Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – What A Wonderful World: Lyrics and Music Video
What A Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole lyrics and music video. You can sing while listening to the song What A Wonderful World performed by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Hope you like the music video and song lyrics for What A Wonderful World.
About the Song
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole – What a Wonderful World: Song Overview
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's *What a Wonderful World* (1993) is a beloved medley combining *Somewhere Over the Rainbow* and *What a Wonderful World*. Recorded in one take with just his ukulele and velvet vocals, the track became a posthumous global phenomenon, symbolizing Hawaiian musical heritage and universal hope.
Release and Chart Performance
- Originally recorded in 1988, released on the album Facing Future (1993).
- Gained mainstream traction after Kamakawiwoʻole’s 1997 passing, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 (2004) and topping charts in France and Germany.
- Certified 4x Platinum in the US (4M+ sales) and amassed 1.5+ billion streams globally.
Musical Style and Themes
The song blends:
- Acoustic ukulele simplicity, Kamakawiwoʻole’s gentle falsetto, and a laid-back island rhythm.
- Lyrics celebrating peace and beauty, merging the hopefulness of both classics:
“Somewhere over the rainbow / Way up high / And the dreams that you dream of / Once in a lullaby…”
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- A funeral and memorial staple, played at weddings, graduations, and global events (e.g., 9/11 tributes).
- Featured in films like Meet Joe Black (1998), Finding Forrester (2000), and TV shows like ER and Scrubs.
- Celebrated as a Hawaiian cultural treasure, preserving Kamakawiwoʻole’s legacy as “The Voice of Hawaiʻi.”
Songwriting Credits
Medley of two classics:
- *Somewhere Over the Rainbow* (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg) from The Wizard of Oz (1939).
- *What a Wonderful World* (George David Weiss, Bob Thiele) popularized by Louis Armstrong (1967).
Summary
*What a Wonderful World* is more than a cover—it’s a transcendent fusion of nostalgia and island serenity. Kamakawiwoʻole’s heartfelt rendition turned it into a global anthem of resilience and beauty, ensuring his voice remains a comforting presence decades after his passing.
Keywords
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Over the Rainbow
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow ukulele cover
- Facing Future album
- Best Hawaiian music songs
- Posthumous hit songs
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: What A Wonderful World Lyrics
And red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And i think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well i see skies of blue
And i see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And i think to myself
What a wonderful world
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The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
See friends shakin’ hands saying
“how do you do?”
They’re really sayin’, “i, i love you.”
I hear babies cry
And i watch them grow
They’ll know much more than we’ll ever know
And i think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh, someday i’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why oh why can’t i, i
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
