The Hong Kong publication “Sing Pao Daily” published two articles over the past week about The Cranberries’ visit and concerts in East Asia. The articles many times mention Faye Wong’s Cantonese cover of “Dreams,” whose title roughly translates as “Dream Person” or “One I Dream Of.” Apparently the mid-90s Chinese cover version is still very popular in Asia. I hope Dolores and Noel are getting a fat royalties check!

ZG reader Micky Liou was kind enough to translate the articles for us from Chinese to English.

In related news, an article about this past week’s Singapore show and a short interview with Dolores can be found (in English!) at The Electric New Paper.

16-aug-2002 The frontwoman of The Cranberries keeps a beautiful voice with steam

 

[“Sing Pao”‘s staff] You have listened a lot to “One I Dream” from Faye Wong, but do you know that it’s just a rendition of the Irish quartet The Cranberries’ song “Dreams” by which they made a name for themselves? The famous band whose frontwoman is Dolores O’Riordan performed last night with the American band “No Doubt” and declared a few future intentions.

 

The Cranberries once made a concert performance at the Red Vault in Hong Kong in 1996, and it was the second time that the band had come to HK. At yesterday’s (Aug 15th) press conference the three guys appeared wearing slack suits while Dolores attended in something like “pyjamas,” which seems chic enough. She said smiling that they eventually had a chance to tour aroud HK now, while they’d had no time during the last stay. When talking about their partner on the stage — “No Doubt”, Dolores praised the American band, saying that the lryics of their symbol song “Don’t Speak” were enlightening. And as for Faye Wong, who adaptated their song, the four expressed that still they had no chance to meet her, however, they had listened to her music.

 

The Cranberries, being distinguished for the remarkable voice, are on their 10th Anniversary. Dolores described the relations between the members in the band like this: “We’re like newlyweds, being together at the beginning has been very exciting, but as time passes there’s also been argument. After a round of bitterness, compassion would as such arrive… we understand each other very much now.” Then how has Dolores’ voice always been beautiful for 10 years? Dolores answered that each time before going on the stage she’d inhale some warm vapor in order to keep her voice in better condition.

 

Greatest Hits next month

 

The band is going to release a “greatest hits” disc entitled “Stars – The Bset Of 1992-2002,” which includes the new song “Star” that has never been published, and “Daffodil Lament” voted by fans on The Cranberries’ homepage (www.cranberries.ie). The band will perfom in Korea and Indonesia after they leave Hong Kong, then get back to Europe to promote their handpicked itinerary.

 

Covered by Frederick
Translation: Micky Liou (Jiaozuo, Henan)

The Cranberries will visit H.K. again next year

 

The performance from The Cranberries in the second half of the concert wasn’t outshadowed compared with the first one [No Doubt]. Vocalist Dolores O’Riordan presented on the stage wearing a twinkling orchestic suit in a sort of way during the beginning part, shaking her head at times while playing her guitar. As the requests of those ebullient fans rushed out, the band encored three more songs after they’d performed “Zombie” and fifteen other ones including their new work “Stars”, and ended with “Dreams”, the original version of Faye Wong’s “One I Dream”. Dolores expressed her delight to have the chance to tour around the harbor, and indicated that they’re quite able to hold a concert here in Hong Kong early the following year.

 

Reporter: Frederick
Translation:Yakun Liou (Micky)

Source:  Exclusive, thanks Micky!

Universal Music has finally begun to distribute “Stars” promo CDs in the UK. The promo single include four tracks and the CD is housed in a cardboard gatefold sleeve. The cover includes a slew of photos of the band over the past 12 years, including one (lower left-hand corner) which dates back to 1991.

Tracks are:

1. Stars
2. Linger
3. Zombie
4. Just My Imagination

Looks like promotion for “Stars” is finally starting to get into swing, so check back for more soon!
Thanks to Xan21 for the tip.

This past Thursday, Universal put out a press release to highlight the upcoming release of “Stars.” As with most press releases, there’s no real new information, but it does give a good summary of what’s on tap for the near future.

Stars – The Best of The Cranberries
1992-2002, GROUP’S FIRST “BEST OF” ALBUM
INCLUDES SINGLES, RARITIES AND TWO NEW TRACKS

 

In their 10th anniversary year, after more than 35 million albums sold worldwide, the Cranberries celebrate a truly stellar career with their first “Best of” album, Stars – The Best Of The Cranberries – 1992-2002 (Island/UME), released September 24, 2002.

 

The 20-song Stars – The Best Of The Cranberries – 1992-2002 features all of the previous singles from the biggest-selling Irish rock artists outside of U2, including “Dreams,” “Linger,” “Zombie” and “Ode to My Family.” Offering something new as well, several songs are presented in alternative versions, two tracks (“Hollywood” and “You And Me”) were released as singles only in certain countries, and a bonus track was added on by online fans voting for their favorite non-single (“Daffodil Lament”). Rounding out the set are two new studio recordings (“Stars” and “New New York”) produced by Stephen Street.

 

In 1993, the Limerick band (singer Dolores O’Riordan, brothers Noel and Mike Hogan (guitar and bass, respectively) and drummer Fergal Lawler) went Top 10 and gold with “Linger,” and Top 10 and quintuple platinum with Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (from which Stars also includes “Dreams”). No Need To Argue debuted at #6 in 1994 and spawned the #1 Modern Rock hit “Zombie,” #11 “Ode To My Family,” “Ridiculous Thoughts” and “I Can’t Be With You,” and reached seven times platinum. To The Faithful Departed, with “Hollywood,” “Salvation,” “Free To Decide” and “When You’re Gone,” debuted in 1996 at #6 and is currently double platinum. 1999’s Bury The Hatchet, with “Promises,” “Animal Instinct,” “You And Me” and “Just My Imagination,” debuted Top 15 and is now gold. From Wake Up And Smell The Coffee are “Analyse,” “Time Is Ticking Out” and “This Is The Day.”

 

While on their current world tour, the Cranberries will be taping a documentary program in Hong Kong on August 16 for a 10th anniversary ‘Special’ to be broadcast on television this fall. As a special treat, long-time fans were asked to submit online their longest-held question about the group. The Cranberries will answer the most submitted question on the program.

 

The Cranberries are currently touring Asia and Europe.

Source: Universal

As is common with most major releases, music retailers have now received the sales sheet for next month’s release of “Stars” from Universal’s distribution house. The sales sheet provides a brief overview of the release and also notes major upcoming promotion, much of which still looks to be “TBA.”

The description confirms the suspicion that single edits have been used on a few tracks while new edits have been cut for others. This was of course needed to fit all 20 tracks onto one CD.

The write-up also promises a “major press and radio blitz” to promote the new disc, although hard details are scant. A promotion with Cafe Music Network, however, has been cemented and details can be read on the sheet.

We’ll be catching up with more news from the past week, so stay glued to your monitor!

Source: Exclusive

This past Thursday, August 15th, The Cranberries attended a brief press conference in Hong Kong to help kick off promotion for the upcoming “greatest hits” disc entitled “Stars.” Each band member received a plaque to commemorate all of their albums to date, while the stage was set in the theme for the artwork for “Stars.”

Dolores told the Hong Kong concert audience on the night of the 15th that the band will return to Asia in 2003, most likely in a tour to support “Stars.”

Some photos from the event were published in the HK magazine “Sing Pao Daily.”
Special thanks to Cherrie Candies for scanning the images and sending them to us!

We’ll be catching up with more news from the past week, so stay glued to your monitor!

Source: Exclusive

On September 16th, Universal Music in the UK will release a limited edition of The Cranberries’ greatest hits disc entitled “Stars.” The set will include a second bonus disc which will include five live bonus tracks:

1. Zombie (Live)
2. Ode To My Family (Live)
3. Animal Instinct (Live)
4. Salvation (Live)
5. Daffodil Lament (Live)

In related news, the tracklist of “Stars” has changed slightly, with “New New York” now preceding “Stars” (which, in turn, has become the last track).
The final (we hope) tracklisting is:

1. Dreams
2. Linger
3. Zombie
4. Ode To My Family
5. I Can’t Be With You
6. Ridiculous Thoughts
7. Salvation
8. Free To Decide
9. When You’re Gone
10. Hollywood
11. Promises
12. Animal Instinct
13. Just My Imagination
14. You & Me
15. Analyse
16. Time Is Ticking Out
17. This Is the Day
18. Daffodil Lament (Bonus track – #1 non-single voted by the fans)
19. New New York (previously unreleased)
20. Stars (previously unreleased)

More on “Stars” in the days ahead…

Source: CD-Wow

During The Cranberries’ North American tour in May, Canadian music channel MuchMusic got a chance to catch up with Mike, Noel, and Fergal backstage in Montreal. The interview, recorded for the show Infoplus, got a chance to squeeze out some information about the band’s current and future releases.

Fergal told the camera, “We were thinking about doing an album of unreleased material, but then a suggestion was made by a friend of ours — it’s called a Treasure Box — and it’s got the first four albums. Normally when we record, we record eighteen or twenty songs and we use thirteen or fourteen on an album. So sometimes the leftover tracks are used as B-sides, sometimes they’re not used at all. So what we did was make a complete boxset of everything we’ve ever done.”

When asked whether the band prefers to release studio or live material, Fergal replied, “In the studio definitely, we wouldn’t do a full live album. But one or two tracks occassionally sound really good live, so if they’re mixed right, they sound really great live. If it turns out well, we’re happy and we use them.”

“There’s a ‘greatest hits’ coming out…” Mike told Infoplus. “There’ll be two new tracks on that. And maybe a sixth album next year, somewhere in the spring or summertime, hopefully.”

Source: Exclusive

First there was the Japanese version with three bonus tracks. Then some Canadians got the “Preserved” sampler CD with their album purchase. After that came the Spanish bonus live CD. Once we over our jealousy for that, the deluxe Taiwanese boxed “coaster” set decided to show up. Much later, Universal put out the near yawn-inducing Chinese special edition. But now Taiwan has taken back the green cake of envy with a brand new version of “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee.”

EMI Taiwan, a division of Universal Music, has released quite possibly the most deluxe version of “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee” yet, in support of the band’s tour of Asia this month. The 2CD set, in jewel cases housed inside a custom slipcase, includes the international version of the album and a bonus AVCD that carries a whopping six bonus tracks and three music videos. The AVCD, a common format in piracy-heavy eastern Asia, is region-free and playable on many models of DVD players (though be cautioned as with VCDs, it will not play on a PlayStation 2). The audio is playable on most standard CD players.

Here’s the full tracklist for the set:

1. Never Grow Old
2. Analyse
3. Time Is Ticking Out
4. Dying Inside
5. This Is The Day
6. The Concept
7. Wake Up And Smell The Coffee
8. Pretty Eyes
9. I Really Hope
10. Every Morning
11. Do You Know
12. Carry On
13. Chocolate Brown
14. Salvation (live in Paris)
15. In The Ghetto

Bonus AVCD:
1. This Is The Day (Video)
2. Time Is Ticking Out (Video)
3. Analyse (Video)
4. Many Days
5. Capetown
6. Shattered (Live at Vicar Street)
7. Loud & Clear (Live at Vicar Street)
8. Analyse (Oceanic Long Version)
9. Time Is Ticking Out (Marius de Vries Remix Edit)

Taking a look at the tracklist, we can see that the bonus CD contains all of the bonus goodies found on the “Analyse” and “TITO” singles and then some. This marks the first official “hard” release of “Many Days” — the song was previously only available as a free download on the official page. In fact, the only notable absence is the impeccable B-side “Such a Waste” from the “TITD” single.

“Wake Up And Smell The Coffee” Asian Tour Edition is available from popular importer SOLcd.com for the paltry price of $18.99

Source: SOLcd.com

The August issue of the Italian “Tribe Generation” carries a new 4-page interview with The Cranberries’ own Dolores O’Riordan. Dolores gave the interview via telephone while in Mexico City late in June. There’s no new eye candy to be had, however, as the photos are a mix of those from Dolores’ Hot Press cover feature (in 2000) and a full-page “Wake Up” promo photo that we’ve seen plenty of times before (not pictured).

Dolores chit-chats mostly about the upcoming ‘greatest hits,’ but also mentions Irish director Jim Sheridan again, who wanted to cast Dolores as a “femme fatale” character in a film. It sounds like Dolores hasn’t lost the urge to do an acting role or two! Unfortunately, the entire interview is in Italian, which means that even the best web translator can’t save us in our dire need now. If someone would like to type up an English translation, send it over and we’d be more than happy to post it.

Thanks to Lorenzo for the scans.

Source: Exclusive

Aired earlier today, CNN International’s “The Music Room” dedicated a third of its entire half-hour show to The Cranberries’ current tour, and topics ranged from the band’s history, soundchecks, pre-show rituals, and yes, even Dolores’ personal toilet!

“We’re old rockers, old, old rockers!” Dolores admits with a grin. “It’s like going around a second time, you know? When you get to that point where you have a ‘greatest hits,’ I think you realize that you are a little bit older, you aren’t the new kids on the block anymore. I think we’re gonna call it the ‘Stars,’ because it’s a joyful moment and it’s a good thing because stars are so amazing and up there…”

“I wear these going on all the time because for a second, the audience thinks you’ve lost the plot and gone really bonkers,” she says as she holds up her now-famous white mask. “I wear it for one or two songs, but then I take it off. Oooh, I’m only playing!”

Upon inspecting Dolores’ make-up case, she gives CNN an extremely rare look at a photo of her two children, Taylor and Molly. “Thats a rather old picture of my two little babies, actually. That’s a picture of my little girl [Molly] right after she was born.”

The camera follows Dolores as she walks into another room, vacated by Mike, Noel, and Fergal. Dolores points to Fergal, who’s playing a kart racer on PlayStation 2 against backup guitarist Steve DiMarchi. “This is a wardrobe case I had made up for my children and my boys stole it! That’s basically what the boys do, they play these games all the time before they go on stage.”

“Over here is my.. POTTY!!” she yells triumphantly as she throws open some dense curtains and drops her foot on a polka-dotted fur-covered toilet with a thud. “See, that’s a rock star’s potty! I have this recurring nightmare about this thing [pointing to the curtains] falling down and leaving me there in front out thousands of people staring!”

“You never really know if you’re going to make it [your whole life], but if we do make it, it would be nice if we could do it safely… It would be nice if we could still be making music and still go on as The Cranberries, but either way, it’s a very unpredictable life. It’s very unpredictable.”

The segment also aired some nice soundcheck clips prior to the Atlanta show, which we’ve encoded here for your download:

“I Really Hope” at Soundcheck, Atlanta, GA, June 12th, 2002 (MP3, 600k) (Link no longer available)
“Stars” at Soundcheck, Atlanta, GA, June 12th, 2002 (MP3, 700k) (Link no longer available)

Source: Exclusive

CNN International aired the cover art for “Stars” on The Cranberries segment on “The Music Room” earlier this morning. As promised, the cover portrays the band standing in the Nevada desert, an image taken by veteran Andy Earl. Zombieguide has snagged the first image of the art, and with any luck, will hopefully have a better version available soon.

Look for more media from the “Music Room” special in the coming hours.

Source: Exclusive

Universal Music Distribution today confirmed to Zombieguide that “Stars : The Best of the Cranberries 1992-2002” will be released on September 24th in the United States. As per usual, the American date follows little after a week of a the international date, which is slated at September 16th.

Now that UMD has begun listing the album, we should have new art and promotional materials available in the coming days and weeks, so check back soon!

Source: Exclusive

Zombieguide reported back in June that Dolores had recorded a new interview for CNN shortly before the rescheduled Atlanta gig. That interview will be airing this weekend on CNN International’s “The Music Room.”

CNN International (which caters mostly to Asia and Europe) has been running commercials for the show all week, which promises to focus on The Cranberries’ US tour which ended last month. The segment is almost certain to include footage from the June 12th Atlanta concert.

The Music Room airs on CNNI at 4:30 PM EST this Sunday and will repeat throughout the week (be sure to check your local listings first). Zombieguide will have exclusive screen captures and info when it airs. Also, Björk will appear on The Music Room on August 30th, so be sure not to miss that either!

Source: CNN International

MCA Records, in conjunction with the German-based Motor, has released an alternate “This Is The Day” promo. The new one-track promo is simplistic to a fault, with no slipcase art to speak of, but with the album version of “This Is The Day” in tow, it accomplishes its designated task.

The-Cranberries.com has posted an excellent-quality version of “Stars” performed live on Vienne, France, on Sunday night (July 28th). It is the third live version of “Stars” to be found on the web and is by far the best quality thus far. With such a crystal-clear version now available, the tentative lyrics for “Stars” might just be getting another update.

“Stars” Live in Vienna, July 28th, 2002 (3.4 mb, zipped) (Link no longer available)

Source: The-Cranberries.com

Our visitor Lionel Vasquez has transcribed a tentative set of the lyrics for “Stars” from a high-quality first-generation version of the song and after comparing them with the two MP3s floating about, they look to be dead-on. We’re still uncertain about the two lines denoted with a (?), so if anybody has suggestions for them, be sure to send them over to us.

Stars

The Stars are bright tonight
And I am walking nowhere

I guess I will be alright
Desire gets you nowhere

And you are always right
I thought you are so perfect

Take you as you were
Have you as you were
Take you as you were

I’ll have* you just the way are
I’ll have you just the way are
I’ll take you just the way are
Does anybody love the way you are
Aaa Aaa Aaa

The Stars are bright tonight
A distance is between us
And I will be OK
The worst I’ve ever seen us

And still I have my weaknesses
Still I have my strength
And still I have my ugliness

But I, I, I
I’ll have you just the way are
I’ll have you just the way are
I’ll take you just the way are
Does anybody love the way you are

Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaaa

I’ll have you just the way are
I’ll have you just the way are
I’ll take you just the way are
Does anybody love the way you are

Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa Aaaa

Star, Star

* = could be “I love…”

Thanks to Lionel Vasquez for sending them to us.
Also thanks to Raffaella and all the others who have sent in corrections.

A second live recording of “Stars” has surfaced, this one originating from the Crans’ performance in Los Angeles on July 5th. The new track has been played at every Cranberries concert since the make-up Atlanta show on June 12th.

On the whole, the quality is poor, even compared with the previous MP3 recording. However, this is one large advantage to the new taping: Dolores’ (lovely) voice is much more clear. The other instruments, however, are almost entirely washed out. So without further adieu, click below to download:

“Stars” Live in Los Angeles, July 5th, 2002 (2.8 mb) (Link no longer available)

Special thanks to Lionel Vasquez for allowing us to post the file.

Source: Argenberries

The Cranberries Official Site has updated with a note that says, “As you know, ‘Daffodil Lament’ was the OVERWHELMING winner, and we also mentioned that the band wanted to add the winning song onto the forthcoming ‘STARS- Best of The Cranberries 1992 – 2002’ as a bonus track! Well in fact, we can confirm that you (the fans) choice HAS been added! The artwork on the album will reflect the fact that the song was chosen by the fans!”

At this point, we’re not sure if we will be seeing some daffodil-themed art somewhere inside the album or if the designs will simply represent the “fans” in some way. As previously mentioned, Storm Thorgerson will handle the art for “Stars,” as he has for virtually all of the band’s releases since 1999. Other art will include photos of the band taken at the Boulder Dam area in Nevada.

Also, the latest update lists the 10 winners of the “greatest hits” competition, who all won signed copies of the “Beneath the Skin” VHS. Congratulations to all!

Source: The Cranberries Official Site

Yesterday’s report of a concert in Aquila, Italy (originating from an article in Il Centro) has been denied by The Cranberries’ official Italian site, Cranberries Italia. “An official denial arrived quickly from both the record company and the [band’s] management,” reads a notice posted late yesterday. The site also warns readers to be extremely cautious if they “find other announcements of this type,” as this is the second falsely-advertised Cranberries concert in Italy this summer.

Thanks to Aiencran for notifying us!

Source: Cranberries Italia

An article newly published in Il Centro states that The Cranberries have been hired as a last-minute “substitute” to replace the singer Jovanotti on August 23rd in Aquila, Italy. The multi-artist week-long concert series, organized by l’Istituzione Perdonanza, hopes to raise awareness on several worldwide social and human rights issues.

“It’s characteristic,” comments the director of l’Istituzione Perdonanza, Kind Michele, “that they have made the difference in the quality of the names available [for this concert]. Our hope is that the presence of the artists engages you in social topics of our own brotherhood…”

The article states that the agreement has been finalized, but as always, we await official confirmation!

Source: CranPortal

Cadena 40, one of the most popular radio stations in Spain, has just added the title track from “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee” to it’s regular playlist. Spanish radio stations are among the first in the world to add new singles to their playlists, which may suggest that “Wake Up” is on its way to single- dom. However, it’s only speculation at this point and we won’t know for sure unless we see promo singles begin to surface or we get an official confirmation from some source.

With the exclusion of “Wake Up” from the setlist of “Stars: The Best of…,” it was assumed that there would be no more singles from the current album. However, what we do know is that a “Radio Edit” has been available for quite some time and it would be nearly effortless to put it onto a promo CD in a half-hearted promotion attempt.

Thanks to Uncer for the news. Zombieguide will have more as it develops!

Source: Exclusive

Finally, The Cranberries Official Site confirmed today that “Stars: The Best of the Cranberries 1992-2002” is on track for a mid-September release. Specifically, the compilation will be on store shelves in Spain on September 16th. Still no official word on the date for the US release, but we can probably expect it within a week’s timespan of that date.

Additionally, the site verifies our report from yesterday that the Spanish tour dates have been moved to October 23rd and 25th in order to better promote the new CD.

Source: The Cranberries Official Site

The Cranberries Official Site updated today with a notice saying that “Before a licensing permit for this show [Jakarta] was granted, the Indonesian government decided to hold their parliamentary convention from August the 1st to August 16th. As is common during this period, NO activities with mass gatherings are allowed in Jakarta, and that includes music concerts!” The site says that the band will return to Jakarta at a later date.

In related news, there are some strong rumors going around that the gigs scheduled for Malaga and A Coruña, Spain next week have been likewise rescheduled for October. The information has appeared in several Spanish publications including La Opinion de Malaga. Another magazine, Indyrock, additionally reports that the dates have been moved to October 24th and 25th in order to better promote “Stars: The Best of…,” due out in September. The papers report that Universal Music has confirmed the cancellations, and a representative for El Coliseu cited the “expressed wishes of the band.” No further reason (if any) has been given.

As of yet, the Cranberries Official Site has not made any changes to the Spanish tour schedule and still has links to ticket vendors. We at Zombieguide await official confirmation of the news, and will watch the story for the next few days.

Sources: The Cranberries Official Site, La Opinion de Malaga

The Straits Times has posted an article regarding the slew of upcoming concerts in Asia, which includes, of course, several Cranberries gigs. Here’s a Cran-related snippet from the article:

MORE WILLING TO TRAVEL

INDUSTRY players credit a relaxation of post-911 travel phobia for the return of Western artistes.

Promoters are also willing to take the risk because Singaporeans are travelling less during the slump and spending more on concerts, they say.

Says Sistic’s Mr Ta: ‘They still need entertainment to relieve stress, and being discerning spenders, Singaporeans tend to save up to afford tickets to concerts by popular artistes or those they perceive as good.’

Promoters Adrian Hobbs of M2 (Diana Krall), and Michael Hosking, managing director of Midas Entertainment, say the tour plans of artistes also account for the increasing arrivals over the next six months.

Mr Hosking, whose company is bringing in Blue, notes that The Cranberries are headlining a festival in Jakarta for US$500,000 (S$880,000). ‘Since the group is already flying all the way to Asia, the thinking is that they might as well perform here,’ he says.

Source: The Straits Times

A representative for Universal Music Spain has confirmed the tracklisting and order of the upcoming Cranberries disc, “Stars: The Best of The Cranberries 1992-2002,” due out this fall. As we can see, the titles of the two new tracks have been finalized as “Stars” and “New New York”. Interestingly enough, the disc ends with the fan-picked “Daffodil Lament” rather than concluding with the new bonus tracks. There are 20 total, rather than the previously- reported 16 (which seems to make much more sense anyway).
Here’s the lineup:

1. Dreams
2. Linger
3. Zombie
4. Ode To My Family
5. I Can’t Be With You
6. Ridiculous Thoughts
7. Salvation
8. Free To Decide
9. When You’re Gone
10. Hollywood
11. Promises
12. Animal Instinct
13. Just My Imagination
14. You & Me
15. Analyse
16. Time Is Ticking Out
17. This Is The Day
18. Stars
19. New New York
20. Daffodil Lament

Source: Chocolate Brown

The Cranberries Official Website has updated today with a brand new look on its opening page: a teaser for the band’s upcoming greatest hits disc, which is now officially titled “Stars: The Best of The Cranberries 1992-2002”. The intro now scrolls amusingly in Star Wars-esque text, well befitting of the song title, and set to the opening of “I Still Do.” As for a date, it reads only: “Coming Soon.” So whether it is September (like the official Italian site reports) or Christmas (as the main official site last reported), we’ll know soon.

Source: The Cranberries Official Website

Several major Spanish newspapers reported this morning that The Cranberries have scheduled to play at the island of Majorca, Spain this September.

It is reported that the Council of Majorca are in the final stages of securing an agreement with the band for them to play as part of the Diada de Mallorca celebration. The date will be somewhere between September 11th and the 14th, although it has yet to be finalized, as it cannot conflict with the band’s touring schedule in Asia. If confirmed, it will be the seventh tour date that The Cranberries have played in Spain this year!

Check out some front-page articles from the Majorcan press below or click here to read an online article from El Mundo, which mirrors the printed article. (Link no longer available)

Sources: The Cranberries of Prat, El Mundo

The Cranberries are mentioned in two new Italian magazines on newsstands this month, TV Sette and the oft-recurring Tutto. The first article, from Sette, takes a look at the ongoing Sprite promotion in Italy, which it praises as a “good idea.”
Here’s a translation:

Drink And Listen

 

Today it’s possible to download legally and practically free on your PC hundreds of songs, chart singles included. A TV spot [commercial] shows a guy in his car who asks another one:
– Have you got the latest Cranberries’ single?
And he, to answer him, points to a fridge full of Sprite, the drink in green bottle produced by Coca-Cola. On its wrapper there’s a special code which, [when] entered on the website www.thespriters.it lets, after listening to 30 second snipped files, anyone download one of the hundred songs of the Universal Catalogue. With some limitations: the file destructs itself at the end of 2002, and it isn’t copyable on a CD or even on another PC. We’re always in doubt when we’re publicizing about an advertisement, but it’s right, in the interest of those who read, publicizing a good idea. In this case also because it shows that not every major [company] has fear of the Internet. It is also a way to tell people how to act in regards to a product of talent which is a song, which can be enjoyed, like the sea, the beach, the sun, never possessed or stolen; after a work like writing, arranging and playing a song, a little expense (in this case the purchase of the drink) is justified. In the list we find Jovanotti, Nannini, Cranberries, Elton John etc.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Caption: Above The Cranberries, included among the artists of the Universal catalogue downloadable from the Net after drinking a Sprite.

The second article, from Tutto, includes an extensive feature about The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The article includes a listing of bands who, like the Chili Peppers, didn’t find success right away, and The Cranberries are among them.
Here’s what it says:

CRANBERRIES
When the first album EEIDDISWCW? (1993) comes out, grunge and hip-hop is played. Result: in England the album sold only 12,000 copies, a misery. But it will be greatly re-discovered after its American success.

Thanks to Mattia of The Cranberries Videography for the scans and translations.

Source: Exclusive

The Cranberries of Prat has posted more images of the interview The Cranberries gave live on Linea Directa on the station Telehit in Mexico City two weeks ago. Check them out below.

Source: The Cranberries of Prat

The Cranberries of Prat has posted some nice images of the interview The Cranberries gave live on Linea Directa on the station Telehit in Mexico City two weeks ago. Check them out below.

Source: The Cranberries of Prat

Although Europe has to wait until the middle of the month and America has to wait until the end of the month, the individual releases of the “Complete Sessions” albums are already out in some parts of the world.

First to get them is Mexico, where the discs were sent to retail to coincide with the band’s Mexican tour last week. And now, reports have come in from Paris (thanks to François) that some stores there have already begun to sell them as well.

As expected, the individual releases of the albums are nearly identical to those found in the “Treasure Box” boxed set, released in May. The only changes are minor; the notice that reads “Not to be sold separately” has been removed from the back of the casing and has been replaced with a barcode.

Also thanks to Arturo for the info.

Source: Exclusive

“Star,” “Stars,” “The Stars” — we’re still not exactly sure what its title is, but we DO know that it’s right here for your listening pleasure!

The file showed up this morning on file-transfer program KaZaA and was recorded from this past week’s gig in Mexico. The quality is poor, yes, but at least we’ve now got a glimpse of what we’ll be seeing on the Greatest Hits disc this fall!

Major thanks to Insider27 for sending the file to us!!

The Stars (Live in Mexico) (2.3 mb, MP3) (Link no longer available)

Source: Jorge Iván Balderas Hernández

On this week’s episode of TechTV’s Audiofile, the show interviewed Joe O’Herlihy, The Cranberries’ Front of House Sound Engineer for the band’s tours. Of course The Cranberries fans may remember him best from the “Tech Docs” on the “Beneath the Skin: Live in Paris” DVD. Also being a Sound Designer for U2, O’Herlihy talked a lot about the challenges of setting up a sound system for a concert in the short span of a few hours, and also gave a quick tour of some of the equipment he uses.

“We’ll have a structure within the context of a mix in place and some buildings will respond accordingly, other buildings will be much more difficult,” he explained. “You’ve got plastic seats which are very reflective. You’ve got a concrete floor which again is a very reflective surface. But you can’t move all the frequencies [of the soundboard] because once the people come in, they have this automatic dampening effect.”

The job isn’t for everyone he admits. “If a studio engineer came in, it would be an ‘Oh My God!’-type situation. He would probably lose his mind in seconds!”

Source: Exclusive

UK online store 101CD has put up a listing for the British releases of the “Complete Sessions” quartet of albums. According to the site, the individual CDs will be out on July 15th in the UK, almost two weeks before their US release on July 30th.

Thanks to Daniel Robert James Steward for the tip.

Source: 101CD

Universal Japan has just posted the first listing for The Cranberries’ “best of” disc, due out early this fall. As it is listed, the title is simply “Greatest Hits.” Although this could change to a more “creative” title, this is how it stands at the moment. It appears that the album will contain only 1 CD (as opposed to the rumored two) and will have a total of 16 tracks, which includes both “Star” and “New York Skyline.” The listing gives the release as late September 2002 in Japan, which gives us a more exact timeframe.

In related news, French mega-radio station NRJ recently ran a news short about the CD and also pinned its release to “September.” Thanks to Stéphane for that bit of info.

Source: Exclusive

Apparently The Cranberries had good reason to deny the newspaper reports that hit the stands this morning — the one below reads, “The Cranberries already see their end” which is most certainly not true. Although the headline is very misleading, it does contain some important quotes, which we’ve translated below:

“That would be very nice, but we signed a contract for six discs, so first we have to release the Greatest Hits and another studio one, so that afterwards we can start our individual projects: I believe that we have many desires to take a break,” Fergal reportedly said.

Some of the other quotes are even more misleading, with the paper reporting that Dolores said, “It’s not like a marriage, and for that reason, I think we’ve spent too much time together. If we want to separate, we’ll do it”.

Although we can’t definitively deny these quotes (as some of the others in the article mirror the ones found in other reports), the band’s denial on Linea Directa earlier today should be enough to quell fans’ fears.

On another topic, the article also reports that Daffodil Lament is the imminent winner to the Official Site’s fan poll-contest, and will probably be included on the band’s “Best Of” disc this fall. Assuming that you haven’t thrown this whole article out the window yet, Dolores said, “We had a poll on the Internet page, where Daffodil Lament, a song which was never a single from the disc No Need To Argue, is winning.”

Thanks to Edgar Torres for the scan.

Also below is another press conference pic, sent to us by Uriel. Thanks to both.
But just remember — don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you read!

Source: Exclusive

At approximately 3:30 local time (4:30 EST), The Cranberries finally arrived at the studios of the station 9 85 Radio in Mexico City. The interview covered several topics (including an extensive conversation about drinking!), the most important of which are below:

Dolores talked extensively about the day she wrote one of the band’s new songs, “New York Skyline.” She said, “Usually when I decide to write a song like that, it usually happens to me when I’m very relaxed and I’m having a couple glasses of wine. And then my inhibitions and my walls are down so I don’t think about what I’m doing. It’s kind of like you just sit down with music and it just starts to come out, because usually songs like that, when you’re sober in the middle of the day, you’d probably be too conscious to talk about stuff like that. So, when I wrote ‘Zombie,’ I remember I’d come home at night when I’d been out partying for three or four hours. And I had this guitar music and I remember I started singing it and I was quite edgy as well… It was kind of something that was way deep down inside my soul and I was kind of, you know, too embarrassed to talk about it in sobriety. So that came after a social kind of thing as well. When you’re really reflective and relaxed, as I said for me sometimes I have a glass of wine and my heart opens up and I start writing better. I mean, artists use things sometimes to write and find a deeper part of their souls and usually all those tracks came after, you know, a bit of a social thing. The New York song came after our gig in New York, the first gig [in New York that] we did since September 11th. And it was a brilliant show, I mean the New Yorkers were amazing and it was amazing to be there, to be back there, you know, still a beautiful city and the energy was brilliant.”

Dolores then revealed about how she wrote the song, and even seems to reveal the first known lyrics from the song. She continued, “But then we had a few jars afterwards and I went back to my hotel room and I was on my own and I put on the music that the boys had recorded at soundcheck. I turned it up and looked out my window and I started writing, like, ‘I look across these city streets, my heart is cold as it beats.’ And I started thinking about it, you know, and then I just started writing down my thoughts. So, it just happens without thinking usually.”

And after Dolores mentioned “jars” about half-a-dozen times, the host couldn’t help himself and said, “I have to get one of those jars! … We only have Corona down here though.”

“I love it! It’s my favorite beer,” responded Dolores, “with a little bit of lime!”

While they were on the subject, Dolores gave out her recipie for her favorite alcoholic treat. “I have one for the Mexican people, ‘cos it’s very hot here in Mexico, a suggestion from Dolores! Get a watermelon, okay? Make a hole in the top. Pour a bottle of tequila into it. Put it in the fridge and then the next day when you have a party, slice it up, and when you eat it, you get wrecked off your head! (giggle)”

View some pictures from today’s interview below and don’t miss Dolores’ cute ponytail!

(Pictures no longer available)

More news from the show Linea Directa on the Mexican television station Telehit:

Several Mexican newspapers reported this morning that members of The Cranberries will be doing solo projects. The band just denied the report on their live Q&A session, and commented that it was a “bad translation.” It is assumed the new “independent compositions” will be within the context of the band and not as solo projects. Dolores also added that she would never think to take on a solo career.

In addition to the “Best Of” compilation, the band has also announced a DVD compilation of all The Cranberries’ music videos for release around the same time! Fans’ request for such a compilation has been high within the past few years.

The band has just left the Four Seasons Hotel where the Q&A session took place, and it is said that the door of the hotel was crowded by a myriad of fans. The band is on their way to the studios of 9 85 Radio for an interview within the next few minutes — expect an exclusive first-hand report of the interview (including pictures!) right here on Zombieguide within the next few hours.

Thanks to Arturo Garcia for the news. More news coming FAST!

Source: Exclusive

On the show Linea Directa on the Mexican television station Telehit, The Cranberries are currently hosting a live Q&A session with fans as we speak. They just announced within the last few minutes that “Star” will in fact be the band’s next single. The track was recorded earlier this month with Stephen Street at Criteria Studios in Miami for the band’s “Best Of” disc to be released around September. There’s no concrete information on the single’s release yet, but you can read fans’ impressions of the song when it was performed live in Atlanta on the 12th of this month.

Thanks to Arturo Garcia for the news. More news coming FAST!

Source: Exclusive

The Spanish site Reforma has posted another very similar article about the band’s press conference yesterday which seems to clarify some of the topics the band discussed.
Here’s a rough translation:

The Cranberries desire a world of awareness

 

Dolores O’Riordan, singer of the group, showed that it is necessary to approach more serious topics to wake up the conscience of people

 

By IVETT RANGEL/ Reforma
City of Mexico (25 June 2002). – They know that with a song they will not change to the world, but The Cranberries always considered it to be important to approach universal conflicts in his music, since they have done it with “Zombie” and “New York Skyline,” the last dedicated to the victims of the attacks of 11 of September last year.

 

The Irish group will appear today and tomorrow at the Auditorio Nacional.

 

Dolores O’Riordan, singer of the group, showed that it is necessary to approach more serious topics to wake up the conscience of people

 

“It’s lovely to share more things about life, not only songs about love or about conflicts between men and women.

 

“It is important to compose serious songs, although we know that these will not change anything, but it will help people to find out about things that happen and therefore, we can wake up consciences. That’s something we can do,” also explained the guitarist.

 

During a press conference, at which they arrived after one hour of delay, the musicians remembered that “New York Skyline” was written after their concerts in the Great Apple.

 

This one subject will be including in its next album, they say, which will compile their greatest successes, which will be chosen by their fans via Internet.

 

“It was like a reflection on how people live at the moment in that city,” O’Riordan said.

 

The band, also formed by the brothers Noel and Mike Hogan, guitarist and bass, respectively, clarified that they will not resort continuously to this type of theme, since they could bore their fans.

 

“There will always be terrorism and it will always be cowardly because it is, simply, the nature of the human race, but we don’t want people to become bored with us,” expressed Fernal Lawler, drummer of The Cranberries.

 

Prior to their shows at the Auditorio Nacional (25 and 26 of June) and at the Auditorio Benito Juárez, in Guadalajara (the 28 of June), where they will present their fifth album called Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, the Irishmen assured us that they are concluding their present contract with the MCA label, [and] they will create a new sound with a basis in individual compositions.

 

Lawler indicated that it is necessary to explore other styles, but that [it] will be after a disc of greatest hits and another yet-unpublished one with the sound that until now has characterized them, as it is stipulated in their contract.

 

“This does not mean that we are going away to separate, but it will only be to get some freedom,” he indicated.

 

“We’ve never worried about being a fashionable band, but [only] to remain effective in the eyes of the people,” concluded O’Riordan.

 

So now we’re not only talking about a sixth album, but a potential seventh one as well, with a foundation on individual compositions from each band member. Interesting…

Source: Reforma

Discussion board member cwinter sent us a tip about an article on Emol.com which bears even more surprising news from yesterday’s press conference! According to the article The Cranberries will be recording on “separate ways”.
Here’s a rough translation:

The Cranberries Will Record on Separate Ways

The members of the Irish band The Cranberries revealed yesterday in Mexico their plans to record separately. “We’re not married, we’re free inside the band, it’s more about exploring, not about breaking apart,” said the vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Dolores O’Riordan yesterday.

Does this mean a Fergal Lawler solo album is in our future??! Shocking indeed. We await further comment from the band…

Source: Emol

Yahoo! has posted a photo of the band from their press conference yesterday in Mexico.
We’ll have more images soon, but until then, enjoy this first look.

Source: Yahoo! News

Weeks ago, drummer Fergal Lawler put the situation very bluntly on the official page, saying, “We weren’t sure what to expect as some (not all), members of our record company informed us that in their eyes, “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee” is “over” in America, and they have moved on to other things. Not exactly the words of encouragement you would like to hear as you are about to embark on a U.S. tour!!! But thanks to you, our incredibly supportive fans we say F*** ’em!!! We are here to play music and enjoy every minute of it, and thankfully that’s the way it’s been working out!”

Their response? According to the band’s press conference today, drop MCA! In all honesty and reason, why would they keep a record company that not only does no work for the band, but slaps them with an insult like the one above? After only a year of being signed onto MCA’s boat, they are abandoning ship, and fast.

UPDATE – JUNE 25 – 9:00 PM

It seems our translation was interpreted a little bit on the liberal side. Judging from other information flowing out from the press conference, it seems most likely that The Cranberries will simply fulfill the 6- album requirement that they signed on with and then allow the contract to expire with Universal. That is, after they’ve fulfilled it, don’t expect them to re-sign for more CDs on any Universal label anytime in the future.

It should be noted that the upcoming “Best Of” disc is still on track for a September release on Island Records. The just-reported article from Reforma breaks the news, although it does no mention where the band is looking for a further record company. If someone can provide us with a better translation than our rough one below, please email it!

World-wide situation worries The Cranberries

 

They consider to compose relevant songs on more serious topics although they recognize that a song will not change the world
By IVETT RANGEL/ Reforma

 

Mexico City (24 June 2002). – The Irish group The Cranberries considered it important this Monday to approach universal conflicts in their music as they have done with “Zombie” or “New York Sky Line”. However, they recognized that a song cannot change to the world.

 

Dolores O’Riordan, singer, indicated that she won’t always do it because they could bore their followers, but this type of situation has to be shared.

 

“I believe that life is much more enjoyable, not only with songs about love or children, its great to compose songs on more serious topics even though I do not believe that a song changes the situation, but wakes up people’s consciences that it happens.

 

“I believe that there will always be terrorism and it will always be cowardly because simply it is the human race”, indicated the singer in a press conference.

 

Prior to their presentations at the National Audience and Benito Juárez in Guadalajara where they will present their fifth record production titled “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” the musicians indicated that now that when they conclude their contract with this record company [MCA], they will create a new style.

 

Without any pretensions of splitting up, Fergal Lawler, drummer of The Cranberries considered it necessary to explore greater musical styles, but that this will [not] be [until] after two more discs, one of greatest hits and another unpublished [studio] one, with the sound that until now has characterized them.

 

In addition, they announced that the concerts will be the 25 and 26 in the City of Mexico and the 28 in Guadalajara.

There you have it, we’ll have more from the press conference ASAP!
Thanks to Arturo Garcia for the tip. Also thanks to Matias “Walko” Walkoski for some help with the translation.

Source: Reforma

The Mexican news site Reforma has posted a quick blurb from the band’s press conference in Mexico City earlier today. Although it lacks any real new concrete info, it’s a fascinating read none-the-less. Thanks to Arturo Garcia for sending us the tip.

World-wide situation worries Cranberries
They excellently consider to compose songs on more serious topics although they recognize that a song will not change the world
By IVETT RANGEL/Reforma

Mexico City (24 June 2002). – The Irish group The Cranberries considered it important this Monday to approach universal conflicts in their music as they have done with “Zombie” or “New York Sky Line”. However, they recognized that a song cannot change to the world.

There you have it, we’ll have more from the press conference ASAP!

Source: Reforma

Dolores & Co. hosted a proverbial blitzkrieg of promotional events in Mexico City today, including a press conference, a radio interview, and an autograph signing session, with more coming this week.

The promised press conference took place at the Four Seasons hotel in Mexico City. Our own Eduardo from Zombieguide Mexico was one of the select few able to attend the conference, and we’ll hopefully have lots of photos and information once he checks in with us. Also in the day was an interview for the station Orbita 105.

Rounding out the afternoon was an autograph session at the Mixup Plaza Loreto which began at approximately 2:50 PM. Some fans began lining up at Mixup as early as midnight last night. Our contributor Arturo arrived in line at 3:30 AM and was the 12th person in line. He remained there for the next 12 hours to get a chance to meet the band face-to-face. Autographs were available only to people holding a copy of “Wake Up And Smell the Coffee,” and were generally restricted to one per person. However, Arturo was sly enough to own all four international copies of the album and had them all signed by the band! Only the first 200 people were guaranteed a signing, but the band stayed long enough to sign an additional 100 for the long line of people gathered at the Mixup.

Tomorrow, the band will appear on Telehit’s Linea Directa television show to answer fans’ questions live on the air. Also, the band will be doing an interview for 98.5 Radio. And of course, all of this is a only an hors d’ouvres for the big event, the band’s first concert in Mexico City for the Wake Up And Smell The Coffee World Tour.

Thanks to Arturo Garcia for all the news.

Source: Exclusive

Thanks to none other than Niall Quinn, we have a little bit of clarification on yesterday’s reported news. With the addition of a little bit of research, it seems the title is most probably “Iosa” (with an I, not an L, pronounced “Ee- Oh-Sa”). This is in fact the Gaelic word for “Jesus,” recurrent in many hymns and prayers. This seems to best match Dolores’ words on the video.

However, it is possible that the title could also be “A Iosa.” This title, as Niall told us, translates better as “Dear Jesus,” as “Iosa” alone is “Jesus,” and the “a” particle is somewhat untranslatable. However, the extra syllable does not fit Dolores’ introduction nearly was well as “Iosa.”

Well, students, there’s your Gaelic lesson for today. Study it well, there’ll be a quiz on it tomorrow!

Source: Exclusive

Several Mexican newspapers have reported this weekend the Mexican rock singer Julieta Venegas will open for all three of The Cranberries’ Mexican tour dates. One paper, “El Universal,” interviewed the singer on what she thought of opening for such an enormous act. Here’s a translation of the article, thanks to Scott!

JULIETA TO OPEN UP CRANBERRIES CONCERTS
The Mexican assures the contract was made between the Irish band and a girl who sells her dates.

 

For the first time in her career, Julieta Venegas will be opening three concerts for a band like the Cranberries, who counts with a ten year career and is the second most important band after U2.

 

But the singer says she didn’t have to do anything to appear as the opening act for the gigs that Dolores O’Riordan and company will be offering in Guadalajara and in the Distrito Federal (Mexico city).

 

“The contact was made thanks to a girl who sells my dates in the United States and they did it directly with her; she told them about me, I imagine they liked my music and I’m looking forward to see them at the concert to say hello.” said the singer who was born in Tijuana.

 

It has to be mentioned that Julieta was the opening act for bands like Soda Stereo, los fabulosos Cadillacs, and Suzanne Vega. For the next concerts she will sing a selection of songs of her two previous albums.

 

Besides these special presentations, Venegas said that today she is leaving to Los Angeles, California, to look for a producer for her next album which according to her “will have more influences, not that much rock, but disco and hip-hop; besides I think it’s too early to talk about my new material, but I already have the lyrics for all the songs”, she said. The recoding will take place at the end of the year and the beginning of next year is the temptative release date.

 

Among other projects she’s done this past days, the Tijuanan specified that she recorded the cover of “El liston de tu pelo” of the Angeles Azules, for the film “Asesino en Serio” from Antonio Urrutia, where she is accompanied by Jarabe de Palo (Spanish band).

 

Likely, she participated in the recording of a pair of songs for the new discogrphic material of Celso Piña (Colombian artist), who is planning a crossover with rockers.

Source: El Universal

“And this is an Irish song that I wrote about my grandfather and it’s called ‘Iosa’,” Dolores told the audience.

It’s been a years-old mystery that we at Zombieguide have just put together for ourselves, although apparently there have been a few that have known it for a long time. The title of the previously-unknown song performed in London on November 14, 1991, is “Iosa”, an address in Gaelic (native Irish language) that translates as “Jesus.” The song appears to be entirely in Gaelic, which would explain why no one has been able to transcribe any of its lyrics.

The information comes out of the November 16th, 1991 issue of the UK’s New Musical Express which had a summary of the concert only two days after it took place.

This marks the first and only time that Dolores has composed a Cranberries song entirely in Gaelic. Dolores is fluent in Gaelic and even attended Lauren Hill Seconday School, an all-Gaelic-speaking high school in Limerick. However, she dislikes the idea of mixing “trad” (traditional Irish elements) with modern rock ‘n’ roll, so the band has shyed away from such hybrids.

The death of Joe, Dolores’ intimate grandfather, in early 1991 was evidently a strong impact on her life — it also spawned the track from 1996’s “To The Faithful Departed” which bares his namesake.

No matter what the case, this is the only known performance or recording of “Iosa” and it seems that there will not be another one again anytime soon.

Thanks to Rach and Dolores159 for the help!

Source: Exclusive

More than a month after the European 2-track release of the “This Is The Day” single, Universal made a surprising move this week by silenting slipping out a brand-new 5-track maxi version of the single in Germany.

Tracks are:

1. This is the Day (Album Version)
2. Such a Waste (unreleased)
3. Animal instinct (Live from Vicar Street, November 11, 2000)
4. Time is Ticking Out (VIDEO)
5. This is the Day (VIDEO)

Below is a scan of the new single’s cover with the tracklisting seen to the left. We’ll have more information on the new single as we get it!

Universal has put out a few promo releases in weeks past, most of which we have already reported on, but here’s some better images of them. The only newcomer here is a Taiwanese “Wake Up And Smell the Coffee” DJ- only sampler CD, which is dated for 2002.

There are four tracks on the disc:
1. Analyse
2. Never Grow Old (which is mistakenly written as “Never Growing Old”)
3. Wake Up And Smell the Coffee
4. Every Morning

Also below are a nice scan of the disc art to the European “This is the Day” promo (1-track) and the rather generic liner notes found in the US release of the promo (also 1-track).