Posts Tagged ‘Enya’

Enya’s album And Winter Came… has since its release in November 2008 been on the top of the new age music sales charts worldwide. It lost the first place for a short while when her Best of album was released last year, but quickly was back on top. It has even been on the top of national iTunes charts when the respective country has been in the middle of summer.

And Winter Came… has so far sold over 3 million copies. For Enya this actually not that much (given the fact that she has sold over 70 million records) – but in today’s market it is a lot. This December the album is also to be found on the very top of many national iTunes charts. As of writing it is on top in Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Finland and many other (see below). It is interestingly not to be found on the top 10 list in the US at the moment, where Christmas Carols by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is on top. As you can see, it is not on top in Canada either – where Ultimate Spa Relaxation by Relaxing Music Ensemble.

So what makes And Winter Came… into such a hit? It would be too easy to say that it has to do with the strong Enya trademark. To me And Winter Came… is far from Enya’s best work, not even her best Christmas album (I like Sounds of the Season (2006) better). But And Winter Came… has a very consistent sound, with a nice mix of holiday favorites (like O Come o Come Emmanuel) and new material (like the playful One Toy Soldier). The album also contains Trains and Winter Rains, which is true Enya hit material.

And Winter Came… is all in all a fine album that appeals to almost everyone – which makes it into a perfect Christmas gift! If you want it as a MP3-album, Amazon has a special $ 5 sale now.

Not long ago many people thought this of Enya’s music:

Listening to Enya, for the average straight male, is a surefire shortcut to mockery by one’s friends and colleagues.

Source

But things have changed.

Recently we could tell you that General Petraeus “came out” as an Enya Fan. Today we can inform you about another very masculine person who is both a fan and a colleague of Enya; her technical advisor and engineer Daniel Polley recently won the Irish Formula Vee Leinster Trophy Race at Mondello Park Racing Circuit – and that with Enya’s name and logo on the car!

So if you are an average straight male, don’t be afraid to tell people that you enjoy listening to Enya!

The most masculine of her songs – to use such a descriptions – are perhaps The Celts, Storms in Africa and Wild Child.

Picture source: Enya.com

In other news, we are happy to tell you that General Petraeus is an Enya Fan!

This according to Fox News:

Despite admitting that he has not purchased a compact disc in years, General David Petraeus revealed Wednesday that he is “an Enya guy,” referring to the new-age Irish musician.

“I do like Celtic music. And Enya is among those,” the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan told Fox News Channel’s Jennifer Griffin in an exclusive interview.

Read the article here.

Well how about that?

This review in newspaper Joongang Daily of Enya’s new Best of album brought a smile to our faces here .nu.

Listening to Enya, for the average straight male, is a surefire shortcut to mockery by one’s friends and colleagues. But this isn’t deserved – at least not as deserved as it would be with most other New Age music.

And more:

Though Enya may be one of the biggest influences on that genre in the last 30 years, her primary goal isn’t simply to provide a soundtrack for yoga sessions full of bland, vanilla synth drones 30 minutes long. Enya makes actual music, and her Celtic sound is as intriguing as her imitators aren’t.

Hehehe.

The “- at least not as deserved as it would be with most other New Age music” is simply hysterical!

Newsflash everybody; Enya just might be OK!  :)

The Very Best Of Enya is now out in most places (December 1 is the release date in some regions). There are three versions available;

The standard CD album The Very Best Of Enya containig 18 tracks spanning her 20 year career including Orinoco Flow, Caribbean Blue, Anywhere Is as well as a previously unreleased version of Aniron as featured in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Rings. Available on all major digital music outlets and record stores throughout the world.

The Deluxe CD/DVD edition with 22 tracks plus a collection of 13 videos and rare interview footage on DVD – among them the Making Of Caribbean Blue and Making Of Only Time. Available in record stores throughout the world.

The Very Best Of – the Limited Edition Boxset Collector’s Edition (see picture). Within this exclusive boxset – only available in the uk from www.enyastore.co.uk – you will find the deluxe CD/DVD featuring 22 tracks plus a DVD collection of 13 videos and rare interview footage, and a 12″ Picture Disc vinyl of landmark single Orinoco Flow complimented by a 24 page exclusive 12″ hard-back book containing hand written lyrics, linear notes, a detailed blog and photos, PLUS the 22 track deluxe album delivered as high quality MP3s. Note the £ 74.99 pricetag and the fact that there is only 1000 copies available.

So yes, this is a great day for all Enya fans! A Best Of album is not like a new album, that’s true – and there is really nothing new here – still it gives a new perspective on Enya’s best and most beloved songs.

Just in time for Christmas shopping, world’s most prominent new age artists release their “best of” albums. Enigma is first out. On 20th of November Virgin/EMI Music releases the three disc collection entitled The Greatest Hits. One disc is for the hits, one is filled with remixes and one is called The Lost Ones. Michael Cretu explains what’s “lost”:

Everything starts with trial and error. Sometimes it’s a sound, then a melody, a harmony or a mood. The Lost Ones are my way of instrumental drafts developed from a boiling cauldron full of unordered, naive und carefree musical ideas.

And on November 23rd it is Enya’s turn. The album “The very best of Enya” will be released on Warner music. The album will include titles from all the Warner albums with favorite songs chosen by Enya, Nicky and Roma Ryan. A special edition will contain DVD and documentary footage. This collection will not contain any new tracks though – but the Lord of the Rings song Aniron has not been on an Enya album before.

So yes, we are all getting early Christmas presents here! I am naturally most eager for the Enigma album, since it contains new material. I am also a big fan of the previous Enigma remix album (The LSD collection from 2001). A new Enya “best of” is always welcome too, since it gives new perspectives on selected songs – and Enya’s impressive discography too.

In preparation for the release of The Very Best of Enya November 23rd Enya.com has been redesigned. The white And Winter Came look has been replaced by a blood red/black design, which matches the “best of” cover artwork.

The futuristic Trains and Winter Rains video has received a very prominent placement on the new page. You can also choose from a wide selection of other Enya videos as well.

It is with joy we bring you the track listing of upcoming title The very best of Enya – which is to be released on November 24th! Sadly there are no new “bonus” tracks composed for the collection, but it contains the Lord of the Rings song Aníron, which has not been on an Enya release before. The tracks have been selected by Enya and her good friends Nicky and Roma Ryan.

A special edition DVD and a documentary regarding the album will also be available at the same time.

CD version:

1. Orinoco Flow
2. Aniron
3. Storms in Africa
4. Caribbean Blue
5. Book of Days
6. The Celts
7. Only Time
8. Wild Child
9. Water Shows The Hidden Heart
10. Anywhere Is
11. Cursum Perficio
12. Amarantine
13. Aldebaran
14. Trains and Winter Rains
15. Watermark
16. Boadicea
17. A Day Without Rain
18. May It Be

CD/DVD version:

1. Trains and Winter Rains
2. My My Time Flies
3. Stars and Midnight Blue
4. Amarantine
5. Sumiregusa
6. The River Sings
7. If I Could Be Where You Are
8. Wild Child
9. Only Time
10. Drifting
11. Flora’s Secret
12. Fallen Embers
13. One By One
14. Pax Deorum
15. Athair ar Neamh
16. Anywhere Is
17. Orinoco Flow
18. Watermark
19. Boadicea
20. May It Be
21. Caribbean Blue
22. Aniron

Source: Enya.com

The cover for Enya’s And winter came has been selected for nomination at the Grammy 2010 awards – this according to Enya.com.

We will have to wait until December to see if the album too will be nominated for a Grammy.

One thing is certain though; Enya’s winter album has been a winner on the charts all summer.

This is for only the most eager Enya fans out there, who simply cannot wait a second more to place their order: Play.com has started taking preorders  for the upcoming “Best of” Enya album!

May November come fast!

This is just out:

Warner Music will be releasing a new Best of Enya album this coming November 16th. The album will include titles from all the Warner albums with favourite songs chosen by Enya, Nicky and Roma. A special edition will contain DVD and documentary footage. Details to follow.

The most successful Best of Enya release to date is Paint The Sky With Stars from 1997, and the latest is the 51 track long Only Time: The Collection from 2002.

So it looks like it will be Enya herself that will remove And Winter Came from the no. 1 spot on the new age music charts when the new best of album is released in November. The big question is of course; will there be any brand new tracks on the Best Of album? I hope so!

Since its release in November last year, Enya’s And winter came has been in and out of the no. 1 spot on all major new age music sales charts, including iTunes and Amazon.

Even in the summer heat, Enya’s winter album is selling more than anyone else in the genre. Below is an illustration of this. New Zealand is of course excused, since they have their winter now – but the other countries are enjoying Enya’s winter songs in the summer sun. Even Enigma does not manage to get no.1…

But it no wonder, since it is a very very good album.

Enya has not been promoting the album actively since she was on the The Late Late Show in February – but I’m sure she will be doing some more promotion when winter come – and the album is likely to stay on top of the cart for at least 8 to 10 more months

Below is Enya’s recent interview on The Late Show. Enjoy!