Pope Benedict XVI cancels Vatican Christmas Concert

August 31, 2006  |  Comments Off on Pope Benedict XVI cancels Vatican Christmas Concert  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  Dolores O'Riordan

Pope Benedict XVI has cancelled the Vatican Christmas Concert (”Concerto di Natale in Vaticano”), reportedly saying that he doesn’t like pop music, and prefers Bach and Mozart instead.

Dolores O’Riordan performed there three times in recent years, in 2001, 2002, and last year, 2005, her most recent public performance.

The change is little surprise, as some artists (including Dolores) were reportedly disappointed last year when Benedict didn’t bother to meet the artists.

When Hot Press asked Dolores about the new pope last year, she said, “John Paul used to work the crowd a bit whereas Bennys only new in the gig she says, laughing. He probably needs a few lessons and a pair of shades from Bono!

Not all is lost, though, as a di erent organization has agreed to start an alternate Christmas concert, and to move it to the city of Montecarlo.

Other prominent artists at past concerts included Andrea Bocelli, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Josh Groban, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Corrs, Lionel Richie, and (infamously) Lauryn Hill.

Thanks to Luca for the tip.

Source: La Stampa

Cranberries.com to get design change

August 28, 2006  |  Comments Off on Cranberries.com to get design change  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Canadian company that now runs parks the domainwww.cranberries.com sent out a newsletter today saying that the site will get a facelift this fall.

The newsletter also claims:

You will be the first to know about the changes to Cranberries.com and the latest Cranberries news.

A doubtful claim at best, since the site has not had a single update in nearly nine months.

The Official Community Corporation is also seeking input from fans to ask what fans would like in their Official Communityâ„¢.

Hmm, I dunno, updates? Content? An actual community? It’s been three years since the OCC took over www.cranberries.com, and the site doesn’t even have a simple message board.

If you want to know what Zombieguide would like to see, click here to read staffer Thomas’s open letter to the OCC. Since the OCC was considerate enough to ask fans what they want, make sure to tell them: cranberries@cranberries.com

Three new Dolores O’Riordan solo titles revealed

August 25, 2006  |  Comments Off on Three new Dolores O’Riordan solo titles revealed  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  Dolores O'Riordan

The website for Toronto’s Metalworks Studios has posted the names of seven songs that Dolores O’Riordan recorded there, three of which are previously unknown:

  • “Without You”
  • “Playground”
  • “Forever”
  • “Apple of My Eye”
  • “Letting Go”
  • “In the Garden”
  • “Vadim’s Theme”

Chris Crerar was the second engineer on all tracks.

Demos of “In the Garden” and “Letting Go” leaked on the Zombieguide Forums last October. It was previously revealed that “Apple of My Eye” was mixed by Tim Palmer. “Vadim’s Theme” appears to be an alternate title for “Angel’s Go to Heaven,” the theme song from the movie Evilenko. Vadim is the name of a main character in the movie.

It’s difficult to judge exactly when these songs were recorded. Given that “Angels Go to Heaven” seems to have been recorded in 2003, and that the title “Apple of My Eye” surfaced in early 2004, perhaps some of these songs are from that period.

More on Dolores O’Riordan’s solo material as we know it. Thanks to Paddy for the news.

“Rock Star: Supernova” censors “Zombie” on reruns

August 24, 2006  |  Comments Off on “Rock Star: Supernova” censors “Zombie” on reruns  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Awesome Until Proven Guilty reports that CBS has censored repeat airings ofDilana Robichaux’s performance of “Zombie” by removing all references to her tanks, and her bombs, and her bombs, and her guns.

The producers also nixed the line, “They are fighting,” (what’s left, we ask?) no doubt to in an attempt to neuter any imagery that would remind viewers of America’s war in Iraq.

“Zombie” is no stranger to censorship. In March 2003, at the start of America’s invasion of Iraq, the British government placed the song on avoluntary list of banned videos, fearing that they would stir up public sentiment.

Zombie #77 on MTVla’s All Time Video list

August 21, 2006  |  Comments Off on Zombie #77 on MTVla’s All Time Video list  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

MTV Latin America recently had a countdown of their Top 100 Videos of all time to celebrate the network’s 25th anniversary.

The Cranberries’ 1994 chart topper came in number 77 on the “Los 100 Videos Mas MTV” countdown.

Thanks to Angel and aguafiestas for the news.

Australian soldier “didn’t commit suicide”

August 18, 2006  |  Comments Off on Australian soldier “didn’t commit suicide”  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Two psychiatrists have testified that an Australian soldier in Iraq didn’t intend to commit suicide when he shot himself while singing The Cranberries’ “Dreams” in April.

Philip Mitchell, a psychiatry professor at Australia’s University of NSW, and Alexander McFarlane, professor at the University of Adelaide, both agree that Private Jake Kovco didn’t exhibit any suicidal signs.

However, Professor McFarlane concedes that the title of the song may have triggered a memory of a dream that Kovco had weeks previously. Kovco contemplated shooting himself in that dream, and wrote about it in his diary.

“Given that Private Kovco had the dream some months before and he was in a playful state of mind, it is possible the song triggered a recollection of his dream,” McFarlane said.

“At this moment he may have drawn his 9mm pistol and in a jocular (and immensely tragic) way, re-enacted his dream,” he added.

McFarlane testified that Kovco was in a playful mood when he died, and it was therefore unlikely that he would have intentionally shot himself in front of two friends.

Mitchell further found that the lyrics and beat of The Cranberries’ “Dreams” to be that of “an upbeat love song” and unlikely “to induce suicidal thoughts.”

Sources: Border Mail (more), The West Australian

News

Cranberries World (Present - 01/2012) Cranberries Press (01/2012 - 10/2011) Zombieguide (09/2007 - 07/1999)