The Song That Was Almost Cut From The Wizard of Oz: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland



Poster for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz  Image Credit

 It’s true. The song that defines The Wizard of Oz was almost cut from the movie. Some execs thought that the song slowed down the movie, and that it wasn’t exactly seemly for one of their stars to be singing in a farmyard, according to thewizardofoz.info.

Fortunately, they kept the song in—farmyard and all—and it became a signature song for the movie, as well as for Judy Garland.

You can download Garland’s version on Freegal. About a jillion people have recorded the song, so you’ll want to use the “Advanced Search” feature to pinpoint her performance.

As for the jillions of others: one of the most famous versions is by Katharine McPhee, American Idol finalist and current star on the TV show Smash.

Another group lighting up the Freegal charts, The Piano Guys has a medley of “Rainbow” and the tune “Simple Gifts.”

Also in the mix are Susan Boyle, Tony Bennett, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, John Williams, Doris Day, Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick, Jr., Placido Domingo, and Barbra Streisand.  Mary La Plant does a version with violin & guitar, Cidade Negra serves up a Reggae version, and Sound of the Rockies does it barbershop quartet style.

 

“Fly Me to the Moon”—a Song for Neil Armstrong.



Neil Armstrong on the moo  Photo: NASA

 Freegal has hundreds of versions “Fly Me to the Moon,” a song that seems appropriate for the man who became fascinated with flying when he first went up in a plane. It was 1936—and he was 6 years old.

You can find versions by Rod Stewart, Kenny G., Tony Bennett, The Boston Pops, Perry Como,  Judy Garland, and Johnny Mathis.

If you like your “Moon” a little different, check out versions by The Alliance (acapella), The Toadmortons (rock), Bulgarian National Radio (big band), Laurie Berkner (childrens),  Ernie Penfold (Hawaiian guitar), or Milana Misic (Finnish pop).