HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? – The Cranberries

Having a debut record that stands the test of time, especially into the 21st century, is always a testament to how well the band creates a collection of songs from the get go. Whilst not the first release for the Irish band, THE CRANBERRIES, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? was made after four EPs and was their first major-label release, signing to Island Records in 1992 and releasing the album a year after. 30 years on, the album is best remembered for songs like Dreams and Linger, and was the bed of sound for many 90s college kids exploring the alternative subculture. 

Debut albums, however, aren’t indicative of a band’s beginnings, and this is no exception with THE CRANBERRIES, as they began in 1989, with brothers Noel and Mike Hogan (guitar and bass) starting the band in their teens under the name THE CRANBERRY SAW US with Fergal Lawler and Niall Quinn initially on drums and vocals respectively. The four released their first EP, Anything, that same year, however Niall Quinn exited the band that same year, and Dolores O’Riordan (vocals) joined after an audition where she presented a rough version of Linger. Mike Hogan described watching this rough version to UDiscoverMusic, stating “we were immediately blown away, her voice was something special”, whilst Noel added “she was so small and quiet, then she opened her mouth and this amazing voice, this huge voice came out for the size of her […] how come she’s not already in a band? […] that day changed our lives”.

Linger was included along with Dreams on early EPs, and the band changed their name to THE CRANBERRIES by their fourth release. Before their debut, Dreams was featured as Melody Maker’s Single Of The Week in 1992. The debut album was released 1st March 1993, and spent a total of 86 weeks on the UK Chart, becoming the fifth album to reach number one more than a year after its initial release, likely boosted after the massive success of Zombie, which came from the band’s second album, No Need To Argue (1994).

Despite Linger and Dreams becoming the most well-known songs from the album, the other tracks from this record should not be overlooked. Opener I Still Do is a beautiful introduction, serene and moving, with the beautiful layers of rock and Celtic instrumentation, which are both stunning and rich to hear within the whole song. Others like Pretty and Not Sorry, despite being quieter in sound, are just as excellent and in depth with its lyricism. Pretty strips back the sound to showcase how they are earnest to themselves the way they are without needing to be arrogant and they won’t change no matter what is said to them. For Not Sorry, the slow build up comes with what is being revealed about a broken relationship where someone is unapologetic about insulting their toxic ex-lover. Both are exquisite with how they portray both stories and are examples of the band executing different sides to their sound and style they want to show to the rest of the music world. 

Rhythmically, tracks like How and Waltzing Back stand out and brilliantly show the talents within the group as the rest of the band bounce off the styles and how they’re delivered. Waltzing Back’s titular waltz-like feel makes the listener dance along with the emotions within the lyrics with “Who gave them the right, Waltzing back into your life? Now I feel fear, I wish that they’d never come here, What they gonna do? What they gonna say, Taking you away, From my life?” Meanwhile, with How, the drumming is strong, extremely percussive, and includes the addition of bells and shakes to emphasise the feeling of betrayal and anger, with O’Riordan singing “Never before, never again, You will ignore, I will pretend, In your world, you’re alone in your face, You’re alone in your world, You’re alone in your face, How you said you never would leave me alone, how, How you said you never would leave me alone”. 

The final song on the album, Put Me Down, which is again softer but with atmospheric rock elements along beautiful Celtic-style vocals in the instrumental break, sounded by touching lyrics, creating a grand finale for the whole album within a rich body of sound, as if the final movement to an intrinsic symphony. The lyrics on top of the instrumentation are just as heartfelt and complex as the rest of the album, with “I decided to leave, Walked out through the door, Oh, and why do you think I go, Because you know it can never be so, And you always prove me wrong, ‘Cause you’re always putting me down” within the chorus, showcasing the many emotions felt and resonated within the band as they present the song to close the album. 

As mentioned above, this specific album was a slow burner, with much success for the singles, Linger, Dreams, and Sunday in the US, coming after the release of their second album, No Need To Argue, and the smash-hit single, Zombie. However, THE CRANBERRIES should be remembered for more than that song, as greatly composed as it is, and Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? should also be held in that same regard. It’s a fantastic start for any rock fan to begin their journey within their discography and showcases their talent and unique style throughout. The band released a 25th Anniversary edition in 2018, initially slated for early in that year. However, O’Riordan sadly passed away 15th January 2018, which caused the anniversary album to be delayed.

As the band disbanded after their eighth album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?’s 30th is also a way to celebrate the songwriting talents of both O’Riordan and Noel Hogan. Their lyrics still resonate to this day for many people, and is a testament to the band’s unique sound and why they stood out amongst many, not just in the 90s, but to this day. As Dreams put it best, “I know I’ve felt like this before, But now I’m feeling it even more, Because it came from you, Then I open up and see, The person falling here is me, A different way to be”.

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We was originally released on March 1st, 1993 via Island Records.

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