Enya and Only Time: quick facts
- Who: Enya (Eithne Ní Bhraonáin), born in 1961 in Gweedore, an Irish-speaking area of Co. Donegal.
- Only Time: released in November 2000 on the album A Day Without Rain.
- Why it became so famous: after the 11 September 2001 attacks, it was used by radio and TV networks in their coverage, and it became a song of comfort for millions.
- Sales: an estimated 80 million albums sold, making her Ireland’s best-selling solo artist.
Some songs are hits. A few become something more: the song people turn to when the world feels too much. In the autumn of 2001, Enya’s “Only Time” became one of those songs.
Who is Enya?
Enya grew up in Gweedore, in the Irish-speaking far north-west of Co. Donegal, in a family steeped in music. Her siblings and uncles formed the band Clannad, and Enya joined them in 1980, playing keyboards and singing backing vocals. In 1982 she left to work on her own music with producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan, the partnership that has shaped every album since.
Her sound is unlike anyone else’s: layer upon layer of her own voice, recorded again and again to build a choir from a single singer, over soft keyboards and atmospheric melodies. In 1988, “Orinoco Flow” went to number one in the UK and made her a star around the world.
Only Time
“Only Time” was released in November 2000, the lead single from A Day Without Rain. It’s a gentle, wondering song about time, love and the things we can’t know about the future.
It was already doing well, but after the 11 September attacks in 2001, it took on a new meaning. Radio and TV networks in the US used it in their coverage of the attacks and the aftermath, and listeners around the world found comfort in it. Sales of the single and album soared: “Only Time” reached the top ten in the US, and A Day Without Rain climbed to number two on the US album chart.
Ireland’s best-selling solo artist
With an estimated 80 million albums sold, Enya is the best-selling solo artist in Irish history, second only to U2 among Irish acts. She rarely gives interviews and has never toured, preferring to spend her time writing and recording. Her music has also been heard in countless films, including The Lord of the Rings, for which she wrote and sang “May It Be”.
Enya FAQ
Where is Enya from?
Gweedore, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
What is Enya’s real name?
Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, often written in English as Enya Brennan.
When was Only Time released?
In November 2000, on the album A Day Without Rain.
Is Enya related to Clannad?
Yes. Clannad was formed by her siblings and uncles, and she was a member from 1980 to 1982.
More Irish music
- Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars
- The Wexford Carol
- Clannad’s Theme from Harry’s Game
- Sinéad O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U
- The Cranberries’ Linger
- U2’s rooftop gig in Los Angeles
Featured image: still from Enya’s official YouTube channel.
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