Name: Matias Giardina

Course: 6th Year

Date: 11/3/18

Over the Rainbow

a) Who wrote the lyrics of this song and when?

The lyric of this song was written by Yip Harburg in 1939.

b) What famous film did this song belong to? What prizes did it win?

This song belonged to a film called “The Wizard of Oz”. It won the Academy Award for Best

Original Song and it is number one on the "Songs of the Century" list compiled by

the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. The

American Film Institute also ranked the song as the greatest movie song of all time on the list

of "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs".

c) This song has been recorded by lots of singers. Mention 5 other people who have sung this

song? Which version do you like best?

This song was played by solo singers and bands like “Pink Floyd”, “Deep Purple”, “Eric

Clapton”, “Mägo de Oz” and “Phil Collins” but I think that the best is Frank Sinatra 's version

because it´s a jazz version and I really like this genre.

d) Why do you think this song has been listed as the greatest movie song of all time?

This song has been listed as the greatest movie song of all time because of the relation

between the content of the lyric and the situation of the world at that time. Over the rainbow

was released during the Second World War and the lyrics refers to the hope of the people who

wanted a better world.

e) When was Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole born? Where?

He was born on May 20, 1959 in an island called Oahu.

f) What musical instrument did he play?

He played the ukulele.

g) What happened to his brother Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole in 1982?

In 1982 Skippy, his brother, died of a heart attack, related to obesity.

h) In 1997 Kamakawiwoʻole was again honored by HARA at the Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano

awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and

Island Contemporary Album of the Year. Why couldn’t he go to the ceremony? Where was he?

He couldn’t go to the ceremony because he had health problems and he was hospitalized. So

he watched it in the television of the hospital.

i) What happened to him on 26 June 1997? Why?

On 26 June 1997 Israel died of breathing problems that was consequence of his obesity and

overweight.

j) At the end of this song video you can see about 10.000 people attending his funeral in the

Pacific Ocean. What did they do? When did it happen?

On July 26, 1997, two days after the funeral, His ashes were scattered at the Pacific Ocean.

Approximately 10.000 people pay homage to him; they were celebrating in the water, on

canoes and on small boats.