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The Cranberries. What can I say about them besides WOW! It all started back in the year of 1993 when I was suddenly in a trance when I heard that voice. Sitting in my parents' Dodge Caravan, waiting for my mother, I was listening to the radio, when Dreams came on. I had heard part of it before, but I never caught the name of the band that performed it. I was so excited, jumping up and down and turning the volume as high as my ears could take it. The song was so uplifting and pleasant, it made a day at the dentist seem like a day at the beach. When the D.J. announced the artist, I ran in the house and wrote it down and begged my mom to buy me the cassette tape (as we didn't have a CD player yet). She said that I should wait until my birthday, so that is what I did.
My first album was EEIDISWCW. I played it over and over again, just imagining what it would be like to not have a care in the world. At age 13, life started to get complicated, so The Cranberries came into my life at just the right time. I began to watch MTV more fequently to catch a glimst of the Irish rockers and that's when I saw the video for Ode to My Family. I had to have that album as well, and no one was going to stop me from getting it. So there was where my collection had started.
Through the up and coming teenaged years in my life and through all the hardships of crushes, friends, foes, and grades, I still dedicated my choice in music to them. By that time, I was 16 years old and I had bought TTFD on the first day it was released in the U.S. of A. I had also replaced my two cassette tapes with compact discs, because they last longer. That was also the age where my family got into the present time and got hooked up to the internet. There was where I saw many other albums that I did not have, that I wanted.
So my next hunt was for Doors and Windows. Being out of print, it was more difficult for me to buy. Every time I went to music stores, I looked frantically in the Cranberries section as well as the Creedence Clearwater Revival section, hoping it was misplaced, but I never found it. Then one day, as I was browsing in Sam Goody's at the North County Fair mall in Escondido, there it was for about $24.00. I had $30 in my pocket and so I grabed it immediately and ran up to the counter to purchase it. Needless to say, I was extremely happy.
Years passed again and I had accumilated other imports, singles, contemplations, and tributes. The next big thing was to see them inconcert . May 15, 1999 was the day! David and I went to Las Vegas Nevada to see the Cranberries perform at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. The concert started at 8pm and we got there at 4pm. I walked up to the door that led to the concert area and waited there. When 7:30pm rolled around, so did all the high rollers, roling right in front of me. Most of them didn't know who was plaing or was too drunk to care. I was very frusterated. No one cared to notice that I was there long before they stepped foot on the casino floor. Once they opened the doors, I pushed and rushed past everyone who had cut infront of me. I got David and I a standing place of three bodies from the stage. It was the best time in my life so far. Jude opened for them. He was a one man band, and very good at it. Then the moment came where they walked out on stage. What a sight! I couldn't believe that I was seeing them in person! Immediately after the concert, I purchased two t-shirts, a poster, and a pin for souvenirs. It was the greatest day of my life.
The Crans didn't put out much in the past two years and I was getting kinda worried. But like always, they have yet to fail me, because that's when I read about WUASTC!
Talk about a sigh of relief! I heard that it was coming out in Europe first before the US so I had some French friends of mine send it to me. If it's one thing about the Crans, it's how wonderful of songs they make without having to talk about using drugs and sex and violence in a promiscuous (sp?) way.
Now let's talk about "The Contest". One day after work, I was reading over my e-mail when I saw an e-mail from the Official site. It was about a contest for a prize of a meet and greet with the band. I thought to myself "ok, sure, why not?" I was to watch a 2"x3" quicktime video of This is the Day and count how many distinct hair styles Dolores had in the video. So I had to download on a 58k (which really runs at like 28k) modem and install Quicktime. When that was finished, I loaded the video and watched without a blink. When it was done I had counted Three. So I replied with my answer and sent it on it's way, not even thinking that they would choose a winner. Then one week later I get an e-mail in reply to my subject line of LOS ANGELES. It said:
CONGRATULATIONS!
You answered THREE and that is the right answer! Your name then went into a hat, and YOU were drawn as the WINNER for the LOS ANGELES meet and greet with The Cranberries!
Please reply to this message giving us your full name and address with phone numbers! Somebody will contact you very soon thereafter!
We look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Needless to say I was in shock! It was about 5:30am when I read it. I had originally planned to go to the Los Angeles concert, but they had announced a San Diego concert at the last minute so I asked if I could go to that one instead. They said sure. So for two months I was waiting on Pins and Needles to hear from them. I didn't hear anything until a month later and then the day before. Talk about hurry up and wait, but it was worth the wait!
At 7:35pm on July 6th of 2002 I picked up my two free tickets and passes from the Will Call window at the Viejas Casino Outlet Center. So at 8:30pm was when David and I were to meet the best band in the world, but it didn't happen until 8:45pm. The stage hands were looking for the other people but couldn't find them so they just took us in.
I couldn't beleive my eyes! Fergal, Noel, Dolores, and Mike were all right there! Ferg came to greet me first then Noel, then Dolores (she has a really firm hand shake) and then Mike (the quiet one). They were all so nice and in no hurry to rush me out the door, but the manager or who ever that guy was was sure that it'd be an in and out deal. Only about three or four minutes, but the best three or four minutes ever! They signed four CD covers, and a book about them. I asked them two questions; one about Quinn and one about the Doors and Windows CD. David said something that made them laugh. They are wicked cool!
So I'd like to say thanks to the Cranberries! Thank you guys! You've always rocked! Keep on rockin'. You have my phone number and address, you can always stay with us for free! Just let me know you're comin' :)
Thanks for taking a look at my site. Be sure to get in touch with your thoughts and suggestions. I'll be updating frequently, so please check back often.
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Dolores Mary O'Riordan Burton:
(Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards)
born 06 September 1971, Limerick, Ireland.
Noel Anthony Hogan
(Electric & Acoustic Guitars)
born 25 December 1971, Limerick, Ireland.
Michael Gerard Hogan
(Bass Guitar)
born 29 April 1973, Limerick, Ireland.
Fergal Patrick Lawler
(Drums and Percussion)
born 04 March 1971, Limerick, Ireland.
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