Miley Cyrus’ Gritty, Soulful Version of “Zombie” Will Give You Goosebumps

That belt! That growl! That mullet! Has Miley Cyrus ever rocked harder than when she sang The Cranberries’ hit song “Zombie”?

The singer, who was a Coach on The Voice for Season 11 and 13 after appearing as a Key Advisor in Season 10, delivered the song with her trademark scratchy, powerful vocals and on-stage intensity at L.A.’s Whiskey a Go Go in 2020. The performance was part of #SOSFEST, or the Save Our Stages festival, a string of performances to fundraise for live music venues hit hard by the pandemic. And once you see Cyrus’ cover, you’ll know she gave it her all.

What to know about “Zombie” by The Cranberries

The grunge anthem was written by Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan in response to the deaths of two young boys in an IRA bombing in 1993. The song is more broadly about The Troubles, a period of violence and political conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the 1960s to 1998 and resulted in many civilian deaths. O’Riordan has stated that the point of the song is not a political agenda but to denounce violence, especially against children. Released in September 1994, “Zombie” was an immediate sensation and catapulted the Cranberries to international fame. O’Riordan died in 1998.

In her recording, O’Riordan utilized the yodeling technique of switching between her upper and lower registers, producing the a dramatic effect that adds to the anger of the song. Cyrus ably adapts this style to her own voice.

The lyrics to “Zombie” by the Cranberries

Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it’s not me
It’s not my family
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
With their tanks and their bombs
And their bombs and their guns

Miley Cyrus attendsg the Versace FW23 Show at Pacific Design Center on March 09, 2023 in West Hollywood, California; Drummer Fergal Lawler, lead singer Dolores O’Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan and bassist Michael Hogan of the Irish rock band The Cranberries pose for a group portrait in front of a city sculpture circa June, 1995 in New York City, New York. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images; Bob Berg/Getty Images

In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie

Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do

Another mother’s breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken

It’s the same old theme
Since nineteen-sixteen
In your head, in your head, they’re still fighting
With their tanks and their bombs
And their bombs and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are dying

In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What’s in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh oh, ya-ya