Wild Child is yet another song by the Irish singer and musician Enya which I heard during Pilates or whatever at the gym, and I was delighted since it had fallen off my music radar. I had heard it years ago on her record A Day Without Rain (2000) when it came out, but somehow lost track of it (slaps head).
A lot of her music has a transcendental, solemn Celtic sound, but Wild Child is more of an uplifting, inspirational song which, when I heard it again this morning, put me into a positive headspace. Despite the repetitive nature of its clincher chorus line – “What a day, what a day to take to” – I frankly never grow tired of it. Keep it comin’ as she smartly does in the outro.
Enya does something to the soul. She writes simple, yet profoundly beautiful music. Hey, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Although Enya sometimes gets a bad rap in music circles simply because of the sheer saturation of her sound in popular culture and how instantly recognisable it is, I would not like to ponder a world without her music in it.
She has extraordinarily filled a gap in modern popular music almost singlehandedly, particularly in the Celtic variety, and in doing so has become one of the world’s best-selling music artists and Ireland’s best-selling solo artist. A Day Without Rain alone has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.
Also, Enya, I find, is not too shabby on the eye. Her image is all class too, and that’s not a bad thing considering how sorely lacking that is in modern music. In addition to maintaining a private life which has largely been kept away from the horrid British tabloids, anyone who finds reassurance in prayer, prefers to visit “churches when they’re empty” and believes in guardian angels has got my respect.
The unfortunate takeaway is that she has been stalked to the extent that, during one incident in 2005, an intruder tied up one of her housekeepers before stealing several personal items. Enya spent about two hours hiding in a panic room before activating the alarm and alerting the Gardaí.
According to Wikipedia – The album A Day Without Rain was a commercial success peaking at No. 6 in the UK and initially, No. 17 on the US Billboard.
In the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, sales of the album and its lead single, Only Time, surged after the song was widely used during radio and television coverage of the events, leading to its description as “a post-September 11 anthem”.
[Verse 1]
Ever close your eyes
Ever stop and listen
Ever feel alive
And you’ve nothing missing
You don’t need a reason
Let the day go on and on
[Verse 2]
Let the rain fall down
Everywhere around you
Give into it now
Let the day surround you
You don’t need a reason
Let the rain go on and on
[Chorus]
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child
[Verse 3]
Only take the time
From the helter skelter
Every day you find
Everything’s in kilter
You don’t need a reason
Let the day go on and on
[Verse 4]
Every summer sun
Every winter evening
Every spring to come
Every autumn leaving
You don’t need a reason
Let it all go on and on
[Chorus]
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child
[Chorus]
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child
[Outro]
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
Da-da-da, da-da-da da da-da
What a way, what a way to make it through
Da-da-da, da-da-da da da-da
Da-da-da, da-da-da da da-da
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child
What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child
References:
1. Wild Child (Enya song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
It is a great tune, but I have to admit I am not familiar with it. I googled and found out that it was not a huge mainstream pop hit in the US. Too bad.
I’m elated you thought so highly of it Diana. It’s weird it didn’t become a hit, but it feels more tranquil and serene knowing it was just a track – a great one at that.
It took a few bars to bring this one back from the memory banks, Matt, and I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the song. Enya is so different from other artists, so it’s maybe no surprise that she’d be shunned for being distinct but like you, I say, more of that, please. I’d forgotten how “Only Time” was used following 9/11. Wonderful write-up, mate… and what a day to take to, eh?!
If you’d asked me at the beginning of this music project how prominent Enya’s music would appear here, I would have guessed extremely little. So, given this is the ninth song by Enya to appear here, it surprises me to learn just how impactful her music has been on my musical world — and it seems like on yours too.
I didn’t know until researching my article on ‘Only Time’ that it was used as a post-9/11 anthem, or I’d forgotten, like your good self.
Cheers and thanks, Steve.
My pleasure, Matt. I think that the kind of rejection she experienced back in the day made her a more understated artist who went about honing her craft underneath the radar. Not a bad thing, necessarily, as she certainly didn’t fall into the trap of pop sensibilities.
Because of that, I think it remains a surprise just how influential she has been for us both. Cheers to you.
I’ve had people be critical of her for commercialising the Celtic sound, but I feel that, in her large body of work, Enya has been authentic and in keeping with the spirit of the genre. I think people’s cynicism is more to do with her music being wildly popular, lol. However, there are indeed overlaps where some of her songs sound very much like others. A great example would be the similarity between the mutual magnificence of, namely, ‘Watermark’ and ‘A Day Without Rain’.
She’s great and I so admire her, as you do too. A real looker as well. Haha.
I agree completely with your views on her music and the reasons for cynicism (as if cynics really need a reason lol).
I never thought much about similarities between the two tracks. Sure they’re stylistically alike in her signature way, but as you say, mutually magnificent. Great description.
I actually got the two mixed up when writing about their significance to our family. My point being, I thought A Day Without Rain was the one I had attached to our family DVD, when it was actually Watermark. I don’t know how many times I had to cross-check which one it was, but it was a lot. A bit fuddy-duddy these days. 😂 But yeah, both pieces are treasures.
Steve, you know the funny thing just now? As I was listening to one of them, ‘China Roses’ came on afterwards and I thought, surely I’ve written about this. Alas, not to be. Later I’ll be back with that one. And it sounds like other songs from her, but I don’t care anymore lol.
It’s uncanny how we can (mis)identify beloved songs. And in the case of blogging, thinking of a song we’re sure we’ve written about when in fact we haven’t. I can’t count how many times that’s happened to me… so you’re not alone, mate!
Have a wonderful Saturday!