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Hi Beth! I 've been watching your videos since year One, but in particular video you mentioned the 'Wall of Sound' and all though this is not quite same as in some classical music pieces or as complicated it has something similar.. in a way... I'm not musician and for others sake that is almost obligatory:P
By the way... As I am not a singer nor know anything about it, I have always found Enyas voice very pleasant on all her register... there must be some other 'resonations' or extra sounds to the basic melody someone sings to make it different. And I am not talking here about this 'filtering' or what ever technic used... I mean the real voice.
As a little kid , I was just in shock .. watching this on VH1. Never have I heard such a beautiful song. Too me this was the start as ASMR music . STUNNING VOICE AND ANGELIC TONES OF MUSIC. Great reaction. I love your explanations. Thank you .
Enya is an artist whose music is a genre of its own. What a genius musician and vocalist. When she dropped this, we were just mesmerised. We still are..
Enya was part of Clannad for a very short time. Clannad was a family band created when 2 related musicians bought a run down tavern and ran it as a music venue. Mr Brennan's 3 daughters teamed up with their twin Duggan uncles to form the family band, about 1968. Enya was invited to join her older sisters and uncles in 1980 before their 5th studio album. 2 years later when touring Europe, the 2 tour managers left suddenly, taking Enya with them. Shortly after, Enya released a major recording on a major label.....it was all Clannads music. So you see......Enya is not a genre of her own. She is just a common thief. Oh. . and Ireland is full of singers and bands performing traditional Irish folk music. Clannads and Enya's music is 100's of years old.
@@jaba9960u First major release ,? Please define a major release. My info is that the tour managers resigned first on the 1982 Euro tour, and that Enya joined them almost immediately......and they made a record and released it soon after. Enya's sisters and family were not happy for a long time......she stole from her own family .
Enya is one of the very rare artists to whom I react purely emotionally. It's an ethereal, nostalgic relationship that brings back my sweetest and purest memories of my childhood and my late mother. I have true love for this artist.
Enya most definitely has that effect my friend. She has found a comfortable home in my mind, heart, musical soul and life. She's been a steady presence in my life for nearly 40 years now. She is a jewel!
I remember many Saturday afternoons in my childhood when "Watermark" and "Shepherd Moons" echoed loudly through the house because of my parents. I loved it. And especially these two albums still feel like a warm hug for my brain 😁
I don't know if anyone has mentioned that the reason she hardly ever toured is that SHE PLAYED ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AND SANG ALL THE VOCAL PARTS! She would spend weeks working with her producers.
In fairness, a lot of people have done that. Queen, Foo Fighters, just to name two that come to mind. Not to say that they're 1:1 matches, but it's not _just_ that which results in Enya not touring. If she wanted to badly enough, there's the technology and the expertise out there to find a way, even in the late 80s. Enya is just, in general, a very secluded individual. Most reports detail how she doesn't travel a lot, and lives in general solitude. One might almost describe her as a hermit. Some of that is because when she did get into the spotlight with this song and others, there were a lot of creeps who started to pretty much stalk her. But she's always just lived a very private life, and touring just doesn't jive with that. And I should say, good for her on that. An artist doesn't owe it to us to perform live if they don't want to. And it seems like more than a few that do tour do it for questionable reasons anyway. So there's a level of authenticity there when making that choice, IMO.
@@Leafsdude_Regardless of Enya’s reasons for not touring or actually playing live, she delivered us a masterpiece. Her whole body of work is next level. Enya didn’t necessarily make songs for the masses. But, that being said, all of her songs deserve to be recognized for their brilliance, even if no one is buying her other music. I’m glad you feel the way I do about an artist owing us nothing. I 100% agree with your comment. We have the music. It’s also great to see a reaction to Orinoco flow.
Eithne didn't start playing and performing everything herself until later albums. She played a lot herself, and she sang it ALL herself, but she didn't play every instrument herself. The reason touring has been "challenging" is not because she has to play all the instruments... other people can do that on stage. It's that it's very difficult to get the layered vocal sound _live._
And I remember when the video came on tv in the break out room of the tram depot I worked at. Gradually everyone just stopped talking and stared open mouthed at the screen. Visually amazing video which was as outstanding as this new sound.
the second i heard it on vh1, mtv .. as i was falling asleep .. my eyes popped open .. as i wanted to see .. who was singing this strangely haunting beautiful music .. i knew this was iconic .
I am a celtic gal from Galicia, Spain and yes. It is something all Celtic nations share. It feels weird when people hear our folk music (very similar to this maybe with far more pipes) and say... Werent you from Spain?
I was also happy that Enya was the singer for the love song for Aragorn and the Elf Arwen in The Lord of the Rings where she sang in Elvish which I am sure agrees with her Irish Gaelic Language background.
@@rcrawford42 Actually, Quenya was influenced by Finnish, but Sindarin, that is the Elvish language used for most of the songs of the movies' soundtrack, is inspired by Welsh, according to Tolkien himself.
That has got to be one of the most beautifully perfect and fitting pieces of music ever made for a movie. It just feels so other-worldly and ethereal, that it could only have come from an Elven artist. Nobody could have done it better than Enya. I think even Tolkien himself would have been blown away by it.
Snap. Grew up in Ireland, loving Clannad - wasn't the edgiest of bands in my youth, but I remember being blown away by the Magical Ring album - the first thing I ever listened to on a Walkman (belonging to my friend's big sister). Moreover, I used to love watching Robin Hood when I was a child (as you know, Clannad did all the music - the Legend album is a favourite of mine). Funnily enough my family were originally from just a few miles further north-east in Donegal up from where the Brennans lived.
Yes. Maire (Moya Brennan)is her older sister. They along with two brothers, two uncles, and their parents were the original members of Clannad... When they were competing they were announced as "Clannad band".... Family band
I bought this album Watermark after I heard Orinoco Flow when it was first released. The album is so amazingly calming. I listen to Orinoco Flow each time I fly a commercial airline flight. I start it when the plane lines up for takeoff and usually when it gets to sail away we become airborne. When it gets to the lines ‘From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon, Carry me on the waves to the lands I’ve never been’ I feel a pure sense of happiness. Most people don’t understand how beautiful this song truly is. Thank you for reacting to it and explaining some of its nuances.
Pure artistic genius: Enya sings all the vocal parts, plays all the instrumental parts layering them over each other...... Music you can surrender your emotions to... Their lyrics launched me into a deep, deep dive into the Iron Age Celts who were every bit as enigmatic as Enya...
My son was 6 years old when this song came out. We first heard it on a Canadian music channel (I think called MorTV or something like that.. we had an old school satellite dish)... he stood in front of the TV absolutely transfixed. It's a nice memory for me.
If I'm correct on this, James Cameron wanted Enya to compose the musical score for "Titanic". Being an independent singer/songwriter, she didn't want to be tied to a schedule she felt she couldn't meet, and turned it down. Who can imagine how beautiful the score would have been had she'd agreed!
Watermark is one of my favourite Enya albums. 😊 Highlights for me include Storms In Africa, On Your Shore, The Longships, the title track and the brilliantly dark Cursum Perficio.
The first time I heard this song, my wife and I had just walked into Barnes and Noble, and it was playing overhead. I headed straight to the music department and bought the CD. Since then I have bought every one of her CD's. While I like the Celtic Women version, this is the top.
That entire album is like having champagne with a really smooth Camembert: Sparkling, and then just smoooth and always wanting you to have more. I recommend having a listen with solidly good headphones or through some high-end speakers.
"Lots of Enyas going on". I remember from the publicity when this album (vinyl) was released, Enya said there were about 50 versions, not copies, she sang it multiple times for the mix so that subtle variations between versions added to the depth. I saw/heard this for the first time on Rage, a music video show on our national television broadcaster very late one night. It blew me away, and I ordered the 12" Vinyl the next day. I've been a fan ever since.
Love Enya, since I first heard this song in the late 80s as a kid. Caribbean Blue is one of those songs of hers that sends chills down my spine (in a good way). Also, it has always puzzled me a bit that I can love Enya, but also love a group like The Prodigy, which is pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum.
I also remember this as a kid watching the early morning music video’s on TV, the song and visuals always fascinated me. Either a show called RAGE or Video Hits. I find I have an incredibly large and expansive taste in music. All genres dating from the 30’s to today. It all depends on my mood at the time.
6:40 The best part of those swells like that is that different parts of the chord shine through like an arpeggio. You hear the lower parts first and it just gets louder and walks up the chord, across multiple octaves. Soooo pretty!
As a bookstore clerk at the time when Watermark was released, I am sure I rang up a thousand copies of this per year, mostly on cassette tape. We had it as one of our in-store play albums, and it never got old in the three years I worked there. Good music to shelve books by.
But you know why Peter Jackson is awesome? It's more subtle than that - he chose Enya to sing Elvish songs from Rivendell and chose another phenomenal voice, Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins), to represent the Lothlorien elves and sing songs during their scenes in the movie. Always loved and respected that.
I get this mental image of the mix engineer sitting in front of this massive pile of tape, “Good Lord, where do I start?”- Thing is they did a an absolutely brilliant job of it- The exact same thing for the video production, too.
I had a friend named Eithne (pronounced Etna) who was as irish as they come and was an amazing woman. She opened a nursing home for nuns so they could be looked after properly, and still practice their faith. We had a priest come regularly to give them communion and confession, and to keep them informed of what was happening in the world outside. I was privileged enough to work for her for a while and totally fell in love with the nuns. Wonderful ladies who I adored.
@@talideon I have no idea. I only know how she introduced herself. I only found out the spelling many months later when I asked her daughter so I could write out her Christmas card.
I can still remember where and when I heard this song for the first time. I was visiting a friend at his dorm room. We were leaving his room to go somewhere else. As we were walking out of his room and down the hall, his neighbor had this video playing on TV with the door open to their dorm room. I had to step into their room and listen. At this time, I was listening mostly to metal but this song literally stopped me in my tracks. Since then, I have bought Enya albums without having heard a single song on it, knowing that I'd like it. I also LOVE "Storms in Africa" even though it's mostly instrumental. I love listening to that song with my eyes closed. I can imagine a whole music video that I created in my mind while I listen.
I'm generally more of a punk/industrial/indie music listener but for reasons i cannot explain i suddenly and randomly have been listening to a ton of Enya for like a month now. I also don't really go for reaction type videos, but hey here i am anyway and here's this cool vid and who doesn't love a fun, if meaningless, coincidence
The line ending "say goodbye Ross and his dependency" is a reference to both the the actual Ross Dependency (part of the Antarctic) but also Ross Cullum the album's engineer.
This song takes me back to some of the best years of my life. I was just entering college, and through my young eyes, everything in the world was fresh and new. Oh, what I'd give to go back, even just for a moment.
I remember, that in 91-92? a classmate put his headphones on me in the lunch break and said this was something for me. And it was, The song was Caribbean Blue by Enya and I was unreachable for the rest of the break. I was completely entranced by it. I think that was my first entry into folk music. Before that is was all rock, pop or heavy. From there I discovered Clannad (With Enya's sister as lead singer) and many other folk artists. My life (or my musical life at least) was literally never the same after that. And it started with Enya.
When I visited Ireland, I was given a tour of the island by a friend who was born and raised there and later immigrated to America. One of the greatest places we visited was Leo's Tavern in Donegal. Leo is the patriarch of Clannad and Enya's father. When you entered, all her platinum records graced the walls and her videos and music were playing everywhere. It was the most memorable place I visited as several of the family came out and sang for us.
Gosh darn you. You caught me by surprise. I always have loved Enya. She is so special! You will now need to react to Moya (Marie) Brennan who just happens to be Enya's sister. You just killed me talking about Clannad now. THank you so much for this. I wish that there was still music like this. The world needs it!
I remember when this came out. People lost their minds over it. I just find it so well crafted in every respect. From the instrumentals to the stop action, almost claymation, video. And the lyrics, clever, clever, clever. I remember getting out my atlas to find all the places she references. And yes, fun nod to Rob Dickens. A classic. Celtic Woman did it pretty good justice almost 30 years ago. Mairead, Maev, Lisa, Chloe, and Orla. Great post.
Beth, thank you for your detailed review! Orinoco Flow was so unique and beautiful when I first heard it, and is still so now over 35 years later! I have all (I think) of Enya's albums and have these on my phone and computer to listen to any time, any where. Yes, I follow other artists and different genres, but I can come back to Enya and can listen for hours. Proud to be of Irish descent! 🙂
I was 12 when she released Watermark. For me this was how elves sang. I'd spend hours cycling it the forest with Enya in my walkman dreaming of elves in Lothlorien.
@@danielsundin3669 Fun fact about Enya: she names some of her songs or albuns after astronomical bodies. Sheperd Moon is named after small moons arround Saturn that shephard the rings.
"Watermark" was actually Enya's "third" album. She worked with Nicky and Roma on "The Frog Prince" and the soundtrack for "The Celts". So by "Watermark", Enya's style was established. The Irony is that "Orinoco Flow" was the LAST song recorded on "Watermark" and was the one that they kept going back to over and over again as Roma stated it didn't quite work, but then they did it and there was a sense of jubilation and celebration.. that comes out in this song!!!
I wish she could do a tour with an orchestra. It would be something special even without the layering. Voice of an angel, extremely talented and truly a one of a kind. I would love to see her in concert.
to hear this song on a wall of 8 -15" subwoofers is a true experience. i had a friend with that setup and agreed to play this and i think we almost broke some windows with the bass drop in the middle of the song it brings a new sound to this song with a extra bass boost it is pretty euphoric.
This song brings back such memories. I had never listened to Enya before, but one of our Chemical Engineering professors threw a party for the 40+ graduating Chem E's. Late that night in his backyard, keg of beer killed, sipping red wine, everything was winding down, and this album was playing. It was the beginning of adulthood.
Love this song and this artist. Very unique in both sound and visual, in which I love to close my eyes and just listen to her voice. It's very relaxing.
Ahhh I love Enya and everything about her aesthetic SOOO gosh darn much, so seeing this video appreciating Enya and my favorite of her songs so much is so heavenly. Also I love your video style and the purple-green color scheme with the text bits in this video so much.
Interesting that you should be reacting to this; I remember the late, great, recently-departed Steve Wright really championing this on his afternoon show back in the day. I’m sure he had a part in bringing it to a wider audience. Also really like the changes you’ve made to your channel, Beth!
The entire song IS sailing. Bouncing, bouncing, calm, big swell, bouncing, bouncing, resolving in a final chord that is a question. The river/sea IS a physical "wall of sound." Layered, complex, open.
I love the counterpoint of the high note that gets "answered" by the low notes and the base drums that "answer" or "echo" Like "chirp" then a delayed "woomp".
The Irish have done it again! Next month is St. Patrick's day, it would be nice to hear authentic Irish or Celtic music in honor of the Emerald Island☘️☘️🇮🇪
I was a teenager figuring out what she liked, and this song started getting airtime in Los Angeles. Enya was like no one I had ever heard before, this angelic and uplifting song speaking to me. It took forever to figure what the song was as I had never heard of the Orinoco River, but i finally had a bit of money and raced off to Target to purchase my very first CD. I still have it all these years later.
Was curious what you'd make of Enya. But since you mentioned them in the breakdown, I'd love to hear your breakdown of CLANNAD, in particular HARRY'S GAME. Or as a bit of a more mainstream option, IN A LIFETIME by CLANNAD & BONO. I've always loved Máire Ní Bhraonáin's voice and id love to hear what makes it different from more contemporary singing styles.
Enya is one of the most calming, almost trance-inducing voices ever. She’s only really rivaled in my opinion by Loreena McKennitt and her sister Moya Brennan, who’s the lead singer for Clannad, IMHO.
I knew that she brought the Prophet 5 to the family band, Clannad. I didn’t know that she used the D50 later on her solo albums. Interesting. If they remixed her albums for Dolby Atmos, that could convince me to upgrade my audio system. They (Steven Wilson ?) would have hundreds of tracks to pull from. Imagine some of the Enya’s singing from above and behind you.
I really loved Enta Moya and Clannad.. One thing which grabbed me about this song is Inthought she mentioned Kalihi which is a town in Hawaii. I live in Hawaii so that stood out for mez
I love Clannad, I love Enya. I love Orinoco Flow. Strangely enough, in this song, I always appreciated some tiny hint of subdued agression. Don't ask me to explain, I can't, but I love songs that give me that feeling. Hence it gives me energy. Perfect to start the day with, not so good when you don't want speeding tickets while driving.
Love Enya. One of the few artists I bought their CD's at a time(early 90's) I had no money and relied on radio stations and a tape recorder.. At the top of my head.. Metallica/Temple of the Dogs/Tori Amos and Enya were the artists/CD's I legitimately had. Of all the artist.. Enya's music made my stress and anxieties 'melt away'.. she was a 'must have'... also they didn't play her music enough on the radios.. lol 'On My Way Home' is perhaps my favorite.
I love it when people try to put me in any given box (i.e. - "You're just a metal-head", or "You're a throw-back from the 70's"). The look on their faces when I tell them I go from Metallica & 5FDP, to Linkin Park & the Scorpions, to Kool & The Gang, Journey, Yanni & Enya, it's fun to see their jaw hit the floor. Now I'm loving Nightwish & this whole genre. Sure, I'm a metal-head & Southern Rock FREAK. But like most people, I/we don't fit in any box. Great review & breakdown here, Lass! Thanks for sharing YOUR talents as well!
@LEO1WOLF I love the reactions I get when I mention my musical likes; mine start in the 30s up to mostly the 80s, with the rare 90s and 2000s songs. I love old country, Western Swing, big bands, sweet bands, and on. Hated disco (still do), dislike what passes for "country" music nowadays. Just a handful of rap/hip-hop (around the time of Tone Loc). Some metal. I grew up in the 60s and all that great music. And then the 70s happened. So yeah, good to not be in a "rut" about music.
I recommend you a Spanish singer her name is Diana Navarro with the song "El perdón" she is a singer that transmits a lot when she sings and has incredible melismas. She is also very versatile when it comes to singing. She sings different musical styles. Best regards
What gets me is the complexity of her music. It takes 3 to 5 years to put out an album she is satisfied with. She has final say on everything. Frustrating for fans but satisfying when she releases another album and it beats your expectations. You truly have to listen carefully to hear all the voices in perfect harmony. I hope she puts out another album soon.
This is a lovely song from a lovely album. I absolutely love the artwork in this video. Its lightness seemed to fit just perfectly with the music and the sense of gliding down a river. That was nice to visit. I haven't heard this in a long time.
I remember first time listening this song, I was stunned. I was so shocked saying myself what is this. I was listening all sorts of music, including classical but this was something unique. 25 years later, I still love this song.
Since I was old enough to have a favorite genre I've been a hard rock/metal guy. But I'll take all the Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt and Enya I can get my ears on. I don't think any of the 3 ladies ever did a bad song,. whatever the genre. I gotta say "Yay Beth" for doing this onej.
2:09 I was in a quest to figure out what that was. Its an arpeggiated synth. I can sleep now and listen to it on repeat. I love how's its floating around the place
🎵 Book a Lesson with Beth email beth@bethroars.com
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One after the other you review my most favourite singers, and I learn more about them. Thanks Beth! 🧡
Hi Beth! I 've been watching your videos since year One, but in particular video you mentioned the 'Wall of Sound' and all though this is not quite same as in some classical music pieces or as complicated it has something similar.. in a way... I'm not musician and for others sake that is almost obligatory:P
By the way... As I am not a singer nor know anything about it, I have always found Enyas voice very pleasant on all her register... there must be some other 'resonations' or extra sounds to the basic melody someone sings to make it different. And I am not talking here about this 'filtering' or what ever technic used... I mean the real voice.
The end is almost foreboding , a soft cold Brezzy gust .. haunting ,
As a little kid , I was just in shock .. watching this on VH1. Never have I heard such a beautiful song. Too me this was the start as ASMR music . STUNNING VOICE AND ANGELIC TONES OF MUSIC. Great reaction. I love your explanations. Thank you .
Enya is an artist whose music is a genre of its own. What a genius musician and vocalist. When she dropped this, we were just mesmerised. We still are..
Like Boards of Canada is a genre
Enya was part of Clannad for a very short time.
Clannad was a family band created when 2 related musicians bought a run down tavern and ran it as a music venue.
Mr Brennan's 3 daughters teamed up with their twin Duggan uncles to form the family band, about 1968.
Enya was invited to join her older sisters and uncles in 1980 before their 5th studio album.
2 years later when touring Europe, the 2 tour managers left suddenly, taking Enya with them.
Shortly after, Enya released a major recording on a major label.....it was all Clannads music.
So you see......Enya is not a genre of her own.
She is just a common thief.
Oh. . and Ireland is full of singers and bands performing traditional Irish folk music.
Clannads and Enya's music is 100's of years old.
@@Rassskle
1982 - Enya and Ryans left Clannad.
1987 - The Celts - first major release for Enya.
Conclusion - "Shortly after" = 5 years.
@@jaba9960u
First major release ,?
Please define a major release.
My info is that the tour managers resigned first on the 1982 Euro tour, and that Enya joined them almost immediately......and they made a record and released it soon after.
Enya's sisters and family were not happy for a long time......she stole from her own family .
Yes indeed! I just love Enya!!!
Enya is so talented and so beautiful. Her "Caribbean Blue" is another favorite of mine. Aw, hell, all of her music is my favorite.
Nothing will give a good night's sleep quite like listening to Enya
Caribbean Blue needs a Waltz like dance set to it...
I was 8.. Caribbean blue melted my brain. I've been a fan ever since
Enya is one of the very rare artists to whom I react purely emotionally. It's an ethereal, nostalgic relationship that brings back my sweetest and purest memories of my childhood and my late mother. I have true love for this artist.
You know her sister Moya Brennan as well?
Hey, I couldn't put it better than you! In my case, her music makes me think of my late father, but very similar sentiments to what you said.
@@llukelcs So we're lucky to be able to bring back some of those sweet memories with Enya.
Enya most definitely has that effect my friend. She has found a comfortable home in my mind, heart, musical soul and life. She's been a steady presence in my life for nearly 40 years now. She is a jewel!
I remember many Saturday afternoons in my childhood when "Watermark" and "Shepherd Moons" echoed loudly through the house because of my parents. I loved it. And especially these two albums still feel like a warm hug for my brain 😁
I don't know if anyone has mentioned that the reason she hardly ever toured is that SHE PLAYED ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AND SANG ALL THE VOCAL PARTS! She would spend weeks working with her producers.
“Okay, that’s 25 vocal tracks done. On to the other 75 for this song.”
In fairness, a lot of people have done that. Queen, Foo Fighters, just to name two that come to mind. Not to say that they're 1:1 matches, but it's not _just_ that which results in Enya not touring. If she wanted to badly enough, there's the technology and the expertise out there to find a way, even in the late 80s.
Enya is just, in general, a very secluded individual. Most reports detail how she doesn't travel a lot, and lives in general solitude. One might almost describe her as a hermit. Some of that is because when she did get into the spotlight with this song and others, there were a lot of creeps who started to pretty much stalk her. But she's always just lived a very private life, and touring just doesn't jive with that.
And I should say, good for her on that. An artist doesn't owe it to us to perform live if they don't want to. And it seems like more than a few that do tour do it for questionable reasons anyway. So there's a level of authenticity there when making that choice, IMO.
@@Leafsdude_Regardless of Enya’s reasons for not touring or actually playing live, she delivered us a masterpiece.
Her whole body of work is next level. Enya didn’t necessarily make songs for the masses. But, that being said, all of her songs deserve to be recognized for their brilliance, even if no one is buying her other music.
I’m glad you feel the way I do about an artist owing us nothing. I 100% agree with your comment. We have the music.
It’s also great to see a reaction to Orinoco flow.
Eithne didn't start playing and performing everything herself until later albums. She played a lot herself, and she sang it ALL herself, but she didn't play every instrument herself.
The reason touring has been "challenging" is not because she has to play all the instruments... other people can do that on stage. It's that it's very difficult to get the layered vocal sound _live._
There is a live performance of her out there. It's really bad. The music doesn't translate to a live performance.
I was born on the shores of the Orinoco River in Venezuela. So this song has special meaning for me. Always has . . .
When this song was released, it was nothing like it before 🎵
It's been over 35 years, and we still haven't heard anything like it.
And I remember when the video came on tv in the break out room of the tram depot I worked at. Gradually everyone just stopped talking and stared open mouthed at the screen. Visually amazing video which was as outstanding as this new sound.
The sound of 1988.
Clannad. It's very like clannad, but with 90s synths.
the second i heard it on vh1, mtv .. as i was falling asleep .. my eyes popped open .. as i wanted to see .. who was singing this strangely haunting beautiful music .. i knew this was iconic .
“How can anyone hate Enya? It’s just silence, coloured in”
Steve Hughes
@@Spo-Dee-O-Deeok, whatever.
exactly because of that I would say
I remember that. He's so funny
@@Spo-Dee-O-Deeyours would get bigger
"It's the opposite of silence." --Me
Us wee Celts love this stuff ,it's ancient and within us , and a beautiful Celt lass talking about it only helps
I am a celtic gal from Galicia, Spain and yes. It is something all Celtic nations share.
It feels weird when people hear our folk music (very similar to this maybe with far more pipes) and say... Werent you from Spain?
@@mara_jade021 I lived in manilva Malaga for a time 20 yrs ago ,plan on going back in the future
I was also happy that Enya was the singer for the love song for Aragorn and the Elf Arwen in The Lord of the Rings where she sang in Elvish which I am sure agrees with her Irish Gaelic Language background.
Well, Elvish had more influence from Finnish than Gaelic, but...
@@rcrawford42 You are right about that!
@@rcrawford42 Actually, Quenya was influenced by Finnish, but Sindarin, that is the Elvish language used for most of the songs of the movies' soundtrack, is inspired by Welsh, according to Tolkien himself.
That has got to be one of the most beautifully perfect and fitting pieces of music ever made for a movie. It just feels so other-worldly and ethereal, that it could only have come from an Elven artist. Nobody could have done it better than Enya. I think even Tolkien himself would have been blown away by it.
Clannad is a fantastic band. I have been a fan for 40 years...i saw them on their final tour last year. Very special.
Snap. Grew up in Ireland, loving Clannad - wasn't the edgiest of bands in my youth, but I remember being blown away by the Magical Ring album - the first thing I ever listened to on a Walkman (belonging to my friend's big sister). Moreover, I used to love watching Robin Hood when I was a child (as you know, Clannad did all the music - the Legend album is a favourite of mine). Funnily enough my family were originally from just a few miles further north-east in Donegal up from where the Brennans lived.
I, too, had the VERY favorable experience of seeing Clannad on their final tour last year also. What a totally amazing experience that was😊
Why do you mention Clannad? Was Enya in that group?
Yes. Maire (Moya Brennan)is her older sister. They along with two brothers, two uncles, and their parents were the original members of Clannad...
When they were competing they were announced as "Clannad band".... Family band
They also did the theme and a lot of the other music to the best version of Robin Hood (IMO) which only enhanced the show further.
I bought this album Watermark after I heard Orinoco Flow when it was first released. The album is so amazingly calming. I listen to Orinoco Flow each time I fly a commercial airline flight. I start it when the plane lines up for takeoff and usually when it gets to sail away we become airborne. When it gets to the lines ‘From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon, Carry me on the waves to the lands I’ve never been’ I feel a pure sense of happiness. Most people don’t understand how beautiful this song truly is. Thank you for reacting to it and explaining some of its nuances.
Pure artistic genius: Enya sings all the vocal parts, plays all the instrumental parts layering them over each other......
Music you can surrender your emotions to...
Their lyrics launched me into a deep, deep dive into the Iron Age Celts who were every bit as enigmatic as Enya...
Loreena McKennit has a similar style. Mummers Dance is her big hit, but she has several flowing, emotional songs.
I'd love to see a reaction to the Mummers Dance - and then watch the reactors struggle to place the music into a specific 'genre'....
I love tango to Evora
2 artists who set a mood
Don't forget about Celtic Women as well.
I think Loreena did a song version of 'The Highwayman'? that I've loved since I first heard it.
This was absolutely massive hit back in the 80s the clip alone is absolutely gorgeous her voice is magical, It still gives me chills today..
It gives chills ... always... yeah.. love it
My son was 6 years old when this song came out. We first heard it on a Canadian music channel (I think called MorTV or something like that.. we had an old school satellite dish)... he stood in front of the TV absolutely transfixed. It's a nice memory for me.
MuchMusic is what it was called. Cheers
@@craign5616 Thanks! That was it!
It's a lovely memory. Thanks for sharing it... ❤
You have an extremely Irish name 😊
@MarkFugitive- Yeah. Dad was called "blackIrish" and was a sometimes bare knuckle boxer to pay the rent
One of the most unmistakable voices ever.
If I'm correct on this, James Cameron wanted Enya to compose the musical score for "Titanic". Being an independent singer/songwriter, she didn't want to be tied to a schedule she felt she couldn't meet, and turned it down. Who can imagine how beautiful the score would have been had she'd agreed!
A look at Lord of the Rings shows that giving her a big time table was well worth it
This Enya album helped me through many a college study night....the whole album is filled with gems. Love it.
Also, Enya's song, "Only Time." Absolutely beautiful.
Beth, you have the happiest, joyful countenance!
Watermark is one of my favourite Enya albums. 😊 Highlights for me include Storms In Africa, On Your Shore, The Longships, the title track and the brilliantly dark Cursum Perficio.
The first time I heard this song, my wife and I had just walked into Barnes and Noble, and it was playing overhead. I headed straight to the music department and bought the CD. Since then I have bought every one of her CD's. While I like the Celtic Women version, this is the top.
That entire album is like having champagne with a really smooth Camembert: Sparkling, and then just smoooth and always wanting you to have more. I recommend having a listen with solidly good headphones or through some high-end speakers.
"Lots of Enyas going on".
I remember from the publicity when this album (vinyl) was released, Enya said there were about 50 versions, not copies, she sang it multiple times for the mix so that subtle variations between versions added to the depth.
I saw/heard this for the first time on Rage, a music video show on our national television broadcaster very late one night. It blew me away, and I ordered the 12" Vinyl the next day. I've been a fan ever since.
Love Enya, since I first heard this song in the late 80s as a kid.
Caribbean Blue is one of those songs of hers that sends chills down my spine (in a good way).
Also, it has always puzzled me a bit that I can love Enya, but also love a group like The Prodigy, which is pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Agree completly, Enya, Clanad, The Prodigy , The Chemical Brothers etc. I've got a very eclectic musical taste.
I also remember this as a kid watching the early morning music video’s on TV, the song and visuals always fascinated me. Either a show called RAGE or Video Hits. I find I have an incredibly large and expansive taste in music. All genres dating from the 30’s to today. It all depends on my mood at the time.
Oh yes, "Caribbean Blue" is so hauntingly beautiful ❤️
I take it you’ve heard the mash up of “Smack my Orinoco Flow up”?
@@iamrobfromcardiff5515 Now that you mention it, I just went and reheard it and it's pretty decent.
6:40 The best part of those swells like that is that different parts of the chord shine through like an arpeggio. You hear the lower parts first and it just gets louder and walks up the chord, across multiple octaves. Soooo pretty!
As a bookstore clerk at the time when Watermark was released, I am sure I rang up a thousand copies of this per year, mostly on cassette tape. We had it as one of our in-store play albums, and it never got old in the three years I worked there. Good music to shelve books by.
I'm glad her music made it into the LOTR trilogy.
They utilized her capacity for transcendent tones beautifully. Perfect to represent Elvendom
But you know why Peter Jackson is awesome? It's more subtle than that - he chose Enya to sing Elvish songs from Rivendell and chose another phenomenal voice, Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins), to represent the Lothlorien elves and sing songs during their scenes in the movie. Always loved and respected that.
I didn’t know that!
When this song was released it blew my mind. I had heard nothing like it before.
I get this mental image of the mix engineer sitting in front of this massive pile of tape, “Good Lord, where do I start?”- Thing is they did a an absolutely brilliant job of it- The exact same thing for the video production, too.
😂😂😂 I wanna see a reenactment 😂😂😂
Exactly. With my own music, I will layer vocals sometimes 15-20 times--and even that is a challenge. Imagine having 300-400 vocal tracks!
We need a new Sleepthief Balligomingo album!
I had a friend named Eithne (pronounced Etna) who was as irish as they come and was an amazing woman. She opened a nursing home for nuns so they could be looked after properly, and still practice their faith. We had a priest come regularly to give them communion and confession, and to keep them informed of what was happening in the world outside. I was privileged enough to work for her for a while and totally fell in love with the nuns. Wonderful ladies who I adored.
The 'th' is pronounced as a 'h' in Irish.
@@talideon I have no idea. I only know how she introduced herself. I only found out the spelling many months later when I asked her daughter so I could write out her Christmas card.
I'm French. When I was a kid, I tought she said "C'est Noël ! c'est Noël ! c'est Noël !" which means "It's Chrismas..." :)
Oh great, now I'll be hearing that myself! Merci beaucoup pour cela! 😄
Lovely coincidence
Thanks for analyzing Enya's music, not just her voice.
I love the thorough explanation of the song lyrics and the history behind the song. Great analysis!
When that Phil Spector "wall of sound" is done right, it is so good. It fits the style of her music so well.
"The genre that is Enya". Well put 🤘
I can still remember where and when I heard this song for the first time. I was visiting a friend at his dorm room. We were leaving his room to go somewhere else. As we were walking out of his room and down the hall, his neighbor had this video playing on TV with the door open to their dorm room. I had to step into their room and listen. At this time, I was listening mostly to metal but this song literally stopped me in my tracks. Since then, I have bought Enya albums without having heard a single song on it, knowing that I'd like it.
I also LOVE "Storms in Africa" even though it's mostly instrumental. I love listening to that song with my eyes closed. I can imagine a whole music video that I created in my mind while I listen.
Ohh the version of storms of Africa with the Thunder in it is so stunning!
A wonderful episode. One Gaelic Angel explaining the music of another Gaelic Angel.
I'm generally more of a punk/industrial/indie music listener but for reasons i cannot explain i suddenly and randomly have been listening to a ton of Enya for like a month now. I also don't really go for reaction type videos, but hey here i am anyway and here's this cool vid and who doesn't love a fun, if meaningless, coincidence
Better than any VH1 Pop-Up video I've ever seen. Thank you for the additional info behind this beautiful song!
The line ending "say goodbye Ross and his dependency" is a reference to both the the actual Ross Dependency (part of the Antarctic) but also Ross Cullum the album's engineer.
This song takes me back to some of the best years of my life. I was just entering college, and through my young eyes, everything in the world was fresh and new. Oh, what I'd give to go back, even just for a moment.
I was delivering pizza in college when I first heard this. I was heavily into classic rock at the time, and was just blown away.
I remember, that in 91-92? a classmate put his headphones on me in the lunch break and said this was something for me. And it was, The song was Caribbean Blue by Enya and I was unreachable for the rest of the break. I was completely entranced by it. I think that was my first entry into folk music. Before that is was all rock, pop or heavy. From there I discovered Clannad (With Enya's sister as lead singer) and many other folk artists. My life (or my musical life at least) was literally never the same after that. And it started with Enya.
When I visited Ireland, I was given a tour of the island by a friend who was born and raised there and later immigrated to America. One of the greatest places we visited was Leo's Tavern in Donegal. Leo is the patriarch of Clannad and Enya's father. When you entered, all her platinum records graced the walls and her videos and music were playing everywhere. It was the most memorable place I visited as several of the family came out and sang for us.
Patriarch?
@@Dreyno whoops, thanks, corrected.
Great! I'M really fan of her sister Moya Brennan as well:-)
Gosh darn you. You caught me by surprise. I always have loved Enya. She is so special! You will now need to react to Moya (Marie) Brennan who just happens to be Enya's sister. You just killed me talking about Clannad now. THank you so much for this. I wish that there was still music like this. The world needs it!
I went to a Montessori school and they would always play this during reading time. It took me a decade to find the song!
I think you forgot to mention that she plays all the instruments too!
Quite a talent.
Thanks for this.
I remember when this came out. People lost their minds over it. I just find it so well crafted in every respect. From the instrumentals to the stop action, almost claymation, video. And the lyrics, clever, clever, clever. I remember getting out my atlas to find all the places she references. And yes, fun nod to Rob Dickens. A classic. Celtic Woman did it pretty good justice almost 30 years ago. Mairead, Maev, Lisa, Chloe, and Orla. Great post.
Yeah, she was absolutely massive back then. This went gold over here, and the album, Watermark, sold 11m copies.
Beth, thank you for your detailed review!
Orinoco Flow was so unique and beautiful when I first heard it, and is still so now over 35 years later!
I have all (I think) of Enya's albums and have these on my phone and computer to listen to any time, any where.
Yes, I follow other artists and different genres, but I can come back to Enya and can listen for hours.
Proud to be of Irish descent! 🙂
The joy and passion that you experience when listening to musical pieces is infectious. Many thanks for the educational and enlivening content.
I loved this song from the very first time I heard it.
I was 12 when she released Watermark. For me this was how elves sang. I'd spend hours cycling it the forest with Enya in my walkman dreaming of elves in Lothlorien.
And then she wrote two songs for The Fellowship Of The Ring, one of them completly sang in elvish whike the second has elvish verses.
@@carlossaraiva8213 One of the songs on her 1991 album Sheperd Moon is named Lothlorien 😊
@@danielsundin3669 Yes. And she wrote it 10 years before she wrote the song for LOTR.
@@danielsundin3669 Fun fact about Enya: she names some of her songs or albuns after astronomical bodies. Sheperd Moon is named after small moons arround Saturn that shephard the rings.
"Watermark" was actually Enya's "third" album. She worked with Nicky and Roma on "The Frog Prince" and the soundtrack for "The Celts". So by "Watermark", Enya's style was established. The Irony is that "Orinoco Flow" was the LAST song recorded on "Watermark" and was the one that they kept going back to over and over again as Roma stated it didn't quite work, but then they did it and there was a sense of jubilation and celebration.. that comes out in this song!!!
I wish she could do a tour with an orchestra. It would be something special even without the layering. Voice of an angel, extremely talented and truly a one of a kind. I would love to see her in concert.
I like it. Not next stupid "reaction video" but very nice and professional analysis of Orinoco Flow. Thumb up ❤
to hear this song on a wall of 8 -15" subwoofers is a true experience. i had a friend with that setup and agreed to play this and i think we almost broke some windows with the bass drop in the middle of the song it brings a new sound to this song with a extra bass boost it is pretty euphoric.
This song brings back such memories. I had never listened to Enya before, but one of our Chemical Engineering professors threw a party for the 40+ graduating Chem E's. Late that night in his backyard, keg of beer killed, sipping red wine, everything was winding down, and this album was playing. It was the beginning of adulthood.
Love this song and this artist. Very unique in both sound and visual, in which I love to close my eyes and just listen to her voice. It's very relaxing.
Ahhh I love Enya and everything about her aesthetic SOOO gosh darn much, so seeing this video appreciating Enya and my favorite of her songs so much is so heavenly.
Also I love your video style and the purple-green color scheme with the text bits in this video so much.
I can say this is one of those first listens that mesmerize an audiophile.
Enya is a masterpiece! Watermark, this album of this song was magnificent.
Interesting that you should be reacting to this; I remember the late, great, recently-departed Steve Wright really championing this on his afternoon show back in the day. I’m sure he had a part in bringing it to a wider audience. Also really like the changes you’ve made to your channel, Beth!
The entire song IS sailing. Bouncing, bouncing, calm, big swell, bouncing, bouncing, resolving in a final chord that is a question. The river/sea IS a physical "wall of sound." Layered, complex, open.
I love the counterpoint of the high note that gets "answered" by the low notes and the base drums that "answer" or "echo"
Like "chirp" then a delayed "woomp".
The Irish have done it again! Next month is St. Patrick's day, it would be nice to hear authentic Irish or Celtic music in honor of the Emerald Island☘️☘️🇮🇪
I love many Enya songs, but MARBLE HALLS is my favourite. Pure vocal.
Her voice and music just relaxes my mind and I feel like like I'm on journey far far away out at sea
Upvoted because this first (of VERY, VERY many) reaction videos that taught me anything about Enya and her music. Keep it up!
Clannad! Wow! What a throwback! I remember Clannad's theme tune for Robin of Sherwood
I was a teenager figuring out what she liked, and this song started getting airtime in Los Angeles. Enya was like no one I had ever heard before, this angelic and uplifting song speaking to me. It took forever to figure what the song was as I had never heard of the Orinoco River, but i finally had a bit of money and raced off to Target to purchase my very first CD. I still have it all these years later.
It's such great music. It's not everyone's jam, but dang she's gifted.
Was curious what you'd make of Enya. But since you mentioned them in the breakdown, I'd love to hear your breakdown of CLANNAD, in particular HARRY'S GAME. Or as a bit of a more mainstream option, IN A LIFETIME by CLANNAD & BONO. I've always loved Máire Ní Bhraonáin's voice and id love to hear what makes it different from more contemporary singing styles.
Enya is one of the most calming, almost trance-inducing voices ever. She’s only really rivaled in my opinion by Loreena McKennitt and her sister Moya Brennan, who’s the lead singer for Clannad, IMHO.
One of the songs of the late 1980's to feature the iconic Roland D50 synthesizer....
I knew that she brought the Prophet 5 to the family band, Clannad. I didn’t know that she used the D50 later on her solo albums. Interesting. If they remixed her albums for Dolby Atmos, that could convince me to upgrade my audio system. They (Steven Wilson ?) would have hundreds of tracks to pull from. Imagine some of the Enya’s singing from above and behind you.
I really loved Enta Moya and Clannad..
One thing which grabbed me about this song is Inthought she mentioned Kalihi which is a town in Hawaii. I live in Hawaii so that stood out for mez
Gorgeous song and a true classic!
I love Clannad, I love Enya. I love Orinoco Flow. Strangely enough, in this song, I always appreciated some tiny hint of subdued agression. Don't ask me to explain, I can't, but I love songs that give me that feeling. Hence it gives me energy. Perfect to start the day with, not so good when you don't want speeding tickets while driving.
You don’t even have to explain, and I know what you mean. There’s so much je ne sais quoi in the various feelings of that distinctly Enya sound.
Love Enya. One of the few artists I bought their CD's at a time(early 90's) I had no money and relied on radio stations and a tape recorder..
At the top of my head.. Metallica/Temple of the Dogs/Tori Amos and Enya were the artists/CD's I legitimately had.
Of all the artist.. Enya's music made my stress and anxieties 'melt away'.. she was a 'must have'... also they didn't play her music enough on the radios.. lol
'On My Way Home' is perhaps my favorite.
I really enjoyed your breakdown, and, more, your unabashed enjoyment of the song itself. You made me smile too.
I love it when people try to put me in any given box (i.e. - "You're just a metal-head", or "You're a throw-back from the 70's"). The look on their faces when I tell them I go from Metallica & 5FDP, to Linkin Park & the Scorpions, to Kool & The Gang, Journey, Yanni & Enya, it's fun to see their jaw hit the floor. Now I'm loving Nightwish & this whole genre. Sure, I'm a metal-head & Southern Rock FREAK. But like most people, I/we don't fit in any box.
Great review & breakdown here, Lass! Thanks for sharing YOUR talents as well!
@LEO1WOLF I love the reactions I get when I mention my musical likes; mine start in the 30s up to mostly the 80s, with the rare 90s and 2000s songs. I love old country, Western Swing, big bands, sweet bands, and on. Hated disco (still do), dislike what passes for "country" music nowadays. Just a handful of rap/hip-hop (around the time of Tone Loc). Some metal. I grew up in the 60s and all that great music. And then the 70s happened. So yeah, good to not be in a "rut" about music.
my favorite has always been Caribbean blue
I recommend you a Spanish singer her name is Diana Navarro with the song "El perdón" she is a singer that transmits a lot when she sings and has incredible melismas. She is also very versatile when it comes to singing. She sings different musical styles. Best regards
I love Enya and I love all of your reaction videos. I will have to listen to your album!
What gets me is the complexity of her music. It takes 3 to 5 years to put out an album she is satisfied with. She has final say on everything. Frustrating for fans but satisfying when she releases another album and it beats your expectations. You truly have to listen carefully to hear all the voices in perfect harmony. I hope she puts out another album soon.
This is a lovely song from a lovely album. I absolutely love the artwork in this video. Its lightness seemed to fit just perfectly with the music and the sense of gliding down a river. That was nice to visit. I haven't heard this in a long time.
I had the privilege of seeing her in concert back in the 90’s, she is magical.
I remember first time listening this song, I was stunned. I was so shocked saying myself what is this. I was listening all sorts of music, including classical but this was something unique. 25 years later, I still love this song.
Would love to see your take on Boadicea, Enya performs a beautiful song without saying a word but makes sounds that are just perfect
Since I was old enough to have a favorite genre I've been a hard rock/metal guy. But I'll take all the Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt and Enya I can get my ears on. I don't think any of the 3 ladies ever did a bad song,. whatever the genre. I gotta say "Yay Beth" for doing this onej.
2:09 I was in a quest to figure out what that was. Its an arpeggiated synth. I can sleep now and listen to it on repeat. I love how's its floating around the place
Part of the reason these songs cannot be performed live is that her singing the same lyrics has been layered up to 500 times.
my fav singer in the past, one of my top 5 today.
Enya and a good pair of headphones, and a gummy of whatever you are packin, all at bedtime is a great way to drift off.
"Exile" is great too, as is "Evening falls", and "May it be" and and 😅... but all in all, no bad songs in Enya's repertuar 🤘😊👌
Best wishes on your new album, I'll check it out.
Try to analyze Cursum Peficio from Eyna - it's like two songs in one and pretty unique!
Thanks! Enya's been one of the big influences on my life!
Enya's music is timeless! She is the embodiment of harmony!
My favourite is the Album Legend by Clannad, made for the TV series Robin of Sherwood which gave it a very haunting mysterious sound :)