Israel Kamakawiwoole, a Hawaiian singer and ukulele player, recorded this medley of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World for his 1993 album Facing Future. The original song dates back to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, but his stripped-back Hawaiian version gave it a new, intimate identity. After his death in 1997, the recording spread through films, television and online videos, becoming a familiar choice for moments of hope, loss and nostalgia. Its gentle pace and simple arrangement help explain why it remains widely shared decades later.
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Israel Kamakawiwoole's ukulele rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a warm, hopeful cover often used in emotional edits, tributes and relaxing moments.
This clip features Israel Kamakawiwoole's gentle ukulele arrangement of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, opening with soft strumming and his warm, unhurried vocal. The familiar melody is slowed down and stripped back, giving it a dreamy, nostalgic quality that feels intimate rather than grand. His voice rises and falls quietly over the ukulele, creating a calm, hopeful mood that lingers after the last note. Listeners often describe it as comforting and bittersweet, the kind of sound that makes a simple scene feel tender, reflective and quietly emotional without ever becoming loud or dramatic.
