Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996
From: Brian Baranoski (baranosk@umbc.edu)
Enya's first CD was released in 1986. In the intervening 10 years, she has released only 3 more CDs. She is now 35 years old. I have noticed a difference in her voice over these 4 CDs. Given that her methods of composing music and putting everything together takes quite a while (with down time for promotion, relaxing by getting away from the studio, etc.), it seems likely that she will not be increasing dramatically the release of CDs in the future.
Since she does all of the vocalizations, and considers her voice itself to be a musical instrument, it appears that her voice is her weak point. What! Did I say that! Yes. Looking at it coldly, without those beautiful vocalizations there would be no "Enya". There will always be an Eithne! Recently, I saw a piece on the Dateline (?) TV show about behind the stage on Celine Dion. She is much younger than Enya and has vocal problems. No, I am not saying that she does not sing well. Apparently a few years ago, she experienced some straining of her vocal cords and the doctors told her to rest her speaking voice as much as possible. So she sometimes has to communicate with her husband via something like clicks (with her fingers)! Pardon me if I did not get the particulars correct, but the point is that her voice would not sound as good as it does if she did not give it a rest. Granted that she gives many concerts and sings much more loudly than Enya does. Even though Enya does not give concerts, she probably vocalizes about as much. We don't hear most of these vocalizations because she throws much of it out when the vocalizations do not "feel right" (in her words) while creating a new song. Remember, the amount of vocalizations in the song Angeles was about 500. But the comparison here is that there comes a time when the voice will not what it used to be.
So, will Enya eventually make a transition to: (a) CDs consisting mostly of instrumental music with a few vocals; (b) instrumental music for films and TV shows only (like Far and Away); (c) something else -- please fill in the blank. Forgive me if this sounds like I am saying that Enya is all washed up and over the hill. :-) I assure you with every fiber of my being that that is NOT my intention and do not even think such thoughts! She will very likely will be able to continue like she has in the past for another 10 years. But that is only 3 CDs guys! Woe am I that I can only look for only 3 more enchanting and rapturous CDs! Help!
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996
From: promero@ECUA.NET.ec (Pablo Romero)
....and then, there are other singers, like Nana Mouskouri (who has sang for about 30 years) who are still to lose their voice..inb fact, Ms. Mouskouri will be touring the US and South AMerica and Canada pretty soon. So let's no specualte..who knows, maybe enya's voice is as resistant...and we all know she has perfect Pitch and training
Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996
From: jim bell (jimbell@pacifier.com)
There really ought to be a technological solution to the multi-vocal issue. You can't just mix the same voice "N" times and expect it to sound like a choir. The choral sound is based on the fact that the individual voices very slightly vary in frequency, timing, etc. However, it seems to me that with a sufficiently complex system, a single voice could be adjusted both in frequency and timing sufficiently and then combined to simulate, say, 8 or 16 voices. Sure, she'd never completely replace multiple sessions, but it would be so much easier if she could do perhaps 10 voices and have them multiplied by 16 or so, which would help solve the problem.
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996
From: Jean Debord (100412.1707@compuserve.com)
Her voice is often drowned into the music, specially on her last album. I suppose this is intentional, and even logical for someone who considers voice as an instrument among others. Indeed I think that she considers herself more a composer than a singer. She said that when she was composing her first pieces she had no intention to add lyrics.
I think (b) is more likely. Indeed I read on this list that she was working on film projects, perhaps with George Lucas, but it may be only rumors...
For (c) I would say : compose music and have it interpreted by others, preferably artists with a background in classical and/or religious music. With motivated interpreters it might well be the best future for her music.
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996
From: Derdriu@aol.com
Here's a hint: if you ever have heard Enya's mother sing, you'll know that Enya's voice will never get crickety.
In fact, from all the exercise her vocal cords get, I'm sure it will help preserve her voice. Her mother still has a beautiful voice, and she has been singing her whole life (like her daughters).
Eithne's voice may get deeper, but that doesn't maen she will not be able to do as much. Listen to Maire, too.
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997
From: Robert Celic (ah1cobra@west.net)
There has been quite a bit of discussion taking place in the alt.music.enya newsgroup concerning Enya, Bono and Sinead O'Connor. All three are at the top of their musical hierarchy (well, maybe not so much Sinead, but she was at one time.) What I find amazing is that with all the musicians in the world the focus falls on these three who all happen to be Irish. Albeit that Enya is the complete antithesis of O'Connor & Bono.
We have Bono and O'Connor who in late '80s were filled with righteous indignation battling for the high ground so they could be crowned the king & queen purveyors of moral consciousness for the 1990's. Well it hasn't quite worked out that way. Yes, Sinead has spawned a whole flock of angry young female singers (Paula Cole, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Heather Nova,etc.).Bono is still doing his thing. But is the world a better place for their efforts? It seems we live in ever angrier times. I find it amazing that when some stars make the big dollars they are miraculously enlightened about all the worlds problems. Ted Danson is saving the oceans single handedly. When the U.S. Congress was looking into the hardships of the american farm family who do they call to testify? Jessica Lange, because she once played the part of a farmers wife in a movie! What I am saying is these people really aren't in touch with the average persons problems, are they?
And then there is Enya, working equally as hard to stay above the fray. Yes, I think there is a conscious effort on her part to stay out of it all. I revisited some papers at Dave Allum's website and have come to a new appreciation of how Enya deals with the world. It appears in the earlier days she was a little more talkative and opionated. But she keeps a lid on it now. She has in effect disconnected herself from the happenings of the world. But being Irish, think of how difficult that must be!
Look at paper #17 in Dave's cumulative index. The comments of Nicky Ryan are prophetic to say the least. He envisioned the complete falling from grace of O'Connor. "Once you step out and say 'fuck off world, fuck off music world, I know what to do blah, blah', I think it becomes even more difficult", Nicky adds. "You have to follow that aggression with even more aggression and you become much more exposed. I'm not saying Sinead is putting it on but she'll be expected to be aggressive from now on or she'll be nobody-or that's the danger. Whereas with Enya it would be the complete opposite. It's very soft, gentle stuff. You couldn't call anything on the album hard or aggressive-and I think it's intrinsic to the nature of the music that it is like that." Boy, did Nicky hit the nail on the head.
Further: Nicky adds,"even if there was loads of money to be made and all that(laughs). I'd still like to be able to get back to the roots of the thing and say 'OK. Let's forget about everything else and make a new album, Enya'. Because what we have is something special. I think there's great things to come when you consider what it's grown from"
"'It's going to be real startling,' Enya smiles confidently, her eyes lighting."
If those two had a crystal ball sitting in front of them they could not have done a better job at predicting the future. The article I quote was from the 1 December 1988 issue of HOT PRESS. This was when their albums had sold in the 10's of thousands, not the 10's of millions. So apparently Enya etal set their course at the beginning and have not deviated from it since. Nicky does not have to worry about getting back to their roots. All three must be congratulated, and I personally thank them for keeping their original vision alive.
Nicky touched on the evolution or lack thereof of their music. The criticism for the lack of evolution in their songs appears to have started with Shepherd Moons(Dave Morrison,SELECT(UK) Dec. 1991 Paper #13). What Dave Morrison and Enya's critics ever since seem to ignore is that Enya created a new whole new GENRE of music. It is a genre that does not need radical change to survive. Most people just don't understand this. But that's OK. I get it. And that's what really matters. So; of Enya, Bono and O'Connor, who will be remembered 100 years from now? Enya. Of course!
She will stand the test of time. I also believe her influence will expand beyond the world of music. Enya has just begun.
As Enya said in 1988, "It's going to be real startling" Oh, how right you were Enya, how right you were.
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997
From: Brewbeck@aol.com
I just wanted to add a big AMEN to Bob Celic's analysis of Enya "standing above the fray" and avoiding entanglement in social commentary, unlike artists such as O'Connor and Bono. For all of their talent, their music often leaves me cold with their relentless preaching about the ills of the world. Personally, I don't need any of their help, I can form my own views quite nicely, thank you.
Enya, on the other hand, seems to convey the idea that in order to find happiness, we have to look beyond the miseries of this world and find true peace within ourselves, by latching on to that "spark of divinity" within us all. That doesn't mean that we should not try to make the world a better place; however, we should not allow ourselves to become hopelessly depressed and angry by problems that may often seem intractable. I think we all need to "get away" from our daily concerns from time to time, and listening to Enya's works are a wonderful way to do just that.
"My life goes on in endless song above earth's lamentations...." - How Can I Keep From Singing, Shepherd Moons
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997
From: MDWongII@aol.com
Really good thoughts, Bob. Too bad I can't quote it all. Yes, it's funny how such a soft spoken woman could have such a profound impact in music. It wouldn't be surprising if Enya's songs are playing 100, 500,... 1000 years from now, and maybe in worlds quite a ways from this one. The themes are universal and appeal to the emotions. Her music is classic. Perhaps some space traveler will play "Exile" and hear a voice hundreds of years old singing of far distant shores, cold northern winds and sailing home. As long as the human race retains it's "humanity", Enya's music will live.