U2 and The Cranberries are probably two of the most reknown Irish rock bands.
U2 was formed in Dublin in the fall of 1976. The band consists of Bono(vocals), Adam
Clayton(bass), The Edge(guitars), and Larry Mullen, Jr.(drums). The Cranberries on the
other hand was formed in Limerick in 1989. The members of the band are Dolores
O'Riordan(vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), Noel Hogan(electric and acoustic guitar),
Mike Hogan(bass), and Fergal Lawler(drums and percussions). Despite the fact that there
are some significant differences between the bands, the political and social turmoil in
Ireland has influenced their work. U2 has expressed their viewpoint about the Irish reality
in their song "Sunday Bloody Sunday". The Cranberries have done the same in "Zombie".
Both songs have had deep impact on the Irish society because the Irish easily related to
the content and the ideas expressed in them. However although "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
lacks the power of O'Riordan`s vocals and the graphic performance of the instrumental
ensemble in "Zombie", U2`s song deserve more the title unofficial anthem of modern
Ireland because the song carries a more lucid and humane message and because of the
active involvement of U2 in the peace process in Ireland.

The conflict in Ireland dates back to the 17th century when England completely
conquered Ireland. Since then the population of Ireland consists of Catholics and
Protestants. The hostility between the two groups is the root of the present political and
social tensions. In 1916 IRA( Irish Republican Army) and the political organization Sinn
Fein attempted unsuccessfully an armed rising to gain independence. The rising was
followed by an Anglo©Irish war that ended by a peace treaty which separated Ireland into
Northern Ireland, controlled by Britain, and the Republic of Ireland. However IRA went
on the struggle for an united Ireland using mainly terrorist means. Things really excalated
on the Jan 30, 1972, a date also known as Bloody Sunday, when British army troopers
opened fire on unarmed civilian demonstrators in Derry, killing 13 and injuring 14 of
them (McLaverty, par.3,5, 8).

Dolores O'Riordan shared in an interview for "Rolling Stone" that "Zombie" was inspired
by an IRA terrorist act in London that killed a child The Cranberries Biography, par.12).
There is a riff of the electric guitar in the opening of the song. The sound of the guitar
in that riff summons the image of somebody who's crying and is in deep internal pain.
The depressing mood set by the instrumental ensemble is strenghtened by O'Riordan`s vocal.
O'Riordan, just hinting for the real power of her voice, describes briefly a scene with a dead
child a victim of a terrorist act. The electric guitar riff is performed one more time in the song when
O'Riordan again in short and with a voice full of pain and desperation pictures the emotions of
the dead child's mother.

However the issue of the inhumane act of taking a childR Rs life is a secondary theme in
the song, and actually "Zombie"'s major focus is on blaming Britain for the situation in Ireland.
The lyrics about the zombies are actually the ones that carry the real message of the song.

In your head, in your head,
they are fighting
with their tanks, and their bombs,
and their bombs, and their guns,
in your head,
zombie, zombie, zombie...

The zombie appears to be a metaphor for the British army. Britain doesn't completely
understand the people in Ireland and their desires. In a similar way the zombie in the song
has a blurred, distorted, and unrealistic ideas of the surrounding world in its head. The
weapons of the zombie give a sense of power. Britain is powerful and in charge in
Northern Ireland. The reference to the Treaty of 1916 at the end of the song backs up the
idea that its Britain's fault because it is believed that by imposing the treaty Britain forced
IRA to continue the struggle (McLaverty, par.5).

The vocal style and the instrumental performance in the zombie sections express the
feelings evoked by the ideas expressed in the lyrics. The performance of the ensemble
differs significantly from the one in the sections about the dead child and the mother. In
the zombie sections, particularly the refrains, O'Riordan unleashes her voice. Her vocal
is charged with hatred and rage. They replace the sadness and the pain from the sections
about the victims of the terrorist act. A second electric guitar, played by O'Riordan
herself, joins the instrumental ensemble in the zombie parts. The second guitar
enhances the feelings pictured by the singers voice. It gives depth and shape of the rage.
The drums are no longer just providing the backbeat and creating the rhythm of the song.
They get a more significant role in carrying the message of the song. The drums and the
other percussions create the image of a gun©shooting scene.

Contrary to The Cranberries "Zombie", U2's song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" doesn't point a finger
at anyone, but offers an approach that is easy to understand and associate with by the people
on both sides of the barricade. The song portrays everybody as a victim of the Irish reality.
Everybody, no matter a Catholic or Protestant, is hurt and suffers. The opening lyrics:

I can't believe the news today,
I can't close my eyes and make it go away...

Bono's vocal create the sense that the character in the song is just a regular person.
This character symbolizes the regular Irish people who are always the victims of the
political and social situation in Ireland. The electric guitar riff in the opening of the song
sounds like the scream of a bunshee. This scream comes out from the mouths of the Irish
who are hurt and maurn the victims of the hatred and intolerance.

Although the lyrics and Bono's vocal are imbued with pain and desperation, the drums,
which are leading instrument in the ensemble, turn the song into an appeal for peace and
understanding. Throughout the entire song the drums, very much like in The Cranberries "Zombie",
create the image of a battle field. However the marching beat doesn't channel the negative
emotions expressed in the lyrics and the vocal. Instead of calling for battle and revenge,
the drums call for facing the reality and rejecting the hatred and violence. They call the regular
people to unite, feel strong, and stand up to oppose their way of living.

In contrast to The Cranberries, U2 doesn't just express their ideas and beliefs about
the Irish reality in their songs, but have become actively involved in the peace process. In
order to avoid misinterpretation of the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday", Bono always
announces during live performances that this is not a rebel song. In June 1998 U2 played a
free concert in Belfast. Stephen McBride, who was there that day, recollects Bono's
words: "We are here to help both sides overcome their fears". Bono was flanked on the
stage by David Trimble and John Hume, the political leaders of the two opposing camps
and architects of the Peace Agreement in Ireland (par. 9).

Sometimes it's almost impossible for an outsider to understand and appreciate song
like The Cranberries "Zombie" and U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday". However the listener
should always give credit to the bands because it requires a lot of talent and understanding
of the surrounding world in order to shape the emotions©©fears, hope, faith, pain, etc.©© of
such a big social group so everybody in this group can relate to and read the same
messages in the song. Apparently The Cranberries and U2 did their job well because both
songs are considered anthems of the Irish pain and struggle.