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.
Wanted
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my head between my hands
I wouldn't have to be like this
If you'd only understand
Too many misunderstandings
Causing such delay
And if it doesn't work like this
Well, I'll try another way
Oh, if this is the way you wanted it
Oh, I didn't understand
Oh, if this is the way you wanted it
Oh, I didn't understand
You know that all I wanted
Was to be there by your side
And if you didn't want it
Well, you should have denied
You knew that you were someone special
Right form the start
But if you treat me badly
We'd be better off apart
Oh, if this is the way you wanted it
Oh, I didn't understand
Oh, if this is the way you wanted it
Oh, I didn't understand
Understand
The lyrics to The Cranberries' song "Wanted" speak to the pain of miscommunication and misunderstandings in a relationship. The singer is sitting in an armchair, feeling defeated and helpless with their head in their hands. They express that they wouldn't have to feel this way if only their partner could understand them. The lyrics suggest that too many misunderstandings have caused delays and complications in the relationship. The singer suggests that if their current approach to the relationship doesn't work, they will try another way.
The chorus of the song repeats, "Oh, if this is the way you wanted it, oh, I didn't understand." This repetition emphasizes the theme of miscommunication and the idea that the singer did not realize this is the way their partner wanted the relationship to be. The second verse reveals that the singer wanted to be by their partner's side and feels hurt that they did not deny this desire if they did not feel the same. The singer acknowledges that their partner is special but suggests that if they are treated poorly, they would be better off apart.
Overall, the song speaks to the difficulty of understanding our partners and the pain that can come from miscommunication. The singer is left feeling powerless and hurt as a result of their misunderstandings with their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in an armchair
I am sitting down in a comfortable armchair
With my head between my hands
I am holding my head with my hands, probably feeling distressed or upset
I wouldn't have to be like this
If you, my lover, understood me, I wouldn't be feeling this way
If you'd only understand
If you could comprehend my thoughts and feelings
Too many misunderstandings
We have had too many communication issues and misinterpretations
Causing such delay
This has been slowing down our progress as a couple
And if it doesn't work like this
If we can't make it work with the current situation
Well, I'll try another way
I will attempt a different approach to solve our problems
Oh, if this is the way you wanted it
If this was your desired outcome of our relationship
Oh, I didn't understand
I didn't realize it earlier
You know that all I wanted
I just wanted one thing from you, my love
Was to be there by your side
I simply wanted to support you and be with you through thick and thin
And if you didn't want it
If that was not what you wanted
Well, you should have denied
You should have told me earlier and not given me false hope
You knew that you were someone special
I recognized and appreciated your uniqueness and worth
Right from the start
I felt this way as soon as we met and started our relationship
But if you treat me badly
If you mistreat me or don't value me properly
We'd be better off apart
It's better for us to end our relationship and move on
Understand
Please comprehend and internalize my message to you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NOEL ANTHONY HOGAN, DOLORES MARY O'RIORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind