How Dolores O’Riordan and The Cranberries inspired millions

The Irish musician and singer-songwriter died suddenly in London Monday morning, aged 46.

January 16, 2018

Juan Venter 2 minutes read

Fans worldwide have been left devastated after the tragic news broke yesterday afternoon of the death of musican Dolores O’Riordan, who had been recording in London.

Tributes have been pouring in by the millions following the news.

Ilgin Beaton: I can’t stop crying. I’m so shocked and so heartbroken to hear about the sudden death of Dolores. I just can’t describe how I feel right now. She’s had such a huge impact on me over the last 20 odd years since I had first heard her angelic and extremely powerful voice on my radio in Turkey. She had been and will always be my favorite female vocal of all times. I grew up with her songs, the music the powerful lyrics. They mean so much to me. I can’t believe it was the last time I saw her last May. I’m so heartbroken. She’s only 46!

Shahab Ahmad Khan: You’ll be surprised to know how much your music influenced a city called Peshawar, in Pakistan. Linger was the soundtrack for us in Peshawar of the 90s recovering from a war imposed on us. A soundtrack for opening up and experiencing the rest of the world took for granted. A soundtrack for looking forward to good things in the 90s. You will never know what your music meant to a city forced to rewind to an artificial system in the 2000s. You are a memorabilia from a short window for a bunch of boys and girls foolish enough to believe that their city might change. Thank you for that brief memory. Rest in Peace, Dolores! We are in hell, but your band is that respite in it. Long live music!

Kendra Black Williams: I discovered The Cranberries in the 90s in college and fell in love. There is nothing more powerful than her voice, her lyrics. Can’t count the times I yelled the lyrics in my car, sang them quietly in my room. Dolores was amazing.

Jay Thongyai: Woke up with this heartbroken news. In mid 90s, I drove to minimum of six department stores to find the lady who sings ‘Dream’ but not knowing who sings it. With my bad pitch, one man at the mall, Ngamwongwan, managed to know that I meant the song named Dream by The Cranberries. At that time people started to love Linger while I found Dream was hitting to my ears a lot more. Her voice was just definitely off the chart to me. Next album, this band really took off with ‘Zombie’ and they were on the top since then. Rest In Peace another God’s Given Voice, Dolores O’Riordan. You will always be remembered

The cause of O’Riordan’s death remains unknown at this stage.

Some of The Cranberries’ hits include: