Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening? (2007)
Tracklist front / back album covers
Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening?
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1. "Ordinary Day" 4:05
2. "When We Were Young" 3:24
3. "In the Garden" 4:28
4. "Human Spirit" 4:01
5. "Loser" 2:58
6. "Stay with Me" 4:02
7. "Apple of My Eye" 4:44
8. "Black Widow" 4:56
9. "October" 4:38
10. "Accept Things" 4:11
11. "Angel Fire" 5:02
12. "Ecstasy" 5:13
Total length: 51:42
Japan bonus tracks
13. "Letting Go" 5:47
14. "Forever" 4:08
15. "Sisterly Love" 2:35
Dolores O'Riordan Band Members / Musicians
Dolores O'Riordan – vocals, tin whistle
Steve DeMarchi – guitar, backing vocals
Denny DeMarchi – keyboards, guitars, flute, wind instruments, backing vocals
Marco Mendoza – bass guitar, backing vocals
Graham Hopkins – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Are You Listening? is Dolores O'Riordan's debut solo album. It was released on 4 May 2007 in Ireland, 7 May 2007 in Europe and 15 May 2007 in North America. The first single, "Ordinary Day", was released in late April. The "Ordinary Day" video was shot in the city of Prague. The second single was "When We Were Young". O'Riordan embarked on the Are You Listening Tour May 2007.
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan (/oʊˈrɪərdən/; 6 September 1971 – 15 January 2018) was an Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. She was best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the alternative rock band the Cranberries. O'Riordan had one of the most recognisable female voices in rock in the 1990s. She was known for her lilting mezzo-soprano voice, signature yodel, emphasized use of keening, and strong Limerick accent. With the Cranberries, she is regarded to have written "some of the most seminal songs in music history".
O'Riordan was born in Limerick, Ireland, to a Catholic working-class family. She began to perform as a soloist in her church choir before leaving secondary school to join the Cranberries in 1990. Recognised for her "unique voice" and uncompromising artistry, she achieved worldwide fame quickly. During her lifetime, she released seven studio albums with the Cranberries, including four number-one albums. Over the years, she contributed to the release of Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993), No Need to Argue (1994), To the Faithful Departed (1996), Bury the Hatchet (1999), and Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001) before taking a six-year hiatus starting in 2003.
O'Riordan's first solo album, Are You Listening?, was released in May 2007 and was followed up by No Baggage in August 2009. She reunited with the Cranberries the same year, and the band released Roses (2012) and went on a world tour. She appeared as a judge on RTÉ's The Voice of Ireland during the 2013–14 season. In April 2014, O'Riordan joined and began recording new material with the trio D.A.R.K. Throughout her life, she had to overcome personal challenges, struggling with depression and the pressure of her own success, finally being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015. She subsequently released her last album with the group, Something Else (2017).
O'Riordan died by drowning due to alcohol intoxication in January 2018. The following year, the Cranberries released the Grammy-nominated album In the End (2019), featuring her final vocal recordings, and subsequently disbanded. With the Cranberries, O'Riordan sold more than 40 million albums worldwide during her life that total increased to almost 50 million albums worldwide as of 2019, excluding her solo albums. In the US, she was awarded fourteen platinum album certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and in Canada, ten platinum certifications. In the UK she received five platinum certifications. She was honored with the Ivor Novello International Achievement award, and in the months following her death, she was named "The Top Female Artist of All Time" on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.
Dolores O'Riordan Discography Full
Are You Listening? (2007)
No Baggage (2009)
Dolores O’Riordan – Are You Listening? (2007): The Solo Debut of an Iconic Voice
Released in 2007, Are You Listening? marks the first solo album by Dolores O’Riordan, the legendary frontwoman of The Cranberries. Known for her distinctive lilting voice, emotive delivery, and introspective songwriting, O’Riordan embarked on a solo journey following her tenure with the band, exploring personal themes, musical experimentation, and a more intimate, confessional style.
The album blends elements of alternative rock, Celtic folk, and pop sensibility, highlighting O’Riordan’s vocal versatility and lyrical depth, making it both a continuation of her Cranberries legacy and a unique statement of individuality.
Artist Background and Career Context
Dolores O’Riordan was born on September 6, 1971, in Limerick, Ireland, and rose to international fame as the lead singer of The Cranberries. With the band, she achieved worldwide success through albums like:
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Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993)
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No Need to Argue (1994)
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To the Faithful Departed (1996)
In 2003, The Cranberries went on hiatus, giving O’Riordan space to pursue solo songwriting. Are You Listening? represents her first full-length solo exploration, written and co-produced during a period of personal and professional reflection.
Musical Style and Sound
The album features:
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Ethereal vocals paired with intimate acoustic and electric arrangements
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Alternative rock structures with subtle Celtic influences
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Orchestral textures and string arrangements on select tracks
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Confessional, introspective lyrics with emotional resonance
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A mix of melodic ballads and up-tempo tracks
The production highlights O’Riordan’s voice at the forefront, often stripping back instrumentation to allow the vocals and lyrics to carry the emotional weight.
Tracklist Overview
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Ordinary Day
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When We Were Young
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Apple of My Eye
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The Hand
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Talk to Me
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I Got Nothing
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Stay with Me
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Catch Me When I Fall
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Black Widow
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Ecstasy
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Sweetest Thing
The album blends personal reflection, romantic exploration, and subtle social commentary, creating a cohesive narrative arc across the tracks.
Standout Tracks
“Ordinary Day”
The lead single, “Ordinary Day,” combines uplifting melody with poignant lyrics, celebrating resilience and hope, and quickly became the flagship song of O’Riordan’s solo career.
“When We Were Young”
A reflective, tender ballad, showcasing O’Riordan’s ability to convey nostalgia and vulnerability through her nuanced vocal phrasing.
“Apple of My Eye”
Blending alternative rock with folk sensibility, this track highlights O’Riordan’s signature vocal idiosyncrasies, including dynamic shifts and melodic ornamentation.
Lyrical Themes
Are You Listening? explores:
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Self-reflection and personal growth (The Hand, Ecstasy)
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Love, relationships, and vulnerability (Apple of My Eye, Stay with Me)
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Nostalgia and memory (When We Were Young)
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Emotional resilience and hope (Ordinary Day)
O’Riordan’s lyrics are direct yet poetic, revealing personal insights while remaining universally relatable.
Fun Facts & Trivia
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Dolores O’Riordan co-wrote all tracks on the album, asserting full creative control over her solo debut.
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The album was co-produced by Dan Brodbeck, who worked with O’Riordan to craft a sound distinct from The Cranberries’ typical production.
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The lead single, “Ordinary Day,” charted successfully in several European countries, including Italy, Belgium, and Spain.
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The album was partially recorded in Toronto, Canada, reflecting O’Riordan’s international approach to her solo work.
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“Ecstasy” is an example of O’Riordan’s Celtic-influenced instrumentation, featuring lush acoustic guitars and layered vocals reminiscent of her Irish roots.
Did You Know?
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Are You Listening? reached #2 on the Irish Albums Chart and charted in multiple European countries, marking O’Riordan’s commercial success as a solo artist.
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The album demonstrates her willingness to experiment with song structure, incorporating spoken-word elements and unconventional rhythms.
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Dolores toured internationally to support the album, performing both Cranberries hits and solo material, bridging old fans and new listeners.
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Many tracks reflect O’Riordan’s personal experiences with motherhood, love, and artistic independence, giving the album a deeply confessional tone.
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Critics praised the album for showcasing O’Riordan’s vocal range, highlighting subtleties that sometimes were overshadowed in the full-band Cranberries recordings.
Commercial Performance and Top-Selling Albums
Are You Listening? achieved commercial success in Europe, particularly in Ireland, Italy, and Belgium, and garnered positive reviews from critics who lauded O’Riordan’s songwriting and vocal performance.
Top-selling and influential releases in O’Riordan’s career include:
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Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993) – With The Cranberries
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No Need to Argue (1994) – With The Cranberries, featuring “Zombie”
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To the Faithful Departed (1996) – With The Cranberries
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Are You Listening? (2007) – Solo debut
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No Baggage (2009) – Solo follow-up
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Are You Listening? reinforced Dolores O’Riordan’s status as an iconic voice of the 1990s and 2000s, demonstrating that her distinctive vocal timbre and lyrical sensibility could stand on their own outside the context of The Cranberries.
The album has influenced:
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Female-fronted alternative rock artists exploring introspective solo work
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Songwriters seeking honest, confessional lyrics paired with melodic sophistication
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Modern Celtic-influenced pop and rock musicians
O’Riordan’s solo debut remains a touchstone for fans of The Cranberries and admirers of her individual artistry.
Most Famous Songs by Dolores O’Riordan (Solo)
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Ordinary Day
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When We Were Young
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Apple of My Eye
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Stay with Me
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Ecstasy
These tracks highlight her range, emotional expressiveness, and artistic individuality, distinct from but complementary to her work with The Cranberries.
Full Discography (Selected Solo Albums)
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Are You Listening? (2007)
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No Baggage (2009)
Artist Timeline
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Born: September 6, 1971, Limerick, Ireland
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Years active: 1989–2018 (including The Cranberries and solo career)
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Status: Deceased (2018)
Keywords
Dolores O’Riordan Are You Listening 2007 album, Dolores O’Riordan solo debut review, Ordinary Day song review, Dolores O’Riordan discography, The Cranberries lead singer solo album, Irish female rock singers, Celtic alternative rock 2000s
