Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Official Thread)

[chipdip18]

I thought i already made a thread for this guy, but the search function begs to differ.

Amazing artist, completely and utterly underappreciated, underrated, etc. You've all heard at least one of his songs, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but i couldn't urge anyone enough to listen through his album Facing Future as a start and work your way into his discography. He loved his home country and fought for Hawai'ian independence. Give this man the respect he deserves.

www.myspace.com/kamakawiwooleisrael (http://www.myspace.com/kamakawiwooleisrael) watch the videos.

[absolutecrunk]

Fought for Hawaiian independence? Sounds like someone who hates America. No one affiliated with seceding from the country should be paid any mind.

/sarahpalin

[chipdip18]

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole >>>>>>>>>>x 8297451209815 Sarah Palin

[lolliot]

I have listened a bit to Facing Future after discovering Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the first time, but I must admit I've given it way too little time. That one song still stands out though, and his vocal abilities are fantastic.

[chipdip18]

He is an amazing Tenor, check out the videos, i think Hawai'i '78 is on there, another personal favorite. Great stuff!

[funkel]

Didn't he die?

[HangsLikeHeaven]

Haha, big man. I don't like his voice.

[allhourcymbals]

Didn't he die?
Yeah. I think he had a heart attack. Maybe. I still haven't checked him out more than a song or two. It was alright.

[chipdip18]

Didn't he die?

Yes unfortunately.

Haha, big man. I don't like his voice.


Haha he was enormously awesome, and rather large. You didn't like his voice? I think it is extremely beautiful.

[Smash Adams]

Haha, big man. I don't like his voice.
sacrilege my friend

[El_Jeffe]

he wrote some wonderful pop music with that hawaiian folk/reggae melody to it. it's a shame in many ways that his beautiful version of "somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world" has been bastardized in so many television ads etc

his voice has such a charm to it. but his version of "take me home (country roads)" doesn't sit well with me, as i've heard toots & the maytals version, which even trumps the original 10-fold

[chipdip18]

he wrote some wonderful pop music with that hawaiian folk/reggae melody to it. it's a shame in many ways that his beautiful version of "somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world" has been bastardized in so many television ads etc

his voice has such a charm to it. but his version of "take me home (country roads)" doesn't sit well with me, as i've heard toots & the maytals version, which even trumps the original 10-fold


I like the version, but really IZ does the best with his uke and his voice. The full band feel, while still good in my opinion, doesn't compare to the duo of his mastery of the uke and his pure tenor voice.

[El_Jeffe]

agreed completely. he used to be in a full band/group, makaha sons of ni'ihau, before going solo, but i've never found any albums. but you've sort of hinted upon why i enjoy his solo music, while at times it's very simple, it has that wonderful sense of purity & freedom of melody. the world is always in short supply of a genuine melody

[Susanna]

agreed completely. he used to be in a full band/group, makaha sons of ni'ihau, before going solo, but i've never found any albums. but you've sort of hinted upon why i enjoy his solo music, while at times it's very simple, it has that wonderful sense of purity & freedom of melody. the world is always in short supply of a genuine melody
I absolutely love the way you describe music.


EDIT: I also love what I've heard of IZ. His voice is great, imo.

[El_Jeffe]

I absolutely love the way you describe music.


EDIT: I also love what I've heard of IZ. His voice is great, imo.

haha i love what i love & always seem to be harping on about the expression of emotion in music rather than the technical aspects to metal drumming or whatever haha. but each to their own

have you heard the album facing future, it's his most well known & well-rounded. chippy is always talkin' about something good

[Circa1628]

Facing Future is an amazing album. My wifes family are all from Hawaii so I am familiar with this guys music. He is very talented. My favorite song is Hawaii '78.

[chipdip18]

Facing Future is an amazing album. My wifes family are all from Hawaii so I am familiar with this guys music. He is very talented. My favorite song is Hawaii '78.


Hawaii '78 is indeed a beautiful song. Quite a gem in a CD littered with gems anyway.

[Circa1628]

Hawaii '78 is indeed a beautiful song. Quite a gem in a CD littered with gems anyway.


yeah Hawaii '78 is really great, both versions, the intro one is cool with him doing spoken word.

That Cd does have a lot of gems which is weird because a lot of people who buy that CD on amazon and places like that say that it's only worth it for "Somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world" but that whole album is solid. People just don't get it

[chipdip18]

yeah Hawaii '78 is really great, both versions, the intro one is cool with him doing spoken word.

That Cd does have a lot of gems which is weird because a lot of people who buy that CD on amazon and places like that say that it's only worth it for "Somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world" but that whole album is solid. People just don't get it

I really love that album. Not only is his voice incredible, but the lyrics are passionate and honest. Facing Futures also wants me to learn Hawai'ian, it is a beautiful language. Do you have any of his other albums?

[Circa1628]

I really love that album. Not only is his voice incredible, but the lyrics are passionate and honest. Facing Futures also wants me to learn Hawai'ian, it is a beautiful language. Do you have any of his other albums?


that is the only album so far. The reason I got into him is because my wifes family are all from Hawaii, I'm sure you know he is like the Elvis of Hawaii. It makes it very enjoyable if you know what he is saying in most the songs, I myself don't know how to speak Hawaiian, but they do, and translate it, haha. From what I can tell it is a fairly easy language because they have about half the amount of letters as the english language, but a lot of the words sound very similar because of that fact

[chipdip18]

that is the only album so far. The reason I got into him is because my wifes family are all from Hawaii, I'm sure you know he is like the Elvis of Hawaii. It makes it very enjoyable if you know what he is saying in most the songs, I myself don't know how to speak Hawaiian, but they do, and translate it, haha. From what I can tell it is a fairly easy language because they have about half the amount of letters as the english language, but a lot of the words sound very similar because of that fact


Yeah, it would be fun to speak i think. It sounds lovely haha. I have E Ala E, and it is also great.

[Circa1628]

Yeah, it would be fun to speak i think. It sounds lovely haha. I have E Ala E, and it is also great.


maybe that will be the next place I go to listen further. Whenever we go to her family reunions they always listen to his live album, it has a lot of stuff off of Facing Future

[Endlessly]

Represent!

[chipdip18]

maybe that will be the next place I go to listen further. Whenever we go to her family reunions they always listen to his live album, it has a lot of stuff off of Facing Future

That is so tight. I hope i marry a Hawai'ian girl.

Represent!

Atta boy!

[MIKEY_HORROR]

love it. it always seems to put me in a good mood, when I hear one of his tunes.

and I think REAL music should trigger, some sort of emotion in you.....which is why I really enjoy his music..

[Circa1628]

That is so tight. I hope i marry a Hawai'ian girl.







haha, best of luck man;-)

[SamEyes]

Corrr check out that name

[Firefly1628]

haha, best of luck man;-)

That is so tight. I hope i marry a Hawai'ian girl.



Atta boy!


Woot Woot, It's not so cool for him though because i dont look Hawai'ian! :)

[chipdip18]

Are you.... married to him?

[Firefly1628]

oh haha yeah, 1628 (28 day we started dating, 16 day we were married)

[chipdip18]

mmk.

[SamEyes]

oh haha yeah, 1628 (28 day we started dating, 16 day we were married)

Man that was fast!

[Firefly1628]

Well there was 2 1/2 years in between dating and married haha

[chipdip18]

This guy has some solid albums. Listen to them.

Facing Future
E Ala E
Alone in IZ World