DON'T HATE US 'CAUSE WE'RE BEAUTIFUL FAME, FOURTUNE AND THE CORRS...IT COULDN'T HAPPEN TO
A NICER BUNCH!
|
||
|
 |
|
| IF YOU'RE AN AGNOSTIC OR AN atheist, who doubts the existence of any God, let alone a merciful, bountiful and impartial one, Irish siblings, TheCorrs, will make you feel that your beliefs [or lack of them] are more than justified. Bestowing large helpings of intelligence, telent humility and good looks to every single member of one family just smacks of favouritism, especially when you have, on the other hand, the likes of Oasis' Gallagher brothers. Now, is it any wonder that, for some, Darwinism rules? One of the few bands who still adhere to old school requirements of being able to write and perform original material, The Corrs have brought back credibility to a pop world monopolized by manufactured boy groups and cheesy techno bands. However, unlike most rock stars who choose to mark their credibility by brooding and wallowing in suffering, The Corrs talk openly about touring, platinum album sales, chart success and even the way they look. Three quarters of the group, namely lead vocalist Andrea [25], drummer Caroline [26] and violinist Sharon [29], are equally endowed with perfectly chiseled features that could grace the covers of all the fashion glossies in the world for months on end without boring their readers. And the guitar and keyboard playing Jim? Well, 31-year-old Jim's pretty neat too and probably has many adoring fans as his sisters, but we don't really think Vogue will be too interested in making him their next cover girl Being every teenager's perfect pin-up, however, had its drawbacks, especially when faced with charges, by supposed serious music critics, that the band rely on their looks to achieve pop success. Are The Corrs concerned by such criticsm that dismisses their musical talents and abilities? "I really don't mind because I believe that if people have heard the music and seen us live, then they won't believe that anymore," says Andrea, the youngest Corr sibling. "I believe that view is one of ignorance. It's not educated. But I'm flattered that they think we're pretty." IT'S LATE EVENING IN NEW YORK WHERE Andre and the rest of the Corr clan have just completed a day of promotions, involving numerous interviews and photo shoots, for their new album Talk On Corners: Special Edition. Over the phone, the lead singer appears far from fatigued and more than willing to talk to Galaxie about the music, herself and her brother and sisters, even if it means being badgered with yet another set of mundane questions. We ask her whether the onslaught of criticism ever caused her to view her attractiveness as a bane. "No! I'm much too optimistic for that and so are the rest of us. I recognize that it's showbusiness we're in and to be photogenic does ultimately come into it. Album covers, photo shoots...it's all part of being a band. It's not why we went into it [showbusiness] and why we do it, but it's part of it. At the same time, because of tht opinion, it only made us get better at what we do. We did not want to be mediocre because then that view would be warranted. We wanted people to leave our shows going, 'That's a great concert' instead of 'They're beautiful'." It is probably this ease with which The Corrs handle the appearance aspect of
their career that prompted a personal invitation to Milan, Italy for last year's Versace
Autumn Fashion Show by the house's new boss, Gianni's younger sister, Donatella Versace.
It hints that The Corrs could be well on their way to becoming one of the Italian It has come to attention that ever since their supporting stint with The Stones,
The Corrs have managed to save Jagger and company a lot of money on publicists by
promoting the old boys from London pro-bono at almost avery available instance. Perhaps
it's repayment to the guys for being such hospitable blokes while on tour, but we'll wager
that it's probably due to the "I think he was exaggerating, but that's very flatering," loughs Andrea when she's reminded of the episode. "The thing is, he came up to the stage and watched us and so did the rest of the band when we played in Mannheim in Germany. And apparently that's something they hadn't done since Bob Dylan played before them. After the gig, Mick came to our dressing room and said that he was blown away and then he said it again in the article. I mean, we knew he was immpresed, but this was too much. I don't think that feeling will ever go away." Was she a fan before the Jagger episode? "They're a little before my time, but yeah, I mean you couldn't go through life without having listened to the greatest live act in the world and they are the greatest act. But I think I'm more of a fan now," states Andrea. Opening for the rock 'n' roll legends has clearly had a profound effect on her
as well as the rest of the band."It was one of the best experiances of my life. Even
watching them on stage is exhilarating. I mean, they're so much older then we are, yet the
enthusiasm ALTHOUGH SOME QUARTERS MAY DEEM THEIR obsevations as nothing more than a crock full of kiss a** garbage, The Corrs know it's statements like these that have allowed them to sustain the love and admiration of not only their million-odd fans around the globe, but colleagues like Luciano Pavarotti and Mick Jagger. Unlike fellow Irish citizen, lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordon who makes more enemies than allies by slamming rival bands [including The Corrs, whom she claimed were too polished and pop=py], this Irish quartet has no such hang-ups. Openly declaring their admiration for other Irish performers and paying particular homage to such songwriting giants as Van Morrison and U2, they don't even pause to reflect on the possibility, when it is suggested, that the success of their album Forgiven Not Forgotten [which went an unprecedented eight times platinum in their homeland] has elevanted them to the status of Irish music royalty, thereby dispossessing Van Morrison of the "Celtic god" title that has been exclusively his since the late '60s. "No Ithink there's room for all of us," opines Andrea. " Ithink the Irish people are very privileged that they have so many bands." The Corrs sit, comfortably between the bright, upbeat pop sensibilities of B*witched and Boyzone,and the darker rock of U2 and The Cranberries.Some might even suggest that, with their tight pop harmonies, sweet vocals, and the occasional jig thrown in for colour, the band will never enjoy the respect and credibility enjoyed by Ireland's more contemplative and brooding rockers. Says Andrea, "I think, in essence, we're all very different. Our music is probably different because our lyrics don't comment on politics. It's more about love and life experiences, and I think that we're generally very optimistic people, so that comes across in the music as well." Does that mean that optimism, until the advent of The Corrs, has not been a central feature of Irish music? "No, I don't think so," expresses Andrea bluntly. " I mean, look at Brown Eyed Girl [a Van Morrison original]-that's very uplifting. And U2 have uplifting songs as well...very powerful songs.Music, I guess, is about being true and honest to yourself when you write it. I think all Irish musicians have that and I respect them as bands. But they cover other topics too." |
Optimism aside, The Corrs have looked in recet months as though they were on the verge of shedding their giddy 'we are so young now' image for a more tradisional and mature outlook. Appearing as guests, first on Celtic legends, The Chieftains' album and then recording the Jimi Hendrix calssic Little Wing with them [for Talk On Corners:Special Edition], the 'new' Corrs seem to have become more Irish folk-influenced than previously. Andrea dismisses the suggestion summarily, but acknowledges the fact that tradisional Irish folk has always been part of the siblings' upbringing. "Tradisional Irish music has always been our life, but it only really got to us when we were writing and playing in a pub.Also, our parents were musicians so we listened to what they were listening to. It was basically very melodic stuff like Simmon & Garfunkel and The Eagles. One thing The Corrs can't deny however, is the fact that the band have endured a great many changes since Forgiven Not Forgotten. For example, the concert in aid of the victims of the Omagh bombing which was supported by some of Irelands' top artistes like Ash, Sinead O'Connor and The Devine Comedy, saw The Corrs perform a heart wrenching version of R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts. Explains Andrea," I think there are two sides to The Corrs. A dark side and an 'up' side. I mean, we are human. I don't think we're ever been completely 'up'. I think the music's got dimensions and there is heartache in our songs. I mean, there's definately a dark side to Queen Of Hollywood and No Good For Me."However, she stersses that The Corr are not and have never been about political anthems."It's not that we've distanced ourselves from politics, but rather, it's just something I don't feel like I want to write or sing about." Still, political malcontent are notorious for spotting political innuendoes in seeming innocent lyrics and recruiting the authors, these apperent stelth candidates, as officers in their cause. More so if those persons happen to have [perceived] links with troubled state and be devotees of a religon replete with gothic imagery and mysticism, which, in this case, would be Catholism. "Yeah! Intially, Forgiven Not Forgotten was costrued as a sort of war song, but it's not and it never was," remembers Andrea. "I think people interpreted the lyrics a certain way, but now we're on our second album and we've done so many interviews, so they know that we're not like that." Notwithstanding that, The Corrs remain stauch to their faith. In fact, they were invited to perform two years ago at the Vatican Christmas Concert and even received a private audience wit Pope J ohn Paul II. "As a Catholic family, we were honoured to be invited to perform. I mean we wre brought up Catholic so to be able to play at Vertican and meet Pope was beyond us," notes the lead singer. Have thaey now become a symbol of the Catholic faith? "Symbol?No, I don't really think that it means we're a symbol,"says Andrea."I don't think you can ever represent a religon." It's no secret that in the Corr household, the sibblings' childhood years filled with as many music lessons [in particular the piano] as religious ones. Their parents, who were musicians in their hometown of Dundalk, a town approximately 90 kilometres from Dublin, introduced every one of their children to music at an early age. But although they were responsible for their offsprings' current success, like most celebrity parents are, Andrea notes that they weren't in any way like pop's most famous parents, Joe and Catherine Jacson. "No, we weren't pressured at all," assures Andrea."It was actually kind of weired in retrospect. I'm the youngest and I don't think I ever really consciously decided that I would be singging. I don't think anybody really does. But now, I know it was the right thing to do. You know, I didn't consciously decide that I was going to be in a hotel in New York promoting a second album." The Corrs, as we know them today, was formed nine years ago when the siblings were auditioning for roles in director Alan Parker's tale of young Dubliner who takes on the task of forming and managing a band, The Commitments. Although only Andrea landed a speaking role [she was Robert Arkin's youger sister], the family were advised to keep the band together and get a manager. The band spent the next few years playing the Dublin pun scene and recording demos with whatever time was left over from their busy schedule. However, the road to success, as The Corrs discovered when they were rejected more than once in their early years, was paved with just as many poholes as good intentions. It would be five years and a chance meeting with the then Irish ambassador to the United States before they were to sample their first taste of success, in Boston, Massachusetts at private function for the Kennedys. While there, the band tried to secure meetings with record company executives, but to no avail. Two days before they were due back, the siblings burst into the studio where producer David Foster was working with none other than The Gloved King Of Pop, Micheal Jacson. Foster was so fascinated by what he heard that within 24 hours, The Corrs were signed to Atlantic Records. Has life been different dince that first meeting with Foster? " Well, for me, before this, it was just school. I've grown updoing this, so it's really hard to tell. But yeah, it is different from ant of my friends' lives. I mean, I do get recognized and stuff. So yeah, it is quite a change." says Andrea. Are her friends still the same? "Yeah, they're still the same bunch of friends I've had since school,"informs Andrea.And theyproud of the level of success she and her siblings have attained? "They're proud but they lought at us. They call us the pop sensations. And thy're always, 'Oh! When are the pop sensations coming home?', but they're proud of us and they protect us. I guess that's 'cause they see us as persons and not anything else." Still, success must have had some effect on the band. After all, not many siblings can manage to live under the same roof for long, let alone share a career together. Does Andrea ever feel like her family's crowding her space? Says the singer," Of course! I wouldn't be human if I didn't. But at the same time, we've been doing it for so long, so it's better now.I think, initially, we fought a lot more 'cause we didn't understant what happening.I think you always lash out at the persons closest to you. But now we look for each other and we're proud of each other." Accross the Channel, in England , Manchester to be exact, there are the stories of the feuding Gallagher brothers [Liam and Noel of Oasis].Rumours has it that there are times, after heated rows, when Liam keeps away from gigs. One wonders whether things like that ever happen in the Corr household? Declares Andrea," No!We've always got on stage even if we've been fighting. Also, our fights have never been nearly as intense as the Gallagher brothers. And the thing is, even if you've been fighting, once you get on stage there's something so therapeutic about it that you realize that none of that is worth fighting about." Andrea also cleverly dodges suggestions that she's bound to have had at least a couple of nasty fights with her brother and sisters from being a tad too over-protective of her. She informs Galaxie that although it can get a bit annoying, she sometimes enjoys the attention." I've always been the youngest so I don't know ant other way," she remarks casually. But isn't she concerned that the presence of siblings constantly looking over her shoulder may hinder the very much single member of the band from meeting the man of her dreams? Says Andrea,"I really believe in love and I believe if the times is right, it'll find me." |
|
