My Gen X Playlist: Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Every year we go back to Hawaii to visit family. I love the aloha spirit, the beauty of the island, the people and the food. We are fortunate that we stay with my in-laws when we visit. Our time with them is precious as they get older and it’s important that we spend as much time with them as we can when we visit the island. My father-in-law is small in stature, but has an infectious smile. My mother-in-law shows love through cooking. When she is working her magic in the kitchen, the house is filled with a delicious aroma and I never leave the table hungry. I once asked if I could copy a few of her recipes, but she just pointed to her head. No recipes. No measurements. Everything by look, feel and taste. Ah, yes, that made total sense. Next time, I’ll just have to video her cooking my favorite dishes and try to make due from there.

There were a few songs that came to mind for the playlist. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s island version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World made the list. Nothing beats the ukulele and the island vibe of this mix.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true, ooh-ooh

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
Blue birds fly
And the dream that you dare to
Oh, why, oh, why can't I?

Well, I see trees of green and
Red roses too
I'll 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
Highlight the dark
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying, "I, I love you"

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than we'll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world, world

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 top, that's where
You'll find me

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dream that you dare to
Why, oh, why can't I?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ah-ah, yeah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah, ah