The Cranberries – Zombie – Chorus 2
Zombie < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Full Chord name (Roman Numeral)
• E minor (i)
• C Major (VI)
• G Major (III)
• D Major with F# in the bass (VII/VI)
This progression repeats with no borrowed chords or modulation.
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“The borrowed chord in this progression: ‘None’”
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Similar Chord Progressions
1. ‘Let It Be’ by The Beatles: [C, G, Am, F]
‘C Major (I)’, ‘G Major (V)’, ‘A minor (vi)’, ‘F Major (IV)’
2. ‘Someone Like You’ by Adele: [A, E, F#m, D]
‘A Major (I)’, ‘E Major (V)’, ‘F# minor (vi)’, ‘D Major (IV)’
Though not identical to The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’, these songs share a similar cyclical structure that moves through a sequence of chords, creating a musical tension that’s resolved when the progression repeats. They also similarly use major and minor chords to evoke a range of emotions.
Musical Analysis
The composition as a whole reflects 90’s alternative rock style, with its lethargic, repetitive melody line, distorted guitars, and a simple, effective rhythm section. It uses the commonly used i – VI – III – VII sequence, which is prevalent in many pop/rock songs stylized for a somber mood. Emphasizing the minor tonality with the use of minor chord (i), then moving to the relative major chords, VI and III. The D/F# adds an interesting twist, it is a major chord with major third in the bass, thus making it a more powerful resolution to the Em.
Overall Analysis
The song ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries is in the key of E minor. Its defining characteristics include plaintive repeated melodies, an intense grunge-inspired arrangement, and Dolores O’Riordan’s iconic vocal embellishments. The song employs a common rock/pop chord progression with added tension by using the D/F# chord.
Style Analysis
“Zombie” is a protest song thematically. Its grunge-influenced sound with the tension and release between the minor verses and the more major chorus reflect the song’s emotional outrage and amplifies the heartbreaking lyrical content. Dolores uses her voice as an instrument, her vocal acrobatics and yodel style became the band’s signature sound, marking it distinctly within the rock genre.
What are the chords in: The Cranberries – Zombie – Chorus 2?
[‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’]
