Customer Reviews

E Ala E

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first learned about Iz from a fellow softball player in Sacramento, CA, who is Hawaiian. After games, many players like to hang around to eat and socialize as the sun sets. Several Hawaiians play guitars and ukuleles, and sing and dance to their favorite Hawaiian songs. I found it very relaxing to listen to this music and became very fond of it. I then started looking for a good Hawaiian music CD, but couldn't find what I wanted until I asked one of our softball players/singers, and he recommended "Iz". I had not even heard of him! I visited Tower Records and took a chance by purchasing "E Ala E". After I got home, I couldn't stop listening to it! Each and every song was great and I could tell immediately that Iz's songs were beautiful and genuine. The songs can easily bring a person to tears! I have enjoyed my three visits to Hawaii, but Iz has brought me a giant step closer to experiencing Hawaiian culture. I have since wanted to share my discovery by loaning the CD to friends. I have a feeling (actually knowledge) that I will be buying more CDs by Iz.

This was the first IZ CD I purchased, and I eventually purchased all of his music, including some of his earlier works with the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. However, I think his solo work really represents and evolution of Hawaiian music. His music maintained the integrity and feel of the traditional Hawaiian genre, while adding a more contemporary sound to it all. All of his CD's contain of mix of traditional, reggae, and even some R&B...essentially something for everyone to enjoy. I would recommend this, and all of his other albums to anyone.

E ALA E may have many meanings but to Iz the meaning was to rise up and acknowledge your heritage if you are Hawaiian. I lived on Oahu for 4 years and got to see Iz in concert, to listen to his musings on life, on being Hawaiian, on being human. His was a soul we shall not see again, perhaps, in this lifetime of ours. This CD opens with the title song and immediately captivates the listener with the power of Iz's simplicity and aura. It is impossible to not FEEL what Israel is conveying to his people, nay, to all of us....To rise up and be counted for who each of us is, who each of us can be if we simply beleive in ourselves as souls. This is my second favorite CD of Iz's after Facing Future. It will steal your heart if you let it, so put it on, sit back, feel Hawaii, feel Hawaiian, and feel the power of this gentle giant. Then, once you have known the beauty of what Israel created, buy everything he recorded and learn to miss him as I do. Aloha niu loa, Koka

I am a hawaiian and hawaii born and bred islander, I am blessed by the fact that my parents brought me up with hawaiian music but most of all the late great Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole. The day that shocked hawaii I was out and about with my family when my father stoppped at a gas station as he came out of the gas station a newpaper in his hand and a heartbroken look on his face..." what's the matter daddy" he handed me the paper and i started to cry there it was "Braddah Iz passed away at the age of 38 in his sleep last night" I couldn't beileve it such a beautiful voice silenced he will never make another record.But just to have had Braddah Iz on this earth for just this short time to hear the music with and without the makaha sons of Niihau is truly magical..so his music lives on. I've read all these amazing reviews of Braddah IZ...I am happy and touched that so many people have been touched by his music. Unforunately i didn't know braddah iz but in a way all us hawaii born islanders always seem to truly know braddah Iz, his music touched us all. to understand how huge Braddah Iz was he is still mourned and celebrated in hawaii and his music is still played constantly on the radio.The day of his birth and passing is celebrated like a national holiday. When you listen to any of the LATE and GREAT Israel Kamakwiwo'Ole's cds..you will hear one the most beauitful voices god ever put on this earth. But when you look at this man ,this giant man with this amazing angel like voice you will be blown away. god gave this late singer the voice of angel. a voice that must have been blessed and touched by god himself and it was...the songs , music and lyrics will leave you speechless and breathless ..his voice and the way he delivers the songs with that teardrop in his vocal chord...will send chills up and down your spine..any of this mans cds is excellent and it is a must of anyone who wants to get a cd that reflects the spirit of islands this man , this legend was the spirit of hawaii, BRADDAH IS WAS AND STILL IS HAWAII. even thou IZ passed away some time ago his voice his music his legend still lives is the islands thru his voice and music.his voice alone will leave you with a tear in your eyes... buy any one of his cds..trust me it's worth it...also braddah iz was with a hawaiian group called Makaha sons of Niihau pick up those cs as well, and let the memory of Braddah IZ and his music live on for the future generations to hear and love

Another group of songs by Bruddah Iz that makes you smile and stirs your soul. My favorite cut, Kamalani, still brings me to tears every time I listen to it. The entire CD is full of typical Israel music that speaks of human love and longing, as well as historical and present-day Hawaiian cultural issues. Never heavy-handed, but very informative. There's a VHS movie about Israel called Island Music Island Hearts, The Man and His Music. If you love his music you have to find this video. END

I was visiting O'ahu in 1999 for my first visit back after moving away as a child. While searching the CD rack at the Bishop Museum for music that would help me 'feel' Hawaii, I suddenly realized that the music playing over the speakers was exactly what I was looking for. The young man at the counter showed me a CD by IZ (Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole), then suggested 'E Ala E', since it was his own favorite. I bought it, and when I got back to Utah I couldn't stop listening to it. I now have over 100 Hawaiian CD's - mostly purchased over the internet. I rate the quality of the music by how strongly I feel Hawaii when I listen to it, and "IZ" is one of the best. He may have passed on - but he will always live on in the hearts of his many fans (past, present and future!) through his music.

This CD contains some of IZ's prettiest renditions. His cover of Wind beneath my wings, coupled with a chant and hawaiian language song of similar viewpoint is aweome. As they say in the Islands, it is a chicken-skin song. The hawaiian language song Kaleohano really showcases his voice. The title song is another song of independance, where through editing his elder brother Skippy's voice is added to the song. As always, Iz can communicate his Aloha like no other. It is a sine qa non of any Hawaiian music collection.

A classical music buff, & up until August had never heard of IZ. In an airport in Botswana, awaiting a plane to Johannesburg (delayed for several hours), I observed a distinguished-looking man, sitting completely relaxed, with a smile on his face, listing to his iPod. Finally, out of boredom I commented about how un-stressed he seemed to be; he promptly passed over his earphones. WOW! It was Iz singing "Over the Rainbow" (a song I am completely and thoroughly sick of!) Of course, his version was familiar and for the first time in years, I loved the song. Unfortunately, I then forgot the artist's name. Thank goodness it came back to me.

Bought this CD at probably the last Tower Music Store in the nation, along with 15 others (all classical) and can't stop playing it. Right now I'm in the process of buying this album for a friend, along with all the rest of his collection.

So long, Beethoven! (Not really, but this is a whole new wonderful addition to my listening life.) I think IZ belongs in every top-notch music portfolio.

This CD was the first I purchased of IZ. I was never really a fan of traditional Hawaiian music until I heard this album. To me, IZ seemed to represent an evolution of the traditional genre by developing a style that maintained the feel and integrity of the music, but merging it with a contemporary sound. I would recommend this CD, and any of his other albums. All of them have an equal balance of traditional Hawaiian, Reggae, and even some R&B.

This albumn shows how the Hawaiian people have taken many different cultural currents, blended them with their beautiful wolrd view, and created langorous music that reaches deep into your soul.

Even the Gilligan's Island spoof, carries a message about the "progress" that has been forced onto the beautiful islands of Hawaii.