Last night I got stressed and listened to Enya.
You know – pale faced, same-hair-for-20-years, Sail Away Enya.
It’s okay – I’m not ashamed. There’s something very soothing about her carefully orchestrated harmonies with her own voice. I mean, I have to admit that I have no idea what she’s saying half the time and I have absolutely no desire to change that. She could be chanting some crazy Celtic witch curse into my ears and it would still calm my nerves at the end of a high blood pressure day.
I remember when I first heard an Enya song. It was for a CD called “Pure Moods” that had its own infomercial trying to get people to dish out $17.99 plus shipping and handling (or $15.99 for cassette. Cassette!) for what it called “the perfect soundtrack for your way of life.” I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. There’s a lot of chanting, humming, and tubular bells on this particular compilation. What could America possibly have been doing in 1997 that made the Pure Moods Marketing Team think that this was the perfect soundtrack for its way of life?
Apparently a lot of horseback riding and meditating in rooms full of candles. Enya herself is featured in what appears to be a chalk pastel with a random hummingbird over her shoulder.
Go ahead, take a look. I’m sure you’ll remember it → Pure Moods
No really, go ahead. I’ll wait. I want you to experience the enchantment.
…
…
…
You really can’t beat the tactics there. Did you hear what he was saying?! My favorite line is “Set adrift with the timeless pleasures of Tubular Bells” I didn’t realize that Tubular Bells was a timeless pleasure. And quite frankly I’m not so sure that I’m okay with people labeling things as timeless pleasures all willy-nilly like that.
A commercial like this really brings me back to the good ol’ times with my first cassette, which I stole from my older brother – Ace of Base. Which I’m also not ashamed of. Because the combination of their thick beats, sassy lyrics, and European chicks was too much to resist for almost anyone in the 90’s. I specifically remember the junky little cassette player and headphones I had. I would sit around flipping and playing it over and over again while penning in grammatical corrections to the lyrics on the insert.
Yes, I’m really that anal.
And yes, my brother was very, very unhappy with the discovery.
I’m curious – and after 2o something posts, I have yet to do one where I ask you about yourselves. So tell me: what was your first record/8-track/cassette/CD/wondrous invisible music download?
Regale me. I want to be regaled. ♣
The Jackie Blog 
Love Enya! Listened to it through some headphones during an MRI…had to crank it over the sound of the MRI machine. Enya screeching (if she can even do that) wasn’t so relaxing then. I love Enya as soft background music, you know, for my way of life.
First album — there were two!
John Denver’s Windsong (http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1071376/a/Windsong.htm)
Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975
Ahh good times.
LikeLike
oh, nice taste! I applaud you. 🙂
LikeLike
1997… hmmm probably some Pure Moods Hah yes I had that cd and some Sting.
LikeLike
Ah, Sting. I liked him with the Police better, but he had some decent solo stuff too.
LikeLike
I’m just glad the X-files theme songs was considered… definitely a mood I frequently am overcome by…
LikeLike
The conspiracy theory mood?
LikeLike
The first cassette I ever owned was one by Captain Jack. And yes, I think I am a bit ashamed by that, even though I thought it was pretty cool at the time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW_aJDPPGMg
LikeLike
lol I have never heard this. You have lit up my life.
LikeLike