Half-century Blues, sans Cranberries

tdrykard — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 23:55:52 GMT

I don’t even wanna pretend like I was a Cranberries total fanatic, but I have such love for their 1993 debut, “Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?” We were submerged in grunge, which I love as well, but if music can be described elementally then GRUNGE feels like EARTH to me…kinda heavy, like red clay. The CRANS were AIR! We got to float when we played that CD over & over again, and you’ll float too if you listen to “I Still Do”, “Linger”, or “Ode to My Family.” I was 25 years old, and not really where I thought I’d be in life, and not sure where I wanted to go, who I wanted to be, or how to get these questions answered. This music was dancing on clouds, such LIGHTNESS…such an easeful relief. The music is largely responsible for this effect, but then Dolores O’Riordan’s angelic voice kicks in, and you’re stopped cold. Have a seat, and drink that sweet nectar.

Fast forward to 2018, the year that I’ll celebrate my 50th bday if the reaper keeps its distance. C’mon, you NEVER know, right? This aging thing is not for wimps, especially losing those musical heroes from youth: David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Scott Weiland, Freddie Mercury, Malcolm Young, Prince, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Shannon Hoon…dang, it’s too much! Anyhoo, heard today that Dolores O passed away. All the feels for that perfect album came back, and such a sense of sorrow. I hope her life was great, that she felt appreciated for her talent. That she felt LOVED more often than not. I don’t know for sure, but I think based on all available evidence that our time on this planet may be all we ever have. I hope Dolores’ ride on the merry go round was mostly merry. Hope yours is too, for that matter.

Stories by tdrykard on Medium

Half-century Blues, sans Cranberries