Combining the melodic jangle of post-The Smiths indie pop with the lilting, trance-inducing sonic textures of late-80s dream pop and adding a slight Celtic tint, The Cranberries became one of the more successful groups to emerge from the indie scene of the early 90s. Led by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, whose keening, powerful voice was the most distinctive element of the group's sound, the group initially made little impact in the United Kingdom.
It wasn't until the lush ballad "Linger" became an American hit in 1993 that the band also achieved mass success in the U.K. Following the success of "Linger", The Cranberries quickly became international stars, as both their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and its 1994 follow-up, No Need to Argue, sold millions of copies and produced a string of hit singles like "Dreams", "Zombie" and "Ode to My Family".
By the time of their third album, 1996's To the Faithful Departed, the group had added distorted guitars to its sonic palette and attempted to make more socially significant music, which resulted in a downturn in the band's commercial fortunes.
During the next few years, the band cancelled a large tour and rumours of a breakup were widespread. In 1999, they released Bury the Hatchet to mixed reviews. In 2001, the band issued Wake Up and Smell the Coffee to rave reviews. The album debuted at number 46 in the US charts.
In 2002, The Cranberries released the compilation Stars: The Best of 1992-2002, which was supported by the single "Stars".
In 2003, The Cranberries announced they were taking some time to pursue individual careers. They decided to put the next album on hold. After more than a dozen years of relentless touring and promotion, which had seen them clocking up album sales in excess of 43 million and playing to hundreds of thousands of fans around the globe, the band decided it was time for a break.
In 2007, Dolores O'Riordan released her debut solo album titled Are You Listening?. Two years later she released her second solo album, No Baggage.
On 25 August 2009, Dolores O'Riordan announced that The Cranberries will be reuniting for a North American tour to begin in mid-November 2009, to be followed by dates in Europe in early 2010. O'Riordan indicated that the band will be playing songs from her solo albums and a lot of The Cranberries classic hits as well as some new music written by the group together.
The Cranberries recorded Roses at the Metalworks Studios in Toronto (Canada) from 18 April to 15 May 2011 with producer Stephen Street, who previously collaborated with the band on first, second and fifth albums. The Cranberries worked on 15 tracks during the Roses session, although not all will be included on the album. The album is scheduled for release on 14 February, 2012.
On 26 May 2016, the Cranberries announced that they would start their next tour in Europe. The first show was held on June 3.
A new "unplugged" Cranberries album titled Something Else, featuring the band's hits along with three new songs, was released on 28 April 2017 through BMG. The album received mostly positive reviews.
On 15 January 2018, lead singer Dolores O'Riordan was found dead of drowning in a London hotel room. The Cranberries confirmed in September 2018 that they would not continue as a band, releasing their final album In the End in April 2019 and disbanding afterward.Noel Hogan stated: "the Cranberries was the four of us. We don’t want to do this without Dolores. So we’re going to leave it after this."
The Cranberries' final album In the End has been nominated for Best Rock Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020.
Official site: http://www.cranberries.com.
Chrome Paint
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's not the way it's supposed to be
Don't you hang around my door
Don't wanna see you anymore
Mussolini and Adolf knew
It was them who caused World War II
You'd better stay away from me
'cause this could cause World War III
And baby, really, that's a shame
By the time you came to me
It was over and you couldn't see
Oohh I never meant to hurt you Repeat 2x
Always put the blame on me
But that's not the way it's supposed to be
So don't you hang around my door
Don't want to see you anymore, oh Repeat 3x
The Cranberries' song "Chrome Paint" is a powerful message to an ex-lover who always places the blame on the singer for their relationship troubles. The singer begins by addressing the issue head-on, stating that it's not fair and that the other person needs to take responsibility. The song then takes on a political tone, comparing the ex-lover's refusal to accept responsibility for their actions to two of history's most notorious figures, Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, who caused World War II. The singer warns the ex-lover that continuing to push the blame on her could cause another world war, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The lyrics are packed with emotion and frustration, as the singer tries to communicate that the blame is not hers to bear. The repetition of the phrases "you always put the blame on me" and "don't want to see you anymore" reinforce the singer's desire to break free from the toxic relationship. The final line, "By the time you came to me / It was over, and you couldn't see," suggests that the ex-lover only realized the impact of their behavior when it was too late.
Overall, "Chrome Paint" is a bold statement about taking responsibility for one's actions and the negative consequences that can arise from refusing to do so. Through powerful lyrics and a strong message, The Cranberries deliver a message that is both political and personal, making this song a standout in their discography.
Line by Line Meaning
You always put the blame on me
You constantly accuse me of being the problem.
But that's not the way it's supposed to be
That's not how a healthy relationship should function.
Don't you hang around my door
I don't want to see you near me.
Don't wanna see you anymore
I don't want to see you again.
Mussolini and Adolf knew
The leaders of Italy and Germany understood.
It was them who caused World War II
They were responsible for starting the Second World War.
You'd better stay away from me
It's best if you keep your distance from me.
'cause this could cause World War III
Continuing this relationship could create extreme conflict.
You took it all for a game
You treated everything as a joke.
And baby, really, that's a shame
It's truly disappointing.
By the time you came to me
After everything had happened.
It was over and you couldn't see
You were too late to realize what had happened.
Oohh I never meant to hurt you Repeat 2x
I didn't intend to cause you pain.
Always put the blame on me
You still blame me for everything.
But that's not the way it's supposed to be
A healthy relationship doesn't involve constant accusations.
So don't you hang around my door
I don't want you lurking around me.
Don't want to see you anymore, oh Repeat 3x
I don't want to see you ever again.
Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.