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“Zombie” by The Cranberries features a relatively commonly used chord progression in pop/rock music, often referred to as a ‘vi-IV-I-V’ progression. This chord progression, in this particular case, is in the key of G Major and is made up of four chords: Em, C, G, and D/F#.

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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.

“Feeling Good” by Muse is a cover of the song originally written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1964 musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd”. Muse’s version is characterized by its distinct blend of jazz, rock, and pop influences, with strong orchestration and stylistically unique elements that give the song a modern edge while still paying homage to its classic roots.

“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones, from their album “Sticky Fingers” (1971), features a fairly straightforward repetitive chord progression of D, A, G, D in the verse. The key here is D Major. This common progression falls into a I-V-IV-I pattern known as a “plagal cadence”. It’s a progression which consists of a major key followed by its dominant (V), then its subdominant (IV), taking us back to the tonic (I).

The chord progression in Verse 2 of Kali Uchis’s “After The Storm” is a mix of diatonic and chromatic chords that create an interesting neo-soul groove. The harmony is primarily based on G# minor, featuring the G#m7 and A#m7 as primary chords, and the D#aug chord adds tension and release within the progression. Additionally, the use of the D#aug chord acts as a chromatic mediant between G#m7 and A#m7.

The Cranberries – Zombie – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here are the chords sequenced in the way you specified:

– E minor (i)
– C major (VI)
– G major (III)
– D/F# (VII)

Note the VII chord is in first inversion with its third (F#) in the bass, hence D/F#.

The progression is repeated throughout the verse.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Let it Be” by The Beatles follows the exact same progression, transposed to the key of C major, giving us: C – G – Am – F (or: I – V – vi – IV)
2. “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley, also follows the same progression, transposed to the key of C major: C – G – Am – F.

Musical Analysis

“Zombie” by The Cranberries uses simple, yet effective means in its composition. It repeats a four-chord pattern (Em – C – G – D/F#) throughout the song to maintain a consistent musical theme. What makes it truly stand out is how it utilizes this simplicity to serve the song’s emotional core. The repeated E minor chord offers a haunting sadness that reflects the song’s lyrical themes.

Overall Analysis

“Zombie” by The Cranberries is in the key of E minor. Its structure is generally pop and rock, with the power of distorted guitars and a heavy drumbeat complemented by Dolores O’Riordan’s haunting vocals. It utilizes a four-chord progression, which is common in many pop and rock tracks and has been a popular choice amongst songwriters for its simplicity and versatility.

Style Analysis

“Zombie” fits in the Alternative Rock style, more specifically in the Post-Grunge movement of the 90’s. Distorted guitars, a heavy rhythm, and clear expressive melodic lines are characteristics of this style. The sequence of chords is conventional in pop music, and they have been used in different styles and periods.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Zombie by The Cranberries are:

[‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’]