Articles-'Irish News'Newspaper
* FAB FOUR... The Corrs are taking the world by storm with their second offering Talk On Corners
Splash of colour on fave four's palette
Ireland's favourite 'sibling quartet' have proved they are no mere one-hit-wonder pop group. Joe Kearney takes at look at what lies at the core of the band's success
Their record company bills them as 'Ireland's favourite sibling quartet' a category like 'favourite one-armed juggler' in which there probably isn't much competition.
The Corrs by now however have outgrown the family novelty factor and have established themselves as one of Ireland's favourite bands regardless of blood ties.
The fact that the three sisters Sharon, Andrea and Caroline all look like they've stepped out of the pages of Vogue has certainly made marketing the band an easy task, but it is their simple melodic blend of pop and traditional music which underpins their success.
Brian Epstein will always be remembered as the man who discovered the Beatles and despite being US ambassador to Ireland it's quite possible that Jean Kennedy Smith will ultimately be remembered as the woman who discovered The Corrs.
Since their formation seven years ago, the band have won fans the world over and garnered album sales of around two million with their debut album Forgiven, Not Forgotten.
But it was during a small pub performance in Dublin when Kennedy Smith heard the band and was so impressed she asked them to come to Boston as part of the 1994 World Cup celebrations.
Still unsigned the band seized upon the opportunity to meet with US record company executives, one of whom - David Foster of Atlantic, signed them on the strength of a live recital on a reception room sofa.
Now two years on from the release of their debut LP comes Talk On Corners, an album which while retaining their distinctive blend of the old and new adds new colour to the Corrs' palette.
"From all the performances we did around the world," Andrea says, "we had developed in such a way that we wanted to be a little edgier."
"We learned an awful lot from being on stage," Jim adds, "so we made it slightly more guitar oriented. It's a harder rockier sound, but it still maintains the sound of the Corrs."
As with their debut LP, Talk On Corners was helmed in part by Grammy-winning producer David Foster.
"We feel he understands our music and the way we want our music to sound," Caroline says of their musical mentor.
"He's fantastic with vocals and harmonies. He always comes up with some other idea you might not have thought of."
In their quest for success however The Corrs decide to bring a few other hitmakers on board, in the shape of Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette), Billy Steinberg (Madonna), Rick Nowells (Belinda Carlisle) and of course Jim Corr himself.
Andrea too has taken on a bigger role in writing or co-writing almost all of the album's lyrics.
"Each song is different," she says of the record's lyrical themes. "There's love, life, tragedy, hope, dreams, fantasy. It's whatever the music inspires."
Despite the high hopes and expectations for Talk On Corners the band's first love remains live performance and support slots to the likes of Michael Bolton and Celine Dion have earned them new fans across the globe.
"It's our first priority," says Sharon 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."
As Andrea says, explaining the band's worldwide popularity: "I think the reason for that is it's very melodic. Also, there's something about the traditional Irish music element that, all around the world, seems to capture everybody's heart."
* The Corrs play the Whitla Hall on Saturday December 6 and Sunday December 7. Tickets £14.50/£15.50 from Our Price and usual outlets