Zombie (song)

This article is about the Cranberries song. For the album and song by Fela Kuti, see Zombie (album).

"Zombie"
Single by The Cranberries
from the album No Need to Argue
Released	September 1994
Format	CD, 7"
Recorded	1994
Genre	Alternative rock, grunge
Length	5:06 (album version) 3:55 (edit)
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Dolores O'Riordan
Producer	Stephen Street
The Cranberries singles chronology
"Linger" (1994) "Zombie" (1994) "Ode to My Family" (1994)
No Need to Argue track listing "Twenty One" (3) "Zombie" (4) "Empty" (5) Music sample "Zombie" Alternate covers Limited Edition CD single CD Promo

"Zombie" is a protest song by the Irish band The Cranberries from the 1994 album No Need to Argue. The song, which laments The Troubles in Northern Ireland and in particular the killing of two children in an IRA bombing in Warrington, England, was written by Dolores O'Riordan, singer of the band. The song features a heavy guitar riff, which, uncharacteristic of the band's usual sound, is more akin to the grunge/alternative metal sound that was popular in the early to mid-1990s. This song met great success in many countries, including France, Belgium, Austria, Australia, Finland, Germany and Canada where it topped the charts.

Track listings

CD single

1. "Zombie" (Full length album version) – 5:06
2. "Away" – 2:39
3. "I Don't Need" – 3:31

Both B-sides were previously unreleased. "Away" was later included on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Clueless.

Limited Edition CD single

1. "Zombie" – 5:09
2. "Waltzing Back" (Live at the Fleadh Festival, 11 June 1994) – 3:45
3. "Linger" (Live at the Fleadh Festival, 11 June 1994) – 5:25

CD Promo

1. Zombie (Edit) - 3:55
2. Zombie (Album version) - 5:06

7" single

1. "Zombie"
2. "Away"

Recording information

"Zombie" was recorded at the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin in 1994. It was written during the Cranberries' English Tour in 1993, in memory of two boys, Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, who were killed in an IRA bombing in Warrington.

Reception

"Zombie" is one of the band's biggest singles, reaching number 3 in their native Ireland, and having a total chart run of 11 weeks. The song reached number 14 in the UK, with a total chart run of six weeks. It topped the U.S. Modern Rock chart for six weeks, and topped the French Top 50 for nine weeks, with 19 weeks in the Top 10. "Zombie" topped the German Top 100 for one week, with a total chart run of 27 weeks. It also reached number 2 in Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. The song was number 1 in Australia for 8 weeks. The single has sold 2 million copies alone, and the song, since its release in late 1994, has been performed on every live tour.

"Zombie" topped the Australian music countdown Triple J Hottest 100 in 1994. "Zombie" also won the MTV Europe Music Award for best song in 1995.

"Zombie" came 11th in a countdown of "top 100 songs from the 1990's" performed by Israeli radio station Galgalatz just prior to New Year's Eve 1999-2000. It was voted into this position by audience-members who phoned in their selections.

The song returned to the charts in the UK in July, 2011 at No. 94.

Music video

"Zombie" was released as a music video in 1994. The video was directed by Samuel Bayer, and produced by Doug Friedman and H.S.I. Productions. In the video Dolores O'Riordan is covered in gold makeup and appears in front of a cross. The video also contains shots of British soldiers on patrol in Northern Ireland. The video refers to The Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916, and is a criticism of the continuation of violence in Ireland from then until the song's release in 1994. The song is about how memories and resentment of past injustices cause a cycle of violence.

Cover versions

• In 1995, a eurodance cover version by Italian quartet A.D.A.M. featuring Amy reached No. 16 in the UK singles chart, No. 20 in France and No. 35 in Belgium.
• In 2007, Gibraltarian Flamenco Metal band Breed 77 recorded it on their "Look at Me Now" single. It has been a staple of their live performances since their In My Blood (En Mi Sangre) promotional tour, and also appears as a bonus track on their 2009 album Insects.
• In 2007, French singer Christophe Willem did an acoustic version of the track on his album Inventaire tout en acoustic
• In 2009, Jay Brannan covered this song on his album, In Living Cover.
• In 2010, Skott Freedman recorded this song as a ballad on an old church organ and released it as a single on iTunes.
• In 2011, Mohombi sampled this chorus in his song In Your Head.
• In 2011, Lovedrug included a live recording of this song on the fan-chosen covers album Best of I AM LOVEDRUG.
• In 2011, Sarah Jezebel Deva included a cover on her solo album, The Corruption of Mercy.

Live cover performances

• In 1995, Faith No More covered this song during the tour in support of their album King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime.
• On 10 September 1995, the band Faith No More played the song live at the "Monsters of Rock" Festival in Estadio Ferrocarril Oeste at Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• In 2005, the winner of the Super Girl singing contest in China performed the song in the final contest.
• In 2006, Zombie was performed twice on the US TV series Rock Star: Supernova by Dilana.
• In 2009, American alternative rock band State Radio released a cover of Zombie in their live EP, Live at the Brattle Theater.
• In 2009 Greek singer Elena Paparizou performed the song as part of the MAD Secret Concert.
• In 2011 American alternative rock band Mona covered the song on their UK tour, dedicating the song to a loyal fan in Sheffield.
• In 2011, X Factor Australia contestant Christina Parie performed the song during the fourth live show of the series. Ronan Keating stated during his feedback that the original Dolores O'Riordan would be 'proud' of her performance.

Appearances in other media

• The 1997 Australian film Blackrock features the song "Zombie" as well as "No Need To Argue", another song by The Cranberries.
• Andy Bernard sings this song in "The Return," an episode in the third season of the US franchise of The Office, thus annoying his co-workers.
• In 2011 it was the entrance song for UFC feather weight fighter, Chan Sung Jung "The Korean Zombie" at UFC 140.

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Singles Chart	19
Dutch Top 40	2
Irish Singles Chart	3
U.K.UK Singles Chart	14
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay	22
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	32
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	18
Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	1
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)	24
Belgian Singles Chart (Walonia)	1
Dutch Singles Chart	3
French SNEP Singles Chart	1
German Singles Chart	1
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	5
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	7
Austrian Singles Chart	7
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	36
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	2
Dutch Top 40	41
French Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	7

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Australia	4 x Platinum	1994	280,000
Austria	Gold	22 January 1995	15,000
Germany	Platinum	1995	500,000

Chart successions

Preceded by "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by R.E.M.	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single 29 October 1994 – 3 December 1994 (6 weeks)	Succeeded by "About a Girl (live)" by Nirvana
Preceded by "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow	Australian number-one single 18 December 1994 – 5 February 1995 (8 weeks)	Succeeded by "Another Night" by MC Sar & The Real McCoy
Preceded by "Tears Don't Lie" by Mark 'Oh	German number-one single 3 February 1995 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Conquest of Paradise" by Vangelis
Preceded by "Short Dick Man" by 20 Fingers featuring Gillette	French SNEP number-one single 4 March 1995 – 29 April 1995 (9 weeks)	Succeeded by "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" by Céline Dion
Preceded by N/A	Belgian (Wallonia) number-one single 8 April 1995 – 22 April 1995 (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "Respect" by Alliance Ethnik
Preceded by Asshole by Denis Leary	Triple J Hottest 100 Winner 1994	Succeeded by Wonderwall by Oasis