‘Wizard of Oz’ ballad generates a rainbow of interpretations over years

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939), one of the most loved movies of all time, owes much of its emotional impact to one song: “Over the Rainbow,” written by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg and Harold Arlen — and immortalized by Judy Garland.

Truly a song of “comfort and hope,” it has been covered over the years by an array of artists in various genres, from the Flaming Lips to Art Tatum to Rufus Wainwright. 

The tune won the Oscar for best song and best score (by Herbert Stothart). Hear them for yourself when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs a live-to-picture production of “The Wizard of Oz,” under Richard Kaufman, in three concerts Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

Following is a sampling of “Over the Rainbow” renditions through the decades.

Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott, ‘Songs of Comfort and Hope’ (2020)

The famed cellist joined with his longtime musical partner, pianist Kathryn Stott, to record the “Oz” anthem for their disc “Songs of Comfort and Hope” (Sony, 2020), intended as musical solace in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Playing ‘Over the Rainbow’ is just the most beautiful experience, and Tom Poster’s arrangement brings me to tears nearly every time,” Stott says on the disc’s liner notes. For Ma, the song “is about something that is essential in all of us that we never want to lose, the yearning for something that may be impossible to reach, but is nevertheless imperative to strive for.”

Tony Bennett, ‘Sings a String of Harold Arlen’ (1960)

The man who man Frank Sinatra once called the greatest vocalist of all time, begins with the song’s little-heard introduction on the disc “Sings a String of Harold Arlen” (Columbia, 1960). When all the world is a hopeless jumble and the raindrops tumble all around. Heaven opens a magic lane. There’s a rainbow highway to be found. Leading from your windowpane to a place behind the sun. Just a step beyond the rain ...

Ariana Grande, ‘One Love Manchester’ (2017)

It’s fitting that American pop star Ariana Grande, who co-stars in the upcoming film version of the musical “Wicked,” based on a prequel to the L. Frank Baum novel, chose to sing “Over the Rainbow” to close “One Love Manchester,” a 2017 benefit concert for terrorism victims in the British city of Manchester. And from film’s set, she recorded an a cappella version on TikTok, with the message: "Wanted to sing you a little something, but don’t want to sing anything that is not "Ozian“ at the moment. ... Keeping to my little bubble for now. ...Done with lots of love.”

Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Killer Country’ (1980)

Acclaimed as a rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis (aka “The Killer”) excelled in many genres, including rock/pop, country, honky-tonk, blues, boogie-woogie, roots music and standards/ballads. This track from the disc “Killer Country” (Mercury, 1980) stands as evidence. Here the Killer takes an iconic movie song and reinvents it with a patina of country.

As contributor Michael Keating observes on this YouTube post: "Brilliant. One of the few covers of this work that really takes the song into places it hasn’t been before. Beautiful, charming and funny." And fellow YouTube commentator Reg Mason adds, "What many people fail to acknowledge is that Jerry had a great voice and knew how to integrate his vocals and playing in a style that has yet to be duplicated. In his ’golden period,’ say 1967-85, he was almost unequaled in this blending of vocal and instrument."

Baird Dodge in the courtyard (2020)

As part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s digital content rollout during the COVID pandemic, Baird Dodge, the orchestra’s principal second violin, performs “Over the Rainbow” in the courtyard of his residence on May 26, 2020. Meanwhile, tenants gather on fire escapes to enjoy the music.

Rufus Wainwright, ‘Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall’ (2007)

Not surprisingly, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright has embraced this ballad, the signature tune of one of his icons, Judy Garland, as well as an anthem of the gay-rights movement. The openly gay Wainwright famous re-created Garland’s historic 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall on his two-disc “Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall” (Geffen, 2007), and then returned to the well again for “Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios” (2022). The version here is a promotional video for that release. On the 20007 set, he turns “Rainbow” into a tender duet with his mother, Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle, who would die from cancer just three years later.

Eva Cassidy, ‘Songbird’ 

In any context “Over the Rainbow” feels deeply personal, which is partly why Eva Cassidy’s stripped-to-the-bone acoustic version works so well. She sings the song as if she’s been waiting a long time for salvation, notes the BBC, but still believes there’s a faint possibility and that’s what she is clinging to.

Although it was first recorded in 1992, Cassidy’s version didn’t reach public prominence until 2000, when British DJ Terry Wogan began playing it on his Radio 2 show. Cassidy had died in 1996 from cancer, which added greater emotional impact to what was already an enormously poignant version of this most wistful of songs. Her posthumous collection “Songbird” (199) began to sell in huge quantities across the United Kingdom and Europe, not least because people who had experienced similar losses could identify so strongly with her story, her quiet dignity and that aching voice.

And as one YouTube contributor sums up: “If you are listening to this, then you have found the gold at the end of the rainbow.”

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (2011 remix)

Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo’ole first recorded a version on his ukulele in 1988 and featured it on his 1993 disc “Facing Future.” The BBC called his cover “a truly magical recording, both intimate and informal, which only adds to the appeal.” His rendition became a worldwide hit 10 years later, eventually selling more than 5 million copies, thanks partly to its use on TV shows. The best-selling album ever by a Hawaiian artist, "Facing Future" combines traditional Hawaiian-language songs, hapa-haole songs with traditional instrumentation and two Jawaiian (island reggae) tracks.

Israel was also an activist for Hawaiian sovereignty, and his version blends well with songs of love for his homeland and longing for the improved status of his people. His version is about fortitude and dignity under a heavy burden, and his beatific voice has since provided the soundtrack to landmark moments in people’s lives, from births to weddings to funerals.