Celtic Music: Enya

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Ireland's best-selling solo artist

Enya first gained notice as a solo artist with her work on the BBC Scotland series The Celts. The music was released as a self-titled album and later remastered and released with the series title. Her four latest albums of new material have each won a Grammy Award for "Best New Age Album."

Enya started in the family business

Enya was born Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin, part of the very musical Brennan family of Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), County Donegal, Ireland. Several of her relatives formed the well-known Irish band Clannad, and Enya performed on the albums Cran Ull and Fuaim. She left the group when producer and manager Nicky Ryan left in 1982, shortly before Clannad became known for "Theme from Harry's Game." She started her own recording studio.

She was first credited as Enya for her work on the soundtrack for the 1984 movie The Frog Prince, and provided spoken vocals on Sinéad O'Connor's debut album, The Lion and the Cobra. Her work on The Celts was followed by her album Watermark which, along with the hit single "Orinoco Flow," marked her breakthrough to international attention. The album sold eight million copies and topped the UK charts. Three years later, she followed up with Watermark, the first of her Grammy albums.

Since beginning her solo career, Enya has always worked with Nicky and Roma Ryan. Nicky produces and Roma writes the lyrics, with Enya composing and performing. Her trademark sound is created by layering her voice on recordings as many as 80 times, and she once stated she dubbed her voice 500 times. Because of the way she creates her music, it would be a challenge for her to do a live concert, and she has never done one, although she has stated she would like to.

While Enya's music has undeniable Celtic roots, her Grammy awards are in the New Age category. She does not consider her music New Age, however, classifying it simply as "Enya."

The Very Best of Enya

Favorites include many remastered tracks

This collection spanning 20 years of Enya's music was released in November 2009.

The Very Best Of Enya

Amazon Price: $11.35 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Tracks:

1. Orinoco Flow (remastered 2009)
2. Aniron (previously unreleased)
3. Storms in Africa (remastered 2009)
4. Caribbean Blue (remastered 2009)
5. Book of Days (remastered 2009)
6. The Celts (remastered 2009)
7. Only Time (original version)
8. Wild Child
9. Water Shows The Hidden Heart
10. Anywhere Is (remastered 2009)
11. Cursum Perficio (remastered 2009)
12. Amarantine
13. Aldebaran (remastered 2009)
14. Trains and Winter Rain
15. Watermark (remastered 2009)
16. Boedicea (remastered 2009)
17. A Day Without Rain
18. May It Be
19. O%uFFFDche Chi%uFFFDin [Chorale]

Enya's official site does not list track 19, so it may be a hidden bonus track. For MP3s of the tracks, Amazon lists track 13 as not available and track 18 as album only.

Order from Amazon.co.uk: The Very Best of Enya

Amazon is also offering an exclusive deluxe version of The Very Best Of Enya. It includes a CD with 22 tracks, a DVD of 16 videos and a 12" vinyl recording of 3 tracks. This $99.98 collection will be released on January 16, 2010 and is available for pre-order until then.

Enya's Winter-Themed CD

Enya's seventh studio album combines musical imagery of the changing winter landscape with holiday tunes including a new version of Oiche Chiun (Silent Night).

Order the CD from Amazon.co.uk: And Winter Came Release date November 10, 2008.

And Winter Came

Amazon Price: $6.22 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Tracks:

1. And Winter Came
2. Journey Of The Angels
3. White Is In The Winter Night
4. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
5. Trains And Winter Rains
6. Dreams Are More Precious
7. Last Time By Moonlight
8. One Toy Soldier
9. Stars And Midnight Blue
10. The Spirit Of Christmas Past
11. My! My! Time Flies!
12. Oiche Chiuin (chorale)

Enya on Amazon

The CDs (and MP3s when available) listed below are chosen for people with a general interest in Enya's music. There are often multiple versions of recordings. Those who are looking for everything in every version should check the discography on Wikipedia for starters. See the link list below. MP3 singles listed are songs that were released as singles around the time of the album's release. These versions are from the album and may differ from the actual singles releases.
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More Enya on Amazon

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Music in Movies and TV by Enya on Amazon

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Links for Enya

Enya's official website
The place for news about Enya, a discography, a shop, a forum and more.
Enya discography on Wikipedia
A listing of albums (including mention of singles from each, and awards), singles and EPs, and a song list.
Other Celtic music lenses by MobyD
A lens to help you find similar lenses I've made.
Videos of Enya on Page 2 of this lens
Ten music videos and one interview.

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Videos of Enya

Cover of Watermark by EnyaThis page presents ten music videos and one interview, including some live performances in Japan and at the Academy Awards.

Videos of popular artists sometimes go missing on YouTube. If you click on a video and get a message that it has been removed, please leave me a comment so I can replace it quickly.

Only If

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Exile

Official video from Enya TV posted on YouTube, with scenes from the Steve Martin movie L.A. Story.
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Wild Child

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Book of Days

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Adeste Fideles & Only Time

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I Want Tomorrow

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Aldebaran

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Caribbean Blue

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On Your Shore

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May It Be

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Interview at GMTV Nov. 13th 2008

Promoting the release of And Winter Came.
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MobyD

I'm very interested in Celtic music and have created a series of lenses about performers. See Celtic Music: Lenses (named Lens of the Day on March 16,... more »

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