ENYA

Her name is Eithene Ni Braonanain. She was born in Gweedore (Donegal Ireland), on the 17 of May in 1961. She is the sixth of nine brothers in a family of musicians.

Enya is the English phonetic adaptation of her name. She is considered one of the main promoters, representatives of the new category of Celtic music: new age.

She began her professional career, in 1979 at the age eighteen with the musical group Clanad, formed by several brothers and uncles.

She sings in several layers of voice to give a special sound to her songs.

When she started her solo musical career, Roma Ryan, the wife of his producer, was fascinated by her voice, she started composing lyrics for her melodies, nowadays, she is her main lyricist.

Enya’s father has a pub in Meenleck, called Leo´s Tavern. This became a sanctuary for the artist and group the Clanad. It is a tourist attraction.

She achieved international acknowledgment with her album Watermak. She has thirty platinum albums and two Grammies. Enya was nominated for de Oscar for the song “May It Be”, composed by her for the movie The Lord of the Rings. She recorded songs and the soundtrack of The Frog Prince, which were not used.

She sings in 10 different languages, in her native language, Irish Gaelic English, Latin, Spanish, French, even a guest language. She was named the most sold female artist in 2001 with 16 million units.

She is the most exporting artist in the country after the U2 band. She has sold more than 70 million units.

She is an honorary doctor in letters from the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland) and honorary doctor in music from the University of Galway (Republic of Ireland).

The Asteroid number 6433 took her name.

She is especially reserved in her private life. It is said that she spends 250 thousand Euros in security equipment. She has not got any known official partners, she has not got any children and although, in theory she is married, so is said because she has been watched photographed with an engagement ring.

Exceptionally, much of the population of the U.S. found comfort listening to Enya after her 11 S “Only Time” song. It became the soundtrack of a terrible moment. The artist donated all the benefits of the theme to the association of widows and orphans of the New York fire workers. She defines herself as a devoted of the Catholic Church.

Paco Sanz

English for Fun 4B