R.I.P. Dolores2 min read

Monday 15th January was just like every other Monday, I was painting my nails with an antique pink nail polish scrolling down my Facebook homepage as usual, and it was filled with fun videos of dogs running happily towards their owner’s arms and food tutorials.

I was about to watch a video about how to make broccoli bake when a news article caught my eyes, it stated that Cranberries’ singer, Dolores O’Riordan aged 46, had died.

The article was just short, sharp and cold. I read it more than once and I still couldn’t believe my eyes. How could it be? One of my favourite artists was just suddenly gone.

I wondered for a moment as to why I felt sad about her death? She was not part of my family, nor was she a friend, I had never known her, but she… she was always there, her songs, her voice, they were in my phones and mp3s, always in line to cheer me up every time.

The first memory I have of her voice is when I was 18 years old, when I heard my older brother playing one of the Cranberries’ biggest hit, Zombie. I immediately loved it and at that time I didn’t really understand the meaning of the song, but her voice got to me, it was so clear, smooth, deep and very pleasant to listen to. Her words were never wasted, they always had a meaning, and she always had something to teach us through her songs.

When I got my first CD player, I was very obsessed with Ricky Martin and Justine Timberlake, obviously the girls’ heroes of that time, but still I couldn’t miss her songs, they had to be there, they were not just songs, they were reality, and they resonated with my emotions. There’s never been a single time that I have listened to Zombie without crying, especially now that I am able to understand the meaning and message of the song.

Another song of hers which is amongst my favourites is “just my imagination”, it has always given me hope, hope for a better place where good is not just in my imagination, where love is real and hope for the future.

I used to listen to that song every time I wanted to feel better or needed inspiration, sometimes even ten times in a row and it always made me smile. I never got the chance to talk to her or even meet her, but she was always in my life, she gave me the best advices through her music and she helped me through her words. Even though she left this world too soon, she will always live in our hearts and memories. We will cherish and honour her memory through her music, words and art.

My you rest in peace Dolores, close to the man above you believed in.