About this song
- “Storms in Africa” is a song by Irish singer and composer Enya, from her second studio album Watermark (1988). A rearranged version with English lyrics, titled “Storms in Africa (Part II)”, was later released as a single in 1989. The song is one of Enya’s characteristic atmospheric pieces, blending new-age, Celtic and world-music influences. Background and versions “Storms in Africa” originated during the Watermark sessions, when Enya developed a melody from a synthesizer pattern and built it into a full track with producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan. The team wanted the music to evoke a sense of unrest and elemental power, which led to the idea of “storms” as a central image. There are two main versions: “Storms in Africa” – the original album version, sung in Irish (Gaelic). “Storms in Africa (Part II)” – a later rearrangement with English lyrics, slightly faster in tempo, created for single release and for some international editions of Watermark. The Irish-language version remained on the core album tracklist, while Part II appeared as a bonus track or B-side on various single and CD releases. Composition and style Musically, “Storms in Africa” is a new-age / ambient piece with strong Celtic and world elements. Its main features include: Layered, multi-tracked vocals that create a choral effect Synthesizers and keyboards providing a flowing, modal harmony Percussion (including rototoms and African-style hand drums) that suggests distant thunder and rhythmic movement The vocal lines are mostly in Irish, adding to the sense of mystery for non-Irish speakers and turning the voice into another instrument. The melody rises and falls in waves, mirroring the imagery of gathering and passing storms. In Part II, the arrangement is tightened and the tempo slightly increased. English lyrics are added, but the overall atmosphere and melodic structure remain closely related to the original. Lyrics and themes The song’s lyrics (in both Irish and English versions) revolve around: Natural forces, especially storms and rain Restlessness and change A sense of travel or journeying across vast landscapes Rather than telling a literal story, the words work together with the music to create an impression of powerful weather sweeping over land and people, hinting at emotional as well as physical turbulence. Release Artist: Enya Album: Watermark Original album release: 1988 Single release (Part II): 1989 Genre: New age / ambient / Celtic Writers: Enya, Roma Ryan Producer: Nicky Ryan “Storms in Africa (Part II)” was released as a single in 1989, with tracks such as “The Celts” and “Aldebaran” appearing as B-sides on various formats. Chart performance As a single, “Storms in Africa (Part II)” achieved modest chart success: It reached the Top 20 in Ireland. In the United Kingdom, it entered the singles chart and peaked just outside the Top 40. Although it did not become a major hit on the level of “Orinoco Flow,” it helped sustain the commercial life of the Watermark album and further established Enya’s presence on European charts. Use in film and media “Storms in Africa” was featured on the soundtrack of the 1990 film Green Card, alongside other Enya tracks from Watermark. The song has also appeared in television and promotional contexts, helping to associate Enya’s sound with sweeping landscapes and atmospheric imagery. A music video was produced, showing Enya in African-style landscapes and desert scenes, intercut with images of wildlife and children, matching the song’s elemental, nature-focused mood. Legacy “Storms in Africa” is often cited by fans as one of the standout tracks from Watermark, highlighting: Enya’s blending of Celtic roots with broader world-music flavors Her use of non-English lyrics in a mainstream context The atmospheric production that became her trademark sound While not her biggest commercial hit, the song remains a popular deep cut on albums and compilations, and is frequently used as an example of Enya’s ability to evoke vivid, almost cinematic landscapes through music alone. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply. — lastfm
- "Storms in Africa" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Enya from her second studio album, Watermark (1988). A rearranged version with English lyrics called "Storms in Africa (Part II)" was included in some later pressings of Watermark and released as a single in May 1989 that reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. — wikipedia
Featured in
- Green Card · film · 1990
- 1990 film Green Card · film
