# "Over the Rainbow" -- who did this version **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198 "2004-02-20T14:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/1 "2004-02-20T14:24:34Z")
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? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/2 "2004-02-20T14:31:48Z")
Betcha you heard Bradda Iz. [Israel Kamakawiwo’ole](http://www.royalelephant.com/braddaiz.shtml) 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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/3 "2004-02-20T14:36:08Z")
Hawaii, Jamaica – all those islands look alike to me. :o Thanks, **DeVena** , I think that’s the one! ---
**Author:** ![Montresor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@Montresor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montresor)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/4 "2004-02-20T20:16:43Z")
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’?!?” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/5 "2004-02-20T21:04:19Z")
Yikes! Vincent Price!?!?! 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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/6 "2004-02-20T21:14:37Z")
Sorry – that should be _overdoing_ the poignancy. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/7 "2004-02-20T23:22:55Z")
Iz’s version was during the end credits of “Finding Forrester,” which is where I, er, found him. Wonderful World. Wonderful voice. Julie ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/8 "2004-02-21T00:35:25Z")
Iz’s version has been used a lot. E.R. used it in the “Death of Dr. Green” episode, and I’ve heard it in commercials several times. Steve Dahl (105.9 FM Chicago) has been playing it for years. It’s a great song. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/9 "2004-02-21T01:18:18Z")
Okay, okay, I give in – I ordered the CD. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/10 "2004-02-21T04:13:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/11 "2004-02-21T04:43:24Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > Eva Cassidy did the best version of all and died at 33. Damn you, **Wendell Wagner** , I don’t know whether to hug you or poke you with a stick for awakening me to Eva Cassidy. She’s wonderful and I’m crying after listening to “Fields of Gold.” Curses. Julie ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/12 "2004-02-22T13:03:01Z")
> [@photopat](#): > > Iz’s version has been used a lot. E.R. used it in the “Death of Dr. Green” episode, and I’ve heard it in commercials several times. > > Steve Dahl (105.9 FM Chicago) has been playing it for years. > > It’s a great song. Yeah, that was my first thought when reading the OP. Great song. Whenever I hear that version, I cry, thinking of poor Dr. Green. WHAAAA!!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/13 "2004-02-22T14:35:26Z")
I love the Iz CD; I play it over and over. Papa John Creach did a very nice fiddle version of Over the Rainbow. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/14 "2004-02-22T14:44:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/15 "2004-02-22T15:17:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/16 "2004-02-22T18:44:29Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/17 "2004-02-22T18:49:22Z")
just answered my own Q! apparently, the song has been restored! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/18 "2004-02-22T22:37:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-the-rainbow-who-did-this-version/230198/19 "2004-02-23T00:02:55Z")
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.