Ode to My Family

"Ode to My Family" is a song recorded by the Irish band The Cranberries. It was released in November 1994 as the second single from their second studio album No Need to Argue. The song was a hit in Oceania and several European countries, peaking at number one in Iceland, and number four in France, and number five in Australia. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.[1]

"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 (UK)
Recorded	1994
Genre	Alternative rock
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 100 beats per minute. The entire piece follows the chord progression 4/4 |: D | Bm | F♯m | Gsus2 D/A :| ostinato.[2]

Content

The song is about Dolores's yearning for her simple life as a child after having achieved success,[3] and includes a string arrangement composed by O'Riordan.[4]

Music video

The single's music video, shot in black-and-white, was directed by Samuel Bayer. Bayer 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

7" single

1. "Ode to My Family"
2. "So Cold in Ireland"

CD single

1. "Ode to My Family"
2. "So Cold in Ireland"
3. "No Need to Argue" (live on the "Later with Jools Holland" BBC TV Programme)
4. "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the "Later with Jools Holland" BBC TV Programme)

Limited Edition CD single

1. "Ode to My Family" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994)
2. "Dreams" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994)
3. "Ridiculous Thoughts" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994)
4. "Zombie" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994)

CD single – Canada

1. "Ode to My Family" (album version) – 4:32
2. "So Cold in Ireland" – 4:43
3. "Dreaming My Dreams" (live on the "Later with Jools Holland" BBC TV Programme) – 3:52
4. "Zombie" (live at Feile, Tipperary, 30 July 1994) – 5:17

Charts and sales

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 18 Canada (The Record)[7] 16 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 25 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 33 France (SNEP)[10] 4 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 29 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 8 Scotland (OCC)[17] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 26 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[19] 39 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20] 11 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 35 Chart (2018) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[22] 46 US Billboard Hot Rock Songs[23] 17 US Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales[24] 16

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Australia (ARIA)[25] 93 France (SNEP)[26] 28 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[27] 10 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[25] Gold 35,000^^ ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "The Cranberries Announce New Acoustic Album Something Else, Share "Linger": Listen". Pitchfork. March 14, 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
2. The Cranberries "Ode To My Family" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
3. Randi Reisfeld (1996). This Is the Sound: The Best of Alternative Rock. Simon Pulse. pp. 32. ISBN 978-0-689-80670-4.
4. 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.
5. "Australian-charts.com – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. "Ultratop.be – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Hits of the World". Billboard. 13 May 1995. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9026." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 32. 12 August 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
10. "Lescharts.com – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in French). Les classement single.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
12. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.01.1995 – 27.01.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 January 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ode to the Family". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Cranberries" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
16. "Charts.nz – The Cranberries – Ode to My Family". Top 40 Singles.
17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
19. "The Cranberries Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
20. "The Cranberries Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
21. "The Cranberries Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
22. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-singles-chart/%7Caccessdate=25 January 2018
23. https://www.billboard.com/music/the-cranberries/chart-history/rock-songs
24. https://www.billboard.com/music/the-cranberries/chart-history/rock-digital-song-sales
25. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 18 January 2018.
26. 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 30 January 2009)
27. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.