Enya, Orinoco Flow | Bangerz N Bopz

In the 1^st edition of Bangerz N Bopz , we highlight “Orinoco Flow” performed by Irish New Age musician, Enya. 

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and/or stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 1^st edition of Bangerz N Bopz (2023), we break down “Orinoco Flow” performed by Enya.

“Let me sail, let me sail / Let the Orinoco flow…” So, what was your first memory of Irish New Age artist, Enya? Mine dates back to the fourth grade, in the 1990s, when my teacher played one of her most ambient, soothing songs, “Orinoco Flow”.  The Grammy-nominated record had already been out by the time I’d become an intermediate student, but most of my soundtracking at that age was Disney – it was the Disney Renaissance era, after all! The Irish New Age musician penned this soothing, 1988 classic alongside Roma Ryan.  It was produced by Nicky Ryan. A top-40 hit, it peaked at no. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989. Parent album, Watermark, peaked at no. 25 on the Billboard 200, eventually reaching multiplatinum status.

“Sail away, sail away, sail away…” Those are the lyrics that stand out from “Orinoco Flow.” As a fourth grader, hearing Enya for the first time, I had no clue what she was singing about.  Of course, now, revisiting the songs of my youth, I’m able to attain proper context.  Obviously, Enya was referring to the  Orinoco River in South America. It’s not all about the Orinoco River, however.  In the first verse, Enya also has us navigating additional geography: beaching “On the shores of Tripoli [Libya],” and beaching “Far beyond the Yellow Sea [Western Pacific Ocean].” Additional verses offers an assortment of locations.  Clearly, “Orinoco Flow” is all about location, location, location, and, of course, sailing away! The best way to describe this picturesque, New Age, Celtic folk song – a vibe.  Even approaching 40 years later, what sounds like this song, or Enya these days? Perhaps banger isn’t an appropriate characterization of an Enya song, but, it certainly exemplifies a classic, fierce bop !

Enya, Orinoco • Watermark • Warner Strategic Marketing • 1988

Enya, Orinoco Flow: Bangerz N Bopz No. 1 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Warner Strategic Marketing; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]