from=17th May 1998
by Colin Irwin
They've been having massive hits all over the world for the last couple of years now, yet one major market has consistently eluded them - the UK.
Yet all that has changed as Ireland's Corrs finally crack it, crashing into the
British charts this week at No. 6 with their latest single Dreams, a cover of the
Fleetwood Mac classic.
As the celebrations start back home in Dundalk, Planet Sound catches up with the band who've made it a family affair.
The Corrs never stopped believing they'd make it big in Britain despite a
succession of flop singles which were hits around the rest of the world.
"We just haven't spent much time in Britain because we've been far too busy
everywhere else with promotional work and touring," explains Jim Corr, the group's
guitarist/keyboard player.
"It's great we've done so well in other countries, but Britain's important to us 'cos
it's so close to home."
The Corrs smashed into the UK Top 10 this week with Dreams, a radical dance remake of a
1977 Fleetwood Mac hit.
And while comparisons with the rock dinosaurs have been used by critics, the Irish
charmers don't mind at all.
"Fleetwood Mac made great records and it's great to pay them tribute. In fact we're
honoured to be mentioned in the same breath," says Jim Corr. "But there are many
different influences on us from folk music to The Carpenters!".
They've grabbed their first UK hit with a cover of Stevie Nicks' Dreams from the Fleetwood
Mac best-seller Rumours, but The Corrs are no one-hit wonders.
Singer Andrea Corr played Madonna's love rival in the Evita movie, and she, plus sisters
Sharon (fiddle) and Caroline (drums) and brother Jim (guitar) have been huge stars in
their native Ireland for many years.
They appeared in The Commitments too, but music was always their first love.
Jim Corr says he has no problem being in a band with three glamourous sisters. "It's
great," he laughs. "I get ignored sometimes by guys ogling the girls, but that's
OK. I like being in the shadows."
"Sometimes it works in reverse and I get more attention because I'm the only guy.
There's no rivalry. We all get on pretty well ... MOST of the time!"
"If anything the fact that we're family makes it easier. We all want the same things.
Mum and Dad are our biggest fans."
If their current success brings a wider awareness of Irish traditional music, The Corrs
will be delighted.
They pay tribute to the unsung heroes who are happy to play informally in pubs, yet set
the standard for The Corrs and bands like them, from folk legends Planxty and The Bothy
Band on.
"It's part of our culture and we are proud of it," says Jim Corr. "No
matter what we do we'll always have that folk side and we wouldn't want to lose it."
Many thanks to Steve Fisher for his contribution