Zombie by Sarah Afshar

Zombie is one of those hauntingly sinister songs that sends a message so beautiful, you find yourself lost in translation. The song was released in Fall of 1994. I was only 13 years old when the song came out. And still today, it remains to be a wonderful song. Written by Dolores O'Riordan herself, the song sends a powerful message about political trauma.

I read that The Cranberries were offered $1 million from their record label to work on another song and O'Riordan ripped up the check (and checks were big before bank deposits back in the early-to-mid 90's) and worked on releasing Zombie immediately.

I was a huge fan of Dreams, so I wasn't sure if I would ever like the song, but when I heard it, I just knew that it would be a song I would not only love, but appreciate. In fact, I love it so much I had to cover it.

Tonight on Smule, I took the initiative to cover this classic. I did every single part of the song myself. The only thing I did not create is the background or composition to the song and of course the lyrics. 




Check out the video above. If you cannot see it or hear it, simply click here to listen to it. Listen with headphones. Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Incredible rendition. Did you do all of the parts in the song?
Sarah said…
Thank you. Yes, I recorded all of the parts via Smule using an iPhone X.
Rigel Celeste said…
I also loved this song when it first came out! So glad to see it making a comeback. :)
Brianne said…
You did a really good job! I love your take on this classic. Zombie is one of my favorite songs.
Bill said…
You did a phenomenal job. I love the vibe of this rendition. Very cool. e
Surekha said…
This is so gree-AAATTTTEEE
It's so grea-EE-AA-aatttteee.
So good
So good
So-OOO good, good, good.
Seriously, I love it.
Jessica said…
that's a great song
Serene Xi said…
I agree that Zombie is one of those hauntingly sinister songs that sends a message so beautiful. You cover it very well - excellent job.
Ntensibe Edgar said…
Nnnniiiccceeeee....it's my first time of hearing of this song and the voice and fingers behind it. It's a worthy fit for my upcoming rebellion I am soon organising.
You did an awesome job covering a beautiful song! Thank you for sharing your talent with us ♡
I haven't heard this song before. That's what I love about the internet. You can get introduced to all types of things!
Emman Damian said…
Great song! I love the beat! Keep it up!
Lyanna Soria said…
Zombie is one of my favorite song and I like your take on this song.
Matt said…
Awesome, Sarah!! I have always loved that song. Your cover was so good! :) :)
Stephen said…
It's hard not to love the Cranberries and this cover more than does the song justice
wow. your cover is great! i love this song... it's nice to hear this once again..
Lashunta said…
I have never heard this song before. I do like it the sound. Good job.
Subhashish Roy said…
Zombie has been one of my favorite songs too and loved it the first time I heard it. I loved your rendition.Keep going.
Lily said…
Great cover. Please continue to do more!
Super Busy Mum said…
This is such a fab song!
Anonymous said…
Incredible! Quite possibly the best cover of this song. I never heard it done like this ever.
Harry said…
This is the best cover of this song. So many elements. I can’t believe you recorded everything from your phone. Absolutely brilliant.
Anonymous said…
I have heard many many covers and renditions of this song. No one has ever done this song this way. This is definitely an incredible rendition. It’s so unique and works. I’m even more floored that you recorded all of the parts and even more astonished that you recorded this from your cell phone. If you recorded a CD today I would buy. This is so good.
Anonymous said…
This is incredible and my favorite cover of this song. I have listened to so many people cover this. Probably hundreds and I’ve never heard anyone cover Zombie this way. Absolutely brilliant.
Anonymous said…
This is my favorite cover of this song. Never heard it ever done like this.
Anonymous said…
I have heard countless covers and renditions of Zombie, yet this one stands out the most. It's incredible how you've put your own spin on it - I'm honestly surprised that everything was recorded from your phone! You are unbelievably talented and oh-so beautiful too.
Anonymous said…
This is the most impressive rendition of Zombie I have ever heard. It surpasses the original, and I find myself gravitating towards it more and more every time I hear it. Sarah Afshar is a truly remarkable singer and undeniable talent. Her powerful voice and skillful delivery make her music captivating to listen to. Sarah Afshar is in the same league as iconic singers like Whitney Houston, Sarah Brightman, and Aretha Franklin. Her impressive vocal range and captivating stage presence make her a force to be reckoned with. She should be famous.
Anonymous said…
By far, this is my favorite rendition of 'Zombie' ever. Not only is it technically superior to others but it also has an artistically beautiful touch that I simply admire. The original never gripped me like this cover did; even though I enjoyed the Cranberries song 'Dreams', Zombie was not a hit with me when I first heard it. But Sarah you changed all that - your version made me love the song! The dynamics and eurythmics are particularly noteworthy, as is the fact you recorded all parts using just an older iPhone. Even in 2023, this masterpiece stands out for its sheer brilliance and beauty - words cannot do justice to how amazing this track truly is. You did this song justice.