Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
From Album: "Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ~ Facing Future (1993)
Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) was a Hawaiian musician.He became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.
Kamakawiwo'ole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawai'i. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other idioms (such as jazz and reggae), Iz remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.
Israel's recording of "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" reached #12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004 (for the survey week ending January 18, 2004).
On July 4, 2007, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart with "Wonderful World," selling 17,000 units. It was his biggest sales week ever, helping him garner his second No. 1 on Billboard's Top World Music chart. As of October 2007, the album has sold 75,000 copies.
The song continues to be a low-charting best seller, passing 1,348,000 downloads sold as of the survey week ending August 10, 2008, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Read more ...
Israel Kamakawiwo Unofficial website
Just shows how not to judage a book by it's cover, What a talent, his songs bring tears to my eyes.
Just returned from Hawaii on Friday. The elevator played this song everytime I got on.....karma?......fell in love with it. Have to have it. Play it now a couple of times a day.....so calming and heartwarming. Makes me cry sometimes depending on my mood.
Every time i here this song it makes me cry,it touches my heart on how life should be, peaceful! I played this song at my mothers funeral, god bless her!
Heard Iz years ago and could never find who sang this version until today at the local Y; they use it to notify them of a sigh-in. It's absolutely beautiful as many others have said. So relaxing, so soulful. I love it. thanks of providing the download.
I love his version of the song..It is so beautiful! In fact, when I got married..this is the song that ended our ceremony (as we walked down the aisle as Mr and Mrs)..it fit perfectly!
This composition is one of the most simple and pure pieces of music ever. It's a timeless portrait of a young Hawaiian artist whose soft and gentle voice was more powerful than any weapon, more lovely and rare than any painting in the Louvre.
Powerful, gentle, pure...pretty rare.
I really love this song...It is kind of late when I heard this but this is really calming and very peaceful to hear.
Fantastico!!
Listening to Iz just makes me feel better - no matter hwat the day holds or what issues I may have - his music is better than any doctor
Just lovely - been a fan forever
Hello, can you please post some more information on this topic? I would like to read more.
[...] oh, I thought Gerard Joling’s style of this song is too much like Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. [...]
THE most perfect song for a serene feeling. This music hits every chord and note that can release a good feeling in a human being... Even the minor chords provide a good feeling. All emotions are simply overwhelmed by the peace you feel from this song.
This music is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VERY NICE SONG! {._.}