Spontaneous Studio Thrills: The Insights and Impact of Delores O’Riordan and The Cranberries

I was as surprised as anyone to hear that Delores O’Riordan, lead singer for multiplatinum group The Cranberries, passed away last week. Her unmistakable voice—along with her band’s superbly-crafted songs—captivated me from the first few strains I ever heard of “Linger,” an MTV non-stopper while I was finishing up college.

The Cranberries went on to sell a lot of albums with their most notable releases, 1993’s Everybody is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, 1994’s No Need to Argue, and 1996’s To the Faithful Departed. Some of their tracks are standing the test of time, from the fluttering pain of “Linger” to the raw strength of “Zombie,” and deservedly so—O’Riordan’s vocals were uniquely capable of transmitting naked honesty, brutal strength and a lot in between. Annie Zaleski writes eloquently in Salon of the pure power of O’Riordan’s voice, an unteachable talent that flowed as much from her charisma as it was borne from her diagnosed bipolar disorder.

A Hidden Gem

The Cranberries’ biggest hits are at the top of everyone’s tongue as the O’Riordan obituaries are penned, but the song that I associate the most with them is one that isn’t often mentioned.

It’s a track called “Analyse,” specifically an electrifying live rendition of the first single from their fifth studio album, 2001’s Wake Up and Smell the Coffee. Everything about this performance does to me what I wish every song could do – but obviously can’t.

O’Riordan’s raw emotion in this recording is an unstoppable force, feeding off the love of the crowd and firing it back in massive salvos. Spontaneity reigns as she counts off to the assembled Parisians in French, grinds extra grit into the rallying cry of the chorus, “La la la! This greatest moment! La la la, this greatest day! La la la, the greatest love of them all!” Following the outro breakdown she slays me, and the now-frothing frenzied audience, with a killer capper: Her full-blast, “Well YEAH!”

Give it a listen. Does it do for you what it does for me? Does it make the hair stand up immediately on the back of your neck? Are you massively energized by the no-holds-barred belting of the words, the inspired backing of the drummer and the rest of the band? Do your eyes well with tears as the song reaches its final climax? Do you rise up when it’s over, as joyfully broken as you are determined to take on the world?

That’s my reaction, without fail. It’s a power surge of sonic urgency that overwhelms my brain and body.

Energized Live

Switching over to the studio version of the song, however, is like night and day. All the bones are there, and it sounds like highly accomplished producer Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, Kaiser Chiefs) did his best to dial things up by redlining the drum tracks. But in comparison to its live counterpart, this strong song’s original recording just falls down flat. It’s safe, straight, expertly recorded and utterly forgettable

Analyzing “Analyse” provides powerful musical clues.

Certainly, the sound engineer who captured lightning in a bottle with that live performance had some advantages. Nine years later, maybe The Cranberries knew a lot more about “Analyse” and everything it could be—the first moments of crowd noise tells you that this is the all-important set opener: The audience’s ravenous anticipation broadcasts love to the stage loud and clear, even before the first note. There’s no wondering why the band chose that evening’s set to release as a live album: This was obviously an “on” day for them.

But what takes it over the top is O’Riordan’s ability to thrill, a unique power made possible by the mastery of her instrument, and the easy freedom that followed for her as she grew to understand it and wield it.

Suspend the Technique

How often is your studio work bringing out that thrill?

Not every singer is Dolores O’Riordan, and not every band is The Cranberries, but shouldn’t your goal be the same with every rocker, ballad, or rap that you record —as an artist, producer or engineer? How are you helping singers, bands, bandmates and beatmakers to make their songs emotionally unforgettable? How can you pack their all into every moment?

When I thought about the artists today that are thrilling me in one way or another, the short list came up all hip hop. Cardi B and 21 Savage leave me breathless with the verbal onslaught of “Bartier Cardi.” Tyler the Creator’s “Who Dat Boy” thrills me in a different way, like a descent into the fun house or a scene out of Saw – something so fucking scary I can’t forget it. Plus pretty much anything off of any Run the Jewels album, where every moment leaves me guessing what’s coming next.

And I’m not the only one who sees it that way. According to the latest numbers, R&B/hip hop was 2017’s top-selling genre, standing at 24.5% of all music consumption in the US. Are those artists, producers and mixers somehow setting themselves free in the studio better than anybody else? They must be taking more chances behind the mic, and the audio pros – from tracking to mastering – are helping it to come out. Clearly, the thrills they have to offer are connecting to their listening audience, so we’re coming back for more and more.

In the aforementioned “Analyse,” O’Riordan and her bandmates have some appropriate advice: “Don’t analyze, don’t analyze/Don’t go that way, don’t live that way/That would paralyze your evolution.”

Are you listening? If you’re not careful, music production can get all science on you, no matter what your genre of specialty. In the course of studying compression ratios, EQ shelves, and reverb tails, don’t let the precision prevent you from letting loose. Tap your reptile brain. Let your talent take over.

That way, the next time a Dolores O’Riordan walks into your studio you won’t kill the buzz. Instead, it’s up to you to unleash their edge — together you will thrill the world.

• David Weiss   

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.