Why Enya Turned Down Scoring James Cameron’s Titanic
Enya was approached to compose the music for Titanic but declined, choosing creative independence over collaboration. Her decision stands out among the many who eagerly joined the film’s production.
Big decisions often come with the fear of missing out on something extraordinary. Even when our instincts tell us to walk away, the possibility of a brighter future can cloud our judgment. For Enya, though, the choice was clear when she was invited to work on the music for Titanic. She didn’t hesitate—her answer was a firm and repeated no, a rare stance compared to the many who jumped at the chance to be part of the blockbuster.
Hollywood ’s Reluctant Yeses
Not everyone involved in the film was convinced from the start. When James Cameron pitched his vision to 20th Century Fox as “Romeo and Juliet on the Titanic,” the studio was skeptical. Still, they trusted Cameron’s track record as a box office powerhouse and agreed, hoping he’d deliver another hit. Cameron had a knack for getting people to buy into his ambitious ideas, whether it was making Avatar before the technology existed or persuading the studio to fund a real expedition to the Titanic wreck. His passion for shipwrecks was so strong, it was almost like he was getting someone else to pay for his dream adventure.
The approvals didn’t stop there. Cameron secured a $200 million budget, making it the most expensive film of its time. He convinced the original Titanic’s builders to share their never-before-seen blueprints. Even Kate Winslet, then a rising star, personally called him to ask for a role. Cameron seemed to have a way of making people say yes—except when it came to Enya.
Enya’s Unwavering Creative Vision
While writing the script, Cameron listened to Enya’s music, planning all along to ask her to create the soundtrack. But she was one of the few to turn him down.
“James Cameron, he approached and sent the script, but what happened was when we were talking about the end song, it was to be a collaboration, and that’s something that I’ve actually never done,”
Enya explained. Cameron, known for his hands-on approach, wanted some creative input on the music, similar to how James Horner composed “My Heart Will Go On” and Celine Dion later provided vocals.
“I get to write the song, I sing,”
Enya said about her usual process.
“I’ve always written the melodies, so I find it kind of strange,”
she added. At the time, she was also working on an album, so she decided,
“it wasn’t going to happen if it was a collaboration.”