The Corrs -- Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle), Caroline (drums, bodhran, vocals), Sharon (violin, vocals), and Jim (keyboards, guitars, vocals) -- have had an extraordinary 1998 around the globe, and with 143/Lava/Atlantic's new "TALK ON CORNERS: SPECIAL EDITION," they are getting set for an exciting 1999 in America. A revised version of the Dundalk, Ireland quartet's worldwide smash second album, "TALK ON CORNERS: SPECIAL EDITION" features a number of stunning new mixes which enjoyed enormous international success.
The original album has been reworked to feature the hit mixes of "What Can I Do?," "So Young," and their cover of Fleetwood Mac's classic, "Dreams." These songs were retooled by some of Europe's hottest remix artists, including K- Klass (who remixed "So Young"), and two tracks reworked by Tin Tin Out (including "What Can I Do?" and "Runaway," originally from the Corrs' 143/Lava/Atlantic debut, "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN"). In addition, the revised "TALK ON CORNERS" includes the rhythmic "Dreams (Tee's Radio Mix)," remixed by Todd Terry (best known for his hit remix of Everything But The Girl's "Missing").
"We wanted to be a little edgier," says Andrea.
"It's a different sound," Jim adds, "but it still maintains the sound of the Corrs."
Throughout the album, the Corrs create a multi-faceted sound steeped in the tradition of their homeland, while invested with a vibrant and electric modern pop flavor. As with their acclaimed 1995 debut, "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN," the new album was helmed in part by fourteen-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster. "TALK ON CORNERS: SPECIAL EDITION" also finds the band collaborating with a number of well-known producers, including Oliver Leiber, Glen Ballard, and Jim Corr himself. The album's dozen tracks were either written or co-written by the Corrs, with the exception of "Dreams" and a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." In the case of "I Never Loved You Anyway," the group teamed up with one of pop's songwriting legends, Academy Award-winning lyricist Carole Bayer Sager.
"We just decided to try new things," Andrea says, "to match up with other people. It was all great fun."
Other highlights include the dynamic "Queen of Hollywood" (whose lyric supplies "TALK ON CORNERS" with its title), "Paddy McCarthy," an instrumental which harkens back to the Corrs' folk roots, as well as a duet with the Chieftains on a Celtic-styled version of "Little Wing," replete with harp, fiddles, flutes, tin whiste, bodhran, and uillean pipes.
"Each song is different," says Andrea. "There's love, life, tragedy, hope, dreams, fantasy. It's whatever the music inspires."
In the U.K., "TALK ON CORNERS" has been a phenomenon. The album has been in the top 10 since April 1998, hitting the #1 spot on four separate occasions. It has now won the distinction of accruing top 10 reigns in 1997, '98, and '99. The momentum has also resulted in the remarkable rise of "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN" into the U.K. top 5 -- giving the young group the rare achievement of having both of its albums in the highest reaches of the influential pop chart and underscoring their status as a true powerhouse. "TALK ON CORNERS" also earned the band a prestigious Brit Award nomination -- the equivalent of America's Grammy Award -- in the Best International Band category, where they stood alongside Air, the Beastie Boys, Fun Lovin' Criminals, and R.E.M.
The astounding international popularity of "TALK ON CORNERS" has led to a remarkable register of success from around the world:
Now the time has come for the Corrs to bring the magic of "TALK ON CORNERS: SPECIAL EDITION" to North America. March '99 will see the Corrs returning to the States, where they are set to play a special St. Patrick's Day concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The Corrs will also perform five support slots with the Rolling Stones on their "NO SECURITY" U.S. tour. Mick Jagger himself has raved about the Corrs' extraordinary live performances. After the band opened a number of 1998 Stones stadium shows on the Continent, the singer told Europe's El Mundo magazine of how the Corrs "were on the verge of blowing us, the Rolling Stones, off of our own stage!"
"It's our first priority," Sharon says of the Corrs live experience. "It's where you really reach your audience, where you really communicate with them. And as musicians, we just love playing."
March '99 will also see the group continuing their streak of high-profile network TV performances with special appearances on both Saturday Night Live and Late Show With David Letterman. Furthermore, the Corrs' Live At Royal Albert Hall TV special will be broadcast in March on PBS stations across America. In addition, a half-hour special on the group will air on MTV four times throughout the month.
>The Corrs had quite the time following the original release of "TALK ON CORNERS." In December 1997, the group performed at the annual Vatican Christmas Concert and received a private audience with Pope John Paul II. Also that month, the Corrs became the first international act to sell out the newly renovated Olympia Theater in Paris. In March 1998, their St. Patrick's Day gig at London's Royal Albert Hall turned out to be one of the fastest sell-outs in that venerable venue's history (the Live At Royal Albert Hall show -- which was broadcast in the U.S. twice that same day on the Odyssey cable network and across the U.K. that evening on BBC1 -- also saw the group joined on stage by the legendary Mick Fleetwood for a rendition of "Dreams").
June found the Corrs performing alongside Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, and others at Luciano Pavarotti's "Pavarotti & Friends War Child Concert for Liberia" in Modena, Italy, an evening that saw the group duetting with the world renowned tenor. The following month, the Corrs were a highlight at the Prince's Trust benefit concert in London's Hyde Park before an audience of 110,000. In August, the band served as support act for a number of dates on the Rolling Stones' European stadium tour, performing to as many as 100,000 fans.
October found the Corrs attending the Versace Autumn fashion show in Milan, Italy at the personal invitation of Donatella Versace. That month also saw the band performing for an audience of nearly 200 million at the televised Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In November, the quartet picked up two of Spain's annual music awards -- the Amigo Awards -- for "Best International Album" and "Best International Act." The group brought their first Amigo home in 1997, also in the "Best International Act" category, for "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN." The Corrs' remarkable 1998 came to a close in December with the almost immediate sell-out of six concerts at London's Wembley Arena.
Mick Jagger isn't the only rock 'n' roll legend who is an avowed Corrs fan: the three Corrs sisters were special guests on 1998's Rod Stewart album, "WHEN WE WERE THE NEW BOYS," performing low whistle, bodhran, and backing vocals on an updated rendition of the Faces' "Ooh La La."
The Corrs also initiated and organized a benefit project for the victims of last year's bombing in Omagh, Northern Ireland. A television special, broadcast live on Irish TV on November 20th, saw the band performing the R.E.M. classic, "Everybody Hurts" before an audience comprised of residents of Omagh and nearby Buncrana who had been traumatized by the August 15th bombing which killed 30 people. Among the program's other highpoints was a performance from U2, who were specially invited to the television event by the Corrs. An all-star album, "ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF HOPE," was released in the U.K. last November, featuring the hit version of "What Can I Do?" as well as tracks from artists including U2, the Divine Comedy, Van Morrison, and Atlantic recording artist Sinead O'Connor. The net proceeds from both the album and concert will be donated to the Omagh Memorial Fund.
Here in America, the Corrs were among the best-received artists to perform at last year's Guinness Fleadh Festival. The group's Fleadh itinerary included shows at Randall's Island in New York City, Chicago's Arlington International Racecourse, and Spartan Stadium in San Jose. The Corrs' October '98 tour of America found the band showing great increases in attendance, with well- received sold-out gigs at Chicago's Park West, Boston's Paradise, and New York City's Mercury Lounge and Irving Plaza.
In recent years, the Corrs have made innumerable TV appearances around the globe, including: Kenny Live and The Late, Late Show in Ireland; the U.K.'s Top Of The Pops, T.F.I., Richard & Judy and Surprise Surprise (hosted by former British chart-topper and Beatle pal, Cilla Black); and The Jose Carerras Gala in Germany; not to mention their performances on such U.S.-based programs as Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Today, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and, Entertainment Tonight, along with a classic guest slot on Fox-TV's popular nighttime soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210.
Andrea Corr, who has spent much of her rare off-time in acting pursuits, continues to develop a parallel movie career. She has now appeared in two films by director Alan Parker: The Commitments and Evita, in which she portrays Juan Peron's mistress ("It was brilliant," Andrea says of working with the film's star, Madonna. "She was fantastic. I was nervous, but I just did my bit."). In addition, she serves as the singing voice of the heroine, Kayley in 98's Warner Bros. film, Quest For Camelot. The animated film's Curb/Warner Sunset/Atlantic soundtrack featured two new David Foster/Carole Bayer Sager-penned Corrs tracks: "On My Father's Wings" and Andrea's duet with country music superstar Bryan White, "Looking Through Your Eyes."
The Corrs' prodigious streak of successes began in 1995 with the release of their debut album. "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN" made a huge splash internationally, racking up worldwide sales of over two million: certified gold in France, Canada, Norway, and Japan; platinum in the U.K. and Spain; double-platinum in Denmark and New Zealand; and an unprecedented eight-times platinum in Australia and Ireland (where it is one of the all-time best- selling debuts by a native recording group in the country's history).
The striking "TALK ON CORNERS: SPECIAL EDITION" sees a remarkable growth and significant change from "FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN," incorporating a more melancholy and adventurous tint to their musical palette. With their unique blend of contemporary and traditional Irish musics, the Corrs have established themselves as true originals.
As Andrea says, explaining the Corrs' popularity around the planet, "I think the reason for that is our music is very melodic. Also, there's something about the traditional Irish music element that, all around the world, seems to capture everybody's heart."