, as well as the entirety of the Kansas scenes, was directed by King Vidor, thou

gh he was not credited. The song was initially deleted from the film after a pre
view in San Luis Obispo, because MGM chief executive Louis B. Mayer and producer
Mervyn LeRoy thought it "slowed down the picture" and that "the song sounds lik
e something for Jeanette MacDonald, not for a little girl singing in a barnyard.
" However, the persistence of associate producer Arthur Freed and Garland's voca
l coach/mentor Roger Edens to keep the song in the picture eventually paid off.[
4] At the start of the film, part of the song is played by the MGM orchestra ove
r the opening credits. A reprise of the song was deleted after being filmed. An
additional chorus was to be sung by Dorothy while she was locked in a room in th
e witch's castle, helplessly awaiting death as the witch's hourglass ran out. Ho
wever, although the visual portion of that reprise is presumably lost, the sound
track of it survives and was included in the 5-CD Supreme Edition of the film's
soundtrack, released by Rhino Entertainment. In that extremely intense and fearfilled rendition, Dorothy weeps her way through it, unable to finish, concluding
with a tear-filled, "I'm frightened, Auntie Em
I'm frightened!" This phrase was
retained in the film and is followed immediately by Aunt Em's brief appearance
in the witch's crystal, where she is soon replaced by the visage of the witch (M
argaret Hamilton), mocking and taunting Dorothy before turning toward the camera
to cackle.
Original Garland recordings[edit]
"Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz
MENU0:00
A sample of the original version of "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, su
ng by Judy Garland.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Judy Garland first recorded the song on the MGM soundstages on October 7, 1938,
using an arrangement by Murray Cutter. A studio recording of the song, not from
the actual film soundtrack, was recorded and released as a single by Decca Recor
ds in September 1939. In March 1940, that same recording was included on a Decca
78-RPM four-record studio cast album entitled The Wizard of Oz. Although this i
s not the version of the song featured in the film, Decca would continue to re-r
elease the so-called "Cast Album" well into the 1960s after it was re-issued as
a single-record 331/3 RPM LP. It was not until 1956, when MGM released the true
soundtrack album from the film, that the film version of the song was made avail
able to the public. The 1956 soundtrack release was timed to coincide with the t
elevision premiere of the movie.[5] The soundtrack version has been re-released
several times over the years, including in a "Deluxe Edition" from Rhino Records
in 1995.[6]
'Over the Rainbow' has become part of my life. It's so symbolic of everybody's d
reams and wishes that I'm sure that's why some people get tears in their eyes wh
en they hear it. I've sung it thousands of times and it's still the song that's
closest to my heart.
Judy Garland
Following the film's release in 1939, "Over the Rainbow" became Garland's signat
ure song and she would perform it for the next thirty years, until her death in
1969. Garland performed the song without altering it, singing exactly as she did
for the movie. She explained her fidelity by saying that she was staying true t
o the character of Dorothy and to the message of really being somewhere over the
rainbow.[7] In a letter to Harold Arlen, Garland wrote, "'Over the Rainbow' has
become part of my life. It's so symbolic of everybody's dreams and wishes that
I'm sure that's why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I've
sung it thousands of times and it's still the song that's closest to my heart."[
8]

Lyrics[edit]
An introductory verse ("When all the world is a hopeless jumble ") that was not us
ed in the movie is often used in theatrical productions of The Wizard of Oz and
is included in the piano sheet music book of songs from the film. It was also us
ed in renditions by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day on her 1958 album Hooray For Hollyw
ood (Vol.1), Tony Bennett on his 1961 album Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harol
d Arlen, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Norma Waterson (among others). Garl
and herself sang the introductory verse only once, on a 1948 radio broadcast of
The Louella Parsons Show.[9] Lyrics for a second verse ("Once by a word only lig
htly spoken ") appear in the British edition of the sheet music.[10]
A second bridge is also used occasionally in theatrical productions. The short r
eprise, deleted from the final cut of the film, uses the melody of the bridge (o
r "B" section). Pop singer Pink performed the song with the introductory verse a
t the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014, in celebration of the 75th anniversa
ry of The Wizard of Oz .
The song has been translated into Esperanto twice. The first translation was by
Londoner Harry Holmes. The second, more recent, translation is by Pejno Simono.
Other versions[edit]
In singles and albums[edit]
Glenn Miller's 1939 versions charted at # 1 that year, Bob Crosby at #2.[11]
Doo-wop group The Demensions charted the song to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in
1960.[12]
Australian band Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs' version topped the Australian music
charts in 1965 and a later revision of the song also charted in 1974 following
Billy Thorpe's blues-based revival of the song at the 1973 Sunbury Pop Festival.
[13]
Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles album Over the Rainbow peaked at #20 on the US
R&B charts in 1966.
Jerry Lee Lewis had a number 10 hit single of the song on the American country m
usic charts in 1980.[citation needed]
Matchbox reached #15 on the UK singles chart in 1980 with "Over the Rainbow - Yo
u Belong to Me (medley)".
Sam Harris' winning version of the song on the first season of Star Search in 19
83, combined on a single with "Hearts on Fire" reached #67 in the UK singles cha
rt in 1985.
Marusha reached #3 on the German singles charts in 1994 with her dance version.
Cliff Richard reached #11 on the UK singles chart in 2001 with "Somewhere Over t
he Rainbow/What a Wonderful World".
Katharine McPhee, an American Idol runner-up, covered the song in 2006. The sing
le peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the most successful renditi
on the song on that list.[citation needed]
Jeff Beck recorded an instrumental of the song on his album Emotion and Commotio
n, which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. in 2010.
Glee Cast reached #43 on the US singles chart and #30 on the UK singles chart in
2010 with their version.
Nicholas David, a contestant on the third season of the U.S. version of The Voic
e, charted the song to #96 in 2012, with sales of 48,000 copies.[14]
In 2012, Italian singer Chiara performed the song during the sixth series of Ita
lian talent show X Factor.[15] A studio recording of the song was included in he
r debut EP, Due respiri.[16] After being featured on a TV spot, the song charted
at number 18 on the Italian Top Digital Downloads chart, and it was later certi
fied gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[17][18][19]
In 2015 Josh Groban recorded the song for his 2015 album, Stages.[20]
Jason Castro recorded the song for his album Jason Castro
In films[edit]
Two years after the release of The Wizard of Oz, the tune appeared throughout th
e film I Wake Up Screaming (1941), starring Betty Grable and Victor Mature.

Jimmy Stewart sang a "drunken" comedic version of it on camera in The Philadelph

ia Story (1940).
An instrumental piano bar version can be heard in the classic Paul Newman film a
daptation of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), as Newman's charact
er carries a drugged, inebriated and aging movie star up to her hotel room. It w
as a subtle allegory used by director Richard Brooks to help illustrate and lend
pathos to the lead characters.
It can also be heard in an ironic context in the Vincent Price horror film, Dr.
Phibes Rises Again (1972).
Director Nora Ephron used two different versions of the song in her movies Sleep
less in Seattle and You've Got Mail. The versions used are by Ray Charles and Ha
rry Nilsson but only the latter one is included on a soundtrack release of the f
ilm.
In 1940's movie: "Third Finger, Left Hand," with Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas and R
aymond Walburn. Tune played throughout the film in short sequences.
In the VeggieTales episode The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's, the song is spoofed in
the actual film as "Beyond the Barn." However, in the end credits, Mr. Lunt sing
s a cover of the actual song itself.
In the 1998 film, Little Voice, Jane Horrocks sings her own version of the song.
In the 2009 film 9, the original song is played.
In the 2014 film, Blended, Drew Barrymore sings the song to Adam Sandler's on-sc
reen kids.
In the 1988 film, Ariel, over the closing credits Olavi Virta sings a Finnish ve
rsion of the song, "Sateenkaaren tuolla puolen," Finnish lyrics by Usko Kemppi.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version[edit]
Main article: Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
"Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"
Single by Israel Kamakawiwo?ole
from the album Facing Future
Released
1993
Format CD single
Recorded
1993
Label Mountain Apple Company
Israel Kamakawiwo?ole's album Facing Future, released in 1993, included a ukulel
e medley of "Over the Rainbow" and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World". T
he song reached #12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January
31, 2004 (for the survey week ending January 18, 2004).[21] In the UK the song w
as released as a single under the title "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". It entered
the UK Official Singles Chart in April 2007 at #68. After several returns to th
e chart, in September 2008 it reached its peak position so far going up to #46.[
citation needed] In Germany, the single also returned to the German Singles Char
t in September 2010. After only 2 weeks on that chart, the song had already rece
ived gold status for having sold 150,000 copies.[22] In October 2010 the song re
ached No. 1 in the German charts and 2011 it has been certified 5x Gold for sell
ing more than 750,000 copies.[22] It stayed 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top
spot and was the most successful single in Germany in 2010.[23] As of March 2012
, it's the 2nd best-selling download ever in Germany with digital sales between
500,000 and 600,000.[24][25] In France, the song debuted at #4 in December 2010
and reached number one.[26] In the USA, the song was certified Platinum for 1,00
0,000 downloads sold.[27] To date the song has sold over 4.2 million digital cop
ies as of October 2014.[28] In Switzerland, the song received Platinum, too, for
30,000 copies sold.[29]
This version has been used in several commercials, films and television programs
including Finding Forrester, Meet Joe Black, 50 First Dates, Son of the Mask, S
nakes on a Plane, Charmed, South Pacific, Cold Case, ER, Life on Mars, Horizon,
and Scrubs. The Kamakawiwo?ole version of the song was covered by the cast of Gl

ee on the season one finale, "Journey," and included on the extended play Glee:
The Music, Journey to Regionals, charting at number 30 in the UK, 31 in Canada a
nd Ireland, 42 in Australia, and 43 in the US.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Cliff
Richard recorded his own version of the medley based on this version with a med
ley of "Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World" released as a single from the a
lbum Wanted, which charted in the UK in 2001 and Aselin Debison recorded the med
ley for her 2002 album Sweet is the Melody.
This version of the song was recorded in 1988, in Honolulu in just one take. Isr
ael called the recording studio at 3am. He was given 15 minutes to arrive by Mil
an Bertosa. Bertosa is quoted to say ?And in walks the largest human being I had
seen in my life. Israel was probably like 500 pounds. And the first thing at ha
nd is to find something for him to sit on." The building security found Israel a
big steel chair. "Then I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll
tape, and the first thing he does is 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' He played and
sang, one take, and it was over."
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (2011)
Position
French Singles Chart[37]
1
German Singles Chart[38]
37
Swiss Singles Chart[39] 16
Sales and certifications[edit]
Region Certification Sales/shipments
Belgium (BEA)[40]
Platinum
30,000*
Germany (BVMI)[41]
2 Platinum
600,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[42]
2 Platinum
60,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[43]
Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[44]
Platinum
4,200,000[28]
Total available sales:
5,090,000
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
Eva Cassidy version[edit]
"Over the Rainbow"
Single by Eva Cassidy
from the album 'The Other Side/Songbird'
Released
29 January 2001 (UK)
Format CD single
Recorded
1992
Label Blix Street
Eva Cassidy recorded a version of the song for the 1992 Chuck Brown/Eva Cassidy
album The Other Side. After Cassidy's death in 1996, the song was included in he
r posthumously-released compilation album Songbird, released in 1998 and was rel
eased as a CD single in 2001. This version was popularised by the BBC on BBC Rad
io 2 and on the television show Top of the Pops 2; the latter featured a video r
ecording of Cassidy performing the song. This publicity helped push sales of the
compilation album Songbird to #1 in the UK charts. Eva Cassidy's unique renditi
on of "Over the Rainbow" was selected by the BBC in the UK for their Songs of th
e Century album in the year 1999. Cassidy's performance of "Over the Rainbow" at
Blues Alley was published for the first time in January 2011 on her Simply Eva
album.
Track listings[edit]
CD single
"Over the Rainbow"
"Dark End of the Street"
Chart performance[edit]

Chart (2001)
Peak
Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[45]

42

Kylie Minogue version[edit]

During her treatment and recovery from breast cancer, Australian recording artis
t Kylie Minogue released a live cover version of the song. The song's audio was
taken directly from Minogue's live DVD Kylie Showgirl, filmed on 6 May 2005 at E
arls Court Exhibition Centre.[46][47] Released on 25 December 2005, it was her f
irst single to be released by digital means only.[46] The release was joined by
her cover of "Santa Baby" as a B-side.[48]
Danielle Hope version[edit]
"Over the Rainbow"
Single by Danielle Hope
Released
23 May 2010 (UK)
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded
2010
Genre Pop
Length 2:58
Label Polydor Records
Danielle Hope, the winner of the Wizard of Oz-themed BBC talent show Over the Ra
inbow, released a cover version of the song. The song was released by digital do
wnload on 23 May 2010 and a CD single was released on 31 May 2010.[49] As the so
ng was recorded before a winner wa