Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole 'IZ' 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' HQ

Get the latest Flash player

DVideoPro
December 01, 2008

Please check out my lastest music video http://www.youtube.com/watc... WITH ORIGINAL SOUND! Official 'SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW' Music Video by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole download @ http://www.myspa...

Please check out my lastest music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvDThC...

WITH ORIGINAL SOUND! Official 'SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW' Music Video by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

download @ http://www.myspace.com/danielavideo
buy album http://www.amazon.com/Facing-Future-I...

Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (May 20, 1959 -- June 26, 1997) (pronounced [ka-maka-vi-vo-ole]) was an 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.

From childhood, his family called Israel by his Hawaiian middle name, Kaʻanoʻi, the "beloved one". His name would later become the title name of his first solo album, Kaʻanoʻi, and also foretells the greatness of this "cherished one". It is interesting to note here that part of his name, anoʻi, when simplified to noʻi may be a contraction of the Hawaiian word, nohi. Nohi means "bright-colored, vivid, as the rainbow" (see Hawaiian Dictionary, Pukui and Elbert). Nohi, rainbow, beloved one, and cherished one are powerful symbols in his life. Iz's recording of the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" would become renowned throughout the world and continues to garner high acclaim. The song has come to be known as Izʻs "signature song", the most renowned of all his songs.

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 Hawaiʻi. 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 1/31/04 (for the survey week ending 1/18/04), possibly due to its use in the Adam Sandler film 50 First Dates, and the Brad Pitt film Meet Joe Black.

In 2006, a version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", in an arrangement based on Iz', was performed by The Worthless Peons in "My Way Home", the 100th episode of Scrubs, over the closing montage. A recording of the same song by Iz was used in the closing scenes of the final episode of Life on Mars (TV Series). It is also a featured song in the movie Finding Forrester. In 2002, the song was used to powerful effect in the closing scenes of Anthony Edwards' last appearance in ER as Dr. Mark Greene, in the episode "On the Beach". On week 8 of American Idol (season 7), Jason Castro performed his own version of this song except that he left out the "What a Wonderful World" line, but still gave credit to Israel for the song.

DEATH:
Throughout the later part of his life, Iz was obese and at one point carried 758 pounds (344 kg) on his 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) frame. He endured several hospitalizations and died of weight-related respiratory illness on June 26, 1997 at 12:18 am at the age of 38.

The Hawaiʻi State Flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of Iz's funeral. His koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and Senator Spark Matsunaga) and the only non-politician. Over 10,000 people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered and cheered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach on July 12, 1997.

On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Iz as a 200-pound bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on O'ahu. The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.

Category: People & Blogs

Tags:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow what wonderful world Tribute

More From: DVideoPro

Play All Stop Autoplaying | Play Next

QuickList(0)

Clear | Save

This is a video response to Gladiator ~ Lisa Gerrard 'Now We Are Free' Soundtrack HQ

68,450 ratings

7,365,450 views

Favorite

Playlists

Flag

Want to add to Favorites? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Want to add to Playlists? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Want to flag a video? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (120)

ojawall

slam1088

mogaamogaa

13inlet

artvisio...

fredtheb...

donottaw...

Closier1

BelRiose...

10thmt87

RossEver...

Nitrodex

Hamahona...

thisisim...

MyHawaii...

ibdah

dennisma...

pianoand...

ISOMyste...

melissam...

View All - Play All

Text Comments (18,309) Options

GeekGirl2u (18 minutes ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

I love this song ! Such a sweet voice.

Comment(s) marked as spam Show

spieler99 (1 hour ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

Aloha from Switzerland

R.I.P

NETER420 (1 hour ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

l
"Economic crises have been produced by us for the goyim by no other means than the withdrawal of money from circulation." - Protocols of Zion - 20
"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . .

Comment(s) marked as spam Show

tvrulesnation (1 hour ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

wow i never pictured him to be a big guy.
just goes to show you that you don't have to be ''typical'' to be a musician.

what i love about this song is unlike the other versions this is extremely uplifting, Eva Cassidys version makes people cry.
this you just look outside and think ''what a wonderful world :P''

Devotchka How It Ends is a similar uplifting song if you want to check it out
5/5

Iktumizai (3 hours ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

Egli è nel Regno di Dio ora ...
Riposa in pace ...
Nel mio cuore per sempre ...
Addio IZ ...
(He is in God's Kingdom now...
Rest in peace...
In my heart forever...
Goodbye IZ...)

jjoeryy (3 hours ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

serious good comment, I feel the trught in your voice.

nice comment man.. all the people should know what he is bin in.. all the people that love him.. GO ON HE deserved it..

PEACE

KfirPitusi (3 hours ago) Show Hide

-2

Marked as spam

huntterable you are fucking idiot

huntterable (3 hours ago) Show Hide

-19

Marked as spam

Showing 10 of 18,309 comments

Show More Comments

View All 18,309 comments

Would you like to comment?

Join YouTube for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

YouTube	Programs	Help	Policy	Discover
Contact Us	Advertising	Get Help	Privacy Policy	YouTube on Your Phone
YouTube Store	Developers	YouTube Handbook	Terms of Service	YouTube on Your Site
Press Room	Partnerships	Community Help Forums	Copyright Notices	YouTube on Your TV
Business Blog	Content Management	Safety Center	Community Guidelines	YouTube RSS Feeds
YouTube Blog		Creator's Corner		TestTube

Add YouTube to your Google homepage

Current Location: France Show locations

Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole 'IZ' 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' HQ

More From: DVideoPro

QuickList(0)

Related Videos

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (120)

Text Comments (18,309) Options

Would you like to comment?