Michael Cretu "Voyageur" Interviews Part 2


Michael Cretu

Michael Cretu Talks about the 11 songs from "Voyageur"
1. From East To West
Michael Cretu: The journey begins. For the first time, an ENIGMA album starts with a real song. It's full of contrasts: from very soft to… When I played the intro on the piano - it was shortly before sunrise - I wanted to call it "Sunrise". Then I thought, "From East To West" is even better. It does have a reason why I didn't call it "Green Banana".

2. Voyageur
Michael Cretu: For me, this track meets all attributes an ENIGMA single of the year 2003 needs. It's extraordinary, it has got nothing to do with what's on the radio otherwise. It's catchy and it's nice, charming, uncomplicated. I wanted to create a monotonous harmony resp. a harmonious monotony. I liked Kraftwerk's "Fahrn, fahrn, fahrn, auf der Autobahn". They're virtuosos in dealing with monotony. The whispered lyrics "Vien, vien chez moi voyageur" has a similar effect. I don't know any track comparable to "Voyageur".

3. Incognito
Michael Cretu: This song - originally considered the title track - is an image and a statement for change. A symbol of where ENIGMA came from and where ENIGMA has arrived. It's an absolutely shocking track: the middle section, where I use 12-tone elements, is almost musical Dadaism. It all happened very playfully, it's nothing brainy.

4. Page Of Cups
Michael Cretu: Often there are songs which for the development of the entire album are much more important than singles. This is one. The 7 minute track had not been planned to be the longest one. But it's flowing, it fits. My music is organic, it's an essential part of it. I'm happy about the magic of this track, even though I don't know where it comes from. The title means… well, let everybody think about it a bit.

5. Boum-Boum
Michael Cretu: The first duet for ENIGMA, but none meeting the usual clichés: first he sings, then she does the next line. Probably because it hadn't been intended to be a duet at first. My original idea was a mix of Pop á la Ace of Base with a classical chanson. The song has all the attributes of a hit, we'll see if it's going to be a single.

6. Total Eclipse Of The Moon
Michael Cretu: Women aver 30 would want to murder me if I left it off. It's a touching ballad. You see a chamber orchestra in your mind but it's all synthetically created. What can I say: it sounds better than if a chamber orchestra played alone. My style of playing creates naturalness again. The story is over after 2:16 minutes. It's intentionally that short. It's a traditional song - completely without drums. A breathing break in the middle of the album.

7. Look Of Today
Michael Cretu: Now the alternating bath of emotions. This modern, commercial club track is best here because it most acutely contrasts here. The song fits very well in the journey. Content-wise, the title is a critical look at the consumer society.

8. In The Shadow, In The Light
Michael Cretu: The song consists of two loops I liked, put together. Plus the mix of old sounds with very modern elements. And the middle part, the break with a fat Hammond organ kind of Uriah Heep like. I sang the lyrics later improvising a demo version, realizing that it was good the way it was.

9. Weightless
Michael Cretu: A collage - an impression. Created from an accident. I tried a new synthesizer and I liked what I did. I played it in the morning at 11:00h after a long night, saved it on a minidisk, where I keep recording the various stages of development of songs. When I rediscovered it later, I thought it was beautiful. It fits well into the overall context and is good for the album at this position.

10. The Piano
Michael Cretu: The track is intentionally sweet and sugary but not sticky. Some say it sounds like the "Spirit Of Ibiza". I was surprised because I keep thinking of a musical clock. For me, it has nothing to do with chill-out. Characteristic for the song, typical for ENIGMA, is the style of my playing the piano. My true profession is the pianist. And my touch, my style has remained the same over the years.

11. Following The Sun
Michael Cretu: Imagine: the orange gold light of the sun in October. On the ocean, shortly before sundown. Blinded, seeing nothing, only light. A feeling, a moment as if you'd take off. "Following the sun - the golden one". I'm usually not that cheap but here it's with a substance. Ruth-Ann sings it wonderfully. And in the end, the "Voyageur" vanishes into the orbit - floats away toward the unknown. The journey is over. So far.