Where Does The Orinoco Flow?
Back in 1988, Enya released a song called Orinoco Flow (Sail Away). Out and about on the internet, she seems to be credited as the creator of this song. I know, however, that she is not. I distinctly remember hearing this song on WBAL radio in the late sixties or early seventies. However, I can’t seem to track down an original version of this song. Does anyone have an idea who did the original version?
BTW, the Orinoco is the 3rd largest river system in South America, has the world’s third largest flow, and runs through part of Colombia and the full length of Venezuala.
Pictures on or near the Orinoco River.
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July 7th, 2008 in
Music Notes, Random Thoughts
Dunno - BMI lists BHRAONAIN, EITHNE NI (her full Gaelic name) along with Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan as the composers. Other references give music by Enya/N. Ryan and lyrics by Enya/R. Ryan.
I can’t find any reference to the melody being lifted from a previous song, or from traditional sources. I did come across an interview from KSCA radio in ‘96 discussing the writing of the song, and no mention was made of a previous recording.
Could it just be evoking the mode or feeling of another piece?
No, Enya’s version is definitely a remake — I’m not the only one who remembers it. I’m talking late 60’s or early 70’s here.
Dunno. I admit that it’s a melody that seems “familiar” in a non-specific way, and I know that when the song was released, I thought I had heard it before. However, I can’t come up with anything - not using music search engines or anything else - and BMI’s the authoritative source. If it’s a misattribution or a cover, the original artist must be incredibly obscure or not care enough to contest it - unlikely given the popularity of Enya’s track.
My hunch is it’s similar to something else, but “Orinoco Flow” as released in ‘88 is an original tune… that’s just generically new-worldy enough to remind one of other songs.
I pretty distinctly remember the melody, at least, from a late sixties, early seventies song that was played on WBAL back when they played music. My impression is that the song was not in English, but that part could be wrong.
There is also a good bit of confusion as to when Enya actually released the song. Some “authoritative” sites list it as 1987, while others list it as late as ‘92.
No confusion here. It was on the “Watermark” album from 1988. The entire album was re-released with an additional track (”Storms in Africa, Part II”) in the US a couple years later. The girl I was dating at the time had a friend who bought both versions of the CD. By ‘92, Theresa and I had started dating, and the album had been out for a couple of years by then.