Ode to My Family explained

Ode to My Family
Cover:OdeToMyFamilycover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Cranberries
Album:No Need to Argue
B-Side:So Cold in Ireland
Genre:
Label:Island
Producer:Stephen Street
Prev Title:Zombie
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:I Can't Be with You
Next Year:1995

"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.[3]

Composition

"Ode to My Family" is written in the key of D major with a tempo of 94 beats per minute. The entire piece follows the chord progression4/4 |: D | Bm | F♯m | Gsus2 D/A :| ostinato.[4]

Content

The song, written by singer Dolores O'Riordan and guitarist Noel Hogan, is about O'Riordan's yearning for her simple life as a child after having achieved success,[5] and includes a string arrangement composed by O'Riordan.[6]

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that O'Riordan's delivery "gives this song a special meaning, which makes for a compelling musical experience."[7] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel said that the new album "offers a bucolic opening" in "Ode to My Family".[8] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker viewed it as "a curious but brave choice as a single" featuring "a highly personal and intriguing lyric." He added, "Dolores delivers it with her usual fierce conviction, and the song becomes a slightly guilty pleasure, like you're eavesdropping on a domestic row."[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Let Dolores be your station's guardian angel. Real Christmas family spirit is generated by this ballad which surpasses all the rest currently available when it comes to sincerity."[10] In 2018, Billboard and Stereogum ranked the song number eight and number four, respectively, on their lists of the top ten Cranberries songs.[11] [12]

Music video

The single's accompanying music video, shot in black-and-white, was directed by Samuel Bayer, who had also directed the band's video for their preceding single, "Zombie". Bayer stated on his Facebook account that the "Ode to My Family" music video was cut by Robert Duffy (video editor), and the "Zombie" video was cut by Eric Zumbrennen.

Track listings

  1. "Ode to My Family"
  2. "So Cold in Ireland"
  3. "No Need to Argue" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994)
  4. "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994)
  1. "Ode to My Family" (live at Féile, Thurles, County Tipperary, 30 July 1994)
  2. "Dreams" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994)
  3. "Ridiculous Thoughts" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994)
  4. "Zombie" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994)
  1. "Ode to My Family"
  2. "So Cold in Ireland"
  1. "Ode to My Family" (album version) – 4:32
  2. "So Cold in Ireland" – 4:43
  3. "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994) – 3:52
  4. "Zombie" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994) – 5:17

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[20] 13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] 33
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[22] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 93
France (SNEP)[24] 28
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 10

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom21 November 1994Island[26]
Japan5 December 1994CD[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 15 January 2018. Musicians mourn the loss of the Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan. 7 March 2021. Alternative Press.
  2. Web site: Peacock. Tim. 6 September 2020. Best Cranberries Songs: 20 Essential Tracks That Linger On. 7 March 2021. uDiscover Music.
  3. Web site: The Cranberries Announce New Acoustic Album Something Else, Share "Linger": Listen. Pitchfork. March 14, 2017. 23 March 2017.
  4. http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0091276 The Cranberries "Ode To My Family" Sheet Music
  5. Book: Randi Reisfeld. This Is the Sound: The Best of Alternative Rock. 32. 1996. Simon Pulse. 978-0-689-80670-4. registration.
  6. Book: All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul. 263. Vladimir Bogdanov. Chris Woodstra . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . 2002. 978-0-87930-653-3. Backbeat Books.
  7. Dave. Sholin. Gavin Picks: Singles. Gavin Report. 10 February 1995. 46. 20 January 2023.
  8. Campbell, Chuck (28 October 1994). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  9. Dave. Jennings. Singles. Melody Maker. 12 November 1994. 34. 16 November 2023.
  10. New Releases: Singles . . 26 November 1994 . 12 . 19 May 2021 .
  11. The 10 Best Cranberries Songs: Critic's Picks. Dan. Weiss. Billboard. 15 January 2018. 7 March 2022.
  12. Web site: The 10 Best Cranberries Songs. Simon. Vozick-Levinson. Stereogum. 16 January 2018. 7 March 2022.
  13. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. UK CD1 liner notes. Island Records. CID 601, 854 159-2.
  14. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. Australian CD1 liner notes. Island Records. 854159-2.
  15. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. UK CD2 liner notes. Island Records. CIDX 601, 854 161-2.
  16. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. Australian CD2 liner notes. Island Records. 854161-2.
  17. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Island Records. IS 601, 854 158-7.
  18. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. UK cassette single sleeve. Island Records. CIS 601, 854 158-4.
  19. Ode to My Family. The Cranberries. 1994. US CD EP & Canadian CD single liner notes. Island Records. 422-854 199-2.
  20. Hits of the World: Canada. Billboard. 107. 23. 50. 10 June 1995. 20 November 2022.
  21. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 32. 15. 12 August 1995. 6 July 2020.
  22. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.01.1995 – 27.01.1995). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. 21 January 1995. 14 March 2018.
  23. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995. ARIA. Imgur. 18 January 2018.
  24. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1995. SNEP. fr. 23 June 2021.
  25. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. 2 January 1996. 30 May 2020.
  26. Web site: Ode to My Family. Amazon. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322193936/https://www.amazon.com/Ode-To-My-Family/dp/B000WOXPZG. 22 March 2019. 23 June 2021.
  27. Web site: オードゥ・トゥ・マイ・ファミリー ザ・クランベリーズ. Ode to My Family The Cranberries. Oricon. ja. 7 February 2024.

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