Words: Dave Martin / Pictures (C) Neil Lupin & Ella Germein
On a cold evening in November the O2 arena in Greenwich was treated to a night of nineties nostalgia when Irish family band The Corrs came to London for their final show of their UK and Ireland tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their 1999 Talk on Corners tour. The last time I saw the band in concert was the homecoming concert at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on the original Talk on Corners tour and so I was eagerly anticipating seeing the band again.
The fan based has clearly matured. Gone was the packed crowds of teenagers and young adults crowded in the stadium being replaced by a fully seated event of probably the same slightly older audience, but this did not dampen the atmosphere, and the fans had clearly retained their love for the group.
Adding to the nostalgic feel, the band was supported by singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia who became a household name as Beth in Aussie sitcom Neighbours, the same show that brought us singing sensations Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. The star first came to prominence as a singer with her cover of the Danish song “Torn” which peaked at number 2 in the UK charts in 1997.
Natalie Imbruglia
Imbruglia took to the stage in a silver sparkly dress to warm applause from those assembled. She delivered a varied set delving into her back catalogue and most recent album Firebird with many of the tracks from her debut release Left of The Middle. The set showcased the singers ability to perform in array of styles with her tracks Torn and Big Mistake receiving the best reception. She spoke of overcoming writers block and how becoming a mother had helped her renew her singing career. She also announced a new live album recorded at Shepherds Bush a couple of years ago. Her selection as an opening act was a wise choice given her popularity at the same time as the headline act.
SETLIST:
1. What it Feels Like,
2. Wishing I Was There,
3. Wrong Impression,
4. Shiver,
5. Build it Better,
6. Leave Me Alone,
7. Smoke,
8. Just Like Old Times,
9. Habit,
10 Torn,
11. Big Mistake
The Corrs
Synth based intro music started the set to flashing lights accenting Caroline on drums and then the rest of the family band from Dundalk took to the stage to cheers from the crowd. The four siblings were joined by lead guitarist Anthony Brennan and bassist Keith Duffy who originally joined the band back in 1995 and then rejoined when the band reformed in 2015. Starting off the show with Talk on Corners opening track “Only When I Sleep” it was clear from the off that the band had lost none of their ability in the last 25 years despite their ten-year hiatus. The crowd were particularly moved by eldest sister Sharon’s violin playing and showed their appreciation with a loud cheer. The show incorporated visuals on the screen where clips of the music videos were played as the group performed.
The band’s distinctive Gaelic brand of pop/rock was adored by their supporters who by the time group covered Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams had abandoned their seats and were in full voice to the point that youngest of the sister Andrea was visibly moved. On many of the later tracks the crowd sang large sections of the songs and were being encouraged by Andrea. Caroline demonstrated he percussive flexibility in the more traditional musical offerings abandoning her kit for a bodhran or cajon whilst Jim moved between piano and acoustic guitar. The emotion in the evening was palpable and was most apparent in track Runaway where Andrea sank to her knees at the front of the stage and pointed the mic at the audience for them to sing the chorus which they did with gusto. The journey down memory lane left me feeling nostalgic from when the band was a major component of my musical diet and seeing them live again has renewed my love for the band, a sentiment shared by others in attendance.
The group has now completed this leg of the world tour and they recommence on the 6th February 2025 in Dubai before moving on to Jakarta on the 8th.
Details in link:
https://www.thecorrsofficial.com/
Setlist
1. Only When I Sleep,
2. Give Me A Reason,
3. Erin Shore/Forgiven, Not Forgotten,
4. Summer Sunshine,
5. What Can I Do,
6. White Light,
7. Closer,
8. Don’t Say You Love Me,
9. Little Wing,
10 Joy of Life,
11. Ellis Island,
12. Spancill Hill,
13. Old Town,
14. Radio,
15 Queen of Hollywood,
16. Dreams,
17. So Young,
18. I Never Loved You Anyway,
19. Runaway, Encore
20. My Lagan Love,
21. Breathless,
22. Toss the Feathers
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