There’s a variant of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, mixed into a medley with What A Wonderful World, that has been used in several movies, television shows, and commercials, and I thought it was pretty remarkable. Most notably I remember it during the credits of Finding Forrester.
However, I just heard it used as background for a Particles demo video and decided it was time to track it down, figure out who sang it that way. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, or IZ, is the guy.
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Kamakawiwo’ole was a Hawaiian musician who, sadly, died in 1997 at the young age of 38. Kamakawiwo’ole was popular and admired, he was one of two people ever to receive a state funeral in Hawaii.
It is amazing that a song as well-covered as Somewhere Over The Rainbow, originally sung by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, could take on such a different, haunting, feel as it has with Kamakawiwo’ole’s voice. It’s been sung by Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Stewart, Diana Ross, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, Metallica, and many others, but this one cover by someone I’ve never heard is what sticks with me, and apparently with others as well.
Videos
There are several videos of Israel kamakawiwo’ole singing the Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World medly. Here are a couple.
The first has better sound, and is longer, but the video is essentially a slide show.
The second has a more muted sound, and is shorter, but has actual video footage.
