Return to Innocence

Infobox Single
Name = Return to Innocence

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Artist = Enigma
from Album = The Cross of Changes
Released = 1994
Format = CD, cassette,12" (30 cm)
Recorded = A.R.T. Studios, Ibiza
Genre = New Age
Length = 4:03 (243 sec)
Label = Virgin / EMI
Producer = Michael Cretu
Certification = Gold (RIAA)
Chart position =
* #1 (Irish Singles Chart, Greece, Latvia, Sweden)
* #2 (Eurochart)
* #2 (Modern Rock Tracks)
* #3 (UK Singles Chart)
* #4 (US Hot 100)
* #4 (Austria)
* #5 (Germany)
* #5 (Switzerland)
* #6 (Italy, Netherlands)
* #7 (France)
Last single = "Carly's Song"
(1993)
This single = "Return to Innocence"
(1994)
Next single = "The Eyes of Truth"
(1994)

"Return to Innocence" is a 1994 song created by the musical group Enigma. The single was the first from their chart-topping second album, "The Cross of Changes".

It became one of the project's most popular international singles, peaking at number 1 in over 10 countries (including Greece, Norway, Sweden in Europe), 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 4 on the Hot 100 in the US, number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, the Top 5 in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Netherlands and Switzerland, and the Top 10 in Italy and France.

History

In the song, the main vocals are provided by Angel X (Andreas Harde), while the aboriginal Taiwanese chant was sampled from the "Jubilant Drinking Song" without the singers' permission. Kuo Ying-nan (born Difang Duana) (郭英男) and Kuo Hsiu-chu (郭秀珠), both Amis, were in a cultural exchange program in Paris, France, Europe in 1988, when their performance of the song was recorded by the Maison des Cultures du Monde and made into a CD. The producer of Enigma, Michael Cretu, later obtained the CD and proceeded to sample it. In addition, the drum beat of the song was sampled from the Led Zeppelin song "When the Levee Breaks". [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lvde4jo71wal] In 1996, the song was further popularized when it was used in a television advertisement to promote the 1996 Summer Olympics which were being held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, North America.

In March 1998, Kuo Ying-nan and Kuo Hsiu-chu sued Cretu, Virgin Records, and a number of recording companies for unauthorised usage of their song without credit. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money and all further releases of the song were credited (including royalties) to the Kuos. Cretu has stated that he had been led to believe that the recording was in the public domain, and that he did not intentionally violate the Kuos' copyright. [ [http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle5.html http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle5.html] "Geocities.com" ]

The music video for the song was filmed in Málaga, Spain, Europe, where Cretu also lives. The video shows a man's life going in reverse, starting with him dying (the scene was probably influenced by the 1930 Alexander Dovzhenko film "Earth" [ [http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=973 http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=973] "Slantmagazine.com" ] ) and ending with his birth, where he returns back to innocence (see here).

"Return to Innocence" has been used in the 1994 movie "Exit to Eden" and the 1995 movie, "Man of the House". It also featured prominently in an episode of "The Outer Limits" entitled "The Conversion". It has also been used in an episode of "My So-Called Life" called "The Zit" and a 2006 episode of the tv series Cold Case.

ingle track listing

4-track CD single

#"Radio Edit" – 4:03
#"Long & Alive Version" (Remixed by Curly M.C. and Jens Gad) – 7:07
#"380 Midnight Mix" (Remixed by Jens Gad) – 5:55
#"Short Radio Edit" – 3:01

5-track CD single

#"Radio Edit" – 4:03
#"Long & Alive Version" (Remixed by Curly M.C. and Jens Gad) – 7:07
#"380 Midnight Mix" (Remixed by Jens Gad) – 5:55
#"Short Radio Edit" – 3:01
#"Sadeness (Part I) (Radio Edit)" – 4:17Possible refferences to "Singularity"

References

*Channel News Asia (1998-03-28). [http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle1.html Taiwan Aborigines Sue Enigma, Music Companies] . Channel News Asia.
*Craig Rosen (1999-03-04). [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12049600 Enigma Sued By Aboriginal Couple Over Song Rights] . LAUNCHcast.
*Richard F. Roper (1999-06-23). [http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle4.html Taiwanese Settle Lawsuit Claiming Their Original Composition Was Stolen; They Will Now Set Up Foundation] . Business Wire.