One of Ireland's most successful pop exports of the '90s, the Corrs comprise Jim, Sharon, Caroline, and Andrea - musical siblings who are bringing Irish music into mainstream pop. After gigging locally as a duo, Jim and Sharon hooked up with younger sisters Caroline and Andrea to audition for Alan Parker's 1991 movie The Commitments. Andrea secured the role of Jimmy Rabbitte's sister; the others were featured in bit parts.

During filming, the quartet were signed by manager John Hughes, after which they underwent a long apprenticeship honing their repertoire in an attempt to secure an international recording deal. A big break came in 1994, when they were seen playing a small gig at Whelen's, in Dublin, by the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith. She invited them to play in Boston prior to America's hosting of soccer's World Cup. While in America they won an audience with Michael Jackson's producer David Foster and signed to Atlantic Records in collaboration with the Lava and 143 imprints.

Their 1995 debut, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, was a striking work, deftly combining traditional music with a strong pop sensibility. The traditional opener, "Erin Shore," featured some stunning violin from Sharon Corr, and segued into the title track, which remains one of their most accomplished compositions yet. In addition to such strong self-penned numbers as "Someday," "Secret Life," and "Runaway," the album included the raucous "Toss the Feathers," their perennial concert finale.

The album was a best seller in Eire, and before long substantial sales were logged in Australia and continental Europe, with figures in excess of 2 million. Meanwhile, the group toured nonstop, building a strong fan base in America and Asia. Britain remained strangely resistant to the Corrs' charms, and although the album subsequently charted there, none of their singles secured substantial airplay. By now the foursome's live appearances had won a devoted following, while their good looks ensured that their photographs were frequently featured in magazines.

Andrea Corr took time off to continue her acting career, appearing alongside Madonna in Alan Parker's 1996 film adaptation of Evita as Juan Peron's mistress. As a result of their arduous touring, the siblings decided to recruit several name writers to assist them in completing compositions for their next album. Among the supporting cast of composers was Glen Ballard, Oliver Leiber, Rick Nowells, Billy Steinberg, and Carole Bayer Sager. The resultant Talk on Corners, although it contained some traditional elements, was a much more pop-oriented album with a broader appeal. It was a warm treat for an army of new fans who could enjoy the group's beautifully structured tunes, as well as marvel at the surprise finale - a reworking of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," in a collaboration with the Chieftains.

Initially, the album followed the same sales pattern as its predecessor, with Britain again showing only limited interest. Two singles were issued, the sensual "Only When I Sleep" and the witty "I Never Loved You Anyway," but both failed to break through into the U.K. charts. The group's persistence and determination finally paid off in 1998, first via a St. Patrick's Day appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, which was broadcast later that evening on BBC Television. The show featured a guest appearance on drums by Mick Fleetwood, and it was revealed that the Corrs' next single would be a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams, " reworked by Todd Terry. When "Dreams" hit the U.K. top 10, the Corrs exploded in Britain and suddenly were everywhere, appearing regularly on prime-time radio and television and earnestly promoting their album. By June 1998 the previously modest sales of Talk on Corners skyrocketed and the album rose to No. 1, going on to become the biggest-selling U.K. album of 1998.

Renewed interest in the album prompted Atlantic to select two additional singles: a remix of the ballad "What Can I Do," courtesy of Tin Tin Out, and a K Klass remix of the strident "So Young." Both reached the U.K. top 10, confirming the Corrs' arrival as a strong singles act. The same year, Andrea Corr was featured as the singing voice of the heroine Kayley in Warner Bros.' first fully animated movie, Quest for Camelot. A remix of "Runaway" debuted at No. 2 in the U.K. in February 1999. In April, their albums occupied the top two slots on the U.K. album chart. The MTV Unplugged collection featured five new tracks, including the single "Radio."