Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

{{Infobox person

| name = Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

| image = Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.jpg

| caption = Kamakawiwoʻole in 1993

| birth_name = {{nowrap|Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|5|20}}

| birth_place = Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age |1997|6|26|1959|5|20}}

| death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|activist}}

| years_active = 1976-1997

| children = 1

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

|embed = yes

|background = solo_singer

|genre = {{flatlist|

}}

|instrument = {{flatlist|

Ukulele
vocals

}}

|label = Mountain Apple Company

|associated_acts = Mākaha Sons of Niʻihau

}}

Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole{{efn|{{IPA|haw|kəˌmɐkəˌvivoˈʔole}}; meaning 'the fearless eye, the bold face'{{cite web |title=Biography |website=The Official Site of Israel IZ Kamakawiwo`ole – This is the place for everything IZ Music, Stories, Videos. |url=https://izhawaii.com/biography/ |access-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211053937/https://izhawaii.com/biography/ |url-status=live }}}} (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997), also called Braddah IZ or just simply IZ, was a Native Hawaiian musician and singer. Kamakawiwoʻole is regarded as one of the greatest musicians from Hawaii and is considered the most successful musician from the state.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2022 |title=18 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Musicians From Hawaii |url=https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/famous-musicians-from-hawaii/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=West |first=Macey |date=April 11, 2023 |title=20 Famous Musicians From Hawaii - Singersroom.com |url=https://singersroom.com/famous-musicians-from-hawaii/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |language=en-US}} Along with his ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres, such as jazz and reggae, Kamakawiwoʻole remains influential on Hawaiian music.{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Mike |last2=Creamer |first2=Beverly |last3=Harada |first3=Wayne |title=The Legacy: A Voice Of Hawai'i and Hawaiians |url=http://iz.honoluluadvertiser.com/story_p3.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522051205/http://iz.honoluluadvertiser.com/story_p3.html |archive-date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=August 19, 2008 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser}} In 2010, he was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, who called him "The Voice of Hawaii".{{cite web |last=Kamakawiwo |first=Israel |date=December 6, 2010 |title=Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: The Voice Of Hawaii |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416062754/http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii |archive-date=April 16, 2017 |access-date=August 3, 2021 |publisher=NPR}}

He achieved commercial success and mainstream popularity with his 1993 studio album, Facing Future. His medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" from his album Ka ʻAnoʻi (1990), has spent 358 weeks on top of the World Digital Songs chart, making it the longest-leading number-one hit on any of the Billboard song charts.

Early life

Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole was born at Kuakini Medical Center on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu to Henry "Hank" Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole Jr. and Evangeline "Angie" Leinani Kamakawiwoʻole, who worked at a popular Waikiki nightclub. His mother was the manager while his father was a bouncer; his father also drove a sanitation truck at the U.S. Navy shipyard at Pearl Harbor.{{Cite book|url = https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1803801|isbn = 978-0-19-860669-7|doi = 10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1803801|year = 2008|last1 = Holub|first1 = Rona L.|title = Kamakawiwo'ole, Israel Ka'ano'i (1959–1997), singer, musician, and activist for Hawaiian rights and sovereignty|access-date = January 23, 2022|archive-date = January 23, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220123172312/https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1803801|url-status = live}} The notable Hawaiian musician Moe Keale was Kamakawiwoʻole's uncle and a major musical influence. Kamakawiwoʻole was raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married.

Kamakawiwoʻole began playing music with his older brother, Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole III ("Skippy"), and cousin Allen Thornton, at age 11 after being exposed to the music of Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as Peter Moon, Palani Vaughan, Keola Beamer and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where Kamakawiwoʻole's parents worked. Hawaiian musician Del Beazley spoke of the first time he heard Kamakawiwoʻole perform, when, while playing for a graduation party, the whole room fell silent on hearing him sing.{{cite news |title=Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: The Voice of Hawaii |first=Renee |last=Montagne |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii |work=NPR |access-date=October 10, 2012 |date=March 9, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416062754/http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii |url-status=live }} Kamakawiwoʻole remained in Hawaii as his brother Skippy entered the Army in 1971 and his cousin Allen moved to the mainland in 1976.

In his early teens, Kamakawiwoʻole studied at Upward Bound (UB) of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and his family moved to Mākaha. There, Kamakawiwoʻole met Louis Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko.{{cite web |url=http://www2.hawaii.edu/~hartwell/music.htm |title=Article by Jay Hartwell of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa |publisher=hawaii.edu |date=May 26, 1991 |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-date=August 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821044651/http://www2.hawaii.edu/~hartwell/music.htm |url-status=live }} Together with Skippy, they formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau. A part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, the band's blend of contemporary and traditional styles gained in popularity as they toured Hawaii and the mainland United States, releasing fifteen successful albums. Kamakawiwoʻole's aim was to make music that stayed true to the typical sound of traditional Hawaiian music. His cousin Bill Keale is also a musician.

Music career

The Makaha Sons of Niʻihau recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released several more albums, including Hoʻoluana, Kahea O Keale, Keala, Makaha Sons of Niʻihau and Mahalo Ke Akua.

The group became Hawaii's most popular contemporary traditional group with breakout albums 1984's Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha and its follow-up, 1986's Hoʻola. Kamakawiwoʻole's last recorded album with the group was 1991's Hoʻoluana. It remains the group's top-selling CD.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} In 1982, Skippy died at age 28 of a heart attack.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ywzy8b/20-years-ago-hawaii-lost-its-greatest-musical-icon |title=20 Years Ago, Hawai'i Lost Its Greatest Musical Icon |date=June 26, 2017 |magazine=Vice |first=Dan |last=Ozzi |access-date=December 21, 2023 }} Later that year, Kamakawiwoʻole married his childhood sweetheart Marlene. They had a daughter named Ceslie-Ann "Wehi" Kamakawiwoʻole (born {{Circa|1983}}).

In 1990, Kamakawiwoʻole released his first solo album Ka ʻAnoʻi, which won awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Facing Future was released in 1993 by The Mountain Apple Company. It featured a version of his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" (listed as "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"), along with "Hawaiʻi '78", "White Sandy Beach", "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man", and "Kaulana Kawaihae". The decision to include a cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was said to be a last-minute one by Kamakawiwoʻole's producer Jon de Mello and Kamakawiwoʻole.{{closed access}} {{cite journal |last=Guerin |first=Ada |title=Chasing Rainbows |journal=The Hollywood Reporter – International Edition |volume=394 |issue=32 |date=June 6, 2006 |pages=M419 |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |location=Los Angeles, CA, USA |issn=0018-3660 |url=http://0-ic.galegroup.com.ignacio.usfca.edu/ic/bic1/MagazinesDetailsPage/MagazinesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Magazines&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CA147302617 |access-date=October 10, 2012}} {{subscription required}} Facing Future debuted at No.{{spaces}}25 on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, Facing Future became Hawaiʻi's first certified platinum album, selling more than a million CDs in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.{{cite news |url=http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/06/news/briefs.html |title=Brudda Iz's Facing Future goes platinum, a first for Hawaii |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=October 6, 2005}} On July 21, 2006, BBC Radio 1 announced that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World (True Dreams)" would be released as a single in America.

In 1994, Kamakawiwoʻole was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). E Ala E (1995) featured the political title song "ʻE Ala ʻE" and "Kaleohano", and N Dis Life (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again".

In 1997, Kamakawiwoʻole was again honored by HARA at the annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.

The posthumously released album Alone in Iz World (2001) debuted at No.{{spaces}}1 on Billboard{{'s}} World Chart and No.{{spaces}}135 on Billboard{{'s}} Top{{spaces}}200, No.{{spaces}}13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and No.{{spaces}}15 on the Top Internet Album Sales charts. In November 2012, Honolulu magazine ranked it as the third-greatest Hawaii album of the 21st century.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/the-25-greatest-hawaii-albums-of-the-new-century/ |title=The 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century |date=September 18, 2012 |magazine=Honolulu magazine |first1=Maria |last1=Kanai |first2=Michael |last2=Keany |first3=David |last3=Thompson |access-date=July 27, 2024}}

Kamakawiwoʻole's album Facing Future was the first Hawaii album to be certified gold.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/the-50-greatest-hawaii-albums-of-all-time/ |title=The 50 Greatest Hawai'i Albums of All Time |date=June 1, 2004 |magazine=Honolulu magazine |first1=Ronna |last1=Bolante |first2=Michael |last2=Keany |access-date=July 27, 2024}}

Support of Hawaiian rights

Kamakawiwoʻole was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his lyrics, which often stated the case for independence directly and through his own actions.Carroll, Rick. Iz: Voice of the People. Honolulu, Hawai'i: Bess, 2006. Print. For example, the lyric in his song "Hawaiʻi '78": "The life of this land is the life of the people/and that to care for the land (malama ʻāina) is to care for the Hawaiian culture", is a statement that many consider summarizing his Hawaiian ideals.Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. "Hawai'i '78." Facing Future. Mountain Apple Company, 1993. MP3. The state motto of Hawaiʻi is a recurring line in the song and encompasses the meaning of his message: "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono" (proclaimed by King Kamehameha III when Hawaiʻi regained sovereignty in 1843. It can be roughly translated as: "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness").{{cite web |url=http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm |title=Hawaii State Motto Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness |publisher=Netstate.com |access-date=March 19, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224224937/http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm |url-status=live }}

Kamakawiwoʻole used his music to promote awareness of his belief that a second-class status had been pushed onto fellow natives by the tourism industry.{{cite book |last=Tranquada |first=Jim |title=The Ukulele: a History |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=2012 |page=166 |isbn=978-0-8248-3544-6}}

Later life

In the 1990s, Kamakawiwoʻole became a born-again Christian. In 1996, he was baptized at the Word of Life Christian Center in Honolulu and spoke publicly about his beliefs at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Kamakawiwoʻole also recorded the song "Ke Alo O Iesu" ({{langx|haw|The Presence of Jesus}}).{{cite web |last=Adamski |first=Mary |date=July 10, 1997 |title=Isles bid aloha, not goodbye, to 'Brudda Iz' |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/07/10/news/story3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018013023/http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/07/10/news/story3.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |website=Starbulletin.com}}

Death

Kamakawiwoʻole struggled with obesity throughout his life,{{cite book |first=Rick |last=Carroll |title=Iz: Voice of the People |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsJNyBUUkmYC&pg=PT130 |year=2006 |publisher=Bess Press |isbn=978-1-57306-257-2 |pages=130–131}} at one point weighing {{convert|757|lb}} while standing {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|2}} tall.{{cite news |last1=Kekoa Enomoto |first1=Catherine |first2=Gregg K. |last2=Kakesako |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/1997/06/26/news/story1.html |title='IZ' Will Always Be |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=June 26, 1997 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061502/http://archives.starbulletin.com/1997/06/26/news/story1.html |url-status=live }} Kamakawiwoʻole endured several hospitalizations because of his weight. With chronic medical problems including respiratory and cardiac issues, Kamakawiwoʻole died at age 38 in the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu at 12:18 a.m. on June 26, 1997, from respiratory failure.

On July 10, 1997, the Hawaiian flag flew at half-staff for Kamakawiwoʻole's funeral. His koa wood casket lay at the state capitol building in Honolulu, making him the third person (and the only non-government official) to be so honored. Approximately 10,000 people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach on July 12.{{cite news |last=Adamski |first=Mary |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/1997/07/10/news/story3.html |title=Isles Bid Aloha, not Goodbye, to 'Brudda Iz' |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=July 10, 1997 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314052713/http://archives.starbulletin.com/1997/07/10/news/story3.html |url-status=live }} According to witnesses, many people commemorated him by honking their car and truck horns on all Hawaiian highways that day. Scenes from the funeral and scattering of Kamakawiwoʻole's ashes were featured in official music videos of "Over the Rainbow", released posthumously by Mountain Apple Company. {{As of|2024|06}}, the two official video uploads of the song, as featured on YouTube by Mountain Apple Company Inc, have collectively received over 1.63 billion views.{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/V1bFr2SWP1I| archive-date=November 4, 2021 | url-status=live|title=OFFICIAL Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole |publisher=Mountain Apple Company Inc |access-date=December 28, 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/w_DKWlrA24k| archive-date=November 4, 2021 | url-status=live|title=OFFICIAL – Somewhere Over the Rainbow 2011 – Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole |publisher=Mountain Apple Company Inc |access-date=December 28, 2011}}{{cbignore}}

On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Kamakawiwoʻole as a bronze bust of him was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on Oʻahu. His widow, Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.{{cite news |title=Sculpture's Debut Honors 'Braddah IZ' |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/09/21/news/indexwild.html |access-date=May 21, 2020 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=September 21, 2003 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810164217/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/09/21/news/indexwild.html |url-status=live }}

Legacy

On December 6, 2010, NPR named Kamakawiwoʻole as "The Voice of Hawaii" in its 50 great voices series.

On March 24, 2011, Kamakawiwoʻole was honored with the German national music award Echo. The music managers Wolfgang Boss and Jon de Mello accepted the trophy in his stead.{{cite news |url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/fotos-starauflauf-bei-der-echo-verleihung-in-berlin?id=43269096 |title=Starauflauf Bei der Echo-Verleihung in Berlin |newspaper=Badische Zeitung |date=March 25, 2011 |language=de |access-date=May 21, 2020 |trans-title=Star-Studded Echo Awards Ceremony in Berlin |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724211108/https://www.badische-zeitung.de/fotos-starauflauf-bei-der-echo-verleihung-in-berlin?id=43269096 |url-status=live }}

A 2014 Pixar short film, Lava, features two volcanoes as the main characters. Kamakawiwoʻole's cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and his style of music were James Ford Murphy's partial inspiration for the short film.{{Cite web |url=https://www.khon2.com/2014/11/03/5-questions-with-disneypixars-lava-director-james-ford-murphy/ |title=5 questions with Disney/Pixar's 'LAVA' director James Ford Murphy |date=November 4, 2014 |website=KHON2 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227123850/http://khon2.com/2014/11/03/5-questions-with-disneypixars-lava-director-james-ford-murphy/ |url-status=dead }}

On May 20, 2020, Google Doodle published a page in celebration of Kamakawiwoʻole's 61st birthday. It featured information about his life, musical career, and impact on Hawaii. Included was a two-minute cartoon video with Kamakawiwoʻole's cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" playing as the background and imagery of Hawaii. The section of the page explaining the inspiration of the Doodle says that "The Doodle is full of places in Hawaiʻi that had special significance for Israel: the sunrise at Diamond Head, Mākaha Beach, the Palehua vista, the flowing lava and volcanic landscape of the Big Island, the black sand beach at Kalapana and the Waiʻanae coast."{{cite web |title=Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's 61st Birthday |date=May 20, 2020 |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/israel-kamakawiwooles-61st-birthday/ |website=Google.com |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723073305/https://www.google.com/doodles/israel-kamakawiwooles-61st-birthday |url-status=live }}

= "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" =

{{Listen |type=music |filename=Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow - What A Wonderful World.ogg |title=Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World |description=Snippet lasting 31 seconds}}

Kamakawiwoʻole's recording of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" gained notice in 1999 when an excerpt was used in the TV commercials for eToys.com (later part of Toys "R" Us). The full song was featured in the movies K-Pax, Meet Joe Black, Finding Forrester, Son of the Mask, 50 First Dates, Fred Claus, Letters to Santa and IMAX: Hubble 3D.{{cite web |url=http://www.torontoscreenshots.com/2010/03/18/imax-hubble-3d/ |title=IMAX: Hubble 3D – Toronto Screen Shots |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=May 2, 2011 |archive-date=January 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107025442/http://www.torontoscreenshots.com/2010/03/18/imax-hubble-3d/ |url-status=live }} It was also featured in TV series ER, Between The Lions, Scrubs, Cold Case, Glee, South Pacific, Lost, Storm Chasers, the UK original version of Life on Mars, and in Modern Family, among others.{{cite book |title=Lonely Planet Hawaii |first1=Kim |last1=Grant |first2=Glenda |last2=Bendure |first3=Michael |last3=Clark |first4=Ned |last4=Friary |first5=Conner |last5=Gorry |first6=Luci |last6=Yamamoto |page=97 |isbn=978-1-74059-871-2 |year=2005 |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |edition=7th}}

In 1988, a friend of Kamakawiwoʻole called a Honolulu recording studio owned by Milan Bertosa at 3:00 a.m. with a request that Kamakawiwoʻole be allowed to come in to make a recording. Bertosa was about to shut down, but told the friend that Kamakawiwoʻole could come if he was able to make it within 15 minutes. In a 2011 interview, Bertosa recalled, "In walks the largest human being I had seen in my life. Israel was probably like 500 pounds. And the first thing at hand is to find something for him to sit on." A security guard gave Kamakawiwoʻole a large steel chair. "Then I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll tape, and the first thing he does is 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' He played and sang, one take, and it was over." Five years later, Bertosa was working as an engineer at Mountain Apple Company when Iz was making a solo album there. Bertosa remembered the old demo tape and introduced it to de Mello, who remarked: "Israel was really sparkly, really alive." The original 1988 acoustic version of the song was released with the 1993 Facing Future album.{{cite news |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/01/08/hawaii-music-industry-mourns-death-award-winning-recording-producer-milan-bertosa/ |title=Hawaii music industry mourns death of award-winning engineer Milan Bertosa |date=January 7, 2023 |first=Annalisa |last=Burgos |website=Hawaii News Now |access-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125002533/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/01/08/hawaii-music-industry-mourns-death-award-winning-recording-producer-milan-bertosa/ |url-status=live }}

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" reached No.{{spaces}}12 on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004 (for the survey week ending January 18, 2004). It had passed two million paid downloads in the US by September 27, 2009, and then sold three million in the U.S. as of October 2, 2011.[http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74420/week-ending-oct-2-2011-songs-gone-but-not-forgotten/;_ylt=AiD_OJ9nEgtKcMuaQRr99VUPwiUv Week Ending Oct. 2, 2011. Songs: Gone But Not Forgotten] And, as of October 2014, the song has sold more than 4.2 million digital copies.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6289257/ask-billboard-the-weird-connections-between-mary-lambert-madonna?page=0%2C1 |title=Ask Billboard: The Weird Connections Between Mary Lambert & Madonna |last=Trust |first=Gary |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=October 21, 2014}} The song is the longest-leading number-one hit on any of the Billboard song charts, having spent 358 weeks on top of the World Digital Songs chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2022-08-27/ |title=World Digital Song Sales |date=August 27, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 16, 2023 }}

On July 8, 2007, Kamakawiwoʻole debuted at No.{{spaces}}44 on the Billboard Top{{spaces}}200 Album Chart with "Wonderful World", selling 17,000 units.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=israel kamakawiwo'ole|chart=all}} Artist Chart History{{snd}}Israel Kamakawiwo'ole], Billboard

In April 2007, "Over the Rainbow" entered the UK charts at No.{{spaces}}68, and eventually climbed to No.{{spaces}}46, spending ten weeks in the Top{{spaces}}100 over a two-year period.

In October 2010, following its use in a trailer for the TV channel VOX{{cite news |url=https://folio.nzz.ch/2011/juni/herr-der-goldtruhen |title=Herr der Goldtruhen |work=Folio |publisher=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |date=June 2011 |first=Andreas |last=Heller |access-date=May 21, 2020 |trans-title=Lord of the Chests of Gold |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813152530/https://folio.nzz.ch/2011/juni/herr-der-goldtruhen |url-status=live }} and on a TV advertisement—for Axe deodorant (which is itself a revival of the advertisement originally aired in 2004){{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BauTYOod9e4 |url-status=dead |title=Lynx – Getting Dressed Commercial Song Israel Kamakawiwo'ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow |publisher=YouTube |date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725204549/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BauTYOod9e4 }}—it hit No.{{spaces}}1 on the German singles chart, was the number-one seller single of 2010{{cite web |url=http://www.gfk-entertainment.com/news/musik-jahrescharts-sanfter-riese-und-der-graf-setzen-sich-durch.html |title=Musik-Jahrescharts: 'Sanfter Riese' und der Graf setzen sich durch – media control |trans-title=Music charts of the year: 'Gentle giant' and der Graf |language=de |work=media-control.de |date=January 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107110045/http://www.gfk-entertainment.com/news/musik-jahrescharts-sanfter-riese-und-der-graf-setzen-sich-durch.html |archive-date=January 7, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2014}} and was eventually certified 2× Platinum in 2011.{{Cite certification |region=Germany |title=Over the Rainbow |artist=Israel Kamakawiwo'ole |type=single}}

As of November 1, 2010, "Over the Rainbow" peaked at No.{{spaces}}6 on the OE3 Austria charts, which largely reflects airplay on Austria's government-operated Top{{spaces}}40 radio network.{{cite web |url=http://charts.orf.at/oe3/single/2010/woche42 |title=oe3.ORF.at / woche 42/2010 |website=Charts.orf.at |language=de |access-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706094212/http://charts.orf.at/oe3/single/2010/woche42 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |date=October 25, 2010 }} It also peaked at No.1 in France and Switzerland in late December 2010.

On December 21, 2020, the official music video for "Over the Rainbow" reached a billion views on YouTube.{{cite magazine |title=Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/israel-ikamakawiwo-ole-somewhere-over-the-rainbow-1-billion-youtube-views-9507664/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}

In 2021, the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry as part of the heritage in American recorded sound.{{cite news |url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/bruddah-iz-songs-to-be-added-to-library-of-congress-national-recording-registry/amp/ |title=Bruddah Iz songs to be added to Library of Congress National Recording Registry |date=April 2021 |work=KHON |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315055418/https://www.khon2.com/local-news/bruddah-iz-songs-to-be-added-to-library-of-congress-national-recording-registry/amp/ |url-status=live }}

Discography

= Studio albums =

Ka ʻAnoʻi (1990)
Facing Future (1993)
E Ala E (1995)
N Dis Life (1996)

= Compilation albums =

IZ in Concert: The Man and His Music (1998)
Alone in IZ World (2001)
Wonderful World (2007)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: The Best of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (2011)

Notes

References

;Sources

{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Rick |title=IZ: Voice of the people |publisher=Bess Press |location=Honolulu, Hawaiʻi |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-57306-257-2 |oclc=71325451}}
{{cite book |last=Kois |first=Dan |title=Facing Future |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |series=33⅓ |location=New York |year=2010 |isbn=9780826429056 |oclc=676695887}}