"Only Time"
Original release
Single by Enya
from the album A Day Without Rain
B-side
  • "The First of Autumn"
  • "The Promise"
  • "Oíche Chiúin"
  • "Willows on the Water"
Released6 November 2000 (2000-11-06)
StudioAigle (Dún Laoghaire, Ireland)
GenreNew-age
Length
  • 3:38 (album version)
  • 3:15 (S.A.F. pop radio remix)
Label
Composer(s)Enya
Lyricist(s)Roma Ryan
Producer(s)Nicky Ryan
Enya singles chronology
"Only If..."
(1997) 		"Only Time"
(2000) 		"Wild Child"
(2001)
Music video
"Only Time" on YouTube

"Only Time" is a song by Irish musician Enya. It was released in November 2000 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, A Day Without Rain (2000). The song reached number one in Canada, Germany, Poland and Switzerland, number two in Austria, and became Enya's only top-10 single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became an anthem for the victims of the 11 September attacks, with Enya donating to a fund for the victims' families.[1]

Release

In 2001, "Only Time" was released again as a radio remix. The track was remixed and mastered by the Swiss American Federation (S.A.F. aka Christian B. and Marc Dold) with a final mix by Enya's producer, Nicky Ryan. Enya donated the earnings from the sale of that single to the Widows' and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association to help the families of firefighters in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks.[2] Following the attacks, sales of the album and its lead single, "Only Time", skyrocketed after it was used by several radio and television networks in their coverage and aftermath of the attacks. As a result, "Only Time", (the S.A.F. radio remix) climbed to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number one on the adult contemporary chart.[3][4] In 2002, the song received an ECHO Award for Best Single.

Music video

The song's music video, which shows Enya performing the song in a spring, summer, fall and winter theme, was directed by Graham Fink. It was released in 2000.[5] In March 2020, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the recording, the video was remastered in 4K.

Live performances

Enya performed "Only Time" several times, performances included Larry King Live, Children in Need, This Morning, The View, Happy Xmas Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live! with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and 2001 World Music Awards.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the A Day Without Rain album booklet.[15]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifictions and sales for "Only Time"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[53] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[54] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[55] 3× Gold 750,000^
Italy (FIMI)[56]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[57] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Only Time"
Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States Original 6 November 2000 Smooth jazz radio Reprise [59]
United Kingdom 13 November 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 WEA [60][61]
Japan 15 November 2000 CD [62]
United States 20 November 2000
Reprise [63]
19 June 2001 Contemporary hit radio [64]
Australia 10 December 2001 CD WEA [65]
Japan Remix 19 December 2001 [66]

In popular culture

In the 2002 Friends episode "The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath", Chandler plays the song while taking a bath.

On 13 November 2013, The Epic Split advertisement was launched for the Volvo Trucks Volvo FM range and featured the song and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The success of the ad caused "Only Time" to re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 43,[67][68] and the UK Singles Chart at number 95. Kraft Foods later used the song in advertisements showing parents relaxing while their kids eat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.[69]

The song was featured in the 2018 Marvel film Deadpool 2, as well as the 2022 Marvel film Thor: Love and Thunder. The song is also played in goal reviews of all Dallas Stars home games at the American Airlines Center.[70] The song has been widely used as an internet meme depicting various scenes that end in tragedy.[71]

See also

References

  1. ^ Genzmer, Herbert; Kershner, Sybille; Schutz, Christian. Great Disasters. p. 195. ISBN 9781445410968.
  2. ^ "Enya Donates "Only Time" Sales". Irish America Magazine. August 2003. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Enya Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  4. ^ a b "Enya Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Only Time, 2000. Directed by Graham Fink". EnyaOne. 2000. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  6. ^ Only Time (UK CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2000. WEA 316CD, 8573-85739-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Only Time (UK cassette single sleeve). Enya. WEA. 2000. WEA 316C, 8573-85739-4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Only Time (German CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2000. 8573-85838-5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Only Time (Canadian CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2001. 2 43105.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Only Time (Australian CD single liner notes). Enya. Warner Music Australia. 2001. 0927431052 WEA.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Only Time (Japanese CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2001. WPCR-11008.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Only Time (European CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2001. 0927432755.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Only Time (US CD single liner notes). Enya. Reprise Records. 2001. 9 42420-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Only Time (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Enya. Reprise Records. 2001. 7-16719.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ A Day Without Rain (UK CD album booklet). Enya. WEA. 2000. 8573-85986-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Issue 620" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Enya – Only Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ^ "Enya – Only Tim" (in French). Ultratip.
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  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 43. 20 October 2001. p. 9. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Enya – Only Time" (in French). Les classement single.
  22. ^ "Enya – Only Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
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  26. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 12 May 2007.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Enya Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Enya Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Digital Genre Charts Launch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  35. ^ "GFK Chart-Track - TOP 100 SINGLES, WEEK ENDING 21 November 2013". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
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  38. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  39. ^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 1 July 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
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  52. ^ "Gratis: 'Hits des neuen Jahrtausend'-Liste" [Free: 'Hits of the New Millennium' List] (in German). RTL. 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
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  54. ^ "Danish single certifications – Enya – Only Time". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  55. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enya; 'Only Time')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  56. ^ "Italian single certifications – Enya – Only Time" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Only Time" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  57. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Only Time')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
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  64. ^ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1406. 15 June 2001. p. 74. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  65. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 10th December 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 10 December 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
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  68. ^ "Lorde's 'Royals' Rules Hot 100 for Ninth Week". Billboard.
  69. ^ "Those Kraft Mac & Cheese Commercials with Enya's "Only Time"". Commercial Society. 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  70. ^ "How two key plays led to Stars 5-2 win over the Avalanche". 25 August 2020.
  71. ^ "Eighth Grade and the Pop-Culture Redemption of Enya's 'Orinoco Flow'". 15 October 2018.

External links

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