Caribbean Blue

"Caribbean Blue"
Single by Enya
from the album Shepherd Moons
B-side
Released7 October 1991 (1991-10-07)
Length
  • 3:58 (album version)
  • 3:39 (single version)
LabelWEA
Songwriters
ProducerNicky Ryan
Enya singles chronology
"Exile"
(1991)		 "Caribbean Blue"
(1991)		 "How Can I Keep from Singing?"
(1991)
Music video
"Caribbean Blue" on YouTube

"Caribbean Blue" is a song by Irish musician Enya, included as the second track on her third studio album, Shepherd Moons (1991). It was written by Enya and Roma Ryan, and produced by Nicky Ryan. The song follows a waltz time signature, and mentions the Anemoi (Ancient Greek wind gods): Boreas, Afer Ventus (Africus), Eurus, and Zephyrus.

"Caribbean Blue" was released as the lead single from the album on 7 October 1991 by WEA. It 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. The accompanying music video, directed by Michael Geoghegan, features visual imagery based on the paintings of Maxfield Parrish and was an early appearance for British actress and singer Martine McCutcheon.

Composition

The song is written in the key of E major with a fast tempo of 158 beats per minute in 3
4 (waltz) time. Halfway through the song, the key shifts up one semitone to F major. Enya’s vocals span from B3 to G4.

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 magazine 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'. People Magazine stated that 'the Irish singer's angelic vocals lift this elegant and avant-garde waltz heavenward'.

Music video

The music video for "Caribbean Blue" was directed by Michael Geoghegan and inspired by the illustrations of the 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.

Track listings

  1. "Caribbean Blue"
  2. "Orinoco Flow"
  1. "Caribbean Blue"
  2. "Orinoco Flow"
  3. "As Baile"
  4. "Oriel Window"
A1. "Caribbean Blue" – 3:39
A2. "Orinoco Flow" – 3:44
B1. "Angeles" – 3:58

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Caribbean Blue"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Caribbean Blue"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 7 October 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 WEA
Australia 4 November 1991
  • CD
  • cassette
Japan 10 November 1991 Mini-CD

References

  1. ↑ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Famous Firsts: Martine McCutcheon". Glasgow Times. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Enya; Nicky, Ryan; Roma, Ryan (12 August 2008). "Caribbean Blue". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Key & BPM for Caribbean Blue - Single Version by Enya". Tunebat. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Enya – Shepherd Moons". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Flick, Larry (23 November 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Browne, David (16 April 1993). "Enya's Shepherd Moon re-reviewed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. 19 October 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Prime Cuts". People. 16 December 1991. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  10. ↑ "Caribbean Blue". EnyaBlues. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Caribbean Blue (UK 7-inch single sleeve). WEA. 1991. YZ604, 9031-75609-7.
  12. ↑ Caribbean Blue (UK cassette single sleeve). WEA. 1991. YZ604C.
  13. ↑ Caribbean Blue (US cassette single sleeve). Reprise Records. 1991. 9 19089-4.
  14. ↑ Caribbean Blue (Australian cassette single sleeve). WEA. 1991. 903175609-4.
  15. ↑ Caribbean Blue (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). WEA. 1991. WMD5-4080.
  16. ↑ Caribbean Blue (UK CD single liner notes). WEA. 1991. YZ604CDX, 9031-75611-2.
  17. ↑ Caribbean Blue (European 12-inch single sleeve). WEA. 1991. 9031-75610-0.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  19. ↑ "Enya – Caribbean Blue" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 55, Issue 5 (1992-01-25)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  21. ↑ "Adult Contemporary. Volume 55, Issue 17 (1992-04-25)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 46. 16 November 1991. p. 31. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  23. ↑ "European Hit Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 47. 23 November 1991. p. 31. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  25. ↑ "Caribbean Blue | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  26. ↑ Radio Luxembourg Singles. 27 October 1991.
  27. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  28. ↑ "Enya – Caribbean Blue" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. ↑ "Enya – Caribbean Blue". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  30. ↑ "Enya – Caribbean Blue". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  31. ↑ "Enya – Caribbean Blue". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  32. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 2/11/1991 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  33. ↑ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 9 November 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  34. ↑ "Enya Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  35. ↑ "Enya Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  36. ↑ "Enya Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  37. ↑ "Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996" (PDF). popmusichistory.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  38. ↑ "Top All Internet Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Oct 2, 2025". TopHit. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  39. ↑ "The Year in Music – Top Modern Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. 26 December 1992. p. YE-42. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  40. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Enya – Caribbean Blue". Radioscope. Retrieved 15 December 2025. Type Caribbean Blue in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  41. ↑ "British single certifications – Enya – Caribbean Blue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 April 2026. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Caribbean Blue Enya in the "Search:" field.
  42. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 October 1991. p. 25. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  43. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 04/11/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 93. 3 November 1991. p. 19.
  44. ↑ "カリビアン・ブルー | エンヤ" [Caribbean Blue | Enya] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 24 February 2024.