Ode to My Family

"Ode to My Family" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries, released on 21 November 1994 by Island Records as the second single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan. It was a hit in Oceania and several European countries, topping the charts in Iceland, and reaching number four in France, number five in Australia, and number eight in New Zealand. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.^[3]

"Ode to My Family"
Single by the Cranberries
from the album No Need to Argue
B-side	"So Cold in Ireland"
Released	21 November 1994 (1994-11-21)
Genre	Alternative rock[1] jangle pop[2]
Length	4:31
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Dolores O'Riordan Noel Hogan
Producer(s)	Stephen Street
The Cranberries singles chronology
"Zombie" (1994) "Ode to My Family" (1994) "I Can't Be with You" (1995)
Audio sample
"Ode to My Family" file help
Music video
"Ode to My Family" on YouTube

Composition

"Ode to My Family" is written in the key of D major with a tempo of 94 beats per minute. The entire piece follows the chord progression 4/4 |: D | Bm | F♯m | Gsus2 D/A :| ostinato.^[4]

Content

The song, written by singer Dolores O'Riordan and guitarist Noel Hogan, is about O'Riordan's yearning for her simple life as a child after having achieved success,^[5] and includes a string arrangement composed by O'Riordan.^[6]

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that O'Riordan's delivery "gives this song a special meaning, which makes for a compelling musical experience."^[7] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel said that the new album "offers a bucolic opening" in "Ode to My Family".^[8] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker viewed it as "a curious but brave choice as a single" featuring "a highly personal and intriguing lyric." He added, "Dolores delivers it with her usual fierce conviction, and the song becomes a slightly guilty pleasure, like you're eavesdropping on a domestic row."^[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Let Dolores be your station's guardian angel. Real Christmas family spirit is generated by this ballad which surpasses all the rest currently available when it comes to sincerity."^[10] In 2018, Billboard and Stereogum ranked the song number eight and number four, respectively, on their lists of the top ten Cranberries songs.^[11][12]

Music video

The single's accompanying music video, shot in black-and-white, was directed by Samuel Bayer, who had also directed the band's video for their preceding single, "Zombie". Bayer stated on his Facebook account that the "Ode to My Family" music video was cut by Robert Duffy (video editor), and the "Zombie" video was cut by Eric Zumbrennen.

Track listings

UK and Australian CD1[13][14] "Ode to My Family" "So Cold in Ireland" "No Need to Argue" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994) "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994) UK and Australian CD2[15][16] "Ode to My Family" (live at Féile, Thurles, County Tipperary, 30 July 1994) "Dreams" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994) "Ridiculous Thoughts" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994) "Zombie" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994)

UK 7-inch and cassette single[17][18] "Ode to My Family" "So Cold in Ireland" US CD EP and Canadian CD single[19] "Ode to My Family" (album version) – 4:32 "So Cold in Ireland" – 4:43 "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the Later with Jools Holland, June 1994) – 3:52 "Zombie" (live at Féile, Thurles, 30 July 1994) – 5:17

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[20] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 18 Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[22] 13 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 25 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 33 France (SNEP)[25] 4 Germany (GfK)[26] 29 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[27] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 8 Scotland (OCC)[32] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 26 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[34] 39 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[35] 11 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[36] 35 Chart (2018) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[37] 46 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[38] 17

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Australia (ARIA)[39] 93 France (SNEP)[40] 28 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[41] 10

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39]	Gold	35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Silver	200,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	21 November 1994	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Island	[43]
Japan	5 December 1994	CD		[44]

References

1. "Musicians mourn the loss of the Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan". Alternative Press. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
2. Peacock, Tim (6 September 2020). "Best Cranberries Songs: 20 Essential Tracks That Linger On". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
3. "The Cranberries Announce New Acoustic Album Something Else, Share "Linger": Listen". Pitchfork. March 14, 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
4. The Cranberries "Ode To My Family" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
5. Randi Reisfeld (1996). This Is the Sound: The Best of Alternative Rock. Simon Pulse. pp. 32. ISBN 978-0-689-80670-4.
6. Vladimir Bogdanov; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2002). All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul. Backbeat Books. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3.
7. Sholin, Dave (10 February 1995). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 46. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
8. Campbell, Chuck (28 October 1994). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel.
9. Jennings, Dave (12 November 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
10. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 November 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
11. Weiss, Dan (15 January 2018). "The 10 Best Cranberries Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
12. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (16 January 2018). "The 10 Best Cranberries Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
13. Ode to My Family (UK CD1 liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. CID 601, 854 159-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Ode to My Family (Australian CD1 liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. 854159-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Ode to My Family (UK CD2 liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. CIDX 601, 854 161-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Ode to My Family (Australian CD2 liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. 854161-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. Ode to My Family (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. IS 601, 854 158-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. Ode to My Family (UK cassette single sleeve). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. CIS 601, 854 158-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. Ode to My Family (US CD EP & Canadian CD single liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1994. 422-854 199-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
21. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
22. "Hits of the World: Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 23. 10 June 1995. p. 50. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
23. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9026." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 32. 12 August 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
25. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in French). Les classement single.
26. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
27. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.01.1995 – 27.01.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 January 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
28. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ode to the Family". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Cranberries" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
30. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
31. "The Cranberries – Ode to My Family". Top 40 Singles.
32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
34. "The Cranberries Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
35. "The Cranberries Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
36. "The Cranberries Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
37. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
38. "The Cranberries Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
39. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via Imgur.
40. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
41. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
42. "British single certifications – Cranberries – Ode to My Family". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
43. "Ode to My Family". Amazon. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
44. "オードゥ・トゥ・マイ・ファミリー | ザ・クランベリーズ" [Ode to My Family | The Cranberries] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 February 2024.