2005-04-05
The Great IZ
I have never been a huge music guy. I am a white, suburban born and bread guy without much musical ability and no rhythm. Like most of the people in my generation, I think the U2 is the best band on earth, and will believe so for the rest of my life. Maybe it comes from the fact that U2 first hit it big when I was about 10 years old and I have grown-up listening to them in their various incarnations as I have aged.
I mentioned my desire to get an IPod Shuffle. This has been more than anything due to my being haunted from my rediscovery of IZ, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. IZ is a now deceased Hawaiian singer who has been featured on several movie sound tracks. This guy is just awesome. I first found IZ a few years back when his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow was featured on the season finale of ER where Dr. Green (Anthony Edwards) dies in Hawaii. If you are not familiar with the Gentle Giant, I recommend this site on the NPR webpage.
I know many of you are going to think it is cheesiest thing you have ever heard, however, I guess as my taste in women has broadened with age, so has my taste in music.
What do you have to lose in taking the link and listening to the song?
Anyway I am trying to make a conscious effort to explore some diverse music. I would love to hear some suggestions from you all on what I might try. Besides U2 (and now IZ), my CD player in the car will usually have something classical (Tchaikovsky generally), maybe a Leonard Cohen, and generally something mellowing like Enya or the Sundays. As you can see it is a pretty eclectic mix. I would love some suggestions as to what other people are listening to.
Send me an email mailto:rockabillie99@yahoo.com or leave me a note.
-- rockabillie at 12:08 p.m.