Book of Days (song)

Last updated
"Book of Days"
Enyabook.jpg
Single by Enya
from the album Shepherd Moons
B-side
  • "As Baile"
  • "Morning Glory"
Released20 July 1992 (1992-07-20)
Genre New-age
Length2:55
Label WEA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nicky Ryan
Enya singles chronology
"How Can I Keep from Singing?"
(1991)		"Book of Days"
(1992)		"The Celts"
(1992)
Music video
"Book of Days" on YouTube

"Book of Days" is a song by Irish musician Enya. The original version, included on her 1991 album Shepherd Moons , is sung in Irish Gaelic. The subsequent 1992 single version is bilingual, with new English lyrics; this version was recorded for Ron Howard's film Far and Away , and scenes from the film feature in the video. The bilingual English-Irish version replaced the original pure Gaelic version [1] on subsequent pressings of Shepherd Moons from mid-1992 onwards, making the original recording relatively rare.

Contents

"Book of Days" became Enya's second top-10 single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 10, and reached number 12 on the Irish Singles Chart. It was used as a temp track during the editing of James Cameron's film Titanic , for the scene eventually accompanied by the musical cue called "Take Her To Sea, Mr. Murdoch" on the finished soundtrack by James Horner. [2]

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic stated that the singer's "trademark understated drama [are] in full flow" on the "wonderful" song. [3] Gavin Report wrote, "This is a melodic and harmonic masterpiece with all the elements to make it a classic." [4] Music & Media said, "Taken from the motion picture Far and Away , this is the sung version of the original ethereal Clannad instrumental." [5] Music Week commented, that Enya's "latest sonic soundscape, Book Of Days, is typically mellifluous. Multi-textured yet as light as air". [6]

Track listings

UK 7-inch and cassette single [7] [8]
No.TitleLength
1."Book of Days"2:55
2."As Baile"4:03
UK CD1 [9]
No.TitleLength
1."Book of Days"2:55
2."As Baile"4:03
3."Morning Glory"2:27
UK CD2 [10]
No.TitleLength
1."Book of Days"2:55
2."Watermark"2:25
3."On Your Shore"3:59
4."Exile"4:23
Australian CD single [11]
No.TitleLength
1."Book of Days"2:55
2."On Your Shore"3:59
3."As Baile"4:03
Japanese maxi-CD single [12]
No.TitleLength
1."Book of Days"2:55
2."As Baile"4:03
3."Angeles"3:47
4."Oriel Window"2:22
5."'S Fágaim Mo Bhaile"3:57
6."Caribbean Blue"3:40

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Book of Days"
Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [13] 111
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [14] 26
Ireland (IRMA) [15] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [16] 34
UK Singles (OCC) [17] 10

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Book of Days"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom20 July 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 WEA [18]
Japan25 August 1992CD [19]

The Gaelic version of "Book of Days" was used in the theatrical trailer of the Japanese film Calmi Cuori Appassionati (2001). [20]

The original Gaelic version was also used the same year on the original US trailer for the British film Billy Elliot . [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enya</span> Irish singer (born 1961)

Eithne "Enya" Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin known mononymously as Enya, is an Irish singer and composer. Enya is also the best-selling Irish solo artist, with an estimated 80 million albums sold worldwide;the second-best-selling music act from Ireland overall, after the rock band U2. The music of Enya has been widely recognised for featuring multi-layers of her own vocals and instrumentation, lengthened reverb, and interwoven elements of Celtic music. Enya's career in music spans across four decades; she has been composing and recording music since the 1980s.

<i>Enya</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Enya

Enya is the debut studio album by Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya, released in March 1987 by BBC Records in the UK and by Atlantic Records in the US. It was renamed as The Celts for the 1992 international re-release of the album by WEA Records in Europe and by Reprise Records in the US. The album features a selection of music that she recorded for the soundtrack to The Celts, a BBC documentary series about the origins, growth, and influence of Celtic culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orinoco Flow</span> 1988 single by Enya

"Orinoco Flow", also released as "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)", is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Enya from her second studio album, Watermark (1988). It was released on 3 October 1988 by WEA Records in the United Kingdom and by Geffen Records in the United States the following year. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks and received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Music Video and Best New Age Performance at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards. The Guardian ranked "Orinoco Flow" at number 77 on its list of the 100 greatest UK number-one singles in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribbean Blue</span> 1991 single by Enya

"Caribbean Blue" is a song by Irish musician Enya, included as the second track on her third studio album, Shepherd Moons (1991). It follows a waltz time signature, and mentions the Anemoi : Boreas, Afer Ventus (Africus), Eurus, and Zephyrus. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 7 October 1991 by WEA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only If...</span> 1997 single by Enya

"Only If..." is a song by Irish singer Enya. It was released on 10 November 1997 as the first single from her first greatest hits compilation, Paint the Sky with Stars (1997). The song charted in several countries, and its accompanying music video was noted for its creative direction. Enya promoted the song with interviews and performances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Late Show with David Letterman and Royal Variety Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Time</span> 2000 single by Enya

"Only Time" is a song by Irish musician Enya. It was released on 6 November 2000 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, A Day Without Rain (2000). The song reached number one in Canada, Germany, Poland and Switzerland, number two in Austria, and became Enya's only top-10 single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became an anthem for the victims of the 11 September attacks, with Enya donating to a fund for the victims' families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May It Be</span> 2001 single by Enya

"May It Be" is a song by the Irish recording artist Enya. She and Roma Ryan respectively composed and wrote lyrics to the song, for Peter Jackson's 2001 film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The song entered the German Singles Chart at number one in 2002, and Enya performed it at the 74th Academy Awards. "May It Be" was acclaimed by music critics and received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enya discography</span>

The discography of Irish singer-songwriter Enya consists of eight studio albums, two compilation albums, twenty-one singles as lead artist and a number of other appearances. Enya achieved a breakthrough in her career in 1988 with the album Watermark, containing the big hit song "Orinoco Flow" which topped the UK Singles Chart and the European Hot 100 Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Policy of Truth</span> 1990 single by Depeche Mode

"Policy of Truth" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 7 May 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album Violator (1990). It is the only Depeche Mode single to chart higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart than on the UK Singles Chart, and it became the band's second chart-topper on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Roma Shane Ryan is an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist, who lives in Killiney, Ireland, with her husband Nicky Ryan. She is the primary lyricist for the singer Enya, who has stated that the importance of the Ryans' contributions is such that without them, Enya would not exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disappear (INXS song)</span> 1990 single by INXS

"Disappear" is a song by Australian rock band INXS, released as the second single from their seventh studio album, X (1990), in November 1990. The song was written by Jon Farriss, Michael Hutchence and Garry Gary Beers while they were living together in Hong Kong in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Wanna Know</span> 2004 single by Mario Winans

"I Don't Wanna Know" is a song by American R&B artist Mario Winans featuring rapper P. Diddy and Irish singer Enya. The song is based on a sample of the Fugees' song "Ready or Not", which in turn samples the synthesizer riff from Enya's song "Boadicea". The drums are sampled from the end of EPMD's "You're a Customer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All or Nothing (Cher song)</span> 1999 single by Cher

"All or Nothing" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 22nd studio album, Believe (1998). It was released as the third international single from Believe on June 7, 1999, by WEA and Warner Bros. Records. "All or Nothing" reached the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart at number 38 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. In Europe, the single was a top-10 hit in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Moved On</span> 2000 single by a-ha

"Summer Moved On" is a song by Norwegian band a-ha, released as the group's first single in more than six years. The lead single from their sixth studio album, Minor Earth Major Sky (2000), the song was released in Europe on 25 March 2000 by WEA and was given a UK release on 22 May 2000. It was originally hastily written after a-ha agreed to a one-time reunion at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 1998. The song became a number-one radio hit in much of Europe, including topping the chart in the band's native Norway. On the song, Morten Harket achieved the European record for the longest note held in a top-40 pop song; he sustains a chest voice note for 20.2 seconds. Its music video was directed by Adam Berg and filmed in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Man in My Heart</span> 1995 single by the Human League

"One Man in My Heart" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League, written by Neil Sutton and Philip Oakey. It was released as the second single from the band's seventh album, Octopus (1995), on 6 March 1995 by East West Records. A ballad, the song differs from all previous Human League tracks as the lead vocal is performed by band member Susan Ann Sulley, with spoken-word refrains from Oakey and contrasting backing from the third member, Joanne Catherall. The song received positive reviews from music critics and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, spending eight weeks in the top 100. Its music video was directed by Andy Morahan. In 2001, The Guardian newspaper named "One Man in My Heart" one of the best love songs of the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crocodile Shoes (song)</span> 1994 single by Jimmy Nail

"Crocodile Shoes" is a single by Jimmy Nail. It was written for the television drama Crocodile Shoes, and became a chart hit for Nail in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden in 1994 and 1995. It is featured on the album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somewhere in My Heart</span> 1987 single by Aztec Camera

"Somewhere in My Heart" is a song by Scottish band Aztec Camera. It was released as the third single from their third studio album, Love (1987). The song was produced by Michael Jonzun and written by Roddy Frame. Released as a single in 1988, the track peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-40 hit in Australia and Ireland. The music video was directed by John Scarlett-Davis and produced by Nick Verden for Radar Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Take You There</span> 1992 single by Betty Boo

"Let Me Take You There" is a song by English singer-songwriter Betty Boo. She co-wrote and co-produced the song with John Coxon, and it contains a sample of the Four Tops's version of the 1958 song "It's All in the Game", so Charles Dawes and Carl Sigman are also credited as writers. Musically, the song is a dance-pop track with lyrics about daydreaming by the ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Love Song</span> 1995 single by Scarlet

"Independent Love Song" is a song by British musical duo Scarlet, taken from their debut album, Naked (1994), and released as a single on 9 January 1995 by WEA. The power ballad, written by Cheryl Parker and Jo Youle, and produced by Mike Paxman and Paul Muggleton, was a hit in several countries. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 26, reaching a peak of number 12 in February 1995. The single peaked at #1 in Israel, became a top-ten hit on the Irish Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 10, and charted within the top 50 in Germany, Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Other tracks on the release included "The Fall" and "Independent Love Song".

<i>Themes from Calmi Cuori Appassionati</i> 2001 soundtrack album by Enya

Themes from Calmi Cuori Appassionati is a soundtrack album by Irish singer, songwriter and musician Enya, released in Japan on 30 October 2001 by WEA International. It is compiled of previously released songs recorded between 1986 and 2000 that were used for the soundtrack to the 2001 Japanese romantic film Calmi Cuori Appassionati.

References

  1. ↑ "Enya Book of Days". Enya Official Fan Website. 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  2. ↑ "Filmtracks: Titanic (James Horner)". Filmtracks. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Enya – Shepherd Moons". AllMusic . Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "A/C: Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report . 22 May 1992. p. 26. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . 8 August 1992. p. 12. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 25 July 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Book of Days (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Enya. WEA. 1992. YZ 640, 4509-90416-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Book of Days (UK cassette single sleeve). Enya. WEA. 1992. YZ640C, 4509-90416-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Book of Days (UK CD1 liner notes). Enya. WEA. 1992. YZ640CD, 4509-90417-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Book of Days (UK CD2 disc notes). Enya. WEA. 1992. YZ640CDX, 4509-90492-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Book of Days (Australian CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 1992. 4509-90142-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Book of Days (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 1992. WMC5-519.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 July 2016" . Retrieved 12 July 2016– via Imgur.
  14. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 34. 22 August 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Book of Days". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "Enya – Book of Days". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 18 July 1992. p. 19. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "ブック・オブ・デイズ(6トラックス) | エンヤ" [Book of Days (6 Tracks) | Enya] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  20. ↑ "Calmi Cuori Appassionati - Trailer". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "Billy Elliot Trailer". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.