Enya: From Elvish to Loxian

Move over, Sigur Ros: Irish singer Enya has an invented language, too. Three songs on Enya's new album, "Amarantine," are in Loxian, a language devised by Enya's lyricist, Roma Ryan, after Enya sang in Elvish for the soundtrack of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Enya has explained that the Loxians "live on another planet and are looking out, wondering, 'Are we the only ones who exist?' "

It's part of Enya's continuing merger of Celtic and cosmic. Enya is actually one of pop's most successful team confections: Enya provides melodies, Ryan adds words, and Ryan's husband, Nicky, produces and arranges the tracks.

On "Amarantine," as usual, the sound is reverential and unreal. Enya's tunes show Celtic roots, but her voice is usually overdubbed into celestial choirs. Nicky Ryan favors synthesized string orchestras and harpsichordlike plucked sounds. Roma Ryan strings together treacly tidings like "Love will always let you fly," so it's a relief when the words are incomprehensible, although the CD booklet has translations.

There are moments on "Amarantine" when the mists part: In "If I Could Be Where You Are" and "A Moment Lost," with expressive solo lead vocals for fond laments akin to Irish slow airs, and in "The River Sings," a song in Loxian with a hearty beat. Otherwise, the overall effect of "Amarantine" is like that of drowning in whipped cream.

— Jon Pareles, New York Times

drowning in whip cream? i think not!

Thank you Evacuee for posting this article.
It seems like they don't know much about Enya but they wanted (or had) to write down an article just the same.

I agree with Violet, it sounded like they had to write something. They probably don't even like Enya's style of music and that's why the drowning in whipped cream comment was made. I feel as if I'm floating when I listen to Enya not drowning.

I want to add something, Enya's music and Roma's lyrics have a "pure feminine" content that makes Enya absolutely different from the rest of music we listen.
The music market is made by men or women who sing men's music and lyrics. Women are usually appreciated when they sing about sex or love toward men, any other feminine point of view not strictly related to the men's world is often considered as whipped cream.
Enya is revolutionary musically speaking, too bad the 99% of music reviewers are men or women who don't have the courage to express a different point of view.

You're right Violet. Women are also only popular if they dress in sleezey clothing and jump around on stage. There are very fiew woman singers in the top 40 who can sing much less dress with class but that is just my opinion.

I would do the same thing but I don't think we have to worry.

It seems like we all don't want Enya to change and/or become something different from what we learned to love.

I agree. There's no one like Eithne.

hey i can say it in one word enya is class the woman i hope two find two marry some day but thats a hard act to follow eric

I don't think so, she'll never marry, Eric

not enya but some one like her but if it is her shoot me right away so i will die in my dream ok

Oh Eric! What a splendid line! I too want to die in my dream

*bows to the real dreamer*