"Ridiculous Thoughts" | ||||
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Single by the Cranberries | ||||
from the album No Need to Argue | ||||
Released | 31 July 1995 | |||
Length |
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Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Stephen Street | |||
The Cranberries singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Ridiculous Thoughts" on YouTube |
"Ridiculous Thoughts" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries, released in July 1995 by Island Records as the fourth single (third in North America) from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). The song peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart and number 23 in their native Ireland. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer, featuring Elijah Wood. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped-down version on the band's Something Else album. [1]
"Ridiculous Thoughts" was recorded at The Manor Studios, Oxford and Townhouse Studios, London, during the 1994 sessions for No Need to Argue. The music for "Ridiculous Thoughts" was written by Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan. The lyrics were written by O'Riordan about her problems with British press and journalists. It was produced and engineered by Stephen Street.
"Ridiculous Thoughts" was released as a single on 31 July 1995. [2] It had mild success in Ireland, reaching number 23, and some success in both the UK and the U.S. As most of the Cranberries' singles in the United States, a physical CD single was not released commercially, so it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. It did peak at number 14 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
David Quantick from NME wrote, "That woman sings like her off The Cocteau Twins crossed with a Dalek and all their songs have crap tunes with a bit in the middle where the woman can soar like an eagle o'er the melody." [3]
The video clip for "Ridiculous Thoughts" was directed in May 1995 by Samuel Bayer and later redone by the band, using the pseudonym "Freckles Flynn". The band is shown in front of the freaks of a circus signs (monkey rodeo, rubber skin man, etc.) on a deserted location. It features a young Elijah Wood, who tries to follow a radio signal all around the ruins of a building. O'Riordan stated that the band did not understand or identify with the concept that Bayer had shown in the video, and thus, they decided to redo it, mixing the original tape with live footage from their American Tour. The original version of the video was later included on Stars: The Best of Videos 1992–2002 DVD.
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [4] | 60 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [5] | 63 |
Ireland (IRMA) [6] | 23 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [7] | 12 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade) [8] | 13 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [9] | 43 |
Scotland (OCC) [10] | 22 |
UK Singles (OCC) [11] | 20 |
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] | 14 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 31 July 1995 |
| Island | [2] |
Japan | 29 November 1995 | CD | [13] |
The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland. Originally named the Cranberry Saw Us, the band was formed in 1989 by lead singer Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, and drummer Fergal Lawler. Quinn was replaced as lead singer by Dolores O'Riordan in 1990, and the group changed their name to the Cranberries. The band classified themselves as an alternative rock group, but incorporated aspects of indie rock, jangle pop, dream pop, folk rock, post-punk and pop rock into their sound.
No Need to Argue is the second studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, released on 3 October 1994 through Island Records. It is the band's best-selling album, and has sold 17 million copies worldwide as of 2014. It contains one of the band's most well-known songs, "Zombie". The album's mood is considered to be darker and harsher than that on the band's debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, released a year prior.
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan was an Irish singer, musician and songwriter. She was the lead vocalist and lyricist of alternative rock band The Cranberries. One of the most recognizable voices in rock in the 1990s, she was known for her lilting mezzo-soprano voice, signature yodel, emphasized use of keening, and strong Limerick accent.
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? is the debut studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries. Released on 1 March 1993 through Island Records after four EPs, it is both the band's first full-length album and major label release. The album was written entirely by the band's lead singer Dolores O'Riordan and guitarist Noel Hogan and contains the band's highest charting US single, "Linger". The album reached number one on the UK and the Irish albums charts. It spent a total of 86 weeks on the UK chart. On 24 June 1994, it became the fifth album in rock history to reach number one more than a year after release. At the end of 1995, it ranked as the 50th best selling album in Australia. It reached number 18 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and stayed on this chart for 130 weeks; the album sold six million copies worldwide.
Stars: The Best of 1992–2002 is a compilation album and DVD from the Irish band the Cranberries, released in 2002 by Island Records. Some of the tracks on the album are different versions of the songs provided in earlier albums. The album also contains two new tracks: "New New York" and "Stars".
"Linger" is a song by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries from their debut studio album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). Composed by band members Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan, and produced by Stephen Street, "Linger" was first released as the second and final single from the album on 15 February 1993 by Island Records. It was later re-released on 31 January 1994.
"Zombie" is a protest song by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, written by the band's lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, in response to and in memory of two young victims of a bombing that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It was released on 19 September 1994 by Island Records as the lead single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994), two weeks ahead of the album's release. Music critics have long recognized "Zombie" as "a masterpiece of alternative rock", as well as a grunge number uncharacteristic of the band's other work.
"Salvation" is the lead single from Irish rock band the Cranberries' third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996). Released on 8 April 1996 by Island Records, the single reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and was a chart hit in Europe and Australia, peaking at number four in Iceland, number six in Italy, number seven in New Zealand, and number eight in Australia and Ireland. The music video for the song was directed by Olivier Dahan and filmed in France.
"Dreams" is the debut single of Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was originally released in September 1992 by Island Records and later appeared on the band's debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). The song reached the top 50 of the US Hot 100 and the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart in early 1994. A 1990 demo version was released in Ireland only in the summer of that year under their initial band name, the Cranberry Saw Us. At the end of the song, the backing vocals are sung by Mike Mahoney, ex-boyfriend of Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
"Ode to My Family" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries, released on 21 November 1994 by Island Records as the second single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan. It was a hit in Oceania and several European countries, topping the charts in Iceland, and reaching number four in France, number five in Australia, and number eight in New Zealand. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.
"Analyse" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was the first single released from their fifth studio album, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001), on 27 August 2001. The promotional video, directed by Keir McFarlane, had to be edited in consequence of the 9/11 attacks, which was partly responsible for the single's low chart positions in their native Ireland and the United Kingdom, but it became a top-10 hit in Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
"I Can't Be with You" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was released by Island Records as the third single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994), except in North America, where it was released as the fourth and final single of the album. The song achieved minor chart success in most of the European countries where it was released, peaking at number 21 in their native Ireland. In Iceland, the song reached number one for a week in April 1995, becoming the Cranberries' third consecutive number-one single there. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.
"Free to Decide" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries, released as the second single from their third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996), on 1 July 1996. The song achieved minor chart success in Europe but became a top-10 hit in Canada, peaking at number two on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In the United States, it peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic version on the band's Something Else album.
"Promises" is a rock song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It is the first single from the band's fourth album, Bury the Hatchet, released in 1999. The song was the only single from the album to chart in the US and the last single before their hiatus. The song, which has a heavy rock beat with strident lead guitar, deals with the subject of divorce. A music video involving a cowboy confronting a witch/scarecrow hybrid, directed by Olivier Dahan, was released to promote the single.
"Sunday" is a mid-tempo alternative song taken from The Cranberries debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?. It was released as a promotion single in the USA in 1993, before Island Records decided to opt for a re-release the band's first two European singles, "Dreams" and "Linger" in 1994. No video was recorded for this single and the song did not chart.
"When You're Gone" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries. It is the third single from their third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996). The music video was directed by Karen Bellone and was released at the end of 1996. The song was first played during the North American leg of the No Need to Argue Tour in late 1994.
"Animal Instinct" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was released as the second single from the band's fourth album, Bury the Hatchet, in June 1999. The single became the band's first single to miss the UK top 40, charting at number 54. A music video, directed by Olivier Dahan, was released to promote the single. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.
"Just My Imagination" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries. It was released as the third single from the band's fourth album, Bury the Hatchet, in August 1999. A music video, directed by Phil Harder, was released to promote the single. In 2017, the song was released as a stripped-down acoustic version on the band's Something Else album.
Something Else is the seventh studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on 28 April 2017, through BMG. The album, which features "unplugged" and orchestral versions of ten previously released singles and three new songs, was recorded at the Irish Chamber Orchestra Building, the University of Limerick, Ireland. The album cover is a re-enactment of the front cover image of the band's 1994 album No Need to Argue with the four members each in very similar positions. The backdrop, however, is a darker green as opposed to No Need to Argue's stark white and the band is sitting on a different sofa.
In the End is the eighth and final studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on 26 April 2019 by BMG. It is the band's first and only release since the death of singer Dolores O'Riordan, whose vocals are featured posthumously. The surviving instrumentalists pieced together her demos with in-studio recordings over the course of the subsequent year and worked with long-time producer Stephen Street to finalise the album. Critical reception was positive. This is the last studio album before the band’s official disbandment was confirmed and announced in 2019.