‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ is a truly great song to start with, having been made famous by Judy Garland in the ‘Wizard Of OZ’ and much recorded in various versions as it is a song that suggests that however bad things get there is somewhere better for us in the future on the other side of a rainbow. This version by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole has that heritage as its staring point but his version really is something special.
Perhaps it’s the way that he accompanies his magnificent and soft voice with nothing more than a ukulele or the fact that he affords the actual melody and sound of the original song such little respect in the way he takes the bits he wants and changes other sections to make it his own but either way this is a masterpiece of simplicity and style and is a truly wonderful version of a truly great song.
Listen to the song…..
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