Enya was born into a musical family. Her father, Leo Brennan, was the leader of the Slieve Foy Band, a popular Irish show band; her mother was an amateur musician. Most important to Enya's career were her siblings, who formed Clannad in 1976 with several of their uncles. Enya joined the band as a keyboardist in 1979, and contributed to several of the group's popular television soundtracks. In 1982, she left Clannad, claiming that she was uninterested in following the pop direction the group had begun to pursue. Within a few years she was commissioned, along with producer/arranger Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan, to provide the score for a BBC-TV series called The Celts. The soundtrack was released in 1986 as her eponymous solo album.
Enya didn't receive much notice, but Enya and the Ryans' second effort, Watermark, became a surprise hit upon its release in 1988. "Orinoco Flow," the first single, became a number one hit in Britain, helping the album eventually sell eight million copies worldwide. Enya spent the years following the success of Watermark rather quietly; her most notable appearance was a cameo on Sinéad O'Connor's I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. She finally released Shepherd Moons, her follow-up to Watermark, in 1991. Shepherd Moons was even more successful than its predecessor, eventually selling over ten million copies worldwide; it entered the U.S. charts at number 17 and remained in the Top 200 for almost four years.
Again, Enya was slow to follow up on the success of Shepherd Moons, spending nearly four years working on her fourth album. The record, entitled Memory of Trees, was released in December of 1995. Memory of Trees entered the U.S. charts at number nine and sold over two million copies within its first year of release. In 1997 came the release of a greatest-hits collection, Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya, which featured two new songs. Enya's first album of new material in five years, A Day Without Rain, was released in late 2000. In 2001, she contributed material to the first film in Peter Jackson's award-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, scoring a hit with the single "May It Be." Amarantine, her first full-length recording since Day Without Rain, followed in November of 2005, and has so far sold nearly five million copies.
(Much of the above content of this biography has been taken from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifoxqe5ldhe~T1.)
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, her song "Only Time" (from A Day Without Rain) was used as a backdrop in many radio and TV reports about the attacks. She initially frowned upon this use, especially when many bootlegged versions of Only Time mixed with sound effects from the attack began to appear.
Enya eventually agreed to release a special edition of the song with funds going to the families of victims. Many Enya fans, however, are resentful that her music has been linked with the attacks; an example of this occurred on a 2002 appearance on CNN's Larry King Live when images of battle in Afghanistan were shown on screen as she performed "May It Be", a song with little war connection. This sparked some complaints within Enya's fan community.
Enya is admittedly a slow worker when it comes to composing music. As a result, fans have had to wait as long as five years between albums. In September 2004, a new song, set to words from a Japanese poem Roma Ryan had written and called "Sumiregusa" ("Wild Violet") was unveiled in Japan as part of an advertising campaign for Panasonic. In announcing the new recording, Warner Music Japan stated that Enya's next album was scheduled for release (in Japan at least) in mid-November. Enya issued a press release on her official Web site on 19 September stating that this was a mistake and no new album was immediately forthcoming.
Enya was awarded the World's Best-Selling Irish Act award at the World Music Awards in London on 19 November 2006. On February 11, 2007 Amarantine won Enya her fourth Grammy when it was awarded the Best New Age Album award.
Recent Releases
In November of 2005, a new album, entitled Amarantine, was released. It won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for 2007.
In 2006, Enya released several Christmas-themed CDs with newly recorded material. On October 10, 2006, Sounds of the Season was released containing six songs: the previously released "Oíche Chiúin" (a.k.a. "Silent Night") and "Amid the Falling Snow", new recordings of the standards "Adeste Fideles" (a.k.a. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful") and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as well as two original songs, "Christmas Secrets" and "The Magic of the Night". This CD was released only in the United States in an exclusive partnership with the NBC television network and the Target department store chain.
In later November two new editions of Amarantine were released. In North America, it was reissued as Amarantine - Special Christmas Edition with a second disc containing the four new Christmas songs previously issued on Sounds of the Season (the original album already had "Amid the Falling Snow" while "Oíche Chiúin" is a recording dating back to 1988 which had already been featured on numerous collections). The UK received a deluxe version of this release (Amarantine - The UK Special Edition) which also included three postcards and a copy of Roma Ryan's book Water Shows the Hidden Heart which is referenced on the original album. Canadian fans could choose from the Special Christmas Edition of Amarantine, or an EP entitled Christmas Secrets which only contained the four new songs.
Coinciding with these releases was the relaunch of Enya's official website on Nov. 2, 2006. On November 16, 2006 Enya mentioned on ITV1's that she is working on a new album. A month later, in a Japanese interview Enya said that the album will be a complete Christmas album and it will be released in the winter of 2007. There is no schedule for the release date itself.
Enya's album, "And Winter Came", was released in November 2008. It contains twelve tracks - ten brand new songs plus a newly recorded choral rendering of Oiche Chiuin (Silent Night) and a stunning version of the traditional Christmas hymn 'O come, o come Emmanuel'
Dreams
Enya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come see, high in the heavens
A new star shining bright
Out of the darkness, comes a light
Come here, in a child
Come here, bells that are ringing
And for some distant shore
This is the night
They say
Everyone wants a dream
This is the night
They say
Nothing is as it seems
Come see, close your eyes
Come see, give me your sorrow
And I keep watch for you
Until the dawn is breaking through
Until the morning wakens you
Come dream, through the night
Come dream, and then tomorrow
They'll see who, what will know
Dreams are more precious than gold
Dreams are more precious than gold
Dreams are more precious than gold
Enya's song "Dreams" is a beautiful and uplifting song about hope and rebirth. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a new star shining bright in the heavens, emerging from the darkness and bringing a light of hope to the world. The song speaks directly to the listener, encouraging them to come see and experience this light for themselves.
The first verse invites the listener to look up and see the new star, which represents the hope and promise of a better tomorrow. The second verse invites the listener to approach with the innocence of a child and the joy of a bell ringing, listening for the sounds of a journey that will take them to a distant shore. Both verses emphasize the importance of seeing and experiencing the light of hope, even if it seems far away or unreachable.
The chorus reinforces this message by stating that "everyone wants a dream" and that "nothing is as it seems." Dreams are more precious than gold because they give us hope and motivate us to pursue our goals, no matter how difficult or impossible they may seem. The third verse encourages the listener to close their eyes and give the singer their sorrow, trusting that the singer will keep watch over them until the dawn breaks and the morning brings new hope and possibilities.
Overall, Enya's song "Dreams" is a powerful reminder that hope and dreams are essential to our lives, and that even in the darkest of times, we can find a new star shining above us to guide us towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Come see, high above
Look up at the sky above
Come see, high in the heavens
Gaze at the expanse of the celestial sphere
A new star shining bright
An emerging celestial body shining luminously
Out of the darkness, comes a light
A light originating from obscurity
Come here, in a child
Listen attentively to a juvenile
Come here, bells that are ringing
Approach the alarmingly loud sounds emanating from bell systems
And for some distant shore
Headed towards an afar coast
Sounds of a journey, echo on
Resonating echoes of the voyage
This is the night
The current period is where
They say
It's said that
Everyone wants a dream
All desire aspirations
Nothing is as it seems
The apparent reality often isn't the actuality
Come see, close your eyes
Shut your eyes and take notice
Come see, give me your sorrow
Share your grief with me
And I keep watch for you
I will remain alert for you
Until the dawn is breaking through
Till the daybreak penetrates the darkness
Until the morning wakens you
Until you awaken at daybreak
Come dream, through the night
Dream while night progresses
Come dream, and then tomorrow
Dream now and tomorrow
They'll see who, what will know
They will realize and comprehend
Dreams are more precious than gold
Aspirations hold more worth than gold
Dreams are more precious than gold
Aspirations hold more worth than gold
Dreams are more precious than gold
Aspirations hold more worth than gold
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EITHNE NI BHRAONAIN, NICKY RYAN, ROMA RYAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MinaAthena
Dearest Soul Sister Enya,
I have listened to you for almost 30 years now when I discovered you in college (Caribbean Blue). Your love-filled music inspired from God, has opened my heart to listen to the whispers of my soul. You, along with your dear sister Maire has transformed my life in so many ways.
Thank You Enya (and your team) for shining the light of love in our hearts and for healing this world with your beautiful voice and message of hope.
Wishing you a year filled with love, peace, joy, laughter, wonder and good health.
Happy New Year!
In Love and Light,
Mina
enyatv
Celebrate this holiday season in style with all your favorite Christmas tunes like timeless classics by Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding, and the Drifters and new holiday favorites by Michael Bublé, Sia, Coldplay and more! Listen here https://TOPSIFY.lnk.to/100GreatestXmas 🎄 🎅 🎁
Helio González
Please! we need a new Enya album!
bbruce995
you are a highly sensitive person , i feel your powerful emotions , and understand the need for privacy
Paul smith
@Helio González weird.when she did her last album,she said no more 5 year gaps between new albums.wells she lied
Najaf Jaffrey
Jdd you have to come home today and get your home soon
lordgoro
@Helio González agree. Can never be too much beauty in the world.
MinaAthena
Dearest Soul Sister Enya,
I have listened to you for almost 30 years now when I discovered you in college (Caribbean Blue). Your love-filled music inspired from God, has opened my heart to listen to the whispers of my soul. You, along with your dear sister Maire has transformed my life in so many ways.
Thank You Enya (and your team) for shining the light of love in our hearts and for healing this world with your beautiful voice and message of hope.
Wishing you a year filled with love, peace, joy, laughter, wonder and good health.
Happy New Year!
In Love and Light,
Mina
Rita Galvão
What a beautiful comment! Thank you for describing my feelings as beautifully as the songs inspired by God that Enya sings, whispers in our souls.
Thank you, Enya, beautiful spirit, for the Music and voice! You are so blessed! ✨
Sending love... 💞🙌🏽💫
Vicki Reynolds
Agree! First song I heard was played at the e d of an episode of Northern Exposure! Took a couple of years, but when I finally tracked it down, I was amazed at what came with it! Lover her ever since! 🤗👵🇺🇸
Eliane Simões
Mina Athena I know and I heard Enya for long time! This song is divine!Thank you! God blesss you! Ligth, Peace and Ligth!From Brazil!🙏💛💚💛💚💛🌻💙🌼💙🌹❤🦋