Post by cw on Apr 1, 2009 5:37:24 GMT 1
Found this small piece which has a nice old skewer at some of the critics.
'Where The Corrs are concerned, there has never been any shortage of detractors among the self-styled Irish indie rock cognoscenti. A lot of that, of course, was down to a stupidly self-serving musical snobbery, with a bunch of know-alls looking condescendingly down their noses at the band in a variety of different ways. It didn't affect Andrea and co greatly, as they racked up the hit records and earned the respect of people with a genuine feel for who and what, in musical terms, has inner substance. But still, it was one of the more interesting sub-texts of the story of Irish music over the past ten years...
Well, with the band currently on an extended sabbatical, the carpers - for the most part a bunch of parochially-minded dimwits who wouldn't know a good pop song if it gave them a kiss on the mouth - are being shown up in all sorts of interesting ways. First there was Andrea Corr's understatedly excellent solo album. Then there was the engaging and articulate speaking appearance of Sharon Corr alongside Ronan Hardiman, Mick Pyro and Dave Odlum on the songwriting panel at last year's Music Show in the RDS. And now? Art snobs should look no further than the UK reaction to Andrea's stage debut in Brian Friel's classic Dancing At Lunghnasa. Completely removed from small-minded local agendas and begrudgery, UK theatre critics have been unstinting in their praise of The Corrs' singer.
"Its all about Andrea Corr", Jeremy Austin wrote, on the theatre website thestage.co.uk. "Not because she is the glamorous lead singer of an internationally renowned rock band, but because this is a beautifully endearing debut". Caroline McGinn in Time Out called it "an impressive stage debut". Michael Coveney in The Independent referred to "Andrea Corr, lead singer of The Corrs, making a fine stage debut". And there's more...
"A revelation", Phillip Fisher wrote in the British Theatre Guide, "is Andrea Corr. On her stage debut, this sister of vast experience proves to be a fine actress". Charles Spencer in the Telegraph also waxed glowingly positive: "Andrea Corr, best known as a pop singer, touchingly conveys the love Chris still feels for the feckless travelling salesman who abandoned her. But there isn't a single weak performance in this magnificent revival of a play of true greatness". And Benedict Nightingale in The Times? "Anna Mackmin's revival", he enthused, "with Michelle Fairley giving a terrific performance and Andrea Corr and Niamh Cusack acting their old woolly socks off, leaves me equally moved, amused and enchanted". All good, as they say. Next up, Sharon Corr's solo album, due later this year.'
'Where The Corrs are concerned, there has never been any shortage of detractors among the self-styled Irish indie rock cognoscenti. A lot of that, of course, was down to a stupidly self-serving musical snobbery, with a bunch of know-alls looking condescendingly down their noses at the band in a variety of different ways. It didn't affect Andrea and co greatly, as they racked up the hit records and earned the respect of people with a genuine feel for who and what, in musical terms, has inner substance. But still, it was one of the more interesting sub-texts of the story of Irish music over the past ten years...
Well, with the band currently on an extended sabbatical, the carpers - for the most part a bunch of parochially-minded dimwits who wouldn't know a good pop song if it gave them a kiss on the mouth - are being shown up in all sorts of interesting ways. First there was Andrea Corr's understatedly excellent solo album. Then there was the engaging and articulate speaking appearance of Sharon Corr alongside Ronan Hardiman, Mick Pyro and Dave Odlum on the songwriting panel at last year's Music Show in the RDS. And now? Art snobs should look no further than the UK reaction to Andrea's stage debut in Brian Friel's classic Dancing At Lunghnasa. Completely removed from small-minded local agendas and begrudgery, UK theatre critics have been unstinting in their praise of The Corrs' singer.
"Its all about Andrea Corr", Jeremy Austin wrote, on the theatre website thestage.co.uk. "Not because she is the glamorous lead singer of an internationally renowned rock band, but because this is a beautifully endearing debut". Caroline McGinn in Time Out called it "an impressive stage debut". Michael Coveney in The Independent referred to "Andrea Corr, lead singer of The Corrs, making a fine stage debut". And there's more...
"A revelation", Phillip Fisher wrote in the British Theatre Guide, "is Andrea Corr. On her stage debut, this sister of vast experience proves to be a fine actress". Charles Spencer in the Telegraph also waxed glowingly positive: "Andrea Corr, best known as a pop singer, touchingly conveys the love Chris still feels for the feckless travelling salesman who abandoned her. But there isn't a single weak performance in this magnificent revival of a play of true greatness". And Benedict Nightingale in The Times? "Anna Mackmin's revival", he enthused, "with Michelle Fairley giving a terrific performance and Andrea Corr and Niamh Cusack acting their old woolly socks off, leaves me equally moved, amused and enchanted". All good, as they say. Next up, Sharon Corr's solo album, due later this year.'
