This album was looked as very "new age" in sound. It is like one of those "environmental sounding" albums that people nowadays buy. I like Oceanic because it takes to a relaxing place. I often call this CD, "the luxury cruise for about thirteen (U.S.) dollars." True! It captures that sense of wonder and relief to go on a cruise whether it be to the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. These cruises are still very expensive and that joy has felt by a few. Wouldn't it be nice to feel relaxed near the ocean like that? (This album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998 for the Best New Age Album)

[1] BON VOYAGE
I think it is excellent for a space tourism commercial. Mainly, because it is brief, dynamic and captures that feeling of sailing away from home to new adventures. (Maybe, in the future...). It could also be played during a ship's christening ceremony. I also like it how it starts with the ocean and then changes to a kind of "sail away" feeling and how it captures the intensity of going from the known into the unknown.

[2] SIRENS' WHISPERING
This one convinced me of Vangelis' inspiration from synchronized swimming films (like The Million Dollar Mermaid and Footlight Parade). It also told me that this song has to be used by some synchronize swimming team during the Olympic Games. It is perfect for it because of the occasional harp playing, the choir and the very angelic sound produced. Of course, I have never seen those films but I have heard of them. (Esther Williams is best remembered as the actress most involved with these films, including Footlight Parade) Vangelis must be dedicating it to her (or as they say in Greek, pay a tax to)

[3] DREAMS OF SURF
This one is very relaxng and soothing. It is like you are resting on the decks of a great ship (like Titanic for all those who love that movie). The waves swirliing and spiraling around the ship... the dolphins and porposises swimming around, attracted by his dream... the warm sum, the salty air and the cloud patterns dominate the horizion... (don't you just love it?)

[4] SPANISH HARBOUR
I always have this mental picture of camera shots of a clipper ship. Also, I have theorized that this song is a 1492 outtake. I like the percussion background, the warm synthesizer sound as the melody, the ocassional harp playing, the Spanish guitar and the "sirens" signing to their heart's content. It is great for some documentaries.

[5] ISLANDS OF THE ORIENT
I love the rushing water sound in the beginning. First, the piano plays along its melody. Further on, it begins to sound a bit more Oriental. I have heard it said on the the Direct Mailing List that this song goes along great (pyschologically, I don't want to start anymore synchronicity theories! :>) with the movie Contact. Then, comes the great part of the whole song (in my humble opinion of course), when the climax of the piece takes place and it feels like you just dived into the water and swam freely. The piece begins to die down and the familiar rushing water sound returns.

[6] FIELDS OF CORAL
After hearing this song, I had a theory that this song will along great with the underwater levels of Donkey Kong 1, 2 and 3. It was not only because of its similiarity to the its original theme, but also because of angelic nature of the melody, both in sound and the way it is played. Vangelis fans have imagined Vangelis being serious when he plays. I think that Vangelis was actually flowing and moving with the music, as if he was enjoying the world that he is creating.

[7] AQUATIC DANCE
One of the things I enjoy doing while in a pool is dancing. One of the tunes I enjoy playing in my head while doing this is this song. It is very ballad and very angelic and imitates the floating and flowing through water. Also the melody is mostly played by Vangelis' cello sound. Nice track and a nice breakway from the long tracks we have been hearing.

[8] MEMORIES OF BLUE
"Memories of Green" reminds us of the times when the earth was natural and man barely made an imprint. "Memories of Blue" reminds us of the time when we were at its simplest form... living in the sea with its tranquility and innocence. The sea sometimes calls us back to its depths, its mystery and its angelic beauty. Even the creatures of the sea fascinates us. M. Capt. Cousteau must have played this on his deathbed.

[9] SONG OF THE SEAS
I can imagine this used on a vacation video to someplace like the Great Barrier Reef, the Bahamas or somewhere in the Caribbean. I like the tropical sounds put on it because it takes you somewhere relaxing like South America (the coastal part) or the Caribbean. It makes want to blow off a couple hundred dollars and, in the words of Enya, sail away, sail away, sail away... This piece, by the way, can be heard and found on the Warriors of Virtue soundtrack.