Facing Future
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Free Music Notes for Facing Future
Free Music Review: Hawai'i '78
Hit: 5 Stars
"Cry for the Gods, cry for the people, cry for the land that was taken away...and then yet you'll find, Hawai'i."A few years ago when I was a serviceman stationed in Hawaii, I first heard this beautiful, haunting song, and was first exposed to the incredible voice of Israel "IZ" Kamawiwo'ole. Already sobered by the song's theme...the regret of native Hawaiians over losing their sovereignty...I was further saddened to learn that "IZ" had died in 1997. Like his father, and his brother, Skippy (also a recording artist), IZ had died of medical problems associated with obesity (he weighed as much as 760 pounds at one time). But thankfully, IZ left a legacy of recorded music, both as a solo artist and as a member of the Hawiiana band "Makaha Sons of Niihau". And thanks to the airplay received by "Over The Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" on the TV show ER, the movie soundtracks "Finding Forrester" and "Meet Joe Black", and commercials for E-Toys, thousands of mainstream listeners on the mainland have now discovered IZ for the first time.
In many years of listening and collecting, I've never found an album like "Facing Future" that has such a universal appeal. Kids love it, teens love it, grandparents love it. A certified hard rocker myself (check my reviews of bands like Tool and Type O Negative), I consider "Facing Future" one of the top five CDs in my extensive collection, and rarely do I go more than a couple of weeks without giving it a spin.
Every track on the CD is wonderful, and if you skip over any, it will be just to get to the album's best two tracks, which are near the end: "Rainbow/Wonderful World" and "Hawai'i '78". In between, you'll find beautiful island music, sung both in the native Hawaiian language (check websites for translations) and English. A fun highlight is a cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" with O'ahu geography (West Makaha, Mount Ka'ala) replacing West Virginia and mountain mama. "Maui Hawaiian Suppa Man" is a favorite of my 9-year-old son (as is Hawai'i '78, which he has dubbed "Cry For The Gods"). And having lived in Hawaii for 3 glorious years, hearing IZ sing "White Sandy Beach" almost always brings mist to my eyes and a lump to my throat.
You will never buy a more beloved CD than this one, your family and friends will rave about it. Get it, you'll be glad you did!
Free Music Review: The legend The myth The man The haunting voice...Braddah IZ
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a hawaiian and hawaii born and bred islander, I am blessed by the fact that my parents brought me up with hawaiian music but most of all the late great Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole. The day that shocked hawaii I was out and about with my family when my father stoppped at a gas station as he came out of the gas station a newpaper in his hand and a heartbroken look on his face..." what's the matter daddy" he handed me the paper and i started to cry there it was "Braddah Iz passed away at the age of 38 in his sleep last night" I couldn't beileve it such a beautiful voice silenced he will never make another record.But just to have had Braddah Iz on this earth for just this short time to hear the music with and without the makaha sons of Niihau is truly magical..so his music lives on. I've read all these amazing reviews of Braddah IZ...I am happy and touched that so many people have been touched by his music. Unforunately i didn't know braddah iz but in a way all us hawaii born islanders always seem to truly know braddah Iz, his music touched us all. to understand how huge Braddah Iz was he is still mourned and celebrated in hawaii and his music is still played constantly on the radio.The day of his birth and passing is celebrated like a national holiday. When you listen to any of the LATE and GREAT Israel Kamakwiwo'Ole's cds..you will hear one the most beauitful voices god ever put on this earth. But when you look at this man ,this giant man with this amazing angel like voice you will be blown away. god gave this late singer the voice of angel. a voice that must have been blessed and touched by god himself and it was...the songs , music and lyrics will leave you speechless and breathless ..his voice and the way he delivers the songs with that teardrop in his vocal chord...will send chills up and down your spine..any of this mans cds is excellent and it is a must of anyone who wants to get a cd that reflects the spirit of islands this man , this legend was the spirit of hawaii, BRADDAH IS WAS AND STILL IS HAWAII. even thou IZ passed away some time ago his voice his music his legend still lives is the islands thru his voice and music.his voice alone will leave you with a tear in your eyes... buy any one of his cds..trust me it's worth it...also braddah iz was with a hawaiian group called Makaha sons of Niihau pick up those cs as well, and let the memory of Braddah IZ and his music live on for the future generations to hear and loveFree Music Review: Brudda Iz and the Aloha spirit are one and the same!
Hit: 5 Stars
After years of suffering a total jerk of a boss I finally quit my job. He had the audacity to berate a pregnant secretary for going to a doctor's appointment which was on the posted schedule for weeks. I let loose a rant that everyone dreams of telling such an ego-maniac and headed for the door. Full of frustration from the past and anxiety for the future I headed for home and tuned the satellite radio quite by accident to the Hawaiian station. In the midst of existential angst came a voice of tranquility and hope as if on cue. That was the first time I heard Brother Iz sing "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". Soon afterwards I purchased this album and have since listened to it too many times to count. Now that I have 3 ukulele's of my own and a stack of Hawaiian CD's, I still keep this album on constant rotation and would rate it as an all time favorite without hesitation. Whether you have discovered Iz through a movie soundtrack or TV advertisement playing this song then you are bound to be left wanting more. Listen with an open mind and check the great track samples on Amazon and see if Hawaiian music is for you. Heaven forbid but perhaps it gives you the same reaction that I get from country music (YUCK!). Some of the 1, 2 and 3 star reviews seem to think everthing will sound like "that other song" they heard. That would be like expecting every Beatles song to sound the same. Just so I do not sound like a total Brudda Iz crusader I must admit that "Country Roads" is my least favorite track (John Denver or Israel versions included). The grunting cadence at the end of "Wonderful World" still makes me cringe (imagine the Three Tenors doing jazz scat and belching at the end of an Italian opera, totally out of place). Mountain Apple Records did not do the best mix job and should seriously consider outsourcing a complete re-master. The low end is especially horrid with several areas of muddy sound and distortion even on my Klipsch speakers which seem to handle everything audio. Yes, Iz makes some mistakes here and there. He even plays several wrong chords in "Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World". Despite all these shortcomings this would be the last album to ever leave my collection and receives the absolute highest recommendations. Mahalo plenty Brudda Iz!Free Music Review: Thank you for touching my heart, fellow reviewers!
Hit: 5 Stars
Our neighborhood is having a Luau and I was writing one of the organizers to offer to bring cds. I started writing about Big Bruddah Iz and just had to get a few facts straight so ended up on Amazon's Facing the Future page. It was delightful to read the many wonderful words this simple, beautiful man inspired. Reading reviews from everyday people was an Iz-like experience in itself: Iz's music was joyfully sung by an everyman, with just the right kind of pride and humility, and was accessible to everyone from babies to great-great grammas and granpas so these heart-felt nonprofessional words are the sweetest.
We first learned of Iz from a passionate Hawaiian named Lopaka who guided us along the Wailua River in Kauai. Lopaka opened our eyes to power of Aloha and shared his knowledge and love for the islands. We were just plain transformed with a reverence for nature we'd never imagined that was utterly unpretentious and so generous that all things living and inanimate were included in wishes of love and peace and enveloped in goodness. Lopaka sang us a few of Iz's songs and suggested that we definitely get some cds. We did and quickly agreed, Yep, Iz is the Aloha Spirit.
Probably like a lot of families, our family has used "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as a lullabye over the generations. I've heard that song from birth and have sung it waaaay more than any other song, to my dolls, my little brother and sister, to my daughter, to kids I was baby sitting, to my nieces, and to my granddaughter. All those times and I've never tired of it. What a gift it was to hear it all over again for the first time! A while after we got back from Hawaii, we just happened to see that ER episode and we knew that thousands of people would be running out their doors to find that music!
I found it interesting that of the few people who wrote here and gave Iz less than 5 stars, many still said things like they were planning to use his music at their wedding! I guess everbody's taste is different but I think it's real possible that if one isn't touched by Iz they just haven't experienced Aloha yet. Hope they meet Lopaka, or someone like him, someday real soon.
Free Music Review: An album like no other
Hit: 5 Stars
It took God to create the beauty that is Hawaii. And God created the love, the gentleness, the hope, and the sadness that springs from the human soul. All Israel Kamakawi'wo'ole did was to put that all to music. And he did so with the voice of an angel.
The first time I ever saw IZ was a cold winter day about 15 years ago. There was snow on the ground outside in DC, and I was watching the NFL Pro Bowl being broadcast from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. It was halftime, and Bruddah Iz was part of the entertainment. He was helped onto the stage - this enormous man - oxygen tank and all. I knew nothing of him, but had never seen anyone so obese, and I called family members to take a look at what was on the television. (To this day, I feel a sense of shame that my first impulse upon seeing him was to call others to gawk at his size.)
By the time they arrived, Iz began playing the ukulele intro to Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World, and we sat and stood in the living room, mesmerized. I was barely breathing, for I had never heard a voice so sweet and pure, and this restyled medley of two of my favorite songs absolutely enchanted me. We loved his work, and that love has only deepened through the years.
As you read the seemingly endless reviews on the site, you probably notice - as I did - how this one man has touched the soul of people of all races, nationalities, and religions. And you will also notice that the passage of time has not dimmed his memory nor the love that people have for him and his music. Those who come from Hawaii or have a deep connection with the Islands love him fiercely. Once you listen to Facing Future, you will come to understand why.
Israel Kamakawi'wo'ole was an artist like no other. He was the voice of the Islands and of his people. And the hope, love, joy, and sadness of his music rings true. Great artists transcend barriers of race, religion, and culture and have a profound effect on those who discover their work.
You don't have to be a kama'ai'na to love Bruddah Iz. All you have to do is listen to him. Just once.