from=May 2nd 1998
By Faridul Anwar Farinordin
If you want to have a good time, The Corrs would not only fit the bill
perfectly, they'll take you to another level.
They give their gigs a triple extra kick, lending a whole new definition to the concept of
partying. And the audience doesn't just dance and sing along. With each member
playing exotic musical instruments on stage while swaying his/ her hips to their pop/
Celtic music, the experience is awe-inducing.
The crowd which packed the hotel ballroom at the quartet's gig recently understand this
only too well. They would be spot on if they thought that no four-piece Irish pop
band has never been this great (since U2, maybe).
And it showed.
The audience clapped hands, sang along to the uplifting songs, shook their bodies and
screamed the bandmembers' names - Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim - although they were
sitting on the floor. They were probably wishing they were the ones standing
(ironically, they wouldn’t be that close to the stage is they were).
Even journalists, me especially, wished we were not on duty that night. You see, as
working journalists, we have to maintain our dignity (okay, maybe only me). After
all, there was a press conference after the show and I did not want the crowd to think:
”Look, that’s the jumping journalist!)
So far, only Mariah Carey has had this kind of effect on me.
The four siblings were not only lovely, they were sweet. Lead vocalist Andrea, who
also plays the tin whistle, made the effort to speak Malay by greeting the cheering crowd
with Selamat Datang. After their first song, Only When I Sleep, she said Terima
Kasih. Cute.
Throughout their performance, the words “cute” and “sweet”
surfaced in my mind after every song. Couldn’t help it.
Cute because the members managed to establish a commendable rapport with the audience,
talking to them and making Irish jokes. At one point, Caroline was practically
giggling while singing the “du-du-du” backup vocals for What Can I Do.
Sweet because, well, all of them are – in the looks department.
When I finally convinced myself that it is talent that counts and not physical attributes,
I went ga-ga again. The members had showcased their irrefutable talents playing
their danceable yet haunting instrumental songs, Toss The Feathers and Haste To The
Wedding.
With Sharon on violin, Jim on keyboards and guitars and Caroline on drums and bodhran
(some instruments are of Irish origin), the crowd went hysterical.
At times, the Celtic songs sounded just like “lagu joget”. No wonder local fans
can relate to their “pop music with an Irish feel” very well (or is it because
of that scene from Titanic which had a group of Irishmen playing their music as Jack and
Rose danced?)
The siblings performed seven songs from their debut and latest albums. Others were
No Good For Me, Runaway and the encore, I Never Loved You Anyway. At this point, I
couldn’t contain myself any longer. I tapped my feet and sang along.
Their fascination with black is reflected by their outfits (their guitar, tin whistle and
violin are black too). It is summarised by Jim’s comment: “It doesn’t
show off as much”. It also suggests that they are “unified,” said
Caroline.
At the Press conference (er, together with the crowd of people, it could be regarded as a
mass conference), Jim boldly replied “World domination!” when we asked about the
band’s latest project.
And why not. Their latest album, Talk On Corners, released this year, has already
sold 15,000 units in Malaysia (the quartet were awarded a gold record at the event).
Internationally, the album has sold more than two million copies in Europe, Canada, Japan
and New Zealand.
Growing up listening to likes of U2, Chieftains, Oasis, Verve, Carpenters and The Eagles,
the siblings were sent for music lessons for different instruments when they were kids.
“At Christmas, our aunts and uncles would make us play a song together,”
Caroline confessed. It paid off pretty well. The four unanimously decided to
stick together, pursuing a record deal.
A few years later, while continuously writing new songs, they met David Foster, bowled him
over and were on their path to stardom under Atlantic Records, a Warner company.
Are they coming back? Well, they surely hope so, possibly for a concert. Warner
Music seems to look forward to having them back. So, keep your fingers crossed!
For now, the siblings continue to boldly forge ahead. Their strength is the unique
Celtic music and resistance to that is futile!
Kindly submitted by chin yi sheng