The 90s, marked by a mixture of revolt, questioning and hope, saw the emergence of a myriad of hits. Few, however, have made such an impact as the Cranberries’ “Zombie”. A look back at the song that has undoubtedly become the anthem of a generation… A symbol of the country, which shed new light on the situation in Northern Ireland at the time.
Dolores O’Riordan – Alterna2 – cc
Ireland, a land of legends and stories, is also the scene of a bloody conflict: the Troubles in Northern Ireland. When two young children were shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in a shopping mall during the Warrington bombings on March 20, 1993, Dolores O’Riordan, the band’s charismatic lead singer, felt a compelling need to react and make the rest of the world aware of what was happening on her island.
And what better way to do it than with music?
The track opens with ethereal, almost gentle notes, before the electric guitar bursts in, heavy and dominant. Unusual sounds for the band.
This duality between gentleness and power perfectly reflects the tension between the innocence of the victims and the violence of the conflict.
“Another head hangs lowly / Child is slowly taken”. From the very first words, the tragedy is palpable. But the refrain, “Zombie, zombie, zombie”, goes far beyond a simple song: it evokes these lost souls, trapped like the living dead in a conflict that is beyond them.
It’s hard to talk about “Zombie” without mentioning its video, in which a golden Dorole, eyes closed, stands proudly in front of a Celtic cross, while children play in a devastated landscape. Strong imagery that reinforces the song’s anti-war message.
Filmed in 1995, it caused quite a stir among music fans. It depicts children, the harshness of Northern Irish streets, the presence of soldiers on constant patrol… then the final scene ends with Dolores O’Riordan transformed into an icon where she presents an allegory of the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.
Strong, committed images of Northern Ireland’s sacrificed youth. The hit was a resounding success not only at home, but also internationally.
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