Chicken skin in the Nation’s Capital
June 19th, 2008 by Jerry BurrisIt’s not clear whether the folks in Washington D.C. known what a “chickenskin” moment is, but they surely experienced one this week during the funeral for respected television journalist Tim Russert.
Hawaii Congresswoman Mazie Hirono reports that the emotional service concluded with a playing of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ukulele version of “Over the Rainbow.”
As the song played, she said, an unusual double rainbow appeared over Washington to the astonishment of just about everyone. Hirono said the double rainbow, familiar to folks in Hawaii, is just never seen in the Nation’s Capital.
After the service, Hirono said, people came up to her to talk about Israel’s song, ask where they could get it or who the artist was and to share their wonder over the double rainbow. Hirono has that song and others on her iPod for long plane rides back and forth to Hawaii, so she was more than familiar with it.
You can see an msnbc report on the funeral and the rainbow HERE.
To learn more about Israel and his music, go to The Advertiser’s special report on the artist HERE
Tags: Hirono, kamakawiwoole, russert, washington
June 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.
Tim Ramsey
June 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole was a fervent believer in Hawai’i regaining its independence as a sovereign country.
People need to know that too, since it is characteristic of relations between colonizer and colonized for the former to value the latter’s colorful folklore, while ignoring their political aspirations and in general not taking indigenous nations seriously as autonomous political actors in their own right.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:52 am
colonizer, colonized, colon cancer, indigenous nations(??), indigestion…Leilani…the actor
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
This rising metaphor is irresistible so…let’s go there.
“Over the Rainbow” was an American pop song written by American composer E.Y. Harburg and American lyricist Harold Harlen for the American musical-fantasy film, The Wizard of Oz, set in 19th Century America. The song has, since 1939, been recognized as American songstress Judy Garland’s signature song.
Israel’s version was played as a tribute to a great American journalist who stood for freedom and the spirit of debate. Is there a problem….officer?
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