The Corrs - Unplugged (+1 Bonus Track) Audio CD
A fair review of the The Corrs "Unplugged (+1 Bonus Track)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all
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Now a Confirmed 'The Corrs' Fan I did not truly appreciate their music style and didn't think much of them as a band until this CD. I was totally blown away by the magnitude of brilliance that this band performed in this MTV Unplugged performance in Dublin back in 1999. Andrea Corr the lead vocalist has a stunning and talented voice, in the top 5 of female lead vocalists that have fantastic voices. This Irish group has all the talent and in this CD with an orchestral arrangement in the background have excelled. Two new music songs are introduced 'Radio' and 'Dreams'. These two songs are as good as the traditional Irish instrumental songs that are in their own right majestic.
This group related to each other have not lost their connection to their roots and quite simply and amazingly create their sound around the use of beautiful and ancient Irish musical instruments like the "Bodhran" and "Dobro". They mix the new songs with their older hits like 'Forgiven, Not Forgotten', 'Runaway' and 'Queen of Hollywood'.
This CD is entertaining and anyone who listens to this band will become instant fans of this purely Irish talent called 'The Corrs'. .
A nice evening with the Corrs
In my opinion, this is one of the best, even the best concert in The Corrs' career. "Unplugged" has been recorded on 5th October 1999 at Ardmore Studios in Ireland for MTV Music Television (MTV produces Unplugged series since 80`s) in pleasant atmosphere accompanied by The Irish Film Orchestra. Containing their classics (Only When I Sleep, Runaway, What Can I Do. . . ), some covers (Old Town by Phil Lynott, No Frontiers by Jim McCarthy, Everybody Hurts by R. E. M. ) and two new songs taken from the prepared In Blue album (Radio, At Your Side) - this is a short preview of the stuff you can find there. But if you listen to this CD, you will be simply breathless. You know, all the Corrs' songs seem to be written especially for an acoustic performance which really suits them. . . I must not forget their talent and their ability to play live so fantastic. Unfortunatelly, before this CD was released, Corrs' mom Jean died at the hospital while waiting for lungs transplantation. . .
Songs review
Only When I Sleep - opening the concert - "Ladies and Gentlemen, please, welcome. . . The Corrs!". Sit down, feel comfortable, more than one hour of the best music is expecting you. . .
What Can I Do - the beginning is inspired by the original version from the Talk On Corners album, but the vocals are replaced by strings. After refrain you can feel the influence of remix by Tin Tin Out. It ends with impressive "Hold me and love me", typicall for the live performance. . .
Radio - the first new song on the album, full of memories and nostalgy of what we had and what is over now. . . It was performed brilliantly on the concert, maybe that's the reason I don't undersatnd how it was even possible to defile it few month later for In Blue album. . .
Toss The Feathers - this acoustic version without hard sounds of electric guitars makes you even calm. . . Caroline shows herself as an excellent bodhran player. It is funny to me, that in the middle of the performance audience considered it to be the end and started to clap. Ooops . . .
Runaway - a really "classic". Always sweet, always loving. . . and always touching your heart:-)
Forgiven, Not Forgotten - an excellent performance. . . It includes also intro as Sharon's violin solo. It also makes me. . calm. But still haunting and still brilliant!
At Your Side - a new number two, which also deserved a terrible defiling on In Blue album. But here it is one of the pillars of the album. It is about a friendship strenght, that you always need someone you can rely on, who catches your hand when you fall. . .
Little Wing - Jim together with Anto Drennan and Keith Duffy performed here an excellent guitar play. A cover of Jim Hedrix's song got a big applause. . .
No Frontiers - Andrea took rest a little while and that's a chance for Caroline and Sharon to show how good singers they are. Only acocmpanied by piano they sung a great cover by Jim McCarthy. (Well, dear Andrea, don't U think that you should leave more space for your sisters? :-)
Queen Of Hollywood - a song which conquered hearts of fans all around the world even though it was never released as a single. It cannot be missed here! But what I miss is a folk outro, as it was performed on the album version. . .
Old Town - I love this song! It is so true and open-hearted that sometimes I cannot believe it. . . "The girl's a fool she broke the rules, she hurt him hard, this time he will break down, she's lost his trust and so she must know all is lost. . . " Yes, yes, the trust is what is the most important in the relationships. It is just like a rose made of glass - beautiful, but so fragile. And if you break this rose, even by accident, not intentionally, you cannot make it as it used to be before. Either you are not able to put it together or if you happen to glue it together after troubles, it always leaves scars. . . "She plays it hard, she plays it tough, but that's enough - the love is over, she's broke his heart and that is rough, but in the end she'll soon recover the romance is over". And one more comment: You know, how does it feel to spend your money in the Old Town when you know that the one you love so is NOT HERE? "I've been spending my money in the old town, but it's not the same, honey, with you not around. . . "
Lough Erin Shore - it always reminds me green valleys of the genuine Ireland, the arrangement doesn't matter:-))
So Young - a live performance suits this song more. Why? It makes it more free, more true, more spontaneous. . . and more . . . "live":-)
Everybody Hurts - to re-make a classic is always so hard task, but the Corrs did well. They played it for the first time during a charity concert in Omagh after a terrorist bomb attack. . . and they've keep it. . . Even though the songs was played in the middle of MTV sesison, you can find it on the very end of the album. . . as a song for goodbye. . .
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Dreams - Japaneses, Americans and Mexicans "deserved" one more track. . . For the others it is available on standard DVD or Radio single. And as always, this unplugged arrangement suits this song so;-).
The best of MTV unplugged version!!!
"The Corrs unplugged" is another best album of The Corrs, and it is playing live. Hey you Americans who still ignore The Corrs musical talented playing, i suggest you people to listen this very album. By this album The Corrs have shown to the world and all music fan out there that they can a lot better than they've ever imagined.
The album is opened by a tremendous live playing of "Only when i sleep" where the combination of irish musical influence and catchy rocks of unplugged playing sounds amazing. The following tracks such as "What can i do?", "Forgiven not Forgotten", and the IN BLUE'S tracks "Radio" are extremly different from the studio playing version. They can raise up the tempo meanwhile they can still maintain the melodic tempo. If you are a type of person who's expecting a song with meaningful and inspiring lyrics, the album has "At your side" and "No Frontiers". And then, if you are looking forward to hear the legendary oldies tracks, perhaps you will eager to listen REM'S "Everybody Hurts", Jmmy Hendrix "Little wing", and Jimmy McCarthy "No frontiers", all with new arranggements ang repackage. For ballads listeners the album has "Queen Of Hollywood" and "Little Wing". For irish traditional music fans (including me), it has an up beat "Toss the feathers" and a melancholic "Lough Erin Shore".
The album is just properly complete to all distinguished listeners. The album reached succes with 5 millions selling worlwide. The Corrs rocks!!!!!!!!!!.
The Corrs' Talent Shines Brightly
All the songs are wonderfully represented in this acoustic setting. This is a great cd of material. The rich orchestral arrangements complement the songs brilliantly. You can listen to this cd from start to finish without skipping a track.
Anyone under the impression that this band is a studio concoction will be quickly educated to the depths of this band's enormous talent by listening to this cd. And perhaps the best reason to buy this album is that their truly awful song "Breathless" isn't on it.
My favourite album from my favourite band!
For those that don't know The Corrs, think beautiful melodies, wonderfully clear singing and a haunting mix of violin, keyboard, acoustic guitar and more traditional Irish instruments. For all those who love The Corrs - and I am definitely one of them - it is great to hear the songs presented in a different way such as this. This is music to listen to and feel happy about the world.
There seems to be even more passion in Andrea's singing than usual, which brings out the best in songs like Runaway and Queen of Hollywood, while the unplugged setting showcases the band's great musicianship. There are also several great covers of classic songs, the standouts being No Frontiers (which brings goosebumps every time I hear it) and Old Town. These songs are the standouts, but there are no real weak points on the album.
In short, if you want an introduction to one of the world's most talented pop bands beyond the usual greatest hits package, then this is a great way to do it. If you are already a fan, this is a must!.
You can see a complete list of all The Corrs discography, or go back to the The Corrs tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.