Salvation (The Cranberries song)

"Salvation" is the lead single from Irish rock band the Cranberries' third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996). Released on 8 April 1996 by Island Records, the single reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and was a chart hit in Europe and Australia, peaking at number four in Iceland, number six in Italy, number seven in New Zealand, and number eight in Australia and Ireland. The music video for the song was directed by Olivier Dahan and filmed in France.

"Salvation"
Single by the Cranberries
from the album To the Faithful Departed
B-side	"I'm Still Remembering" "I Just Shot John Lennon" (live)
Released	8 April 1996 (1996-04-08)
Studio	Windmill Lane (Dublin, Ireland)
Genre	Pop punk^[1]
Length	2:24
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Dolores O'Riordan Noel Hogan
Producer(s)	Bruce Fairbairn the Cranberries
The Cranberries singles chronology
"Ridiculous Thoughts" (1995) "Salvation" (1996) "Free to Decide" (1996)
Audio sample
Cranberries - "Salvation" file help

Content

"Salvation" talks about drug abuse, and how one should refrain from falling into it.^[1] The directness of the song was regarded as bland and too preachy by the media and critics, but Dolores O'Riordan said that it wasn't supposed to be an anti-drug song per se, but "kind of anti the idea of becoming totally controlled by anything, any substance at all", O'Riordan stated to Kurt Loder—adding that she knew what it was like and that "it wasn't a nice experience and it didn't get me anywhere. It just confused me more".^[2] She explained that the meaning behind the song was "reality [being] reality, and unfortunately, no how much you go away, you come back, and it's always here".^[3]

Critical response

Daina Darzin from Cash Box named "Salvation" Pick of the Week, viewing it as "a really big edgy, completely memorable sound that just begs to be on the radio." She added, "A clever, ironic look at drug culture from both a kid's and parents' viewpoint, the track is propelled by Dolores O'Riordan's strong, evocative voice, a wailing horn section, and monster drums. Dark and driving with a nearly perfect pop sensibility, "Salvation" should find a happy home at both alternative and heavy music stations."^[4] Dan Caffrey of Consequence of Sound noted that the song "features an abrasive horn section and punk rock aesthetic that fit in quite nicely with the remainder of the video, which makes you forget about front-woman Dolores O'Riordan's overreaching words pretty quickly".^[1]

Roisin O'Connor of The Independent described it as a "fast-tempo track that served as a scathing condemnation of growing drug abuse in Ireland was taken from the band's 1996 album To the Faithful Departed, around the same time as ecstasy use reached alarming new heights.^[5] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times felt it's "less irritating" than "Zombie", "but also less substantial, sounding like secondhand Siouxie & The Banshees or The Breeders, but it still manages to leave a bit of a sting before abruptly vaporising in an explosion of drums. - Stephen Street's lush, layered production is replaced by a hard, edgy directness, suggesting that Dolores and the boys, have finally found - the confidence to leap fearlessly into the healing flames."^[6] A reviewer from Music Week gave the song three out of five, adding that "this is more upbeat than previous offerings. The fans will lap it up."^[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Salvation" was directed in March 1996 by Olivier Dahan in France,^[1] for the company Bandits Productions.^[8]

The video was the last video for the band to gain heavy rotation on MTV, as later singles failed to gain traction on the network.^[2] The video featured a crazed clown (a hybrid of horror monsters Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, and Pinhead) floating around a castle and its surroundings and driving around in a car a group of young girls, implied to be in the thralls of drug addiction.^[1] The video cuts between images of Dolores O'Riordan singing the song and a pair of adults, who alternate between trying to wake a comatose daughter from her slumber, and the evil clown tying up and terrorizing the couple (who are now in latex catsuits) with the now awake daughter kissing the clown.^[1]

"Salvation" was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY, 4 September 1996.^[9][10]

Track listings

• UK, Australasian, and Japanese CD single (CID 633; 854 617-2; PHCR-8360)^[11][12]

1. "Salvation"
2. "I'm Still Remembering" (album version)
3. "I Just Shot John Lennon" (live version)

Note: "I Just Shot John Lennon" was recorded live at The Point, Dublin, on 2 June 1995 for Radio Telefis Eireann. A limited-edition version of this format packaged in a box was also released.^[13]

• UK cassette single and European CD single (CIS 633; CIDT 633)^[14][15]

1. "Salvation"
2. "I'm Still Remembering" (album version)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Salvation" Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[16] 8 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[17] 27 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[18] 32 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[19] 18 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[20] 30 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[21] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[22] 20 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[23] 15 France (SNEP)^[24] 13 Germany (Official German Charts)^[25] 44 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[26] 4 Ireland (IRMA)^[27] 8 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[28] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[29] 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[30] 36 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[31] 7 Scotland (OCC)^[32] 12 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[33] 33 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[34] 35 UK Singles (OCC)^[35] 13 US Radio Songs (Billboard)^[36] 21 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[37] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[38] 25 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[39] 33

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Salvation" Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)^[40] 79 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[41] 74 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[42] 43 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[43] 40 US Modern Rock (Billboard)^[44] 29

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Salvation"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[45]	Gold	5,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Salvation"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	8 April 1996	CD cassette	Island	^[46]
United States	16 April 1996	Contemporary hit radio		^[47]
Japan	19 April 1996	CD		^[48]

Cover versions

Earthsuit, a Christian rock group, performed a live cover of this song during their last few tours.^[49][50] Prayer for Cleansing, a vegan straight edge metalcore group, covered the song on their EP The Tragedy released in 2004.^[51] Senses Fail, an emo post-hardcore group, covered this song as a bonus track on their 2006 album Still Searching.^[52] Ursula, a hardcore crust punk group from California, covered the song on their 2019 second 4-track EP Regurgitate.^[53]

References

1. Caffrey, Dan (12 November 2008). "Ridiculously Awesome Music Videos: The Cranberries' "Salvation"". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
2. Snapes, Laura (15 January 2018). "The Cranberries: five of Dolores O'Riordan's best performances". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
3. "Cranberries "Departed"". MTV News. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
4. Darzin, Daina (11 May 1996). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
5. O'Connor, Roisin (15 January 2018). "Dolores O'Riordan dead: 9 of the best songs by The Cranberries - Iconic frontwoman has died aged 46". The Independent. UK. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
6. Courtney, Kevin (5 April 1996). "Single File". Irish Times.
7. "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 30 March 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
8. Rège, Philippe (16 December 2009). Encyclopedia of French Film Directors. Vol. 1. France: Scarecrow Press. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-810-86137-4.
9. Reece, Douglas (10 August 1996). "MTV Video Awards Noms". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 32. p. 84. ISSN 0006-2510. from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
10. "1996 MTV Video Music Awards". Rock On The Net. n.d. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
11. Salvation (UK & Australasian CD single liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1996. CID 633, 854 617-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Salvation (Japanese CD single liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1996. PHCR-8360.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Salvation (UK limited CD single liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1996. CIDX 633, 854 619-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Salvation (UK cassette single sleeve). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1996. CIS 633, 854 616-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Salvation (European CD single liner notes). The Cranberries. Island Records. 1996. CIDT 633, 854 616-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. "The Cranberries – Salvation". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
17. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
18. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
19. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in French). Ultratop 50.
20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3013." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
21. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2967." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
22. "Hits of the World: Eurochart (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 05/18/96". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 20. Nielsen Business Media. 18 May 1996. p. 46. ISSN 0006-2510.
23. "The Cranberries: Salvation" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
24. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in French). Les classement single.
25. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
26. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.6. – 7.6. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 1 June 1996. p. 26. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Salvation". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
28. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Cranberries".
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
30. "The Cranberries – Salvation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
31. "The Cranberries – Salvation". Top 40 Singles.
32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
33. "The Cranberries – Salvation". Singles Top 100.
34. "The Cranberries – Salvation". Swiss Singles Chart.
35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
36. "The Cranberries Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
37. "The Cranberries Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
38. "The Cranberries Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
39. "The Cranberries Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
40. . Australian Record Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via Imgur.
41. "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
42. "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
43. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
44. "This Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. 28 December 1996. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
45. "New Zealand single certifications – The Cranberries – Salvation". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
46. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 April 1996. p. 47. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
47. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1141. 12 April 1996. p. 44. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
48. "サルベーション | ザ・クランベリーズ" [Salvation | The Cranberries] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
49. "Earthsuit releases new album". The Christian Post. Washington, D.C. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
50. Aaron Saraco (27 July 2007). Earthsuit - Fire Escape 05/17/02 - Salvation/Distortion. New Providence: Aaron Saraco. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2020 – via YouTube.
51. "Prayer For Cleansing - Tragedy - Released on July 23, 2004". Interpunk. n.d. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
52. "Senses Fail Still Searching". antiMusic. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
53. Ramirez, Carlos (15 April 2019). "Ursula: Cali Hardcore Punkers Take on The Cranberries' "Salvation" on New EP". No Echo. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.