A song

[Wicked Wanda]

Hello everyone!!!
I am still here, it is the end of Carnival, Mardi Gras, and I have been very happy and busy.
After the election my lovies said "**** this!! We're going to spend time at home!!"
So, for the last 3 months or so, (not including a break for the tsunami, a journalists' got to do what a.. well, you know how THAT ends) we have been living a "normal life", as normal a life as two women and a man can have in an extended relationship, anyway.
Ths means spending LOTS of time together, traveling, staying at home, eating out, or cooking in, going to concerts and live music, going to parades, or listening to CD's at home, going to movies, or watching them on TV... you get the idea?
One night Matt and Leigh and I were sitting up late watching a silly movie, "50 First Dates". I am NOT an Adam Sandler fan, but I was pleasantly surprised at how touching this movie was.
But my biggest surprise was at the end, when a very soulful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was sung, accompanied by a ukelele. Matt, my big tough war correspondent/reporter/journalist lover, looked striken, teared up(!), and excused himself as he left the room. Leigh later explained Matt's special connection to this version of this song. The details are private, and I will not share them here. (I can say that 'way too many nice young men and women are dying in Iraq)
My point is, and I do have one, that this is one of the most emotionally stirring songs I think I have ever heard. Even now, I listen to it and I want to bawl. I put it on my iPod, and have learned to be very careful when and where I listen to it. (I started crying while riding the St. Charles Streetcar on my way to work last week.)
I don't know if it is my knowledge of Matt's sad connection to this music, or if it truly is that special. I think the latter, but I want others to hear it anyway.
The song is from the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Facing Future" and is a medly of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World".
The entire song can be heard on the NPR website, www.NPR.org. Go to the "All Songs Considered" page. Please listen to it, and share your reactions with me here.
(by the way, I have learned it has been used on TV shows, commercials and the like, so don't bother to tell me)

Love,

Wanda

[wyndhy]

hi wanda! nice to see you again.
i had heard a clip of this once and ever since have wanted to hear the whole thing. so cool that you shared! i enjoyed it very much.

[Lilith]

Such a beautiful version. I'm going to make sure my kiddos (those that belong to me & those I just borrow) hear it.

[maddy]

I wanted to listen, I wanted to comment, but I just couldn't find it :(

[fzzy]

It took me a bit to find it also, but was worth every moment ... I don't think I've ever heard the entire song beginning to end ... thanks for sharing!

[wyndhy]

yeah...i had a hard time, too...here ya go maddy.. http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/perfectsong04/listenerpicks.html

edit: forgot to add, just click on the real or windows audio link

[LixyChick]

Hiya WW! Nice to hear you've been having fun hun!

I too, have a special place in my heart where this song is concerned. TY for sharing! :)

[Steph]

Cheers, Wanda!

I've felt weird about the world since November. I am now fearing for Roe vs. Wade.

I needs me some ukelele. I can't remember where I first heard the song myself. Anyone know how old it is?

I also liked that Sandler movie. I love that boy & suggest "Punch Drunk Love" for an edgier Sandler. Who knew?

[Aqua]

Never heard this before... very beautiful song. Thanks for telling us about it WW.

And thanks for the link wyndhy.

[Wicked Wanda]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to do this.
Maddy, the link that wyndhy posted is much better than the route I tried to list. Hers takes you right to the song, and provides some interesting information about Israel Kamakawo'ole, (known both as "Brudda Iz" and as "The Gentle Giant", - he weighed over 700 pounds!) I have learned he recorded this in 1996, and died a year later. I think the medly is an original by him. The original "Somewhere" was written in the 1930's for "The Wizard of Oz" and "What Wonderful World" Was written for and first recorded by Louis Armstrong in the 1960's.
I have also learned that this recording was played on the Episode of "ER" where Dr. Green died, and in the movie "Finding Forrester", as well as used in some TV commercials. (EWWWWWW!)

When I was a teen, my tastes in music were... different. I loved Louis Armstrong, jazz, R&B, soul, zydeco, and classical. I suffered from that typical teen arrogance that my music, like my life, was so much more interesting and complicated than my peers. I HATED most of the popular music, especially hip hop and Rap.
Pop music didn't speak to me because my life had nothing in common with the lyrics. To me, "Gansta rap" is mysogynistic and promotes hatred and violence.
As I got older and my world expanded, I listened to a lot of the "approved lesbian music", The Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge, and k.d. lang.
I still do, but because I like it, not because it is socially aceptable for Lesbians.
"Somewhere" was just a children'a song from a fun old movie. Until now. This new song has touched me in a very odd, deep, very personal way.
He (Iz) sings with such a clear, sweet, kind, longing voice, in which I hear hope for a better world, even for adults

Love,

Wanda