Instead of my Saturday song feature, I’m trying something a little different. This was started by another blogger, Helen Vahdati. If you’re a blogger who would like to participate, click here for guidelines. Basically, you post song lyrics along with a video of the song. Helen suggests a theme every week, but you can post whatever song you wish as long as you include a reference to who wrote the song, a link to where you found the lyrics, and a link to a video or recording of the song. You may also link to her blog and/or mine.
Today, I’m giving you a two-for-one special. This is a medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” and the way these two songs are put together is intriguing. I love the vocal and ukulele rift at the beginning and end.
“Over the Rainbow,” as you probably know, is from The Wizard of Oz, one of my favorite movies. In fifth grade, I played Dorothy and sang this song in a production of this. In 2013 after my father passed away, my group sang “What a Wonderful World” at his celebration of life.
I first heard this medley in the waiting room of a doctor’s office where I was with my late husband Bill after he suffered two strokes that paralyzed his left side. At times when I was a caregiver, I wished I could have been taken over the rainbow to a wonderful world. Enjoy, and have a great day.
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Over the Rainbow
Written by Harold Arlen, as sung by Judy Garland
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?
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What a Wonderful World
Written by Bob Thille (as George Douglas) as sung by Louis Armstrong
[Verse 1]
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
[Verse 2]
I see skies of blue, clouds of white
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
[Bridge]
The colors of a rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do
They’re really saying, I love you
[Verse 3]
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
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Abbie Johnson Taylor
We Shall Overcome
How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver
That’s Life: New and Selected Poems
My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds
Like Me on Facebook.
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Reblogged this on Campbells World.
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The first time I heard this version, I cried. I still cry when I hear it; it’s such a beautiful mash up. Thank you so much for sharing and for following along with SLS. It’s always fun to see new faces.
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You’re welcome, Helen, and thank you for following my blog. I hope you enjoy the content I post here Tuesdays, ⠠⠹⠥⠗⠎⠐⠙⠎⠂ and Sundays.
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The singer is Israel Kamakawiwo’ole –
Somewhere Over The Rainbow_What A Wonderful World
released in 1993
As of March 2018
, the two videos as featured on YouTube have collectively received
over 500 million views.
Born
May 20, 1959
Honolulu,
Territory of Hawaii
Hawaii, United States
Died
June 26, 1997 (aged 38)
Honolulu,
Hawaii,
U.S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Kamakawiwo%CA%BBole
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Thank you for this information, Phil.
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