.
Back to the Old House
The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Oceans 11
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
A Death in the Family
Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
With Debbie Harry
'Jungle' Fever
With Robert Buckley
Roger & Me
With Roger Federer
Step Brother McMullen
With Ed Burns
Headline News
With Thomas Roberts
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this blog belong to me -- and me alone -- and are not a reflection of my employers past, present or future.
All photos are shared under the fair use doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 107). If you would like any image removed, please contact me and I will promptly comply.
