The Corrs

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The Corrs
The Corrs bidding a concert audience farewell in 2005. From (L-R): Sharon, Caroline, Andrea and Jim.
The Corrs bidding a concert audience farewell in 2005.
From (L-R): Sharon, Caroline, Andrea and Jim.
Background information
Origin Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Genre(s) Folk rock, pop rock, Celtic
Years active 1990–present
(on hiatus since 2006)
Label(s) 143 Records, Lava Records (1990–2003)
Atlantic Records (1990–present)
Rhino Records (2007–present)
Website www.thecorrswebsite.com
Members
Jim Corr
Sharon Corr
Caroline Corr
Andrea Corr

The Corrs are a Celtic folk rock and pop rock group from Dundalk, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea Corr (vocals, tin whistle); Sharon Corr (violin, percussion, vocals); Caroline Corr (drums, percussion, bodhrán, vocals); and Jim Corr (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, vocals). The Corrs are well known for their hit singles, including their debut "Runaway" and "Breathless". All four members play the piano, which was taught to them by their father, but Jim and Caroline are the only siblings credited with playing the piano on their albums.[1]

The band gained international attention with their performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Their debut album, Forgiven Not Forgotten, was released after that performance and was produced by David Foster.[2] Their first two albums were folk rock; their third album, In Blue, moved toward mainstream pop and included electronic synthesisers.[3] Their next album, Borrowed Heaven, returned to folk rock but put heavier emphasis on guitars.[4]

The Corrs released Home in 2005. The album was a tribute to their 15-year career and featured Irish music spanning 1,000 years of musical tradition.[5] During that same year, all four Corr siblings received honorary MBEs for their contributions to music and charity.[6] The Corrs are currently on hiatus as Sharon, Jim, and Caroline are raising families, while Andrea is pursuing a solo career.[7][8]

Contents

Gerry and Jean Corr performing as Sound Affair.
Gerry and Jean Corr performing as Sound Affair.

The Corrs' parents are Gerry Corr, a manager of the payroll department of the Irish Electricity Board, and his wife, Jean, a homemaker.[9] They raised their family in Dundalk, Ireland.[10] Gerry and Jean performed together as a band called Sound Affair, and often brought their children to their performances,[11] playing songs by ABBA and the Eagles in local pubs.[12]

With the encouragement of their parents, Jim took guitar lessons, Sharon played the violin, Caroline studied the drums, and Andrea took up the tin whistle.[13] Additionally, all of them were taught the piano by their father.[1] Throughout their teenage years, The Corrs would often practice in Jim's bedroom at a house he had rented. Andrea sang lead vocals, Sharon played the violin, and both Caroline and Jim played the keyboards.[14]

While Caroline and Andrea were still attending school, Jim and Sharon had begun playing as a duo, often at their aunt's pub, McManus's.[15] In 1990, Jim and Sharon added their younger siblings to their existing duo,[12] to form a quartet.[16] Their career took off in 1991 when they auditioned for the film The Commitments. Jim, Sharon, and Caroline each had a small part as musicians, while Andrea got a speaking part as Sharon Rabbitte.[17] John Hughes noticed them when they auditioned for the movie, and agreed to become their manager.[18]

The band enjoyed success in Ireland until 1994, when the band became known internationally (see 1994 in music). The American ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, invited the group to perform at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Boston after seeing them play a gig at Whealans Music Bar in Dublin.[19][1] After an appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States,[20] The Corrs joined Celine Dion's worldwide Falling into You Tour as a supporting act.[21][22]

Jason Flom, Atlantic Records' vice director and producer, recommended that they meet with David Foster,[23] a Canadian musician, producer, composer and arranger.[2] The Corrs played live for Foster and he agreed to sign them to Atlantic Records. They extended their stay in the United States for over five months to record their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten.[1]

Forgiven, Not Forgotten featured six instrumental selections among its Celtic-influenced tracks. The album sold well in Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Spain. Major success in the United States and the United Kingdom, however, was not immediately forthcoming.[16] Eventually, the album reached platinum status in the United Kingdom[24] and Australia,[25] and quadruple platinum in Ireland,[20] which made it one of the most popular debuts by an Irish group.[21]

The Corrs' next album, 1997's Talk On Corners, was produced by Glen Ballard,[16] who was respected for his collaboration with Alanis Morissette.[26] The Corrs also collaborated with Carole Bayer Sager, Glen Ballard, Oliver Leiber, Rick Nowels, and Billy Steinberg.[3][27] Andrea Corr explained the genre of the second album saying, "It [has] got more of an edgy feel, a little bit more guitar-orientated and also an Irish sound, which is in Forgiven, Not Forgotten."[28] The album met with lukewarm responses and was only successful within Ireland.[3] Nevertheless, The Corrs performed a special remixed version of the tracks from their first two albums in a 1998 televised St. Patrick's Day appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall.[16] After that performance, the band re-released Talk on Corners, which featured new remixes of "What Can I Do?", "So Young" and "Runaway".[27] The special edition topped the charts in many countries, and again reached platinum status in the United Kingdom[29] and Australia.[30]

Andrea playing the tin whistle during Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On at the 1998 Pavarotti and Friends concert.
Andrea playing the tin whistle during Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On at the 1998 Pavarotti and Friends concert.

In June 1998, The Corrs participated in the Pavarotti and Friends for the Children of Liberia charity concert. The concert was held in Modena, Italy and was hosted by Luciano Pavarotti. The artists that participated were Jon Bon Jovi, Natalie Cole, Pino Daniele, Céline Dion, Florent Pagny, Eros Ramazzotti, Spice Girls, Vanessa L. Williams, Stevie Wonder, Trisha Yearwood and Zucchero.[31] The concert was aimed to raise funds to build the Pavarotti and Friends Liberian Children's Village, which will provide refuge for children of Liberia.[32]

The following year, The Corrs received a BRIT Award for Best International Band.[33] Subsequently, they performed live on MTV's Unplugged on 5 October 1999 in front of an audience at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.[34][35] The resulting CD and DVD sold 2.7 million copies and featured live performances of their previously released songs, as well as a new song, "Radio", that was later featured on their third album, In Blue.[33]

In 2000, The Corrs returned to mainstream success with In Blue. Unlike their previous albums, In Blue broke away from folk rock to become pop music. This move attracted criticism from many critics; one Entertainment Weekly critic called it "a disheartening example of musical ethnic cleansing".[3] Despite this, In Blue hit number one in its first sales week in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and debuted at number two in France and Norway. It climbed to the top position during its second week in Sweden and Spain.[36]

The Corrs worked with Alejandro Sanz on In Blue, recording "Una Noche (One Night)" as a duet between Sanz and Andrea Corr; Sanz also played Andrea's love interest in the music video. In return, The Corrs performed "Me Iré (The Hardest Day)" with him on his album, El Alma Al Aire.[37] They also collaborated with Robert Lange[38] to produce a mainstream hit single, "Breathless". "Breathless" reached number 34 in the Billboard Hot 100,[39] number seven in Australia,[40] number three in Ireland[41] and New Zealand,[42] and number one in the United Kingdom.[43] The album went straight to number one in the Irish Albums Chart, and has the third highest sales for week of release in Ireland in the history of the charts, behind U2’s The Best of 1980-1990 and Oasis' Be Here Now.[44] In sales, In Blue reached platinum in the United States,[45] double platinum in the United Kingdom,[46] and quadruple platinum in Australia.[47]

During the production of the album, the Corrs' mother, Jean, died while waiting for a lung transplant in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, England.[48] She was laid to rest at St. Patrick's cemetery in Dundalk, and Bono, Larry Mullen, Brian Kennedy and Paul Brady were among the funeral's attendees.[49] "No More Cry", written by Andrea and Caroline Corr for the album, was dedicated to their father to get over his grief.[50]

In 2001, The Corrs released their first compilation album, Best of The Corrs. The album featured previously released songs and new tracks, such as the singles "Would You Be Happier", "Make You Mine" and "Lifting Me".[51] The album did not chart highly in Ireland but it reached platinum status in Australia.[52]

The Corrs composed a duet, Canto Alla Vita, with Josh Groban for his eponymous debut album.[53][54] When the band returned to Ireland, they hosted a live concert at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, where they had previously performed for the MTV's Unplugged series.[34] Guest performers included Bono from U2 and Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones. During the concert, Bono joined Andrea Corr for a duet of Nancy Sinatra's "Summer Wine" and a performance of Ryan Adams' "When the Stars Go Blue". Ron Wood joined the band onstage to play guitar on their version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday.[55] These live performances were recorded and put into a live album, VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin, which was only released in the United States.[56]

(L-R) Sharon, Andrea and Jim Corr in concert.
(L-R) Sharon, Andrea and Jim Corr in concert.

In 2003, Andrea Corr recorded "Time Enough For Tears," a song written by Bono and Gavin Friday[57] for the film In America.[58] This track was also featured on The Corrs' 2004 album, Borrowed Heaven. Made over an 18 month period, Borrowed Heaven was recorded in Dublin and Los Angeles, and produced by Olle Romo, who had previously worked with Melanie C and Kelly Clarkson.[59] The album returned to the folk rock genre with a slightly heavier emphasis on guitars.[4] Nevertheless, the album was not as successful as their predecessor albums, where it only managed to reach silver status in the United Kingdom.[60] Jason Duffy temporarily joined the band as drummer,[61] taking over for Caroline while she raised her child.[62] Borrowed Heaven was dedicated to their late mother, Jean, and their father, Gerry.[63]

The band also dedicated their 2005 tribute album, Home, to their deceased mother.[64] Home is regarded as a traditional Irish album; the band covered many traditional Irish songs[5] taken from their mother's songbook[65] to commemorate their 15 years as a band.[66] The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and featured the BBC Radio 2 Orchestra.[67] The songs featured in Home songs spanned the history of Irish music, from the 1,000-year-old "Return to Fingal" to the 1982 song "Old Town," written by late Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott.[67] It also includes several songs in Gaelic, including "Brid Og Ni Mhaille (Bridget O'Malley)" and "Buachaill On Eirne (Boy from Ireland)".[68] Home had very little success outside Ireland and France, and was certified silver in the United Kingdom.[69]

The Corrs have been on hiatus since 2006.[7] Sharon, Jim, and Caroline are raising their own families while Andrea pursues her solo career.[8] Sharon married Gavin Bonnar, a Belfast barrister, on July 9, 2001.[70] Since then, they have had two children, Cathal Robert Gerard[71] and Flori Jean Elizabeth.[72] Jim's child, Brandon, was born in 2006 to Gayle Williamson, his ex-fiance and the former Miss Northern Ireland.[73] Caroline married Frank Woods, a property developer in Majorca, Spain on August 22, 2002.[74] They currently have three children, Jake Gerrard,[75] Georgina[76] and Rihann.[77]

Andrea released her first solo album, Ten Feet High, on June 25, 2007. It was produced by Nellee Hooper, who has worked with Gwen Stefani and Madonna; Bono was an executive producer.[78] The first single released from the album was "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)".

The Corrs released their first remix album, Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection, on November 20, 2006. The album consisted of remixes of original tracks that had been previously released. However, the album charted poorly and only reached number 24 in Ireland.[79] On September 25, 2007, The Corrs released another compilation album, The Works. The album consists of three CDs which feature previously-released songs. It performed worse than its predecessor, failing to chart at all.[79][80]

The Corrs have been keen philanthropists throughout their career. They have played charity concerts to raise money for the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children's Village,[32] Freeman Hospital in Newcastle,[81] the victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland,[82] and The Prince's Trust in 2004.[83] They are also ambassadors for the Nelson Mandela's "46664" campaign, where they performed live to raise awareness towards AIDS in Africa.[84] During the Edinburgh Live 8 on 2 July 2005, The Corrs performed "When the Stars Go Blue" alongside Bono to promote the Make Poverty History campaign.[85] In recognition for their charity performances, the Corrs were made Honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II.[86]

Main article: The Corrs discography

Main article: List of The Corrs' awards

  1. ^ a b c d The Corrs biography. Absolute Divas. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  2. ^ a b David Foster Current Biography. Executive Visions. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  3. ^ a b c d The Corrs Biography. goHastings.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  4. ^ a b Uthayashanker, Uma. The Corrs: Borrowed Heaven. MusicOMH.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  5. ^ a b Murphy, Hubert (2005-09-16). Corrs make a return to Fingal. Fingal Independent. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  6. ^ Honorary MBEs awarded to the Corrs. RTÉ Entertainment. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  7. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel. "No new material planned for The Corrs", Digital Spy, 2006-03-25. Retrieved on 2006-08-02. 
  8. ^ a b Thomas, Charlie (2007-05-08). Andrea Corr goes solo. Inthenews.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  9. ^ Borden, Timothy. The Corrs biography - Contemporary Musicians. Enotes.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  10. ^ The Corrs Cosmopolis English Edition (December 1999). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  11. ^ Cornwell, Jane (1999). The Corrs. London: Virgin Publishing Ltd., 16. ISBN 185227-840-4. 
  12. ^ a b The Corrs. Hello! Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  13. ^ The Corrs lyrics and biography. Musicianguide.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  14. ^ Cornwell, Jane (1999). The Corrs. London: Virgin Publishing Ltd., 21. ISBN 185227-840-4. 
  15. ^ Cornwell, Jane (1999). The Corrs. London: Virgin Publishing Ltd., 23. ISBN 185227-840-4. 
  16. ^ a b c d Andrea Corr - FamousWhy. FamousWhy. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  17. ^ The Commitments' Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  18. ^ The Biography Channel - The Corrs biography. The Biography Channel. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  19. ^ Mardiros, Carmen. The Corrs, the Pride of Ireland - family biography. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  20. ^ a b The Corrs. VH1.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  21. ^ a b The Corrs on MSN Music. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  22. ^ The Corrs biography. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  23. ^ The Corrs pics. Askmen.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  24. ^ Forgiven, Not Forgotten UK Certification. The BPI. January 15, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  25. ^ Forgiven, Not Forgotten Australian Certification. ARIA. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  26. ^ "Transcript: Profiles of Alanis Morissette, Margaret Cho". CNN People in the News. January 4, 2003.
  27. ^ a b The Corrs biography. Bandbiographies.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  28. ^ CNN - 'Talk on Corners' reveals Irish band The Corrs. CNN (1998-07-28). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  29. ^ Talk on Corners UK Certification. The BPI. April 1, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  30. ^ Talk on Corners Australian Certification. ARIA. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  31. ^ iClassics. iClassics.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  32. ^ a b Ally McBeal star sued by real life lawyers. BBC News (1998-10-15). Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  33. ^ a b The Songs of the Corrs. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  34. ^ a b The Corrs - Unplugged: DVD: The Corrs. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  35. ^ The Corrs Unplugged (2000) (V). Imbd. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  36. ^ The Corrs Eye U.S. Success. Billboard.com (2000-08-21). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  37. ^ Alejandro Sanz biography. Artistopia Music. iCubator Labs. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  38. ^ Mutt Lange. SuperShadow. Retrieved on 2001-11-01.
  39. ^ U.S. Singles Charts. All Music Guide. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  40. ^ Australian Chart Positions. australian-charts.com. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  41. ^ Irish Singles Chart Searchable Database. The Irish Charts: All There is to Know. Retrieved July 15, 2007.
  42. ^ New Zealand Chart Positions. charts.org.na. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  43. ^ UK Searchable Charts Database. everyhit.com. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  44. ^ Corrs, tops in eight countries. Independent Newspaper (2000-08-04). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  45. ^ RIAA Searchable Database. RIAA. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  46. ^ In Blue UK Certification. The BPI. November 17, 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  47. ^ In Blue Australian Certification. ARIA. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  48. ^ Stars of music world gather to mourn with the Corr family. Independant Newspaper (2000-11-28). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  49. ^ Keogh, Elaine (1999-11-29). Corrs share grief as mother is buried. Independent Newspaper. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  50. ^ Corrs' main frame. Atlantic Recording Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  51. ^ Best of the Corrs: Music: Best of the Corrs. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  52. ^ Best of The Corrs Australian Certification. ARIA. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  53. ^ Josh Groban - Biography. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  54. ^ Great Performances - Josh Groban in Concert - Singing Sensations. PBS. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  55. ^ Corrs concert' glittering cast. Independent Newspaper (2002-01-31). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  56. ^ VH1 Presents The Corrs Live in Dublin: Music: The Corrs. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  57. ^ Bono & Gavin Frida: "Time Enough for Tears" (2002-11-04). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  58. ^ In America (2002). Imbd.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  59. ^ 'Borrowed Heaven' set to bring 'Summer Sunshine' for the Corrs. Independent Newspaper (2004-04-16). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  60. ^ Borrowed Heaven UK Certification. The BPI. June 4, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  61. ^ Planet Corr - Biography. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  62. ^ Donaghy, Kathy (2002-10-22). Caroline drums up delight over pregnancy. Independent Newspaper. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  63. ^ The Corrs & Heaven 'Borrowed Heaven' album. Music Remedy. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  64. ^ Maher, Gareth. The Corrs's album 'Home'. CLUAS.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  65. ^ The Corrs 'Home' album. MusicRemedy.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  66. ^ Weisinger, Mark (2006-03-07). The Corrs: Home. Popmatters.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  67. ^ a b Corrs Home CD. Rhino.com (2005-11-22). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  68. ^ Burriel, Raul (2006-02-17). Music Review:The Corrs' Home. The Trades. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  69. ^ Home UK Certification. The BPI. October 7, 2005. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  70. ^ Sharon Corr & Gavin Bonnar Wedding. ShowBiz Ireland (2001-07-09). Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  71. ^ Baby Girl for Sharon Corr (2007-08-10). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  72. ^ The Corr's Main Frame. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  73. ^ Jim Corr and fiance welcome a son. Celebrity baby blog. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  74. ^ Gibbons, P.J. (2002-08-22). Home reception set for the Corrs. Irish Examiner. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  75. ^ Caroline Corr biography. Netglimse.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  76. ^ Caroline Corr welcomes a daughter. Celebrity baby blog. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  77. ^ The Corr's Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  78. ^ Andrea's New Album. The Corrs Official Website (February 6, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
  79. ^ a b World Chart Positions. acharts.us. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  80. ^ UK Searchable Charts Database. everyhit.com. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  81. ^ McKiernan, Joseph (2001-04-31). City honors the Corrs. Independent Newspaper. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  82. ^ Madonna pens bedtime story for charity. BBC (1998-11-10). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  83. ^ O'Doherty, Caroline (2005-11-08). Corrs left breathless over MBE honor. Irish Examiner. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  84. ^ 46664 - 1 minute for AIDS in South Africa (October 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  85. ^ Live 8 Concert. Live 8. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  86. ^ Ahern, Bertie (November 7, 2005). Award of Honorary MBE to the Corrs. Roinn an Taoisigh. Retrieved on 2005-11-09.

v • d • e
The Corrs
Andrea • Sharon • Jim • Caroline
Studio albums Forgiven, Not Forgotten • Talk on Corners • In Blue • Borrowed Heaven • Home •
Compilations Best of The Corrs • Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection •
Live albums The Corrs - Live • The Corrs Unplugged • VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin •
Related articles Discography • Awards •
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corrs"
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