“Zombie” by the Cranberries is the better one-hit wonder because it has excellent, catchy vocals and lyrics that will get stuck in your head after a few listens.

That is what happened to me after my dad played the song for me when I was in sixth grade. 

“I think you’ll like this song,” he said. He was right. 

This song skyrocketed up the top charts after its release in 1994. It was the lead single for their second album titled “No Need to Argue.” With its catchy vocals and dark meaning, this song reached no. 1 on the charts in several countries, including Belgium, Denmark, and Germany.

Written by lead singer Dolores O’Riordan, “Zombie” was a reaction to a tragic conflict that had been occurring in Northern Ireland from around the 1960s to the 1990s known as The Troubles. During this time, violence spilled out over Ireland, England, and other parts of Europe. O’Riordan witnessed some of this violence firsthand, as she was born and raised in Ireland. 

During The Troubles, thousands of people died, and significantly more were injured. The specific event that captured O’Riordan’s heart and inspired her to write the song was when 12-year-old Tim Parry and 3-year-old Jonathan Ball passed away as a result of a bombing that occurred in England. She wrote the lyrics while she was on tour in 1993, and it was quickly produced and successfully launched worldwide in 1994.

The Cranberries started as an Irish band originally known as The Cranberry Saw Us. They specialized in alternative rock, but their songs also incorporated aspects of indie rock, folk rock, and post-punk. Members include guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, drummer Fergal Lawler, and O’Riordan. Their most popular songs were “Dreams,” “Linger,” “Zombie,” “Salvation,” and “When You’re Gone.” 

“Zombie” has been highly praised by music critics, as it is one of the best alternative rock songs ever created, and uses a musical way to express the dark times of The Troubles.