|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Irish Band Comes to Rock the States
Talented and eager, the youngsters decided to give it a go. They bought some equipment, crossed their fingers, and jammed in the bedroom of a rented house in Dundalk, Ireland.
Now they're touring the world.
Catapulted by their worldwide smash "Breathless," The Corrs — Jim, Sharon, Caroline and Andrea Corr — are on the heels of two previous acclaimed albums — and they're just picking up steam.
"Things are a lot different now because all we do is travel and play
and make records," says Caroline Corr before the band's performance this
morning on GMA.
(360° turnaround — QuickTime required)
Their 1995 debut Forgiven, Not Forgotten was helmed in part by fourteen-time Grammy award-winning producer David Foster, selling well over 2 million copies worldwide to date. Their sophomore effort, Talk On Corners, has been certified six-times platinum, gaining attention and praise among the industry elite.
Currently out promoting In Blue, The Corrs classify their music as "Irish pop rock" with the emphasis more on the "Irish" and "rock" rather than "pop." Part of the band's mystique is their ability to combine rock 'n' roll with this traditional Irish flare. And their good looks don't hurt either.
The American Dream — Pub Style
The previous Corrs albums have gained predominantly European attention, but now the group is catching on with Americans too. Their new single, "Breathless," is the headliner song to Miramax's Chocolat, starring Oscar winners Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench (who are both up for Academy Awards again this year), and the tune has received ample radio play in the United States.
""Breathless" definitely sounded like a hit as it came together. There was definitely a vibe off it. You can hear that it's going to sound great on the radio.It's kind of a song that doesn't let up," says Andrea Corr, the band's lead singer and youngest of the siblings.
The Corrs got its start playing small gigs in smoky Irish pubs. Jim Corr will never forget one the band's earliest gigs in 1994. They were booked at Whelan's Pub in Dublin, and Jean Kennedy Smith, then U.S. ambassador to Ireland, was in attendance. She was impressed by their performance and invited The Corrs to play at a special concert at the soccer World Cup celebration being organized by her brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy.
"We certainly had our goals set very high from the start," Jim recalls. "I don't think back then we could have anticipated this level of success — we are delighted with it."
The Corrs will play tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York before
commencing a tour that brings them through the United Kingdom, Japan and
Australia. A plane ticket may be in order, but the band would tell you
it's worth it.