I love the Albert Hall - the most elegant music venue in London - so when I received an invite to help raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, while enjoying a performance by Irish band The Corrs, I couldn't refuse.
But I had no idea the impact the performance would have on me, as I approach my 50th birthday – because these women are incredible, and an inspiration to those of us in our second act, who aren’t quite sure that life really will get better as the age milestones go by. Their energy on stage didn't falter for a moment and watching them perform you'd never even consider their age - full of passion, physicality and power. It's easy to feel as you plunge into middle age, that certain things are behind you. That you can't do the things you used to do when you were younger, but here on stage it was clear for us all to see that if anything, this live Irish rock performance was even better than we could have imagined.
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe music was great. The songs I remembered from my 20s had me up dancing in the aisles. It was a meaningful evening for the band too; Andrea Corr, explained how the band had got their first big break performing on that very stage back in 1998, at a St Patrick's day concert, televised by the BBC. Nervous and just 24 years old, she, her sisters Sharon, Caroline and her brother Jim performed three songs on stage with Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood. It was the beginning of a propulsion into superstardom.
They went on to support the Rolling Stones and U2 in concert in the states, were awarded MBEs for their charity work and had numerous global number ones. But like all of us, even with fame and fortune behind you, life takes you on a journey and for a while the Irish super family stepped away from the spotlight to focus on growing up and having children. And likely enjoying a bit of time away from being megstars.
© Alamy Stock PhotoI knew the band's hit songs – everybody does. But if I'm honest, their musical reboot a decade ago had somewhat passed me by. Some of my friends were aware, and were jealous of my ticket, and I had read rave reviews of their tour last year – especially London’s O2 gig. But that evening, my expectations weren’t much beyond a pleasant night out. Their performance blew me away. Andrea's voice was extraordinary, as melodic as I remember it while also having a warmth and depth to it that I loved. But her stage presence was was what really drew me in. Her smile, so wide and clearly genuine, as she told us stories of performing in front of crowds like this in the past.
Andrea, now 50, is every bit as stunning as she was when she was named the most beautiful girl in the world in the year 2000. Her violin-playing sister Sharon, 55, is mesmerising to watch, as is Caroline Corr, who at 52, is an inspiration behind the drums. As I watched them perform live, and also beamed onto the huge cinema screen above the stage, I made mental notes – inspired by their pure joy - to both sign up learn piano again, and to hit the gym!
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe positive vibes that floated round the whole of the Albert Hall were infectious from them all, and as Andrea danced around the stage in her bare-stockinged feet, I sensed a confidence that really can only come with time on this planet and a midlife decision to make the most of every moment. When she declared that she was enjoying this evening even more than her first time at the venue, when she was ''rightly'' much more nervous, we all believed her.
The ease of her relationship with her siblings made for a lot of fun between songs. At one point the lead singer disappeared for a bit and her sister Sharon was left wondering where on earth she'd gone. "Perhaps she's had to make a call," she joked, before Andrea reappeared, bounding back onto the stage this time in a pair of boots. Too much to worry about with health and safety to be tearing around a stage in tights!
The Irish siblings treated us to a rendition of Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams', before finally giving into the heckles and requests for their most famous tunes, 'Runaway' and 'Breathless.' It was worth the wait – a lot of fun and an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
© Alamy Stock PhotoBut even though I love a great classic, and the Albert Hall's famous glass roof was all but lifted with the thrill of nostalgia, for me the best moment was when the fabulous four performed an incredible traditional Irish folk tune to end the evening – no words, just music, passion, skill. Joy.
I left with a spring in my step and a grin on my face, empowered and inspired by the women I had watched. Owning a stage with a confidence we should all aspire to in our midlife. I might be turning 50 this year, but after this concert I'm in no doubt that my second act had the potential to be even more fun than the first time around. What a great way to end an evening!
