The Cranberries’ Biggest Billboard Chart Hits: ‘Zombie,’ ‘Linger,’ ‘Dreams’ & More
A look back following the passing of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
Fronted by lead singer Dolores O’Riordan, The Cranberries added a rare and standout female perspective, along with trademark socially conscious lyrics, to Billboard‘s Alternative Songs airplay chart in the 1990s.
The Irish band also soared to notable heights on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums ranking.
As previously reported, O’Riordan died Jan. 15 at age 46.
The Cranberries first appeared on a Billboard chart nearly 25 years ago, when “Dreams” entered the Alternative Songs airplay survey dated May 29, 1993. The melodic, uptempo, pop-leaning track marked the group’s first of eight Alternative Songs hits, reaching No. 15 that summer. “Linger” followed as the band’s first of four top 10s and third entry “Zombie” became its first of two No. 1s and its top-performing career song.
Here is a recap of The Cranberries’ biggest hits on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart:
Rank, Title, Peak Pos., Date
1, “Zombie,” No. 1 (six weeks), Oct. 29, 1994
2, “Salvation,” No. 1 (four weeks), May 11, 1996
3, “Linger,” No. 4, Nov. 27, 1993
4, “Dreams,” No. 15, July 24, 1993
5, “Free to Decide,” No. 8, Aug. 3, 1996
The Cranberries’ Biggest Billboard Chart Hits ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Alternative Songs airplay chart, through the Jan. 13, 2018-dated ranking. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower ranks earning proportionately fewer. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted to account for different chart turnover rates over various periods.
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On the Hot 100, The Cranberries rose to a No. 8 high with “Linger” in February 1994. Following the song’s success, “Dreams” resurged, reaching a No. 42 Hot 100 peak that May.
The band logged six albums on the Billboard 200, starting with its debut, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, which reached No. 18 in November 1993. Follow-up No Need to Argue rose to No. 6 in February 1995 and To the Faithful Departed brought The Cranberries their highest rank, debuting and peaking at No. 4 in May 1996. The group last logged a new title on the list, Roses (No. 51), in 2012 and has sold 10.6 million albums in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen Music.
O’Riordan charted one solo album, her debut solo set Are You Listening?, which entered and peaked at No. 23 on the Top Rock Albums ranking and No. 77 on the Billboard 200 in 2007.