Zombies | 3BOPS

1. The Cranberries, “Zombie”

💿 No Need to Argue • 🏷 UMG Recordings • 📅 1994

“In your head, in your head / Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie.” Ah, to this day, that’s a truly glorious, timeless chorus – one for the ages.  Of course, that zombie-driven chorus arrives courtesy of Irish alternative rock band 🎙 The Cranberries fronted by the late, great 🎙 Dolores O’Riordan. O’Riordan penned this classic from 💿 No Need to Argue about unrest between Ireland and England (“It’s the same old theme, since 1916”) and most specifically, a 1993 bombing by the Irish Republican Army that killed two English children (“Another head hangs lowly / Child is slowly taken”).

This beloved classic both referencing the conflict as well as seeking peace.  🎵 “Zombie” has been covered by numerous musicians including 🎙 Bad Wolves (💿 Disobey, 2018) and Miley Cyrus (💿 Plastic Hearts, 2020).

2. Weezer, “Zombie Bastards”

💿 Weezer (The Black Album) • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2018 

“Die, die, you zombie bastards / We know what you want.” Any time the word ‘bastards’ graces the song title of a pop record it’s definitely worth checking out.  🎵 “Zombie Bastards” is definitely an entertaining 🎙 Weezer record (💿 Weezer (Black Album)) thanks to tongue-n-cheek lyrics, and the great, hipster personality of 🎙 Rivers Cuomo.  The record isn’t transcendent, but the lyrics are colorful, and at times, fun.

“Welcome to the jungle, to the jungle / Baby, it’s you and me,” Cuomo sings on the first verse, later adding, “Walk between the raindrops… / Singing along to Queen / My heart pumps Kool-Aid.” Adding to the allure of “Zombie Bastards” is the aforementioned chorus.  Besides its lyrical highlights, “Zombie Bastards” is soundly produced, incorporating guitars, a sick groove, and of course, some synths.

3. Childish Gambino, “Zombies”

💿 “Awaken, My Love!” • 🏷 Glassnote • 📅 2016 

“All I see is zombies feeding all around us / All they eat are people (and you won’t survive).” Okay… As the lyrics suggest, 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) dabbles in zombies on “Zombies” from his 2016 album, 💿 “Awaken, My Love!”. “They don’t know what happened, they just stay alive.”

Yes, zombies are the choice of predator, but Glover is being metaphorical. Those zombies – well – they are people, and very bad people at that. Metaphorical or not, his dramatic performance is a treat.

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