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.

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.

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.

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

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.

May November come fast!

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!

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