Login
Login

Return to Innocence

{{Short description|1993 single by Enigma}}

{{About|the song by Enigma|the 2001 film|Return to Innocence (film)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Return to Innocence

| cover = Enigma Return to Innocence single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Enigma

| album = The Cross of Changes

| released = {{start date|1993|12|13|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio = A.R.T. (Ibiza, Spain)

| genre =

| length = 4:03

| label = Virgin

| writer =

| producer = Michael Cretu

| prev_title = Carly's Song

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = The Eyes of Truth

| next_year = 1994

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Rk_sAHh9s08|"Return to Innocence"}}}}

}}

"Return to Innocence" is a song by German musical group Enigma, released in December 1993, by Virgin Records, as the lead single from the group's second album, The Cross of Changes (1993). It was co-written and produced by Michael Cretu, reaching number one in over 10 countries. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, and entered the top five in several other countries. "Return to Innocence" was the project's biggest hit in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Julien Temple directed its accompanying music video. It depicts a man's life in reverse and received heavy rotation on European music channels.

History

The song's melodic and talking vocals in English are provided by Angel X (Andreas Harde), and a short talking vocal by Sandra ("That's not the beginning of the end, that's the return to yourself, the return to innocence"), while an Amis chant ("Weeding and Paddyfield Song No. 1") sung by folk music duo Difang and Igay Duana opens the song and is repeated throughout. Hailing from Taiwan, these Amis musicians were in a cultural exchange program in Paris in 1988 when their performance of the song was recorded by the Maison des Cultures du Monde and later distributed on CD.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511174847/https://www.apnews.com/eb902d5be71acd8a7af325f41d565fee|archive-date=2019-05-11|url-status=dead|url=https://www.apnews.com/eb902d5be71acd8a7af325f41d565fee|title=Taiwan Couple Sue Enigma for Vocals|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=11 May 2019}}{{cite journal|title=Returning to and from "Innocence": Taiwan Aboriginal Recordings|journal = The Journal of American Folklore|volume = 121|issue = 480|pages = 222–235|publisher=jstor.org|jstor = 20487599|last1 = Tan|first1 = Shzr Ee|year = 2008|doi = 10.1353/jaf.0.0005|s2cid = 153601866}} 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", played by John Bonham.{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r198552|pure_url=yes}}

The song was used to promote several types of media in the mid-1990s, including film and TV commercials. In autumn 1994, the song was featured in an episode of the TV show My So-Called Life. In 1995, the song was used as the closing theme in Disney's live-action film Man of the House, as well as in the opening and closing of an Outer Limits episode. In 1996, the song was further popularised when it was used in a television advertisement to promote the 1996 Summer Olympics.

=Legal dispute=

In March 1998, Difang and Igay sued Cretu, Virgin Records and a number of recording companies for unauthorised use of their song without credit.Channel News Asia (28 March 1998). {{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle1.html |title=Taiwan Aborigines Sue Enigma, Music Companies |access-date=18 February 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027110752/http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle1.html |archive-date=October 27, 2009 }}. Channel News Asia.Craig Rosen (4 March 1999). [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12049600 Enigma Sued By Aboriginal Couple Over Song Rights]. LAUNCHcast. 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 Duanas.Richard F. Roper (23 June 1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027110755/http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle4.html Taiwanese Settle Lawsuit Claiming Their Original Composition Was Stolen; They Will Now Set Up Foundation]. Business Wire. 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 Duanas' copyright.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027110753/http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle5.html http://www.geocities.com/enigmalair/rtiarticle5.html RTI Article] (archived), EnigmaLair, Geocities.com

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic said that "Return to Innocence" is "not quite up there" with "Sadeness" in the popular culture in the US, "but almost inescapable elsewhere."{{cite web|first= Ned |last= Raggett |title= Enigma – The Cross of Changes |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 8 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-cross-of-changes-mw0000107958}} Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote that Enigma "resurfaces with a far more accessible, but no less cool pop/hip-hop kicker". He explained, "The track's insistent beat is good bait for a song that is chock-full of unusual male chants and breathy female vamping. Somewhere between the two is an irresistible hook and melody that assures much-deserved success at both radio and club level."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-02-26.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=26 February 1994|access-date=31 January 2020|author-link=Larry Flick}} Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box noted, "Now, experts at the Virgin Records hitmaking laboratory have concocted a new, even more startling scenario: Enigma as hit song-makers! Wild, but true. The life's work of one Michael Cretu, a zealous Romanian attempting to go where no new age musician has gone before. Enigma is threatening to break free of the genre's tacky shackles, making the world safe for ambient artists everywhere."{{cite magazine|first=Troy J.|last=Augusto|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-03-05.pdf|title=Pop Singles: Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|date=5 March 1994|page=12|access-date=23 January 2020}} Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report called it "a haunting production that won't go by unnoticed".{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Gavin Picks: Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 11 February 1994 |page= 46 |access-date= 18 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/94/Gavin-1994-02-11.pdf}}

Jonathan Riggs from Idolator commented, "If all of human existence across time were a movie, 'Return to Innocence' is the song that should play over the end credits." He added, "'Return to Innocence' was then and remains now universally epic, instantly recognizable, largely incomprehensible and endlessly moving. Like us. Like life."{{cite web|author=Riggs, Jonathan|title=The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1994 (Featuring New Interviews With Ace Of Base, TLC, Lisa Loeb, Real McCoy & Haddaway)|work=Idolator|date=20 November 2014|access-date=7 April 2020|url=https://www.idolator.com/7569924/50-best-pop-singles-1994-interview-ace-of-base-tlc-lisa-loeb-real-mccoy-haddaway}} Alan Jones from Music Week described it as a "mysterious new collage of sounds" and "a haunting and well-constructed piece that sets ethnic-sounding emoting and softly spoken phrases against a dance beat and a swirl of soft synth sounds". He concluded, "Satisfying and unique."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-22.pdf |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week |magazine= Music Week |date= 22 January 1994 |page= 12 |accessdate= 13 April 2021}} John Kilgo from The Network Forty deemed it a "melodramatic chant".{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Kilgo|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Network-40/94/Network-40-1994-06-10.pdf|title=Mainstream: Music Meeting|magazine=The Network Forty|date=10 June 1994|page=22|access-date=29 March 2020}} Charles Aaron for Entertainment Weekly noted that "group mastermind Michael Cretu replaces his familiar monkish chants (1991's hit 'Sadeness') with aboriginal croons, but the entrancing, mid-tempo groove remains, along with loopy female whispers."{{cite magazine|author=Aaron, Charles|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/02/18/cross-changes/|title=The Cross of Changes|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=18 February 1994|accessdate=20 October 2021}} James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update named it a "slinkily atmospheric rolling sombre 0-88-0bpm Euro smash" in his weekly dance column.{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-05.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 5 February 1994 |page= 7 |accessdate= 14 April 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Richard Paton from Toledo Blade wrote that the song "captures that melange of sounds, the intensity of the beat, and the wafting vocals and chant".{{cite magazine|first=Richard|last=Paton|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8_tS2Vw13FcC&dat=19940313&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Sounds: "The Cross Of Changes" Enigma|magazine=Toledo Blade|date=13 March 1994|access-date=16 March 2020}}

Music video

{{see also|Enigma videography#The Cross of Changes}}

English film, documentary and music video director Julien Temple directed the music video for "Return to Innocence", which depicts a man's life in reverse, starting with him dying and ending with his baptism as a baby.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_sAHh9s08|title=Enigma - Return To Innocence (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube|date=10 March 2009|access-date=13 March 2022}} It received heavy rotation on MTV Europe and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA, guaranteeing at least 30 plays a week.{{cite magazine|title=Station Reports > MTV Europe/London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-05.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=6|date=5 February 1994|page=29|accessdate=17 December 2022}}{{cite magazine|title=Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-05.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=6|date=5 February 1994|page=29|access-date=17 December 2022}}{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Sexton|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-02-19.pdf|title=Artists & Music: Virgin Bears Enigma's 'Cross' To Global Acclaim|magazine=Billboard|date=19 February 1994|page=8|access-date=30 April 2025}} The clip was also added at The Box in the US. "Return to Innocence" was later made available on Enigma's official YouTube channel in 2009, having generated more than 187 million views as of early 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_sAHh9s08|title=Enigma - Return To Innocence (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube|date=10 March 2009|access-date=30 April 2025}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1993|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=DINSE 123}}
  • UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=DINS 123}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=DINSC 123}}
  • US and Australian cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Charisma Records|id=4KM-38423}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=8921974}}
  1. "Return to Innocence" (radio edit) – 4:03
  2. "Return to Innocence" (380 Midnight mix) – 5:55
  • UK and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=DINSD 123}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=8923262}}
  • Japanese maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=リターン・トゥ・イノセンス|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Japan|id=VJCP-12015}}
  1. "Return to Innocence" (radio edit) – 4:03
  2. "Return to Innocence" (Long & Alive version) – 7:07
  3. "Return to Innocence" (380 Midnight mix) – 5:55
  4. "Return to Innocence" (short radio edit) – 3:01
  • UK and US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=DINST 123}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=US 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Charisma Records|id=Y-14122}}

:A1. "Return to Innocence" (380 Midnight mix) – 5:55

:A2. "Return to Innocence" (radio edit) – 4:03

:B1. "Return to Innocence" (Long & Alive version) – 7:07

{{col-2}}

  • US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Return to Innocence|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Charisma Records|id=V25H-38423}}
  1. "Return to Innocence" (radio edit) – 4:03
  2. "Return to Innocence" (Long & Alive version) – 7:07
  3. "Return to Innocence" (380 Midnight mix) – 5:55
  4. "Return to Innocence" (short radio edit) – 3:01
  5. "Sadeness (Part I)" (radio edit) – 4:17
  • Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=リターン・トゥ・イノセンス|others=Enigma|year=1994|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Japan|id=VJDP-10239}}
  1. "Return to Innocence"
  2. "Age of Loneliness (Carly's Song)"

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for "Return to Innocence"

!Chart (1994)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|16|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Austria|4|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Flanders|16|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=2442|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|7|chartid=2446|rowheader=true|access-date=18 May 2020}}
scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-26.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=9|date=26 February 1994|page=16|access-date=10 April 2020}}

| 2

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-26.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=9|date=26 February 1994|page=14|access-date=7 May 2019}}

| 2

scope="row"|Europe (European AC Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-04-02.pdf|title=Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=14|date=2 April 1994|page=25|access-date=28 May 2023}}

| 9

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2006|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|language=fi|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5|location=Helsinki}}

| 6

{{single chart|France|11|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Germany|5|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|songid=2729|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2019|refname="ger"}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2623229#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.02.1994 – 23.02.1994)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=20|date=17 February 1994|access-date=13 March 2018}}

| 3

{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2019}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e Dischi|language=it|access-date=4 June 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Enigma".

| 14

scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-05.pdf|title=Regional Airplay: South|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=6|page=35|date=5 February 1994}}

| 3

{{single chart|Dutch40|6|year=1994|week=9|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2019}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|5|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Scotland|8|date=19940305|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2019}}
{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|5|artist=Enigma|song=Return to Innocence|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UK|3|date=19940212|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2019}}
scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-03-26.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=26 March 1994|page=20|access-date=23 May 2025}}

| 4

scope="row"|UK Dance (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-29.pdf|title=Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=29 January 1994|page=26|access-date=24 April 2021}}

| 6

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1994-05-07/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=7 May 1994|access-date=26 March 2023}}

| 4

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot Adult Contemporary|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=23|page=128|date=4 June 1994}}

| 40

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1994-04-09/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=9 April 1994|url-access=subscription|access-date=26 March 2023}}

| 2

scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/1994-05-28/|title=Pop Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=28 May 1994|url-access=subscription|access-date=26 March 2023}}

| 6

scope="row"|US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rhythmic-40/1994-05-21/|title=Rhythmic Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=21 May 1994|url-access=subscription|access-date=26 March 2023}}

| 16

scope="row"|Zimbabwe (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000

| 1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "Return to Innocence"

!Chart (1994)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}

| 84

scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1994|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1994|language=de|access-date=15 April 2019}}

| 20

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1994|title=Jaaroverzichten 1994|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=15 April 2019}}

| 80

scope="row"|Brazil (Mais Tocadas){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/1994/|title=Top 100 Músicas Mais Tocadas em 1994|date=30 March 2018 |publisher=Mais Tocadas|language=portuguese|access-date=May 15, 2025}}

| 42

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2687&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2687.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2687|title=RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=15 April 2019|date=12 December 1994}}

| 24

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf|title=1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=52|page=12|date=24 December 1994|access-date=28 November 2019}}

| 12

scope="row"|Europe Border Breakers (M&M){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf#page=20|title=Border Breakers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=52|date=24 December 1994|page=8|access-date=27 May 2022|via=World Radio History}}

| 3

scope="row"|France (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?annee=1994|title=Tops de L'année {{!}} Top Singles 1994|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=26 September 2020}}

| 46

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1994|title=Top 100 Singles - Jahrescharts 1994|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=15 April 2019}}

| 23

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2723094#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1994|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=2 January 1995|access-date=30 May 2020}}

| 40

scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf|title=1994 In Review, Regional Airplay: South|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=52|page=19|date=24 December 1994}}

| 17

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1994.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1994|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|language=nl|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=2 November 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031102042816/http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1994.html|url-status=dead}}

| 42

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1994&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=15 April 2019}}

| 72

scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1994-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1994|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=30 May 2020}}

| 35

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1994&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1994|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=30 May 2020}}

| 8

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1994|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994|language=de|access-date=15 April 2019}}

| 8

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1994|magazine=Music Week|page=9|date=14 January 1995}}

| 28

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1994|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1994|access-date=27 August 2010}}

| 33

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA42-IA2|title=The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=52|page=YE-62|date=24 December 1994|access-date=2 April 2025}}

| 19

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title= The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1994 |magazine= Cash Box |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/1994YESP.html |archive-date= 10 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121010231529/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/1994YESP.html}}

| 33

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Return to Innocence"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Enigma|title=Return to Innocence|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Enigma|title=Return to Innocence|award=Gold|relyear=1994|id=1994-05-27|source=newchart|access-date=23 December 2024|certyear=1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Enigma|title=Return to Innocence|award=Gold|relyear=1994|id=1994-05-27|certyear=2023|note=digital|access-date=23 December 2024|source=radioscope|refname="NZ-Digital"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|nosales=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Enigma|title=Return to Innocence|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=5495-903-1|access-date=11 November 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Enigma|title=Return to Innocence|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|salesamount=500,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57|title=Best-Selling Records of 1994|magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications|date=21 January 1995|access-date=5 May 2015|page=57|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=3}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release dates and formats for "Return to Innocence"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|Europe

|13 December 1993

|CD

|rowspan="2"|Virgin

|

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|17 January 1994

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|pages=20–21|date=15 January 1994}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|Japan

|16 February 1994

|Maxi-CD

|rowspan="2"|Virgin Japan

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/48070/products/296608/1/|title=ラジオ・エディット {{!}} エニグマ|trans-title=Radio Edit {{!}} Enigma|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 September 2023}}

7 December 1994

|Mini-CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/48070/products/298575/1/|title=リターン・トゥ・イノセンス {{!}} エニグマ|trans-title=Return to Innocence {{!}} Enigma|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 September 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Portal|1990s}}

{{Enigma}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1993 singles

Category:1993 songs

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Enigma (German band) songs

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Music videos directed by Julien Temple

Category:Number-one singles in Israel

Category:Number-one singles in Norway

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe

Category:Olympic songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Cretu

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Songs written by Michael Cretu

Category:Virgin Records singles

lt:Return To Innocence