"Caribbean Blue" is the second track from Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya's third studio album, Shepherd Moons. released on November 4, 1991 by WEA. It was released as the lead single for the album on October 7, 1991 by WEA. It follows a waltz time signature, and mentions the Anemoi (Ancient Greek wind gods): Boreas, Afer Ventus (Africus), Eurus, and Zephyrus.
"Caribbean Blue" reached number eight on the Irish Singles Chart and number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it reached number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart; on the latter listing, it was the 12th-most-successful song of 1992. The music video for the song features visual imagery based on the paintings of Maxfield Parrish and was an early appearance for British actress and singer Martine McCutcheon.[1]
Background[]
Liner Notes[]
| “ | It is much easier to imagine a beautiful place on a rainy day than to imagine a dreary one. It is a simple fact, often forgotten, that people may create something good merely by thinking it so. A day-dream is as rich a gift as any. Like Afer Ventus, the wind from Africa, or Eurus, the East wind, Boreas from the North or the gentle Zephyrus, the imagination is free and can choose and create its own journey. As with all dreams we reach for the ideal, and Caribbean Blue represents such a dream. | ” |
Notes by Roma Ryan
Shepherd Moons Music Book, 1991[2]
| “ | A daydream is as rich a gift as any. Like Afer Ventus, the wind from Africa, or Eurus, the East wind, Boreas from the North or the gentle Zephyrs, the imagination is free and can choose and create its own journey. As with all dreams, we reach for the ideal and we find ourselves in Caribbean Blue… | ” |
Notes by Roma Ryan
A Box Of Dreams, 1997
Quotes about the song[]
My favourite fable is one by Aesop. It tells of a journey that an old man made, with his young son and their donkey. Everyone they met on that journey had an opinion as to how the old man and his son should travel and, no matter what they did, someone complained about it. If the man rode the donkey, they were criticised. If the boy rode the donkey, they were criticised. If both rode the donkey they were criticised. If neither rode the donkey, they were criticised. They could not please everyone. In fact, they could not please anyone!
Well, the moral of this story is that you have to live your life, you have to trust your own judgement. So many people tell you so many different things. So much of it is nonsense. Find out what’s important to you. Live. Life is short.
You have your own journey to make. Make it the best you can. Certainly there are people whose advice you welcome, but in the end you need to find out for yourself how blue the sky is. Maybe it isn’t blue at all?
- Roma Ryan
Roma's Book @ Enya.Com, 2005
Well, again, it was Roma who came up with the title to ‘Caribbean Blue’, says Enya. “We had arranged the melody and she was reminded of the Caribbean, but then she felt it’s a trip of a difference. It’s like ‘Orinoco’ where you are taken through a dreamlike fantasy trip. She felt the same way about the music, and, therefore, she based the lyrics on this trip through this beautiful fantasy world.”
- Jazziz Magazine, 1992
enyabookofdays.Com
Lyrics[]
Eurus
Afer Ventus
So the world goes round and round
With all you ever knew
They say the sky high above
Is Caribbean blue
If every man says all he can
If every man is true
Do I believe the sky above
Is Caribbean blue
Boreas
Zephyrus
If all they told was turned to gold
If all you dreamed was new
Imagine sky high above
In Caribbean blue
Eurus
Afer Ventus
Boreas
Zephyrus
Africus
Track listings[]
UK 7-inch and cassette single[]
US and Australian cassette single[]
Japanese mini-CD single[]
- "Caribbean Blue"
- "Orinoco Flow"
UK CD single[]
- "Caribbean Blue"
- "Orinoco Flow"
- "As Baile"
- "Oriel Window"
European 12-inch single[]
- A1. "Caribbean Blue" 3:39
- A2. "Orinoco Flow" 3:44
- B1. "Angeles" 3:58
Scans[]
Music video[]
The video was directed by Michael Geoghegan and inspired by the illustrations of an American painter Maxfield Parrish. The pastel-like effect was added by painting on a transparent foil posed over video frames. A documentary about making of the video is included on The Video Collection and The Very Best Of Enya DVDs.
Live performances[]
| Venue | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Rockopop (Spain) | 1991 | Lip-synced |
| VIP Noche (Spain) | 1991 | Lip-synced |
| Top of the Pops (UK) | Oct 17, 1991 | Lip-synced |
Critical reception[]
Ned Raggett from AllMusic noted that on the song, the singer 'avoids repeating the successful formula of "Orinoco Flow" by means of its waltz time—a subtle enough change, but one that colors and drives the overall composition and performance, the closest Enya might ever get to a dance number.'
Larry Flick from Billboard described it as 'dreamy and evocative' and 'multilayered and intricate'. He noted further that 'rich tapestry of sound lulls the listener with the promise of complex musical textures. Enya's understated vocals swell into effective wavelike crescendos that ebb and flow with the picturesque melody.'
David Browne from Entertainment Weekly called it 'a breathy, upbeat waltz that personifies everything Enya'. Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that 'it is as dreamy as her 1988 global hit "Orinoco Flow", but more dressed with instruments'. A reviewer from People Magazine stated that 'the Irish singer's angelic vocals lift this elegant and avant-garde waltz heavenward'.
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
| Chart (1991-1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 74 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 30 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 32 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 10 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 31 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 50 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 8 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 21 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 37 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 22 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 25 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 32 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 79 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 29 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) | 3 |
Year-end charts[]
| Chart (1992) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) | 12 |
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |