Ridiculous Thoughts
Encyclopedia
"Ridiculous Thoughts" is a song by The Cranberries
, released as the fourth single from their second studio album No Need to Argue
. In North America, it was the third single of the album, as "I Can't Be With You" was released only in Fall 1995 in this territory.
, London, during the 1994 sessions for No Need to Argue.
The music for "Ridiculous Thoughts" was written by Dolores O'Riordan
and Noel Hogan
. The lyrics were written by O'Riordan about her problems with British press and journalists. It was produced and engineered by Stephen Street
.
As most of the Cranberries
' singles in the United States, a physical CD single was not released commercially, so it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100
. It did peak at number fourteen on the US Modern Rock Tracks
chart, and number twenty in the UK.
CD single France, Japan
7" single
, and later redone by the band, using the pseudonym "Freckles Flynn".
The band was shown as the freaks of a circus (the elastic man, the bearded woman, etc.) on a deserted location. It features a young Elijah Wood
, who tries to follow some kind of radio signal (which seems to be guided by O'Riordan's voice), all around the ruins of a building.
O'Riordan stated that the band did not understand or identify with the concept that Bayer had shown in the video, and thus, they decided to redo it, mixing the original tape with live footage from their American Tour.
The Cranberries
The Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
, released as the fourth single from their second studio album No Need to Argue
No Need to Argue
No Need to Argue is the second studio album by Irish rock band The Cranberries, released in 1994. It was the band's most successful album, and has sold about 17 million copies worldwide. It contains the band's most successful single to date, "Zombie". The album's mood is darker than that on...
. In North America, it was the third single of the album, as "I Can't Be With You" was released only in Fall 1995 in this territory.
Song profile
"Ridiculous Thoughts" was recorded at The Manor Studios, Oxford and Townhouse StudiosTownhouse Studios
Townhouse Studios was a recording studio in west London. Built by Richard Branson in 1978, and managed by Barbara Jeffries as part of the Virgin Studios Group. The Virgin Studios Group was acquired by EMI when Richard sold Virgin Records to EMI in 1992. The Sanctuary Group bought the studio from...
, London, during the 1994 sessions for No Need to Argue.
The music for "Ridiculous Thoughts" was written by Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She led The Cranberries to worldwide success and fame for 13 years before the band took a hiatus in 2003. Her first solo album Are You Listening? was released in May 2007...
and Noel Hogan
Noel Hogan
Noel Anthony Hogan is the guitarist and co-songwriter of The Cranberries.With The Cranberries on hiatus from 2003–2009, Noel turned to focus on his own music. He began working with programmer Matt Vaughan, who had already done work on unreleased Cranberries songs and Dolores O'Riordan's solo...
. The lyrics were written by O'Riordan about her problems with British press and journalists. It was produced and engineered by Stephen Street
Stephen Street
Stephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
.
Single release and chart performance
"Ridiculous Thoughts" was released as a single in July 1995. It had mild success in Ireland reaching #23 and some success in both the UK and the U.S.As most of the Cranberries
The Cranberries
The Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
' singles in the United States, a physical CD single was not released commercially, so it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It did peak at number fourteen on the US Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart, and number twenty in the UK.
Track listing
CD single UK, Australia, Spain- Ridiculous Thought (LP version) 4:31
- Linger (LP version) 4:34
- Twenty One (Live at The Point, Dublin) 3:05
- Ridiculous Thoughts (Live at The Point, Dublin) 6:08
CD single France, Japan
- Ridiculous Thought (LP version) 4:31
- I Can't Be With You (Live at The Point, Dublin) 3:10
- Twenty One (Live at The Point, Dublin) 3:05
- Ridiculous Thoughts (Live at The Point, Dublin) 6:08
7" single
- Ridiculous Thoughts
- Linger
Music video
The video clip for "Ridiculous Thoughts" was directed on May 1995 by Samuel BayerSamuel Bayer
Samuel David Bayer is an American commercial, music video and film director, and cinematographer.-Early life:Bayer was born in Syracuse, New York...
, and later redone by the band, using the pseudonym "Freckles Flynn".
The band was shown as the freaks of a circus (the elastic man, the bearded woman, etc.) on a deserted location. It features a young Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
, who tries to follow some kind of radio signal (which seems to be guided by O'Riordan's voice), all around the ruins of a building.
O'Riordan stated that the band did not understand or identify with the concept that Bayer had shown in the video, and thus, they decided to redo it, mixing the original tape with live footage from their American Tour.