Who sings Somewhere Over The Rainbow on YouTube?

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The discussion centers around a song by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, specifically his rendition from the album "Facing Future." Participants express their surprise at how the song has stuck in their heads despite it not being their usual taste. There are references to its popularity and its use in various media, including a notable episode of "Scrubs." The conversation shifts to the phenomenon of songs being reinterpreted across genres, with several examples provided, such as "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Always on My Mind." The participants share their thoughts on the uniqueness of Kamakawiwo'ole's arrangement, highlighting the significant genre shift from showtune to Hawaiian music. The thread concludes with a broader exploration of other songs that have undergone similar transformations, showcasing the diverse landscape of music covers and remakes.
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I had heard this and really liked it but had no idea who did it. Good ole UTube.

I know that MIH has heard it before. :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8&mode=related&search=

Anyway, for some reason I couldn't get it out of my head once I heard it. It's not really the kind of thing I normally like, but it sure stuck; esp the first half.
 
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Just don't hit your head befor you fall asleep. Dang it Ivan! I now need a beach!
 
Ivan Seeking said:
I had heard this and really liked it but had no idea who did it. Good ole UTube.

I know that MIH has heard it before. :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8&mode=related&search=

Anyway, for some reason I couldn't get it out of my head once I heard it. It's not really the kind of thing I normally like, but it sure stuck; esp the first half.

If you still want to know who did it, it's Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He's a BIG fella, but with one of the softest voice. The album that this tune is from is called Facing Future.

Zz.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
Good ole UTube.
Careful, that's the site that's sueing YouTube because millions of people can't spell out Y-O-U. :wink:

I'm scared to click the link though. I don't need a song stuck in my head all day. :rolleyes:
 
Gokul43201 said:
You're not thinking of the original Satchmo' number are you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIDBW1CGTKM&mode=related&search=
That's always been one of my favorite songs.

Kamakawiwo'ole's arrangement is pretty good, too. (Isn't his name a song? Not a song title, but an entire song? I had to cheat and copy and paste because I'd never remember the entire thing)
 
Ivan Seeking said:
I had heard this and really liked it but had no idea who did it. Good ole UTube.

I know that MIH has heard it before. :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8&mode=related&search=

Anyway, for some reason I couldn't get it out of my head once I heard it. It's not really the kind of thing I normally like, but it sure stuck; esp the first half.
yeah, I love that. Isn't it wonderful? :smile: Hey, did you ever see that episode of Scrubs where they did the show around a Wizard of Oz theme? It was so cool! They did it very subtly - a fantastic job!:approve:
(the end of it)
 
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Math Is Hard said:
yeah, I love that. Isn't it wonderful? :smile: Hey, did you ever see that episode of Scrubs where they did the show around a Wizard of Oz theme? It was so cool! They did it very subtly - a fantastic job!:approve:
(the end of it)

hey, I remember that episode.

Scrubs is awesome.:approve:
 
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  • #10
So 7 hours later, I realize that this song has been stuck in my head the entire time. NOOOOOOOO!
 
  • #11
Math Is Hard said:
yeah, I love that. Isn't it wonderful? :smile: Hey, did you ever see that episode of Scrubs where they did the show around a Wizard of Oz theme? It was so cool! They did it very subtly - a fantastic job!:approve:
(the end of it)


I hadn't seen Scrubs, but, not a bad job. I have noticed that they are also using the intro - ooooooooing only - it in a commercial for a breakfast cereal, I think it was... And the number of copycats out there is amazing.

Can anyone name another song that was redone as a completely different genre of music, that was then a hit a second time? What seems somewhat unique to me is that this isn't just an upgrade from 60s rock to 90s rock, this is a change from what... showtune to Hawaiian? That's quite a leap for a second go around.
 
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  • #12
Ivan Seeking said:
Can anyone name another song that was redone as a completely different genre of music, that was then a hit a second time? What seems somewhat unique to me is that this isn't just an upgrade from 60s rock to 90s rock, this is a change from what... showtune to Hawaiian? That's quite a leap for a second go around.

I can name 2 off the top of my head:

1. MacArthur Park was discofied by Donna Summer

2. Always on My Mind by the Pet Shop Boys.

Zz.
 
  • #13
ZapperZ said:
If you still want to know who did it, it's Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He's a BIG fella, but with one of the softest voice. The album that this tune is from is called Facing Future.

Zz.

YESSSSS I've known that version for a few years now & always wondered who did it! thanks soo much! :approve:
 
  • #14
Ivan Seeking said:
Can anyone name another song that was redone as a completely different genre of music, that was then a hit a second time?
Many...(if you ignore the distinction between a remake and a cover)...here's a few that come to mind:

I Shot the Sheriff - reggae (marley) to rock(clapton)
Baby I Love your Way - rock (frampton) to reggae (big mountain)
Heard it Through the Grapevine - soul (marvin gaye) to rock (CCR)
All Along the Watchtower - talking, with harmonica (dylan) to screaming, with electric guitar (hendrix)
Walk This Way - rock (aerosmith) to hip-hop (run DMC)
Redemption Song - reggae (marley) to rock (U2), alternative rock (dave matthews band), soul (stevie wonder, lauryn hill), hip-hop (arrested development), folk (indigo girls)
 
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  • #15
Oooh.. I can come up with a couple even more extreme.

How about Sergey Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2 becoming a big ballad hit called "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen?

Along the same line, Beethoven's Symphony #5 becoming "A Fifth of Beethoven", a #1 dance hit for Walter Murphy Band (it appeared on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack).

Zz.
 
  • #16
ZapperZ said:
Oooh.. I can come up with a couple even more extreme.

How about Sergey Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2 becoming a big ballad hit called "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen?

...which was more recently ruined by Celine Dion.

There's the Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston versions of "I will always love you". Cher's "Do I ever cross your mind" was redone by Ray Charles and Bonnie Raitt as a lovely slide guitar-enhanced duet. Tori Amos did her own slow and sultry version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
 
  • #17
what about michael bolton's version of recondita armonia from puccini's tosca...
... i guess it isn't really a cover song but i don't think he's ever done an album of 'opera hits'; i think it was on one of his pop albums.
 
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