The Corrs
The Corrs | |
|---|---|
| File:The Corrs.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Members | Jim Corr Sharon Corr Caroline Corr Andrea Corr |
The Corrs are a multi-platinum folk rock band from Ireland, consisting of three sisters and one brother from the Corr family; Sharon, Caroline, Andrea and Jim Corr. The band rose to prominence in the late 1990s. They have sold over 60 million albums worldwide, and have had numerous number one singles and albums in Europe and North America [citation needed].
History
The Corrs were formed to audition for the 1991 film The Commitments. Jim, Sharon, and Caroline had a small part as musicians, while Andrea got a speaking part as Sharon Rabbitte, sister of the main character. While auditioning for the movie they were noticed by their future manager, John Hughes. Their music has been released through Atlantic Records, part of the Warner Music Group.
The band was relatively unknown outside of Ireland until 1994 when American ambassador to the country Jean Kennedy Smith invited the group to perform at the 1994 World Cup in Boston. This performance also led to the band becoming the supporting act for Celine Dion on her 1996 world tour.
Their first album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, had its greatest success in Australia, Sweden, Spain and Ireland, gaining later success in the UK and in Canada. In 1997 they released Talk On Corners, which was primarily popular in Ireland and Britain, but then successfully spread across the globe. Both have been certified gold in the United States, and In Blue has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2004, they released Borrowed Heaven, which has been very popular globally.
According to the Irish Recorded Music Association, The Corrs have sold over 50 million albums worldwide, not including singles. In January of 2006, the Irish Singles Chart released statements claiming that the band had sold closer to 60 million albums worldwide.
They also recorded Canto Alla Vita with Josh Groban for his self-titled album, and also been involved with a number of collaborations including with Rod Stewart, Alejandro Sanz, Ron Wood from The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow on C'mon, C'mon and Bono from U2.
In 2005 the band returned with Home, a traditional Irish album celebrating their roots, many of the songs coming from their late mother's songbook including two songs in the Irish language. In October 2005 the band released All The Way Home an up-to-date documentary on the band along with a live concert from their Borrowed Heaven tour in Geneva recorded in 2004.
The band became the second Irish band to sell over a million albums in Ireland.
Band members
The four core Corrs were born in Dundalk, Ireland, the children of Gerry and Jean Corr, two musicians. The group contains all the Corr siblings, three sisters and their brother.
- Jim Corr (born James Steven Ignatius Corr, on July 31 1964) is the oldest member of the band. He mainly plays the guitar, but is also proficient on the keyboards and the piano.
- Sharon Corr (born Sharon Helga Corr, on March 24 1970) plays the violin, piano, and performs backing vocals.
- Caroline Corr (born Caroline Georgina Corr, on March 17 1973) plays bodhrán, piano, backing vocals, and tambourine.
- Andrea Corr (born Andrea Jane Corr, on May 17 1974) sings lead vocals, backing vocals, and plays the tin whistle.
All members can also play the piano which was taught to them by their father Gerry Corr.
All four siblings were made Honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for their outstanding contribution to music and charity work. This was met with some discontent by some in the Republic of Ireland as the Order is, obviously, a British award headed by Queen Elizabeth II. Confusion about the award was widespread in the United States as is the meaning of terms such as British Isles or United Kingdom. The Corrs are from a part of Ireland which is no longer in the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth although many there acknowledge the country's past and present links with the UK. [1]
Support
The band's usual support musicians are Anto Drennan (lead guitar) and Keith Duffy (bass guitar). From 2004, Duffy's brother Jason Duffy joined on percussion, with Kieran Kiely on accordion and keyboards. The band excel in their live shows and have been called by U2's Bono "the loudest whisper in pop".
Future
The future of the band is currently unknown. However, they have stated innumerable times that they never see themselves quitting. They are currently taking a break to raise their families and explore new options in their careers. They are not breaking up.
- Andrea Corr is currently undertaking some new projects in acting, and just finished filming a new movie called Broken Thread alongside Linus Roache and Saffron Burrows. The film is said to be an exciting psychological thriller being compared to The Sixth Sense. She is also working on her first solo album with (among others) Nellee Hooper. The album is expected to be called Present and expected to be released The Next Year (2007).
- Sharon Corr recently gave birth to her first child with husband Gavin Bonnar in March of 2006 and presumably will be taking time off to look after her new family. They named their son Cathal Robert Gerard, nickname Cal.
- Caroline Corr is expecting her third child this October.
- Jim Corr announced his engagement to his girlfriend late last year, former Miss Northern Ireland Gayle Williamson, who just gave birth to the couple's first child in May 2006. A wedding date has not been announced.
Discography
For a complete discography, see The Corrs discography.
Albums
- Forgiven, Not Forgotten - (September 1995)
- Talk On Corners - (1997)
- The Corrs Unplugged - (October 1999)
- In Blue - (June 2000)
- The Best Of The Corrs - (October 2001)
- VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live In Dublin - (March 2002)
- Borrowed Heaven - (May 2004)
- Home - (September 2005)
Singles
| Year | Title | Ireland | UK | US | US AC | US AC Top 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Runaway" | 7 | 49 | 68 | 20 | - |
| 1996 | "Forgiven, Not Forgotten" | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 | "The Right Time" | 3 | - | - | - | 37 |
| 1996 | "Love to Love You" | 39 | 62 | - | - | - |
| 1997 | "Only When I Sleep" | 1 | 58 | - | - | - |
| 1997 | "I Never Loved You Anyway" | 1 | 43 | - | - | - |
| 1998 | "What Can I Do" | 21 | 53 | - | - | - |
| 1998 | "Dreams" | 1 | 6 | - | - | - |
| 1998 | "What Can I Do (Tin Tin Out Remix)" | 2 | 3 | - | - | - |
| 1998 | "So Young (K-Klass Remix)" | 1 | 6 | - | - | - |
| 1999 | "Runaway (Tin Tin Out Remix)" | 1 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 1999 | "Radio" | 11 | 18 | - | - | - |
| 2000 | "Breathless" | 1 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 7 |
| 2000 | "Irresistible" | 5 | 20 | - | - | - |
| 2001 | "Give Me a Reason" | 14 | 27 | - | - | - |
| 2001 | "All The Love In The World" | - | - | - | 21 | - |
| 2001 | "Would You Be Happier?" | 5 | 14 | - | 30 | - |
| 2002 | "When The Stars Go Blue" | - | - | - | 20 | - |
| 2004 | "Summer Sunshine" | 2 | 6 | - | 29 | 18 |
| 2004 | "Angel" | 3 | 16 | - | - | - |
| 2004 | "Long Night" | 1 | 31 | - | - | - |
| 2005 | "Old Town"/"Heart Like A Wheel" | 24 | 68 | - | - | - |
Trivia
- Japanese pop star Tomiko Van ranks The Corrs as one of her favourite bands
- The Corrs were occasionally lampooned on the british saturday morning television program SMTV, where the hosts Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, and Cat Deeley would don long, black wigs and lip gloss and announce to the camera "Hi, we're the beautiful Corrs" in soft irish accents. Sitting a distance away from them was a man with a paper pag on his head labelled "Jim".
See also
- Music of Ireland
- 1990s music groups
- 2000s music groups
- List of Pepsi spokespersons
- List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
- List of Number 1 albums from the 1990s (UK)
- List of number-one albums from the 2000s (UK)
- List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)
- List of celebrities who have been awarded the Order of the British Empire
External links
- The Corrs Official Website
- The Corrs Club (fansite)
- The Beautiful Corrs, an SMTV parody of the Corrs.