I’ve been hearing Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s medley of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” getting a lot of airplay over the past six months, and assumed it was a new piece.
However, I recently bought a copy of the CD it appeared on, “Facing Future” and found that it was released in 1993, and that Iz died in 1997.
So why is it getting so much airtime recently? was it associated with some recent movie or something?
It had it’s first wave of popularity in the early '90’s after the movies “Finding Forrester” and “Meet Joe Black”.
Not sure about a new wave of popularity now but, I sure wish someone had written the words down for Iz… his mangled version kind of ruins it for me. Too bad.
It was played during Dr Green’s death scene in ER during 2002. It’s been popular for a long time and goes in cycles for airplay because it’s constantly in use.
I could swear I have heard it used in a new film in the last 2 years, perhaps over the credits.
Judging by the wikipedia pagewould be its third or fourth wave of popularity. Previous waves seem to be early 90s, mid 2000s; late 2010-early 2011 in Europe. Not sure what’s sparking the current wave, maybe a commercial?
It’s also in ‘‘Fifty First Dates’’. Ukulele is getting quite popular again and I think we’ll see more pieces using it. Matter of fact, I recently joined a uke club!
His version of Over the Rainbow was performed several times last summer in my area. I’ll have to ask the performers if there was a reason, other than a recent discovery (I had never heard it before, so maybe someone else was behind the times, too).
Here’s the version sung locally, by Lynn Gudmundsen, David Hatch, and Ben Larsen, assisted by Hans Christian and Grace Bernhard.
It was a first take. Here is Mix magazine’s article on the recording session. It was recorded at 3:30 in the morning by an engineer who just wanted to go home, but was talked into staying an extra fifteen minutes. Then the tape sat on the shelf for five years.
There are two versions of Over the Rainbow that are usually considered the standard versions these days - Eva Cassidy’s and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s. (Yes, more so than Judy Garland’s version.) I would say that Eva Cassidy’s is actually the more influential version, although admittedly I’m a little prejudiced about this. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version may be more popular, in terms of coming up higher in Google hits and hits on YouTube, but in terms of inspiring new singers, Eva Cassidy’s seems to be more influential.
Here’s my favorite, Jeanne Kuhns & George Sawyn. Jeanne has pipes and George’s got picks.
Thanks for that gaffa! Very interesting site.
It’s been used in the Ad Council’s public service ads for over a decade.
I don’t have anything to say except that unless I am very careful and selective, no matter the seeds I pick, my pandora station starts playing his version every 5 or 6 songs. It was cute and sweet for about 2 minutes and now I wish he’d never recorded it. I am glad I do not listen to very much broadcast radio. If it’s as popular as you say, I would probably have committed a murder by now.
I think the popularity is thanks to Glee - here’s the song they did in Season One.
ETA: that’s just Over the Rainbow but the influence is obvious
You’re welcome. It’s a trade magazine for sound engineers, both PA and recording, and the Classic Tracks column is one of my favorites. I haven’t earned my living as a sound engineer in years, but I still like to keep up.
I hadn’t heard it on the air in years and years, and then just heard it yesterday, as it happens.
You can hear a little of it in this sweet eToys.com ad from 2000, too: - YouTube
why now - cause it’s timeless?
Oh - and David Archuleta basically stole Eva Cassidy’s version of “Over the Rainbow” on American Idol and never got called on it
Why now? If I had to guess, I’d guess that there’s a heightened demand for Hawaiian music now that The Descendants is up for Best Picture.
Iz did later record the right lyrics, but it just doesn’t have the same charm.
Oh, and listen to the entire Facing Future album; lots of great somes besides “Rainbow.” “Pili Me Ka’u Manu” is a favorite of mine.
Did it get played on an episode if the new Hawaii Five-0 also? That would be between 2010 and 2012.