The Very Best of Enya (2009)

Released on November 23, 2009 by Warner Bros. Records, The Very Best of Enya is the definitive greatest hits collection by the acclaimed Irish singer, composer, and musician Enya.

Arriving twelve years after her first major retrospective, Paint the Sky with Stars - The Best of Enya (1997), this collection spans her career from 1986 to 2008.

Curated Retrospective & Vision

The compilation was personally curated by Enya alongside her longtime creative team, producer and arranger Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan.

Together, they selected iconic soundscapes and career-defining tracks to build an immersive listening experience for both dedicated collectors and new listeners.

Stream or download Enya songs

Release Formats & Special Editions

To provide a deeper exploration of her musical legacy, the compilation was released worldwide across three primary physical formats.

Standard CD Edition: Includes 18 essential tracks capturing her most celebrated compositions.
Deluxe CD/DVD Edition: Features 22 audio tracks alongside a bonus DVD containing 13 music videos and 3 documentary films.
Limited Collector's Edition: Strictly limited to 1,000 copies worldwide, with 300 copies reserved exclusively for Japan via Warner Music Direct.
Regional Bonus Tracks: Includes "Oíche Chiúin (Chorale)" on the US release, "How Can I Keep From Singing?" in Canada, and "Dreams Are More Precious" in Japan.

Announcement & Release Timeline

Initial news of the release leaked on August 15, 2009 on the website albumvote.co.uk, which predicted a mid-November street date.

The album was officially confirmed on August 26, 2009 via Enya's official website, and lyricist Roma Ryan revealed the official cover artwork on the Unity forum on September 19.

Personal Liner Notes by Enya

At one time or another nostalgia plays a part in all of our lives, and when Warner Music asked me to choose songs that are particularly dear to me I based my choice on memories and emotions evoked by those songs.

Rob Dickins and "Orinoco Flow"

"Orinoco Flow", for example, reminds me especially of Rob Dickins, who was fiercely dedicated to his role in WEA and could have written the definitive book on popular music.

Rob was so determined to get things right that he actually went to record stores to watch queues of people asking for "Sail Away" when the title of the song was, of course, "Orinoco Flow".

Rob immediately sent out instructions to add the bracketed title (Sail Away) underneath "Orinoco Flow" on the single cover. Nicky, Roma, and I all remember Rob's tremendous energy, and without doubt our efforts were greatly rewarded because of him.

Thank you Rob.

Hip-Hop Legacy of "Boadicea"

"Boadicea", a track from the BBC documentary The Celts, is a particular favourite of mine, mainly because of its simplicity.

Many years after we recorded "Boadicea", it caught the attention of a certain genre of rap artists, beginning with The Fugees and their amazing adaptation "Ready Or Not".

Later, Mario Winans took it to another level in his beautiful rendering of "I Don't Wanna Know", produced by Sean "P Diddy" Combs who made the initial approach to us.

Nicky asked him to return the favour sometime, he graciously agreed, and knowing Nicky, Mr. Combs will be getting a call one day.

Remembrance of 9/11

"Only Time" and "Fallen Embers" have a particular meaning for me, bringing the awful memories of 9/11 flooding back as I remember the victims and brave New York firemen.

So many lost their lives saving others. What can I say that has not already been expressed — it was the saddest time.

Imperial Encounters in Japan

It was May 2005 when Roma received a call from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland to tell us that their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, requested my presence at the Mansion House in Dublin.

Meeting them was a particular highlight of my career which I always cherish.

"Sumiregusa" reminds me of that time, the incredible beauty of Japan, my many visits there courtesy of Warner Music Japan, and my wonderful Japanese fans.

Cinematic Journey to Middle-earth

Such was the secrecy around Peter Jackson's work on The Lord of the Rings that Nicky, Roma, and I traveled to New Zealand on a 23-hour flight for a special viewing of the uncut film.

We watched the movie behind locked doors in a full-sized cinema. Peter and his wife Fran Walsh made us feel so welcome during our visit.

We were taken on a tour of the impressive Weta Workshops by Richard Taylor and Tanya Rodgers. What a wonderful experience for the three of us!

It is here that I would like to mention "Aníron", a song that has never been released in its full version until now, and "May It Be" which brought us our first visit to the Oscars.

Royal Command Performances

It has to be described as one of the most romantic requests to perform at the King of Sweden's birthday. I sang "Anywhere Is" supported by twelve of the King's drummers in full military attire.

The King and Queen are very charming, friendly people, and it was an honour to perform in the company of Stevie Wonder, who sang "Happy Birthday".

"Anywhere Is" was also the song I performed at a special concert for His Holiness Pope John Paul II at his private theatre in the Vatican, followed by a private audience the next day.

Princess Diana Tribute

"Watermark" takes me back to the time I met Princess Diana, who shared a moment with me and radiated beauty.

We donated this track to the compilation album Diana – Princess of Wales – Tribute, where all participating artists contributed to her charitable trust fund.

Finally, I remember all those at Warner Music throughout the world who worked so hard on my behalf. We delivered the songs, but Warner Music brought them to the entire world.

— Enya (from The Very Best of Enya Collector's Edition)

Global Release Schedule

November 20, 2009: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland
November 23, 2009: United Kingdom and Rest of the World
November 27, 2009: Brazil
December 1, 2009: United States
December 2, 2009: Japan

The Very Best of Enya (2009)

Curated Retrospective & Vision

Release Formats & Special Editions

Announcement & Release Timeline

Personal Liner Notes by Enya

Rob Dickins and "Orinoco Flow"

Hip-Hop Legacy of "Boadicea"

Remembrance of 9/11

Imperial Encounters in Japan

Cinematic Journey to Middle-earth

Royal Command Performances

Princess Diana Tribute

Global Release Schedule

Track Listings & Lyrics

Standard CD Format

Deluxe CD + DVD Format

Album Credits & Production

Musical Performance

Production & Engineering

Design & Visual Direction