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From album
No Need to Argue
The Cranberries · 1994 · Track 3
Details
Duración5:11
ÁlbumNo Need to Argue
Año1994
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The story behind
When Dolores O'Riordan joined the band, she brought with her a melody and a story that would become the heart of Linger. The lyrics were born from a personal experience, a memory of her first teenage love with a 17-year-old soldier. She herself recounted that, when auditioned, she arrived with a keyboard and played some songs. At that moment, the band could barely hear her, but they gave her a tape with the music of Linger. The following week, she returned with the lyrics and melodies ready, and her performance left everyone impressed. The song, which was recorded at Windmill Lane studios in Dublin, Ireland, with production by Stephen Street, was built on a delicate guitar foundation, courtesy of Noel Hogan, and O'Riordan's emotive and melodic voice. The result was a piece that, although simple in its structure, managed to convey a deep sense of regret and disillusionment, leaving an indelible mark on the listener's memory, as the title suggests.
Originally released in 1993 as the second single from their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, Linger did not reach its true potential until its reissue in 1994. It was then that the song became an international hit, catapulting The Cranberries to fame and consolidating them as a relevant band in the 90s alternative scene. The track climbed the charts, reaching number three in their native Ireland and securing a prominent place in the United States and the United Kingdom. Airplay on MTV and the nomination for the Billboard Music Video Awards in 1994 also played a crucial role in its reach. Despite its success, Dolores O'Riordan recalled that the band did not anticipate the magnitude of the commercial reception that such an intimate and soft song would have. O'Riordan herself described the experience of hearing her voice repeatedly on the radio and television as "trippy," an almost surreal sensation.