Post by DazedOblivion on Aug 13, 2007 15:14:57 GMT 1
Here is a recently published article in which Andrea explains her difficulties with having to follow "The Corrs" with her solo album. The challenges she faced with Nellie Hooper and with Corrs fans.
Article URL: www.teletext.co.uk/entertainment/planet-sound/interviews-features/1/Andrea+Corr+not+so+shy+now.aspx
Andrea Corr not so shy now
By John Earls
Although Bono can pull many strings, he couldn't immediately persuade Bjork producer Nellee Hooper to produce Andrea Corr's solo album.
"Nellee was wary of getting involved because of The Corrs," admits Andrea.
"I had to do an audition tape for him, of my songs on the piano. I call it Bad Audition Tape, I live in fear of it turning up on eBay. It wasn't me at my best, but it convinced Nellee."
At first, Andrea was somewhat nervous around Nellee for his hip reputation.
"The first month didn't work at all," she admits. "I'm naturally shy anyway, and I was a bit daunted. Nellee must have been going home every night thinking, 'Who is this weirdo?'
"One night, we went out for a few drinks and it was a lot easier after that. Nellee's shy himself, we were two shy people in need of a drink."
The album's opening song Hello Boys is surprising Goldfrapp-esque pervdisco, with Andrea playing a brothel's madam.
"That was the first song Nellee loved, which tells you a lot about his psyche," chuckles Andrea.
"I'd done it as a slow, melancholy goth ballad. Nellee took the song away for a week, and when I played what he'd done I was amazed to hear this growling sex kitten. I was, 'That's BRILLIANT!'"
With the highly un-Corrs opening line "I know that you're watching me, I think I like it," Hello Boys was always going to open the Ten Feet High album.
"There was a lot of nervous talk at the record company about easing people into the album gently," says Andrea, 33.
"Screw that, y'know. It's a fun record, and if you start with Hello Boys then any Corrs fans who can't handle what I'm really like, well, sorry, bye."
Ten Feet High's title track proved weirdly prophetic for Andrea.
"It's strange how songs I write come bubbling out of my psyche," she muses.
"They sometimes go on to become true. Ten Feet High is about trying to keep a relationship going, only for it to go wrong when the woman goes away. And that happened to me months after I wrote it. It makes it very real to sing, but it was extremely annoying!"
When she was offered her solo album, Andrea's manager warned: "This offer won't be here in five year's time." Is she bothered about having a shelf life?
"Ha! Thanks!" she laughs. "No, I'm not bothered. The reality - for both sexes, I think - is that you're always going to want the next young hot stars along.
"If that means us Corrs aren't the big things any more and people won't want us back, fine. We had a great run."
************
Clearly Andrea seems to be a bit on the defensive during this interview, and perhaps she is feeling the sting of criticism from Corrs fans.
This article brings up a lot of questions in my mind. What was John Hughes' meaning in saying "This offer won't be here in five year's time"? Did he really believe that Andrea had such a short "shelf life"?
Also, I wonder where this puts those of us who like Andrea's "melancholy goth" version of "Hello Boys" better than the album version produced by Nellie Hooper?
My own view is this: Andrea, thank you for keeping the music alive with your CD. You have had to bear the scorn of irrational "fans" who are angry at you for going solo, and who were unwilling to listen to the album without pre-judging it. Yet, without your courage to do this album, Corrs fans would only hear silence. It was fascinating to be able to isolate the genius/talent that you bring to the Corrs. Your highly-varied album gave us real song gems! Finally, yes, I agree with you that the Corrs had a great run, but hear me now: I do WANT THE CORRS BACK!!!!!!!!!
I'm not holding my breath, but I DO hope it's not over.
Article URL: www.teletext.co.uk/entertainment/planet-sound/interviews-features/1/Andrea+Corr+not+so+shy+now.aspx
Andrea Corr not so shy now
By John Earls
Although Bono can pull many strings, he couldn't immediately persuade Bjork producer Nellee Hooper to produce Andrea Corr's solo album.
"Nellee was wary of getting involved because of The Corrs," admits Andrea.
"I had to do an audition tape for him, of my songs on the piano. I call it Bad Audition Tape, I live in fear of it turning up on eBay. It wasn't me at my best, but it convinced Nellee."
At first, Andrea was somewhat nervous around Nellee for his hip reputation.
"The first month didn't work at all," she admits. "I'm naturally shy anyway, and I was a bit daunted. Nellee must have been going home every night thinking, 'Who is this weirdo?'
"One night, we went out for a few drinks and it was a lot easier after that. Nellee's shy himself, we were two shy people in need of a drink."
The album's opening song Hello Boys is surprising Goldfrapp-esque pervdisco, with Andrea playing a brothel's madam.
"That was the first song Nellee loved, which tells you a lot about his psyche," chuckles Andrea.
"I'd done it as a slow, melancholy goth ballad. Nellee took the song away for a week, and when I played what he'd done I was amazed to hear this growling sex kitten. I was, 'That's BRILLIANT!'"
With the highly un-Corrs opening line "I know that you're watching me, I think I like it," Hello Boys was always going to open the Ten Feet High album.
"There was a lot of nervous talk at the record company about easing people into the album gently," says Andrea, 33.
"Screw that, y'know. It's a fun record, and if you start with Hello Boys then any Corrs fans who can't handle what I'm really like, well, sorry, bye."
Ten Feet High's title track proved weirdly prophetic for Andrea.
"It's strange how songs I write come bubbling out of my psyche," she muses.
"They sometimes go on to become true. Ten Feet High is about trying to keep a relationship going, only for it to go wrong when the woman goes away. And that happened to me months after I wrote it. It makes it very real to sing, but it was extremely annoying!"
When she was offered her solo album, Andrea's manager warned: "This offer won't be here in five year's time." Is she bothered about having a shelf life?
"Ha! Thanks!" she laughs. "No, I'm not bothered. The reality - for both sexes, I think - is that you're always going to want the next young hot stars along.
"If that means us Corrs aren't the big things any more and people won't want us back, fine. We had a great run."
************
Clearly Andrea seems to be a bit on the defensive during this interview, and perhaps she is feeling the sting of criticism from Corrs fans.
This article brings up a lot of questions in my mind. What was John Hughes' meaning in saying "This offer won't be here in five year's time"? Did he really believe that Andrea had such a short "shelf life"?
Also, I wonder where this puts those of us who like Andrea's "melancholy goth" version of "Hello Boys" better than the album version produced by Nellie Hooper?My own view is this: Andrea, thank you for keeping the music alive with your CD. You have had to bear the scorn of irrational "fans" who are angry at you for going solo, and who were unwilling to listen to the album without pre-judging it. Yet, without your courage to do this album, Corrs fans would only hear silence. It was fascinating to be able to isolate the genius/talent that you bring to the Corrs. Your highly-varied album gave us real song gems! Finally, yes, I agree with you that the Corrs had a great run, but hear me now: I do WANT THE CORRS BACK!!!!!!!!!
I'm not holding my breath, but I DO hope it's not over.
