First of all, I can't say enough how awesome ukulele music is. It just always seems so joyful and carefree, and it's contagious. This is one of those songs I turn on when I'm stressed or grumpy, and it usually does the trick. I can't help but envision an island with a gorgeous beach and ocean waves crashing on the shore while I'm listening.
Secondly, it had a role in our wedding. We added a line to the RSVP cards asking our guests for a song that made them feel like dancing, and my dear sister-in-law responded with a great list of songs. Her list included this song and a note about how their dad loved this song. I wanted to include it as a way to honor him that day. I got to watch my husband and mother-in-law dance to it while I held hands with my sister-in-law, and it was a powerful, emotional moment in time. To be honest, that was one of my favorite parts of our wedding day.
Then the wildest thing happened just a few weeks ago at my sister-in-law's wedding. There was a ukulele player doing a fabulous job with music during the ceremony and for a little while afterwards. While we were congratulating the newlyweds, he began to play this song. It made me tear up because of how perfect it seemed to hear it again in such a happy, beautiful time. It's always fun to have something in common between our weddings like that.
You can imagine how excited I was to find a beautiful t-shirt that included the words "Somewhere over the rainbow" on the front while we were in Hawaii. No, it doesn't take much to make me happy. Yes, that shirt came home with me.
So here's one of the most beautiful songs of all time, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Beautiful World" by Hawaii's own Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole aka IZ.
I dare you to turn it on the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed out. I bet you won't stay that way for long after your short "island vacation" song.
