Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

[The Peepmaster]

I love this version of a famous song. It's by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

He died in 1997, fairly young, (but due to his being over-weight). The Hawaii flag flew at half-mast, and he lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu - only the third person in Hawaiian history to be awarded this honor, (also, the only non-politician). Thousands of fans gathered and cheered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M?kua Beach. You see that on the video.

[Malc]

There was no sound when I clicked, but I have heard/seen this before, it was a staple of my You Tube surfing for a while, you're right this guy was a phenomenon. He took two classics and interwove them, using basically the same rhythm and chords (Over The Rainbow and What A Wonderful World). He certainly created a whole new brand, because there are innumerable people copying his performance

[robbie62]

i often wondered who sung this version i heard on adverts and radio , so thanks for letting me know, but have you ever thought that this song is cursed. eva casssidy ,this bloke  both died young after recording this song,and i would say it was judy garland's most famous song and she did'nt have a very nice end to her life

[Diane CBPFC]

You could say that breathing is cursed Robbie as everyone who participates in that dies!

[Tom]

And life, Diane. Don't forget that!

Bit deep this evening, aren't we. I'm still confused about that Marianne Faithfull thing in the other thread as well...

[Tom]

Nice version of the song, Peeps, by the way.

[robbie62]

You could say that breathing is cursed Robbie as everyone who participates in that dies!

i beg to differ diane its not breathing thats cursed, breathing is perfectly fine

[Roger Kettle]

I've heard this version before and I really like it. I think it was used in "Scrubs" or, if not, a version that was influenced by it. Must go and look that up...

[Roger Kettle]

Here it is and what an astonishing camera tracking shot that goes with it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCeQuqMS9Ww

[The Peepmaster]

That was an impressive piece of posting, Roger.

Not sure it's the same singer though.

[Roger Kettle]

No, it's not, Nige, but obviously influenced by it. And what a tracking shot.

[Malc]

Like I said, innumerable. I must admit I was slow to get into "Scrubs" as I am to get into any show that doesn't seem to know whether it's a comedy, fantasy or drama. Also the Dr Cox character's long and winding sprays of sarcasm were too off-putting to start with - I couldn't suspend my disbelief long enough to get to the end of his vitriolic monologues.

I was the same with Seinfeld, I couldn't see the huge appeal, but I slowly adjusted.

[Roger Kettle]

I was exactly the same with both shows, Malc, and I ended up loving them.
The creator of Scrubs openly admits that his influences were M*A*S*H and The Wonder Years---hence the medical format with the nostalgic voice-over. I still think that Scrubs, with its brilliant scriptwriting, extremely strong cast and its use of poignant music, is the best American sitcom for years.

[Malc]

My vote for Best American Sitcom has to go to Third Rock From The Sun. It proves beyond doubt that it's not about the premise, it's about the writing. Aliens coming to live among humans? It's been done. Other wordly beings learning about our human ways to comic effect? It's been done, My Favourite Martian, ALF, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, and a few more I could mention all trod the same path, so the pitch meeting for Third Rock would have been a battle just to get the idea across as worth doing.
Script is king as I never tire of saying, and the Third Rock scripts were wonderful. They lost something after series 4, but still....

Here's an episode which features a guest appearance of Dom De Luis, a comedy hero of mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXY74OKEv4E

[robbie62]

i see we have hit another rich vein in the tangent mine