There’s a version of “Over the Rainbow” with a funky, somewhat reggae, flavor to it – very minimal, nice male voice, good vibe. It was playing in the restaurant last night, and my suitor and I both said, “ooh, I like this version – who is it?” I said I thought it had been used in an ad – he said no, but it was used in a movie.
There are 1291 versions of “Over the Rainbow” at AMG. I ain’t never gonna find it going that route. Anyone have a clue as to the version I’m talking about and who the singer is?
His version of Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World has been used in commercials and films for years now. Basically it’s just him and a ukelele. And it was absolutely perfect.
Bradda Iz was much loved in Hawaii and died in 1997 at the age of 38.
Well, not that you’re soliciting recommendations for covers of “Over the Rainbow” or anything, but I opened this thread hoping that you were curious about Vincent Price’s version.
I whole-heartedly recommend it; I believe it was originally recorded for “The Abominable Dr Phibes,” although it wasn’t used until the end credits of “Dr Phibes Rises Again.” You would know it if you heard it. Its the version that makes listeners say to themselves “WTF? This sounds just like Vincent Price singing ‘Over the Rainbow’?!?”
Actually, if we’re talking versions we like, I’ll nominate Livingston Taylor’s. He’s the lesser-known, but equally talented, brother of James. Wistful without doing the poignancy.
I think that there’s a rule that if you do a great version of “Over the Rainbow” you’ll die young. Judy Garland died at 47. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole did a better version and died at 38. Eva Cassidy did the best version of all and died at 33.
It has been used in other movies. I think Meet Joe Black had it, but Israel is certainly the biggest singer anyone likes. I read somewhere that he was over 700 pounds.
Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of this song was used as the theme for eToys, an online toy seller which eventually went bankrupt. Maybe this has something to do with the “Over the Rainbow” rule Wendell Wagner hypothesized about.
Does anyone know if the DVD for Dr Phibes Rises Again has Over the Rainbow on it? A couple of years ago I was watching the movie on TV & the song was missing tho the visual remained on Phibes taking his dead wife down the barge into the River of Life to be raised & Robert Quarry aging & decaying. I did a google search & found the song had been cut due to copyrights not being fully worked out. Has that been settled?
There’s a version of “Over the rainbow” during the end of “50 First Dates”, didn’t see the closing credits all the way thru and the soundtrack doesn’t have it. So don’t know if this is the same one discussed in this thread. Sounds like it.
Surprisingly good movie, but using that hack of a song at the ending just brought too many surpressed memories of its use in “You’ve Got Mail” that I barely kept dinner down. Please movie companies: never, ever use this song again.
If none of the above are the version you are looking for; try John Martin’s version on (I think) the ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ album. Description fits and it’s worth checking him out anyway.
