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The World Is Not Enough.
Not many guys would want to work with their sisters but for Jim Corr,
it's no problem. As The Corrs get set for a world tour, he talks exclusively
to Jo Dearden.
Jim Corr appears to be the most laid back man in pop. About to embark
on a gruelling world tour, The Corrs' first gig takes place tonight in
Hamburg. But freak weather conditions led to a delayed and frighteningly
turbulent flight from Dublin. On top of which, Jim sounds as if he's coming
down with a bout of the flu. But such setbacks don't seem to faze him at
all. "Better late than never," he says. "I'm just glad we all got there
in one piece."
The "we" refers to, of course, to the band – his three sisters, Andrea
(main vocals), Sharon (violin) and Caroline (drums), plus Jim himself,
the founding member, who plays guitar and keyboard. But, as the only bloke
in the band, how does he feel about comments that he is sometimes overshadowed
by his three stunning sisters?
"When my sisters are out together, they do get a lot of attention,"
Jim admits. "But being the only guy in the band means I get a lot of attention
of my own! I never feel left out."
It’s a typically unruffled answer, and just as well, because the world
tour will see the siblings travelling together for the best part of a year,
through Europe, America, South-east Asia and Australia.
"I love being on the road," says Jim, "because you get direct feedback
from your fans. To have an audience singing songs you've written back to
you – it's just the best." And when asked what he wants most from the tour,
there is no hesitation in his answer. Despite his relaxed manner he is
obviously very driven. "I want The Corrs to crack America," he says. "So
far it's the only place where success has eluded us. That's the one thing
I’m certain of – even though we’re not quite sure when the tour will finish.
Sharon is getting married next summer, so we'll slow things down, before
doing three huge gigs in Ireland as a grand finale."
In retrospect, it's easy to think that The Corrs' current fame and
fortune was pre-destined. Over the last few years they have dazzled millions
of people around the world with their beguiling blend of mellow, yet uplifting
music. But stratospheric record sales hide the fact that it has taken 10
years of dogged persistence to get them where they are today. "Ours was
a musical household," says Jim, "and it had always been a dream of mine
to get a band together with my sisters.
"I persuaded them to go along to an Alan Parker audition, for the film
The Commitments. At first they treated it as a bit of a laugh, but now
we're all very dedicated."
Despite some initial success (they won all parts in the film), the
band as we know it took a while to gain momentum. Turned down by every
major Irish and English label, they signed to a small US label before their
talent was truly recognised. By 1998, they knew they had made it when they
sold more in the UK than any other artist. A long struggle – but it left
Jim with an unshakeable faith in the band's talent. "I know that one day
I'll look back and be proud, because everything we achieved has been on
merit."
Their current tour is to promote their latest album In Blue – a record
that looks set to echo the success of its predecessor, Talk On Corners,
which has sold nearly three million copies worldwide. And Jim has no plans
to change a winning formula.
"We're all aware that the strength we have comes from working together
as a team. Sure I'd like to get into the production side of things, and
Andrea wants to get involved in films but, at the moment, these things
would be in addition to our commitment to The Corrs."
He apologises as he stifles a yawn. "I'm still in bed, by the way,"
he says, by way of explanation. Jim Corr – easily the most laid back man
in pop.
