Andrea Corr

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Andrea Corr
MBE
Corr performing in Paris, France, 1997.
Corr performing in Paris, France, 1997.
Background information
Birth nameAndrea Jane Corr
Born (1974-05-17) 17 May 1974 (age 49)
OriginDundalk, County Louth, Ireland
GenresPop, rock, Celtic
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, actress
InstrumentsVocals, tin whistle, mandolin, piano, ukulele
Years active1990–present
LabelsAtlantic, AC Records

Andrea Jane Corr MBE (born 17 May 1974) is an Irish singer, songwriter, musician and actress. Corr debuted in 1990 as the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock group The Corrs along with her three elder siblings Caroline, Sharon and Jim. Aside from singing lead vocals, Corr plays the tin whistle, the mandolin, the ukulele and the piano.[1]

With the others, Corr has released seven

live albums. Corr has also pursued a solo career, releasing her debut album, Ten Feet High, in 2007.[2][3] The album moved away from the sound of the Corrs and features a dance-pop sound.[4]
Her next album, released on 30 May 2011, was entirely made up of covers of songs that were important to her when younger.

Corr is involved in charitable activities. She has played charity concerts to raise money for the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children's Village,

Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to music and charity.[11]

Early years

Andrea Corr was born to Gerry Corr, a supervisor of a payroll unit of the Irish

The family was raised in

The Eagles in local pubs in Dundalk where they would often bring along their children.[15][16]

With the encouragement of her parents, Andrea took up the tin whistle and was taught the piano by her father. Throughout their teenage years, she and her siblings would often practice in Jim's bedroom at a house he had rented. Andrea sang lead vocals, Sharon played the violin and both Caroline and Jim played keyboards.

Career

The Corrs

Corr in Glastonbury in 1999
Corr performing in Vienna in 2016

In 1990, Corr and her siblings formed a quartet called The Corrs.

platinum status in the United Kingdom and Australia, and quadruple platinum in Ireland, which made it one of the most popular debuts by an Irish group.[22][23][24][25]

Following on from the success of their debut album, they released

synthesisers. It was successful, and was No. 1 in its first sales week in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and debuted at No. 2 in France and Norway. It climbed to the top position during its second week in Sweden and Spain.[29]

During the production of In Blue, their mother, Jean, died while waiting for a

Larry Mullen, Brian Kennedy and Paul Brady were among the attendees.[31] "No More Cry", written by Andrea and Caroline Corr for the album, was dedicated to their father hoping to help with his grief.[32]

In 2003, Andrea recorded "Time Enough For Tears", a song written by Bono and Gavin Friday for the film In America.[33] This track was featured on The Corrs' 2004 album Borrowed Heaven.[34] Borrowed Heaven was dedicated to their late mother, Jean, and their father, Gerry.[35] The band also dedicated their 2005 tribute album Home to their deceased mother.[36] The band covered many traditional Irish songs taken from their mother's songbook to commemorate their 15 years as a band.[37][38][39]

In an interview with Chris Evans in June 2015, Andrea confirmed that The Corrs were working on a new album and would play the BBC Radio 2 'Live in Hyde Park' festival.[40] Their sixth studio album, White Light,[41] was released on 27 November 2015, and was accompanied by a world tour.

In 2017 they released their latest album to date Jupiter Calling, produced by T-Bone Burnett.

Solo career

While her siblings were on hiatus to raise their families, Andrea launched a solo career. She released her first album,

Madonna; Bono was an executive producer.[42] Her first single, "Shame on You" was an up-tempo pop song about men and women going to war and leaving behind partners they may never see again.[43] It received positive reviews from music critics; IndieLondon described the song as a "slick package" that was "polished, well produced and with a message that's difficult to ignore".[43] Losing Today's David Adair gave the song a strong review, writing that Corr's vocals were "crisp and uplifting".[44] Liverpool's Daily Post gave the song a three-star rating, commenting that it was "deceptively upbeat", which masked its "heavier message about conscription and war".[45]

In 2011 she released her second solo album Lifelines. This album contains covers of song by the likes John Lennon, Donna Summer, The Velvet Underground and more.

In 2020 she released an EP called Christmas Songs. The EP contains 4 classical Christmas songs and one original song titled Begin Again.

Acting

Andrea Corr entered the film industry in 1991 with

The Quest for Camelot.[47]

Corr resumed her acting career in 2003 where she was cast as Anne in

Old Vic theatre in London from February until May 2009 .[48]

She played the title role in Jane Eyre by Alan Stanford at the Gate Theatre in Dublin which opened on 9 November 2010.[49]

Book

In 2018 she wrote and released a book, titled Barefoot Pilgrimage. In this she writes about her youth, the warmth of her family, and about The Corrs.[citation needed]

Charitable activities

Andrea Corr and her siblings have played charity concerts to raise money for the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children's Village, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the victims of the

Queen Elizabeth II.[52]

Corr also partook in a

. The single was written to originally include Ronnie himself but was changed to be a tribute to him as his health was declining. Proceeds from sale of the single went to The Irish Cancer Society at the request of Drew himself. The song was performed live on on 22 February with Ronnie Drew in attendance as an audience member, and entered the Irish Single Charts at No. 2.

On 10 October 2010, Corr, amongst others, contributed to the Kirsty MacColl tribute concert held at Shepherd's Bush Empire to commemorate MacColl's birthday and raise money for charity. She also wrote and sang the song "Oh Brother" on the album Music of Ireland – Welcome Home.

On 30 November 2012, Corr lent her support to Kate Winslet's Golden Hat Foundation together with Tim Janis, Sarah McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, Hayley Westenra, performing on "The American Christmas Carol" concert in Carnegie Hall.[55][56]

Personal life

Corr married Brett Desmond on August 21, 2009.[57] Sharon Corr and Caroline Corr sang "No Frontiers" at the wedding, and Damien Dempsey, Sharon Shannon, Seamus Begley, and Corr herself also performed on stage in the church.[58] In November 2011, Corr's pregnancy was announced.[59][60][61][62] Corr gave birth to daughter Jean on 28 April 2012,[63] and son Brett Jr. on 4 January 2014.[64]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
IRE IRE Indie AUS
[65]
FRA
GER NLD SPA SWI UK
Ten Feet High 24 98 128 86 84 9 42 38
Lifelines
  • Released: 29 May 2011[66]
  • Label: AC Records
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
40 9 48
The Christmas Album
  • Released: 2 December 2022
  • Label: East West
  • Formats: CD, digital download
72
[67]
32

Extended plays

List of EP, with selected details
Title Details
Christmas Songs
  • Released: 2020
  • Label: East West
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
IRE SPA
UK
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (with Laurent Voulzy) 2006 La Septième Vague
"Shame on You" 2007 43 20 108 Ten Feet High
"Champagne from a Straw"
"Tinseltown in the Rain"[68] 2011 Lifelines
"Pale Blue Eyes" / "Blue Bayou"

Filmography

Year Title Role
1991 The Commitments Sharon Rabbitte
1996 Evita
Juan Peron
's mistress
1998 Quest for Camelot Kayley (singing voice)
2003 The Boys from County Clare Anne
2005 The Bridge Mary
2006 Broken Thread Lily
2009 Pictures Donna

Stage roles

Year Title Role
2010 Jane Eyre The Gate Theatre Jane Eyre
2009
Old Vic
theatre
Christina "Chris" Mundy

References

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Further reading

External links