I had no idea that going to the Royal Albert Hall on a Friday night would transport me so quickly to my childhood.
Not only did The Corrs put on a brilliant show in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, proving that they’re just as mesmerising now as they were 30 years ago, but they transfixed their audience from start to finish. Myself included.
This technically wasn’t the first time I’d seen them perform. Just last year, I went to BST Hyde Park to watch Shania Twain, with the group billed as her special guests. They were performing as I arrived as I hadn’t been able to get there any earlier, and I desperately tried to catch some of their show as I rushed to the stage.
This time around, The Corrs had my full undivided attention. Their voices and instruments resounded around the historic London venue like it was 1999, and the audience were up on their feet dancing, swaying, whooping and cheering for their favourite songs (much to the dismay of security).
Last night’s concert began with the supporting act Dea Matrona, an Irish rock band from Belfast who were busking just a few years ago. They commanded the stage with a sound that felt to me like a blend of Letters to Cleo and Fleetwood Mac.
And then, out came The Corrs – Andrea on the lead vocals and her whistle, Sharon with her violin and on the keyboard, Caroline on the drums and Jim on the guitar. The siblings, who first started performing together in the early 1990s, were ready to raise the roof of the Royal Albert Hall once again.
They began with Only When I Sleep – every rasp, growl and belting note from Andrea sounding so beautifully crisp that we could have been watching them in an intimate bar, rather than in a venue with a capacity of almost 6,000.
After Give Me A Reason, Andrea explained just how important the Royal Albert Hall had been in their careers, as their performance at the auditorium for St Patrick’s Day in 1998 propelled them to a stratospheric new level of fame.
A haunting introduction by Sharon on her violin opened Forgiven, Not Forgotten, as Andrea ditched her shoes to prance around the stage, absorbing the palpable energy passing between the band and their fans.
While Andrea later ran off to retrieve her boots – citing ‘health and safety’ as the rest of the group comedically waited for her to get back so that they could continue the concert – the sense of fun emanating from the band never waned.
As someone not of Irish heritage, I felt very privileged to witness the celebration of Irish culture during The Corrs’ concert, blending traditional Irish music with pop rock as they’ve masterfully done for decades.
Midway through the show, Caroline stepped off her drumming podium and took centre stage with her bodhrán to perform an Irish reel with her sisters. ‘Come on Ireland!’, one audience member shouted, as fans’ arms flailed in the air, feet pounded on the floor and people danced up from their seats with unadulterated joy.
I could feel myself becoming emotional as the musicians picked up the tempo on their instruments, a man next to me even breaking out into step dance on the spot. The atmosphere had already been electric, but that moment took it to the next level.
When I was a child, I was aware of who The Corrs were, but I was too young to be completely clued up on their repertoire and trajectory of their careers. Nonetheless, songs including What Can I Do, Runaway and Breathless became ingrained in my psyche.
Hearing the band play them live at the Royal Albert Hall took me back to my primary school days, hearing their music on the radio, and knowing every word from start to finish.
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Three decades on, it felt as though no time had passed.
Andrea, with her impeccable vocals and free-spirited twirling dance moves. Sharon with her effortlessly elegant violin prowess and stirring backing vocals. Caroline coolly drumming up a storm at the back. And Jim with his shades on, strumming on the guitar.
In 2006, The Corrs went on a hiatus that lasted for nine years, before they finally reunited in 2015.
A decade on from their reunion, I hope that they’ll continue to share their music with their dedicated fans for many more years to come.
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