ABOUT ENYA » Amarantine
Amarantine, Enya's sixth solo album was released on November 21, 2005 after 2 years of recording. The title track was aired for the first time on October 10, 2005 on Terry Wogan's show (BBC Radio 2).
- Amarantine (The Everlasting Flower)
- Promotion
- The Album Launch
- Loxian
- Album Editions
- Album Sales
- Singles
Amarantine - The Everlasting Flower
"We called the album 'Amarantine' to mean everlasting. Poets use the word to describe an everlasting flower and I loved the image of that." -Enya
Amaranth (from the Greek amarantos, unwithering) is a name used in poetry, and applies to Amaranth and other plants which, from not soon fading, typify immortality. In ancient Greece the amaranth was sacred to Artemis, the virgin goddess of the moon, hunt, and wild animals. It was supposed to have special healing properties, and as a symbol of immortality was used to decorate images of the gods.
A Rose and an Amaranth blossomed side by side in a garden,
and the Amaranth said to her neighbour,
"How I envy you your beauty and your sweet scent!
No wonder you are such a universal favourite."
But the Rose replied with a shade of sadness in her voice,
"Ah, my dear friend, I bloom but for a time:
my petals soon wither and fall, and then I die.
But your flowers never fade, even if they are cut;
for they are everlasting."
-Aesop's Fables
Promotion
The promotional photography was shot by Simon Fowler during two days in June 2005 at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, England.
Music video for the first single 'Amarantine' was directed by Tim Royes, who worked alongside well-known UK post-production and special effects company Rushes. The surreal forest through which Enya walks was created by digital matte painter Charles Darby (The Fifth Element, Titanic, The Matrix).
The Album Launch
"We wanted to launch the Enya’s new album in a city that is as beautiful as possible –and Paris is one of Enya’s favourite cities." -Nicky Ryan
The album was launched on Thursday 27, 2005 in the beautiful
Castle of
Vaux Le Vicomte, France. Record company Warner gave Enya, who wore a stunning red
gown by Maria Grachvogel, an impressive banquet starting
with fireworks set to the new music.
Loxian
"I've sung in Gaelic, Latin and Japanese, so we thought,
let's try something completely new." -Enya
Three songs on 'Amarantine' are sung in a fictional language Loxian created by Enya's lyricist Roma Ryan. The idea arose after Roma'd written lyrics in Elvish for 'The Lord Of The Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring'. The main influence is from the sounds that Enya sings while the songs don't have actual lyrics yet.
The first piece recorded in Loxian was 'Water Shows the Hidden Heart' after it didn't work in English, Gaelic and Latin. At the time, the language was called Errakan, what in Gaelic means more-less "the people that come from the Moon", but Roma and Enya found the name Loxian more appealing.
Loxian songs:
Less Than A Pearl - Heah Viiya
The River Sings - Ea Hymm Llay Hey
Water Shows The Hidden Heart - Syoombrraya
"The Loxians, are much like us. They're in space, somewhere in the night. They're looking out, they're mapping the stars, and wondering if there is anyone else out there. It's to do with that concept: are we alone in the universe?" -Enya
On December 5, 2005, Roma published 'Water Shows the Hidden Heart', book icluding her poetry and story behind the Loxian songs. The re-release is available as a part of Deluxe Collector's edition of 'Amarantine' (November 2006). The second printing contains additional illustrations and different poems.
Album Editions
Amarantine
regular 12-track version of the album
more details and lyrics
Amarantine (Special Christmas Edition)
regular version of the album + an additional disc with four newly recorded Christmas songs:
Adeste, Fideles, The Magic of the Night, We wish you a Merry Christmas,
Christmas Secrets
Amarantine (Special Limited Edition)
regular version of the album + Water Shows the Hidden Heart (second printing of Roma Ryan's book)
+ three exclusive photos of Enya, all packaged in a red velvet box
Album Sales (as of December 2006)
The original edition of Amarantine entered the UK charts at #8 and has sold 360,000 copies as part of 4-million global sales. Amarantine has proved to be a major international success, selling strongly in the US (1.4 million), Japan (500,000), Germany (365,000) and France (260,000).
Singles
Amarantine (worldwide)
1. Amarantine (single version)
2. The Comb of the Winds
3. Spaghetti Western Theme from The Celts
It's In The Rain (Europe)
1. It's in the Rain (single version)
2. A Moment Lost
3. Drifting
If I Could Be Where You Are (Japan - promo only)
1. If I Could Be Where You Are
Someone Said Goodbye (USA - promo only)
1. Someone Said Goodbye (album version)
2. Someone Said Goodbye (remix)
It's in the Rain / Adeste, Fideles (Double A Single)
1. It's In The Rain
2. Adeste, Fideles
Enya said 'Amarantine' and 'If I Could Be Where You Are' are her favourite songs of the album.