Amarantine is an album by Irish musician Enya. The album was released on November 22, 2005. It won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for 2007.The release date was announced by Roma Ryan on September 23, 2005, at the official Enya forum. It was subsequently leaked to the Internet on November 11, 2005.

Two songs from the album were released as singles: the title track "Amarantine" and "It's in the Rain." "Someone Said Goodbye" was released as a promotional single in the United States as well. The album was very successful and sold more than 6.5 million copies overall.

Album Editions

Standard release

The standard release was released in 2005. This edition has 1 disc, and contains 12 tracks. A booklet with lyrics is included

Amarantine Special Christmas Edition

This two-disc set in a 2-CD jewel case and cover sleeve was released in 2006. It features the previously released 12 tracks on the first disc. The second disc has 4 newly recorded Christmas songs: Adeste, Fideles, The Magic of the Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Christmas Secrets.The standard booklet with lyrics is included.

Amarantine Deluxe Collector's Edition

This limited edition box set contains the standard release of Amarantine, the second edition of the book Water Shows The Hidden Heart by Roma Ryan and three exclusive photos in a back-cover pocket. All is packaged in a red velvet box.

Track listing

Standard release

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 *

• This is, to date, the only Enya album where the title track has not been in first position in the track listing.

Amarantine Special Christmas Edition

Disc 1

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

Disc 2

1. Adeste, Fideles - 3:58
2. The Magic of the Night - 3:34
3. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - 3:40
4. Christmas Secrets - 3:47

Amarantine Deluxe Collector's Edition

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 *

• *Lyrics in Loxian language taken from the book Water Shows The Hidden Heart by Roma Ryan.
• Note: The songs found on the second disc of the Amarantine Special Christmas Edition were also released separately in the United States on the CD Sounds of the Season: The Enya Holiday Collection, and in Canada as the Christmas Secrets EP.

Production

• All instruments and vocals performed by Enya
• Lyrics by Roma Ryan, except Adeste, Fideles (traditional) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (traditional).
• Arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan
• Mixed by Enya and Nicky Ryan
• Recorded at Aigle Studio
• Engineered by Nicky Ryan
• Mastered by Dick Beetham of 360 Mastering, London
• Digital technical advisor and engineer: Daniel Polley
• Loxian language and font by Roma Ryan
• All titles published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd
• Photography by Simon Fowler
• Conceptual cover design by Nicky Ryan and Ebony Ryan
• Inner sleeve design and layout by Ebony Ryan and Roma Ryan
• Inner sleeve artwork by Roma Ryan and Persia Ryan
• Cover and inner sleeve production by Intro

Loxian

Loxian is an artistic language created by writer and lyricist Roma Ryan. It's been described in news releases as "a futuristic language from a distant planet." Loxian was used in three songs from Amarantine. There is also a book published in December 2005 by Roma Ryan called Water Shows The Hidden Heart, which uses this language.The inspiration for Loxian was, in part, the Elvish languages created by J. R. R. Tolkien. Enya sang several songs in Tolkien's languages for the soundtrack of the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

Premature label announcement

In September 2004 a new Enya song named "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)" was released in Japan as part of an advertising campaign for Panasonic. As part of the announcement of the new song, Warner Music Japan stated that Enya's next album would be released in November 2004. On September 19, 2004, Enya made a press release available via her website stating that no release was immediately planned. "Sumiregusa" has been included as one of the tracks on the Amarantine album.

Usage in TV commercials

The "Sumiregusa" song was also used by Panasonic to advertise its products in Japan, featuring in TV commercials advertising its "Viera" and "Diga" range of flat-screen TVs and DVD recorders. The commercials appeared on several national TV channels for several weeks, helping both Panasonic and Enya's sales.

Certifications, peaks and sales

Country	Peak position	Certification (if any)	Sales/shipments
Australia	13	Platinum	70,000+
Austria	4
Belgium	1	Platinum	40,000+
Brazil		Gold	60,000+
Canada	4
Czech Republic	4
Denmark	7	Gold	15,000+
Finland	22
France	5	Platinum	300,000+
Germany	3	3x Platinum	600,000+
Hungary	7	Gold	5,000+
Ireland	15	Platinum	15,000+
Italy	8	2x Platinum/4x Gold	170,000+
Japan	1	2x Platinum	500,000+
Mexico		Gold	50,000+
Netherlands	5	Platinum	70,000+
New Zealand	10	Platinum	15,000+
Norway	13
Poland		Gold	20,000+
Portugal	5 (2 Weeks)	Platinum	20,000+
Spain	9	Gold	40,000+
Sweden	4	Gold	20,000+
Switzerland	3 (3 Weeks)	2x Platinum	80,000+
United Kingdom	8	Silver	60,000
United States	6	Platinum	1,000,000+

Charting Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
2005	"Amarantine"	Adult Contemporary (U.S.)	10
2006	"Someone Said Goodbye"	Adult Contemporary (U.S.)	26
2005	"Amarantine"	UK Singles Chart	53
2005	"Amarantine"	Oricon Weekly Single 100	67

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Winner	Category
2007	Amarantine	Best New Age Album

References

External links

• Enya's website
• Enya.com Discography
• Loxian on the BBC
• "Amarantine" press release
• Out of the blue, an unofficial Enya website
• an unofficial Enya Fan website in China