Israel Kamakawio'ole's Medley of Hope and Vision

I first heard the song "Over the Rainbow" when I was a small boy over half a century ago. My father had just left to serve in Korea, and I was filled with unfamiliar emotions. I was lying in bed when I heard the song playing on the television, and I was surprised when I was moved to tears. I think I needed to believe something hopeful could be somewhere over the rainbow. Now, of course, when I hear this wonderful medley, the same emotional associations come back. That's how the brain works, and that's how I react. Maybe that's why I like this medley so much.



By the way, for those of you who don't know, Israel Kamakawio'ole was a huge celebrity on the islands until his death 12 years ago...

The Unconscious Magic of Music

I recently watched the movie, "Finding Forrester," starring Sean Connery and Rob Brown. The Connery character is a well-known but reclusive novelist (hints of J. D. Salinger) who reluctantly mentors a young basketball player who has literary talent. At the end, the credits roll to the music of Israel Kamakawio'ole playing a ukulele and singing a medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World." Even though the songs are hopeful, tears came to my eyes.

I was puzzled by my reaction. Why would I have poignant feelings over happy music at the end of a happy movie?

After thinking about it, I knew why....