Amarantine (album)

Amarantine
Studio album by Enya
Released 21 November 2005
Recorded 2004–2005
Studio Aigle Studios, Killiney, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland
Genre New age
Length 45:35
Label
Producer Nicky Ryan
Enya chronology
Themes from Calmi Cuori Appassionati
(2001)		 Amarantine
(2005)		 And Winter Came...
(2008)
Singles from Amarantine
  1. "Amarantine"
    Released: 2 December 2005
  2. "It's in the Rain"
    Released: 2006

Amarantine is the sixth studio album by Irish singer, songwriter and musician Enya, released on 21 November 2005 by Warner Music internationally and on 22 November 2005 by Reprise Records in the United States. Following her promotional tour in support of her previous album A Day Without Rain (2000), and work for the soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Enya began writing and recording for a new album. Amarantine was recorded in Ireland with her long time recording partners, arranger and producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan. It marks Enya's song recorded in Japanese.

Amarantine received mixed to positive reviews from critics, but it was a commercial success, peaking at number eight in the United Kingdom and number six on Billboard 200 in the United States, where one million copies of the album were shipped within its first month of release. Enya released two singles from the album, "Amarantine" and "It's in the Rain". In the United States, "Someone Said Goodbye" was released as a promotional single. In 2007, the album won Enya her fourth Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. According to Nielsen SoundScan, it is the third top selling new age album of the 2000s in the United States.[1]

Recording and music

Loxian is an artistic language created by Roma and is used in three songs on Amarantine. Roma released a book with the language in December 2005, Water Shows the Hidden Heart. The language was partly inspired by the Elvish languages created by J. R. R. Tolkien.

The opening bars to the song Sumiregusa is from the first part of John Andrew Stevenson's "Vesper Hymn".

In September 2004, "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)" was released in Japan as part of an advertising campaign for Panasonic. Warner Music Japan stated that Amarantine would be released in November 2004, but Enya issued a press release on her website two months prior stating no release was immediately planned.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic55/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Billboardmixed[2]
E! OnlineC[2]
Entertainment.ie[4]
Entertainment WeeklyC[5]
The New York Timesunfavorable[6]
Uncut[2]
USA Today[7]

Amarantine received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 55, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 7 reviews.

In addition to the standard version of the album, two other editions were released. A Special Christmas Edition was released in 2006, featuring a second disc of four new Christmas songs: "Adeste, Fideles", "The Magic of the Night", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Secrets". A Deluxe Collector's Edition contains the album, the second edition of the book Water Shows the Hidden Heart by Roma Ryan, and exclusive photos. The extra tracks on the Special Christmas Edition were released as an extended play titled Sounds of the Season: The Enya Holiday Collection in the United States and Christmas Secrets EP in Canada.

Amarantine spent thirty-eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Top New Age Albums chart.[8][9]

Track listing

All titles composed and performed by Enya, except "Adeste, Fideles" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (traditional, arr. Enya and Nicky Ryan). All songs produced by Nicky Ryan. All lyrics by Roma Ryan, except "Adeste, Fideles" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Amarantine – Standard Edition
No. Title Length
1. "Less Than a Pearl"   3:44
2. "Amarantine"   3:13
3. "It's in the Rain"   4:08
4. "If I Could Be Where You Are"   4:01
5. "The River Sings"   2:49
6. "Long Long Journey"   3:17
7. "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)"   4:42
8. "Someone Said Goodbye"   4:02
9. "A Moment Lost"   3:08
10. "Drifting"   4:12
11. "Amid the Falling Snow"   3:38
12. "Water Shows the Hidden Heart"   4:39

Production

Musicians
Production

Accolades

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2007 Amarantine Best New Age Album[10]Won

Japan Gold Disc Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2006 Amarantine Best International Pop Albums of the Year[11] Won

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Position
Australian ARIA Album Chart[12] 13
Austrian Albums Chart[13] 4
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[14] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[15] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[16] 4
Danish Albums Chart[17] 7
Dutch Albums Chart[18] 5
Finnish Albums Chart[19] 22
French SNEP Albums Chart[20] 5
German Media Control Albums Chart[21] 3
Hungarian Albums Chart[22] 7
Irish Albums Chart[23] 15
Italian Albums Chart[24] 8
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[25] 2
New Zealand Albums Chart[26] 10
Norwegian Albums Chart[27] 13
Portuguese Albums Chart[28] 5
Spanish Albums Chart[29] 9
Swedish Albums Chart[30] 4
Swiss Albums Chart[31] 3
UK Albums Chart[32] 8
US Billboard 200[16] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (2005) Position
Australian Albums Chart[33] 91
Austrian Albums Chart[34] 59
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[35] 26
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[36] 19
Dutch Albums Chart[37] 35
French Albums Chart[38] 47
Italian Albums Chart[39] 45
Swedish Albums Chart[40] 31
Chart (2006) Position
Australian Albums Chart[41] 84
Austrian Albums Chart[42] 28
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[43] 61
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[44] 31
Dutch Albums Chart[45] 20
Japanese Albums Chart[46] 34
Swiss Albums Chart[47] 10
US Billboard 200[48] 35

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[49] Gold 20,000*
Australia (ARIA)[50] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[51] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (ABPD)[52] Gold 50,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[53] Gold 20,000^
France (SNEP)[54] Platinum 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[55] 2× Platinum 400,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[56] Gold 10,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[57] Platinum 15,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[58] 2× Platinum 500,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[59] Gold 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[60] Platinum 80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] Platinum 15,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[62] Gold 10,000*
Portugal (AFP)[63] Platinum 20,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[64] Gold 40,000^
Sweden (GLF)[65] Gold 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] 2× Platinum 80,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[68] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[69] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide 6,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Worldwide 21 November 2005
Warner Music
United States 22 November 2005 Reprise Records

References

  1. ↑ "New Age Albums | Billboard.com". billboard.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Critic Reviews for Amarantine". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. ↑ AllMusic review
  4. ↑ Entertainment.ie review
  5. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  6. ↑ The New York Times review
  7. ↑ USA Today review
  8. ↑ Billboard http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-12-10/new-age-albums
  9. ↑ Billboard http://www.billboard.com/charts/2006-08-26/new-age-albums
  10. ↑ "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "第20回日本ゴールドディスク大賞" [The 20th Japan Gold Disc Awards]. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "australian-charts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "austriancharts.at Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "ultratop.be Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "ultratop.be Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  16. 1 2 "allmusic ((( Amarantine > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "danishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine". danishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "finnishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "lescharts.com – Enya – Amarantine" (ASP) (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "Album Search: Enya – Amarantine" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Hungarian Albums Chart". Mahasz.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  23. ↑ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 01 December 2005". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "italiancharts.com Enya – Amarantine". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "エンヤ-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks of Amarantine by Enya]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "charts.org.nz Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "poruguescharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  29. ↑ "spanishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  30. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Enya – Amarantine" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Enya – Amarantine – hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Enya > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2005". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 2005" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Rapports annuels 2005". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Classement Albums – année 2005". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  39. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 2005" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2005" (in Swedish). Hitlistan.se. Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2006". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 2006" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2006". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Rapports annuels 2006". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  46. ↑ "2006年 アルバム年間TOP100" [Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 2006] (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006". Swiss Music Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 2006". billboard.biz. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  49. ↑ "Argentinian album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  50. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  51. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2005". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  52. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos.
  53. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  54. ↑ "French album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  55. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enya; 'Amarantine')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  56. ↑ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2005" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  57. ↑ "Irish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  58. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Enya – アマランタイン" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2006年09月 on the drop-down menu
  59. ↑ "Certificaciones – Enya" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  60. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  61. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Recorded Music NZ.
  62. ↑ "Polish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  63. ↑ "Portuguese album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.
  64. ↑ "Spanish album certifications – Enya – Amarantine" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Select the "Chart", enter ' in the field "Year". Select ' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  65. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2005" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  66. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Enya; 'Amarantine')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  67. ↑ "British album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Amarantine in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  68. ↑ "American album certifications – Enya – Amarantine". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  69. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2005". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

External links

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