So, Jenny and I are leaving today’s taping of The Daily Show (we were supposed to go a few weeks ago, but wound up too far back in line and had to reschedule our tickets), and as we’re walking out, this absolutely beautiful version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow comes over the studio speaker system – the background is nothing but ukelele strumming, and the singer’s voice is warm and mellow and smiling.
We get home, and I spend a few minutes on KaZaa trying to figure out what song this is – after sampling about a dozen versions of Somewhere Over the Rainbow I find a medley of that song and What a Wonderful World by a guy named Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, who’s apparently the Hawaiian singer of the past fifty years (sadly, I’d had no idea). Judging by the samples online at Amazon, “Iz’s” CDs are just the thing for those winter days when the sky is gray and cold…check them out for yourselves!
Comments
150 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.WHAT IS THE URL FOR THIS SONG?
I found this version to be extremely well done and soothing as well. I am looking for an mp3 version or an album that contains it so I can buy it outright.
does anyone have a download for somewhere over the rainbow (not the medley)?
thanks
dave
please, i need a download for ‘iz’ sotr not the medley
thanks
dave
After seeing 50 First Dates, I really was impacted by the song, but nearly forgot about it until a Hallmark Card ad reminded me! I took me 3 ad viewings to place where I had heard it before, and since it didn’t make it onto the movie soundtrack (a real mistake on their part), it took me a few more days of humming it to figure out it was “Somewhere over the rainbow” (the ad only plays the oo-oo-oo part) So glad this site helped me find this song. I was saddened to discover that the performer died in 1997. I plan to walk down the aisle to this song on July 1.
just wanted to add.. this song is also in the wizard of oz except that it didnt have the wonderful world part.
No really stupid! That’s the original…
For all you aussies, some years back (quite a few), John Laws played this great song on his program for awhile. maybe thats where some of you may have heard it before. He wouldn’t give the name of the artist away. Used to drive me nuts. Also special song for me……for many personal reasons. glad to see Im not the only nut that plays it over and over…:)
Hello. I am trying to get this song to use on my wedding video, but I can only seem to find the regge version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World. I clicked on the links above, but was not able to download it..just to open it. Can someone HELP!?
My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon in Honolulu and we of course knew the song already, but being there and hearing others perform Somewhere Over the Rainbow was amazing. It was truly a magical feeling. Just got back home and will going to buy his CD tonight! It will forever be our song from when we visited paradise!
Wow I really love this song. Its very emotional – simply great. Ive just heard it on “50 first dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymoore. Thank you all for the info about the artist.
Greetings from Austria
Nagash
Can anyone direct me to a download of Judy Garland’s version of “Over the Rainbow”?
I’ve heard this song so much lately. Can anyone name any of the TV shows that have featured this song?
Wow what an awesome song.
Do you all kow that this song is even HUGE in Sydney, Austalia!!!!!
Hawian music is actually getting very popular here.
R.I.P. ISRAEL
Hello, this song is so cool…..The first time ive heard this song is from the movie Meet Joe Black….& Later it was also used for the soudntrack in 50 First Date……I loved it! cool rendition by Israel….
Simply beautiful, genuine, full of deep honesty, and from the heart! Thank you, to the Hawaiian
SJ
Hi folks …..
A really really nice track ….. and it has been used in so many good
movies over the years …. since being sung by Judy Garland in ‘Oz’. IZ’s version is great as a medley …… and his voice is really powerful.
But have anybody heard Harry Nilsson’s version of SOTR (You’ve got Mail) …. not the medley ? and Louis Armstrong’s version of WAWW ? They are the nicest I have heard in a non-medley version.
I have Armstrong’s version of WAWW …. want it ? mail me at kachra.dabba@gmail.com ….. !! free of course …. and let me know if anybody out there has Nilsson’s version of SOTR (only) as mp3 !
ciao
XeRiOn
Hello. Thank you so much for the web sites, Im from Perú and since I hear that song I loved it, I hope there will be more songs like this.
The web sites that are shown up there work well if somebody wants to download it try it.
Hello aley1698, if you can’t download the sound.
When you open the file to listen it you can record the song with the windows sound recorder as a wav file.
What a powerfully moving song, I just watched ER with Green’s last show. I think this show,and that song will leave an impression for alot of days to come. I wish i heard it alot sooner,but better late than never i suppose. I hope more people are moved by it, because i think it will bring alot of people together!
Hi SOTR lovers,
I’m glad to join the fans of this number, a lovely composition which leaves an everlasting effect on me. I just got to hear a midi version of the number which can be downloaded from http://www.sunnycorner.com/movies/featured/ygm/album/orainbow.mid but I would be awesomely thanful to anyone who can tell me about a mp3 or wav or ram format of Harry Nillson’s track in ‘You’ve got mail’.
Christopher
Go to Joe’s post on July 19, 2004 and right click on his link…select “save target as”…this will allow you to save it in MP3 format to your desktop…I first heard the song on a cruise…Celebrity looped the song on their information channel on an Alaskan Cruise…then when we watched 50 First Dates my wife and I were blown away…Since then not a day passes that I don’t listen to it at least once………Awesome song!!!!!!!
I heard this song at the end of Finding Forrester and it stuck in my mind because it was so simple and beautiful. When I heard it again at the end of 50 first dates I remembered it so I had to look it up on the internet. Great song, simplicity at its best.
Well, the midi link provided works, but it is for the original song, from the Wizard of Oz. IF anyone has the link for Iz’s song, I’d appreciate your posting it here.
I loved this song the first time I heard it from Finding Forrester! Beautiful! I searched on our local stores but cannot find his album. Good thing I got an mp3 now from this thread.
Thanks guys!
I always have been a late bloomer in life… but I’ll make up for it! I just saw the rerun of ER when Dr. Mark died in Hawaii and cryed and fell in love with the song and decided that I will have it played at my own funeral. Today I heard it for the first time on the radio and called to find out who sings the song. I was at the cemetary feeding the ducks on the 17th anniversary date of my father’s death when it came on. Being very grief stricken as of late due to the recent death of my mother, I felt like they were reaching out to me to let me know that somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, where skies are beautiful and always rich and blue, that they are okay, and I will be too. Both my parents died young, dad 51 and mom 65. It’s just me and my beautiful 11 yr old daughter now and she never had the chance to know her granddaddy but was fortunate to have grandma for 11 yrs. Thanks for this website:)
I have been looking everywhere for the MP3 for Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “somewhere over the rainbow/wonderful life ” and Lucked -IN here WOOOOOHOOOOOO………… i am planning to convert it to wav and place on my website for easier downloading for those who wish to have the wav. Thanks Joe !!!!!!
THIS MORNING… WHEN I WAS WORKING OUT I HEARD THIS MUSIC AND I HAVE ASKED WHAT THE NAME WAS AND THEY TOLD ME… THANKS GOD I FOUND IT AND NOW I CAN LISTEN EVERY TIME I WANT…. THIS MUSIC IS GREAT… I CANT EXPLAIN WHAT THE FEELINGS ARE LIKE ..JUST WONDERFUL
andi_sance@hotmail.com
Januari 23,2006 at 22:25pm
Everyone…when you love any song that is beautiful, it does not matter a bit what advertisements it is used in…keep on listening and enjoy for yourself!
I also found the version of Over The Rainbow by Iz to be very moving. I added a link to my new website of the lyrics/chord changes thst I was able to figure out. I’ll be adding the fingering for the chords soon. I figured the tune out on guitar; you can capo at the fifth fret (I don’t usually use a capo) and the top four strings are tuned the same a tenor uke in G tuning (G C E A). The chords listed on my site are the chords as they sound – not the capo version.
So beautifull song. I’m very happy to found you, who is like me. When i first heard the song in 50 first dates i couldn’t keep my tears. Since then i allways wanted to watch that movie because of the song. Then heard it in Finding Forrester , which is a great movie too. So i realised the song is the bigger than the movies. And i’m searching this song for long time.
But Joe and Neilson’s site’s are both not available for me. However, Jane’s listening site was great. I listening it now. Thank you Jane.
I really need your help guys, please please help to find the downloadable mp3 version of this song. I will always thank you when i hear it
Thank you , Bolor
this song was played at my late cousin’s viewing.. makes me sad but reminds me of him when i hear this song. rip phillip april 20th, 1972 to january 13th, 2006 !!! god bless
IZ does indeed haunt. His perfect legacy perhaps. NEILSON
many thanks for passing it along. (Mine too cuts at 3:08, but there’s something seemingly appropriate in the tease)
Thanks very much Neilson for enabling us all to download this wonderful song. Haunting is not the word – it is magical
thank you so much for the song, after a long search i have found the song and got to know the “gentle giant ” IZ Kamakawiwo’ole as the singer thru many tributes to this great Hawaiian icon.
What a beautiful song, so peaceful and romantic, and will cherish it for as long as I may live…….
Manila , Philippines
hi everyone
i have heard this song on a couple of movies and it keeps popping up
in commercials
right here is a question can anyone tell me where do find this version
on midi file cos i would love to sing it
i have the judy version and and dont use it because i much prefer israels
if you can help please email me at
pballen@hotmail.com
thanks a lot
phil, taiwan
Hey, guys! This is a great site. I’ve loved this song (Iz’ version only, of course) for a long time now; it moves me in so many ways, and I think the whole screwed up world needs to hear it too. It just might bring a lot of barriers down and end a lot of terrible things in this world. Good luck to all of ya learning to play it. I wish I had that kinda talent. I’m sure glad that I’m not the only crazy (Canadian) to play this song a hundred times over and still LOVE IT!! I can’t wait to play this song for my future babies!
R.I.P Iz Kamakawiwo’ole
First heard it in “Finding Forrester”…I love the movie but the love the song more.I keep watching the end of the movie just to hear the song…over and over again…I unconsciously wanted the song but soon forget about it until “50 First Dates”. Then I got this link…and I got the download. I’m grateful to note that I’m not alone and in the great company of others who love the song all over the world… IZ’s rendetion of the song is simple,pure and it’s goes straight to the heart. If a song is ever considered as language of soul, this is one… I’m grateful for IZ, for his rendition of this song…I’m gratified that there are others who have been touched by this song, that I’m not alone…
I first heard this song version coming back from a trip to the grand canyon…
Truly majestic to hear while trveling through such awesome scenery.
Once this world comes to abrupt close, and everything hits the fan, and World Leaders have lined there pockets of oil and gold at the cost of our precious loved ones…and suddenly the look of impending doom fills there eyes…I plan on playing this song as loud as a can and watch the world go… full of peace.
weapons of mass destruction…where are they? pee on my leg and tell me its raining…everybody gets whats coming to them…firm believer of that.
Its songs like this that give peace and maybe even a bit of hope amid living in a world thats so in a dire need of a end…a end to many things.
Glad to see such heart on the web. I’ve been looking for the ukelele chords for this song. Old sites with them have disappeared. Anyone have an idea?
Many thanks,
John
Thank’s for the Song
I’m so glad I found this site. I was trying to find that song ever since I heard at the end of “50 first dates”. The soundtrack for the movie doesn’t have it. But then I searched for Israel Kamakawiwo’ole on allofmp3.com and they have a whole album of his songs, that one included. It’s sooooo beautiful. Thanks guys
first heard this with the etoys comm’l,the one with the dad and his daughter. having two little girls at the time, it stuck with me, made me cry. can’t help myself, i cry everytime i hear it, and i don’t know why. what the hell’s wrong with me? recently tracked it back to Israel and was saddened to know he had died, and so young. truly a beautiful song.
hey guys…all da linx r expired now
boo hoo
can sum one plz plz plzzzzzzzzzzzz post up a link for IZ’s over the rainbow………..omigosh..what can i say….i am utterly moved.
Had the mp3 on my computer 2 years ago, but must have deleted it.
Song holds special meaning for me because it was playing at the hospital when my son was born.
Try the following link for the mp3:
http://www.espew.com/cgi-bin/spew/4148169/Somewhere%20Over%20The%20Rainbow.mp3
i’m glad to see i’m not the only one this song touches. it’s got such an innocent sound which is why so many appreciate it. this man’s voice is like a childs. makes us recall a more uncomplicated and innocent time in each of our lives. it drums up memories that are dear to my heart. makes me remember growing up and not worrying about anything. just having fun and being innocent and carefree and thinking that everything remains the same as it does at that moment, that we don’t grow old, parents don’t get sick and we all don’t die. it makes me think of my son and his growing up, and the only thing that’s important to him is to be silly, to laugh and to enjoy all his waking moments.
what a beautiful version of this song Iz left us to enjoy before he left this earth. god bless him.
Hello everyone! I was looking for the artist who sang “somewhere over the rainbow” in the hawaiian version and came accross IZ. I too love the song and feel at peace when I hear it. I think of my one and only sibling who passed away 3 years ago. I hear the song and feel as if he’s with me. The voice of IZ is truly calming,peaceful,and beautiful. Thank you IZ for such a wonderful version of “somewhere over the rainbow. I enjoyed it as a young girl and enjoy it even more now with my children. I love and miss my brother and I know he sees and hears beautiful things somewhere over the rainbow.
This great song also is one of my most favor song. I don’t know how to say. But whatever I am happy/unhappy, hen listen it. the feeling is different. ….and wonderful. Did you?
Thanks to ‘Gemtle Giant’ You really play a good song and classic.
Does anyone have the guitar background of this song ??? like the karaoke file ^^~ I kinda need this file right now ^^~
Thannk you
Thanks. I have been searching for who sings this version of the song for a long time.