Music Harold Arlen, lyrics E.Y.Harburg, arranged Teena Chain.
“Over the Rainbow” is a ballad composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. It was written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and was sung by actress Judy Garland at 16 years old, in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland’s signature song.
Rainbow was recorded in the 1990s by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole and by Eva Cassidy.
Versions
Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz; Israel Kamakawiwoʻole; Eva Cassidy
Judy Garland
Where else to start with Judy Garland than Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz? But during her 45 year career she was also a highly successful actor, recording artist and concert performer. She received many awards for all of these. The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 and she also starred in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), A Star Is Born (1954) and many other films both musical and purely dramatic. She also made record-breaking concert appearances, released eight studio albums, and became the youngest and first female recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the film industry. Sadly the industry that made so much money from her talent failed to look after her and she became dependent on alcohol and drugs and fell into financial difficulties. She died in 1969 in London aged 47 from an accidental barbiturate overdose.
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen (1905-1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. Arlen composed the songs for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz (lyrics by Yip Harburg), and and is a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook.
Edgar Harburg
Edgar Yipsel Harburg (1896-1981), was born Isidore Hochberg on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1896. His parents were Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jews who had emigrated from Russia. He later adopted the name Edgar “Yip” Harburg. He wrote lyrics and libretto to many musical films and shows including of course The Wizard Of Oz.
He was a strong egalitarian and liberal, championing gender and racial equality in his life and in his work. His lyrics to Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? became an anthem of the Great Depression in which he had himself suffered financially. Also a staunch critic of religion, during the Jim Crow era he was blacklisted for 12 years.
Harburg was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.
Acknowledgements:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Rainbow
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland