She performed it for thirty years and sang it as she had for the film. Īfter The Wizard of Oz appeared in 1939, "Over the Rainbow" became Garland's signature song. The soundtrack version has been re-released several times over the years, including a deluxe edition by Rhino in 1995. The film version of "Over the Rainbow" was unavailable to the public until the soundtrack was released by MGM in 1956 to coincide with the television premiere of The Wizard of Oz. Although this isn't the version that appeared in the film, Decca continued to release the "cast album" into the 1960s after it was reissued on disc, a 33 1⁄ 3-rpm album. In March 1940, that same recording was included on a Decca 78 four-record studio cast album entitled The Wizard of Oz. In September 1939, a studio recording of the song, not from the film soundtrack, was recorded and released as a single for Decca. On October 7, 1938, Judy Garland recorded the song on the MGM soundstage with an arrangement by Murray Cutter. Problems playing this file? See media help. The music was played on a particularly renowned Stradivarius violin. Italian newspaper Il Messaggero has noted a resemblance, both harmonic and melodic, between Over the Rainbow and the theme of the intermezzo (known as Ratcliff's Dream) of Pietro Mascagni's 1895 opera Guglielmo Ratcliff. Arlen later wrote the contrasting bridge section based on the idea of "a child's piano exercise". The song was originally sung in A-flat major. And we stopped and I really don't know why-bless the muses-and I took out my little bit of manuscript and put down what you know now as 'Over the Rainbow.'" And as we drove by Schwab's Drug Store on Sunset I said, 'Pull over, please.'. I wasn't consciously thinking of work, I just wanted to relax. You drive the car, I don't feel too well right now.' I wasn't thinking of work. Arlen described how the inspiration for the melody to "Over the Rainbow" came to him suddenly while his wife Anya drove: He often carried blank pieces of music manuscript in his pockets to jot down short melodic ideas. īy the time all the other songs for the film had been written, Arlen was feeling the pressure of not having the song for the Kansas scene. Arlen decided the idea needed "a melody with a long broad line". She had never seen anything colorful in her life except the rainbow". For their work together on The Wizard of Oz, Harburg claimed his inspiration was "a ballad for a little girl who. Behind the moon, beyond the rain", at which point she begins singing.Ĭomposer Harold Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg often worked in tandem, Harburg generally suggesting an idea or title for Arlen to set to music, before Harburg contributed the lyrics. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. This prompts her to walk off by herself, musing to Toto, "Someplace where there isn't any trouble. Aunt Em tells her to "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble". It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland's signature song.Ībout five minutes into the film, Dorothy sings the song after failing to get Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and the farmhands to listen to her story of an unpleasant incident involving her dog, Toto, and the town spinster, Miss Gulch ( Margaret Hamilton). It was written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, in which it was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. " Over the Rainbow" is a ballad by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" in The Wizard of Oz
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |