The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 28)

Hello, it’s Thursday, and midday, and thus time to bring you our look back at more huge UK chart smashes from 20 years ago with this week’s installment of The Story of Pop: 2000. And our trinity of Irish entries continues, with the first and only chart topper from the Emerald Isle’s most successful family band…

Formed in their native Dundalk in Ireland, following their appearance in the film version of The Commitments in 1991, and under the guidance of that film’s music coordinator, John Hughes, family band The Corrs were that rare example of a band remaining slept on until a massive hit changed everything.

Their debut release Forgiven Not Forgotten in 1995 had been an immediate success in Ireland and several international territories, but some markets – including the UK – remained stubbornly resistant to them at first. That was until 1998, when they released a cover version of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ they had recorded for a tribute album.

A remix of the single by Todd Terry propelled it into the UK top 10, and thus began the phenomenon that was their multi platinum second album Talk On Corners, which spun off further hits like ‘What Can I Do’, ‘So Young’ and ‘Runaway’, occupying the top of our album chart on four seperate occasions and sending their global album sales to a total of 15m worldwide.

Come the summer of 2000 – following its push back from a winter 1999 release owing to both Millennium Bug fears and the loss of their mother, Jean, which they had filled up with an interim MTV Unplugged release – all eyes were on Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim to see if they could repeat that success with their third studio album, In Blue.

Its lead single ‘Breathless’, like much of the album, was produced by Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange, best known as he was then as producer and husband of one Shania Twain. It can perhaps explain why the single had more of a Transatlantic leaning then anything else they’d released before.

Upon its 3rd July release twenty years ago, and despite some fierce competition, it rose above the ranks to add a UK number one single to the achievements of The Corrs, making it one of the biggest and most recognised hits of their career, whilst the In Blue album also topped the chart. And though ‘Breathless’ remains their only single to go that far, it’s a belter of a song to hold such an accolade.

Don’t forget to follow our brand new playlist on Spotify – updated weekly so you never miss a song from the story of pop in 2000. And you can leave your memories of the songs below in the comments or Tweet us, using the hashtag #StoryofPop2000.