Neha Patil (Editor)

Linger (song)

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B-side
  
Reason, Them

Recorded
  
1993

Format
  
CD, 7", 12"

Length
  
4:34

Released
  
February 23, 1993 February 17, 1994 (re-release)

Genre
  
Alternative rock, soft rock

"Linger" is a song composed by Irish musicians Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan of the rock band The Cranberries, released in 1993. The song, which has an acoustic arrangement featuring a string section, became the band's first major hit, peaking at #3 in the Republic of Ireland, #8 in the United States, and #14 in the UK. The song was voted by Triple J listeners as #3 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1993 chart.

Contents

Content

In the documentary '99 Love Life & Rock 'n' Roll, O'Riordan says that the song is about her first serious kiss. Originally, the lyrics were written by Cranberries' first singer Niall Quinn. After O'Riordan was hired as the lead singer for the band, she wrote her own set of lyrics, turning it into a song of regret and based on a soldier she once fell in love with.

Music Video

The music video for "Linger", shot in grayscale, is a tribute to Jean-Luc Goddard's 1965 noir film Alphaville. In one of the rooms of the hotel, a silent film is being shown which features 1950s stripper Blaze Starr.

Track listing

North American CD Single (1993)
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Liar" (Previously Unreleased) – 2:22
  3. "Them" (Previously Unreleased) – 3:43
  4. "Reason"(Previously Unreleased) – 2:02
"Liar" has previously appeared on the Dreams single. "Them" and "Reason" are written by Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan.
UK and European 12" Single/CD Single
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Reason" (Previously Unreleased) – 2:02
  3. "How" (Radical Mix) – 2:58
US CD Single/Promo
  1. "Linger" (Edit) – 4:11
  2. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
US 7" Single/Promo
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Dreams" (Album Version) – 4:32
Cassette Singles
US Cassingle
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "How" – 2:56
UK Cassingle/UK and European 7" Single
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Reason" (Previously Unreleased) – 2:02
UK and European CD Single (1994)
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Pretty" – 2:16
  3. "Waltzing Back" (Live at The Record Plant, Hollywood) – 4:01
  4. "Pretty" (Live at The Record Plant, Hollywood) – 2:11
UK and European 7" Single/Cassette Single
  1. "Linger" (Album Version) – 4:34
  2. "Pretty" – 2:16

Usage in media

The song was used in episode 18 of the second season of ABC's show Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 where one of the main characters June called it "her breakup song". "Linger" also appeared on an episode of Hindsight.

The song was also used in the 2006 movie Click where it first played during the bar scene. In addition, Dolores made an appearance performing "Linger" in the wedding reception scene.

The song was also played on the June 22, 2015 episode of ABC TV's "The Bachelorette".

The song has been featured as a playable track in the Rock Band videogame series.

The song was also featured on an episode of Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer (aired April 15, 2014), during the Cable Company sketch where Amy travels to New Delhi, India to meet with the customer service representative Janardin after breaking down while trying to have her Internet connection fixed.

The song was also featured in season two of The Real O'Neals.

Covers

  • Brazilian TV host Angélica (famous for her hit "Vou de Táxi") sang a cover version titled "Se A Gente Se Entender" ("If We Understand Each Other"), which also received a music video.
  • Chicago punk band Screeching Weasel covered the song on their album Emo.
  • Kelly Clarkson has covered this song.
  • Collegiate a cappella group the Beelzebubs covered the song on their album Pandæmonium.
  • The Malaysian band called Estranged made a cover of this track to be included on their second album, Anugerah Hidup.
  • A section of the song is sung with the lyrics changed in the NBC comedy Community.
  • American indie rock band Real Estate performed a version of the song in August 2014 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series.

    • References

    Linger (song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA