Facing Future
List Price:
Our Price: $10.56
You Save: $6.39 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.64 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Performer: Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'oleEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1993-09-01
Music Label: Mountain Apple Company
Soundtracks:
- Hawai'i '78 introduction
- Ka Huila Wai
- 'Ama'ama
- Panini Pua Kea
- Take Me Home Country Road
- Kuhio Bay
- Ka Pua U'i
- White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i
- Henehene Kou 'Aka
- La 'Elima
- Pili Me Ka'u Manu
- Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
- Kaulana Kawaihae
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
- Hawai'i '78
Free Music Notes for Facing Future
Free Music Review: A Treasure
Hit: 5 Stars
My wife and I went to Kauai for our Honeymoon in July 2004. We are both New Yorkers, me born and raised in the metropolitan area, she raised in the South Bronx from age 1. Not surprisingly, before our trip we had zero conception of Hawaiian culture or music, except that we both had heard of Don Ho, but never ever heard any of his music. We knew vaguely that it had something to do with Ukeleles.
I was (and still am) so ignorant of all things pertaining to Hawaii that the first store that we stopped in after breakfast our first morning in Hawaii was the Walmart on Kauai. If you've ever been to Kauai, you know the place. We went looking for film, and there was a display full of IZ CDs and DVDs. I remember joking with my wife about the horribly obese looking man wearing a huge skirt and staring off into the sunset. I thought to myself, "this must be the junk that the stupid tourists buy for themselves just before rushing to airport and hoppping on a plane back to where they came from." Needless to say, we didn't purchase any CDs from Walmart.
As all tourists do, we explored the island of Kauai in our rental car. A convertible. Everyday we went hiking, boating, swimming, snorkeling, dining, shopping, etc. Of course, we couldn't avoid spending time in the car to get to all the destinations. For the first few days we listended to "rock" and "pop" radio stations that I was familiar with. But we grew quickly tired of commercial radio, and eventually sought out the local programming. We began to grow to enjoy listening to the Hawaiian music, even though we had no idea what we were listening to. Honestly, we didn't really LISTEN to the music. It was background on our beautiful journey around Kauai. As long as the top was down and we were cruising we didn't care too much about the music.
After a few days of listening to the local Hawaiaan stations we kept hearing the same song. We didn't know it at first, but it was Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World. It was just background music to us. But eventually, after hearing the song for a few times, it started to grow on us. And then we started to grow. Finally, I remember being up in Waimea Canyon, the place that Mark Twain called the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. A truly tremendous and magnificent place. We were driving out of the canyon at sunset, and it had begun to rain. But the rain in Kauai isn't what the rain that we were used to in the Northeast. It was July, and the rain was a warm sprinkling of crystal clear water, and the soft sunlight filtered through the rain and the trees, creating the most lusterous and beautiful effect that we both had ever seen. And just at that moment, our Hawaiian theme song again came on the radio again. By that stage of our trip, we had begun to identify the song, although we had no idea who was singing. We only knew we loved it. We pulled over at the nearest look-out point, a view of a Hawaiian waterfall. We got out and I opened the car doors so we could hear the wonderful song. We danced together in the Hawaiian rain, and it was Iz's music and spirit that made that moment so true.
The next day or two we stopped at a local flea market on our way up to Princeville. There was a local man selling Hawaiian music CDs. We wanted to purchase the song, but we had no idea who the singer was. We could only explain that we heard it many times on the radio. So, having no other alternative, we hummed the song to the man, and he picked it up right away. Smiling proudly, he handed me the album FACING FUTURE by Iz. I chuckled to myself as I was confronted with the man I had so quickly laughed at when I was in Walmart on my first full day in Hawaii. We bought that album, and two others, but we immediately opened FACING FUTURE on our way up to Princeville.
Along with the song Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, Hawaii '78 and Hawaii '78 revisted (the first and last songs of the album) were completely mind blowing. These songs had the honesty and truth of songwriters like Bobby Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Paul Simon, combined with the roots-style sound of Bob Marley and the Wailors. But he wasn't a copy of any of these artists. I quickly realized that IZ was his own man, and that his sound is altogether unique, and wonderfully accessible even to out-of-towners like me and my wife. Why hadn't I heard of this great artist before?
In sum, IZ was a constant companion throughout our trip. We had the album blasting whenever we cruised up and down the highways going from one destination to the other. Let me tell you that there can't be a better experience than driving along Kuhio Highway at night, with the top down, with the stars shining bright, and jamming with IZ. Long Live IZ!! By the end of our trip, we had learned that one of those bright stars shining overhead was indeed Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, shining brightly over his cherished Island home.
Facing Future Poster
There's a smart balance of traditional Hawaiiana and contemporary tunes on this CD. There's heart-tugging warmth along with unexpected chuckles. The end result is a candid, honest reinforcement of his vocal breadth.To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo'ole's body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor. Kamakawiwo'ole's appeal lies in his love for prestatehood, precondominium Hawaii and the expressiveness of his gently passionate voice, which can float through higher registers with an ease that brings Johnny Mathis to mind. Several selections ("Ka Pua U'i," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," the sun-kissed "La 'Elima") feature Kamakawiwo'ole in a traditional mood, using only his ukulele to adorn the charm of his native lyricism. Others, such as the Jimmy Buffett-like "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man" add playful contemporary touches that suit Kamakawiwo'ole's style. Most touching are the string-backed laments that open and close the album, "Hawai'i '78 Introduction" and "Hawai'i '78," initially a reflection on his father's death, later on the passing of Hawaii's native culture. Best known is his medley "Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," which played over the closing credits of the film Meet Joe Black. --Terry Wood
International Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in International Music CDs
Hopscotch - Wishful WayRelease date: 2003-11-03; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Coral Sea Dreaming [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
David Hannan - Coral Sea Dreaming [VHS]Compass Records; Release date: 1998-11-17; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.70
Price in other shops:
![20th Anniversary Celebration [VHS] Image](/images/20th-Anniversary-Celebration-VHS-6302274060-X.jpg){kind=small}
Steeleye Span - 20th Anniversary Celebration [VHS]Shanachie; Release date: 1995-04-16; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.94
Price in other shops:
Chris Rea - Return of the Fabulous Hofner BluenotesRelease date: 2008-03-11; Music CD
Best price: $37.97
Price in other shops:
A Concert Of Angels mini: Music From J.S. Bach To Gustav Mahlerby edel Classics GmbH
Edel Classica Gmbh; Published: 2006-11-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.52
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Tanzkurs Vol 4Release date: 2007-06-26; DVD
Price in other shops:
Sascha Hehn & The New Symphonic Orchestra - Peter Und Der Wolf/ Karneval Der TiereRelease date: 2010-04-27; Music CD
Best price: $7.83
Jurgen Fritsche, Sven Gortz - Edgar Allan Poe: Das Grauen IIRelease date: 2009-12-08; Music CD
Best price: $6.57
Price in other shops:
Sorene. CD. Kinderlieder aus Äthiopien - Children's Songs from Ethiopiaby Peter Pannke
Sunnymoon Distribution; Published: 2000-03-01; Audio CD; Book
Tibetan Meditation Music: For Quiet Mind and Peaceful Heartby Nawang Khechog
Sounds True 2007-04-01; Published: 2007; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $10.23
Top Rated Albums
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, IZ - E Ala ERelease date: 1995-10-01; Music CD
Best price: $10.66
Price in other shops:
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection 2Release date: 1999-07-27; Music CD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
IZ in Concert: The Man and His MusicRelease date: 1999-05-20; Music CD
Best price: $10.73
Price in other shops:
Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'Ole & The Makaha Sons - UnforgettableRelease date: 2008-12-09; Music CD
Best price: $12.13
Price in other shops:
Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole - N Dis LifeBig Boy Records; Release date: 1996-12-20; Published: 1996; Music CD
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops:
Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole - Wonderful WorldRelease date: 2007-06-26; Published: 2010-05-18; Music CD
Best price: $10.48
Price in other shops:
Alone in IZ WorldRelease date: 2001-09-25; Music CD
Best price: $10.49
Price in other shops:
Israel Iz Kamakawiwoole - Somewhere Over the RainbowRelease date: 2011-01-11; Music CD
Best price: $15.46
Price in other shops:
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The DescendantsRelease date: 2011-11-21; Music CD
Best price: $8.64
Price in other shops:
Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Greatest HitsRelease date: 2011-01-18; Music CD
Best price: $9.69
Price in other shops: