Customer Reviews

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Facing Future (33 1/3 series)

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Finished the book a couple of weeks ago and then sat next to a woman born and raised in Hawaii and we talked for two hours about IZ and the islands. Great job Dan. I really enjoyed it and wished it didn't end. A great book for those people who enjoy the music but haven't spent much time there and an outstanding book for those of us with such a strong respect and love for the people, culture and history. Not only does it capture IZ's life and rise to a guardian of Hawaiian culture, it shows how he (like Eddie Aikua) unconsciously became a hero to its people. Really enjoyed reliving a lot of the memories as you explored the different corners of Oahu and brought to life the history and depth of Hawaiian music.

Every once and a while you hear a song in the credits of a movie, and though you have no idea what the song is, or who it's by, that song perfectly matches the emotions from the movie's ending. Such is the case of Iz Kamakawiwo'ole's beautiful ukelele version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" that played during the credits of Finding Forrester.

I've seen that movie countless times. It's always a tear jerker for me. But the tears come - not when Sean Connery's character dies - but when Iz's music starts playing. The melody and vocals are so forlorn, yet so hopeful...almost unearthly. It's a masterful pairing. But like most songs that roll with the credits, it's a song you never hear anything more about.

However, this song was different. I eventually tracked it down, and after listening to it countless times, decided to find out more about the singer. Turns out it was a thousand pound hawaiian named Iz who was apparently worshipped by his fellow islanders, suffering from a drug problem, and being put through the ringer by bad management. It also turns out...he was dead. It was enough to whet my appetite.

I quickly discovered Dan Kois's 'Facing Future' on Amazon and made my purchase on a whim. I am so glad I did. The author writes in a way that lets you not only learn about Iz's amazing life, but become a part of it. It's hard to tell whether it's the author's writing style, or the richness of Iz's life, but the book is far more engrossing than most standard non-fiction. You will be deeply moved by this gentle giant's honest story, and devastated by how it was cut short.

I highly recommend 'Facing Future' to readers of all genres. You will not be disappointed.

I so enjoyed this book. I knew little about Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, or Hawaii for that matter, before I started reading, and I've learned so much since. The author does more than merely tell a story about how Iz accomplished all that he did, but also considers why Iz played, who profited from his success, and who was left behind, giving various perspectives on a subject obviously controversial and sensitive to Hawaiians.

It's a fascinating read, even for those who aren't already fans of Iz or his work.

A very satisfying read. This works not just as an account of the album but also as a short bio of Israel. The good and bad of Israel himself mirror the good and bad of the album's success. It's a complicated story and I'm happy to have read it. This book even brought me to tears at one point.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole by a co-worker at Borders before "Over the Rainbow" became a hit. I know little of the Hawaiian native struggles and I'm grateful for the overview. I will continue to use this album as a gateway drug to world music. Now I can pass this book along to my fellow Iz fans.

By definition, I'm a haole. But I don't think I'm a typical haole because I love every song on Facing Future - even the ones that I don't understand.

If that doesn't make sense to you, read this short book. It provides a concise history of Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole's life and musical career.

The book provides background on how the album was compiled, the histories behind the different songs and the different styles of songs on the album.

Before reading the book, I had been listening to the album for a few years. Listening to it now, I have a higher level of understanding of the songs because of the background provided in the book.

What a great little book! My wife discovered Over the Rainbow/Wondeful World watching 50 First Dates and was able to find Facing Future at a Barnes and Noble and we simply fell in love with his voice and his music. What a wonderful and tragic figure. To be such a large man and have such a powerful yet gentle voice, playing that tiny ukelele' is amazing. I learned so much about his life and the number of challenges he had in his life in this book. For anyone who likes any of his music or is interested in Hawaiian culture, this opens up your eyes and touches your heart. I LOVE IZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You've been to Hawaii, right? Actually, have you ever been to any place that tries to put forth a "tropical" summery vibe, up to and including the place that rents innertubes at Harper's Ferry? Then you know the sound of Iz.

That would be Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. (Everyone called him Iz.) He's the one who recorded that ukelele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which appeared on his album "Facing Future," which was released in 1993. (The "Over the Rainbow" cover was made one drunken night in 1988.) Millions of record sales later, that song has been used in a lot of commercials -- especially commercials aiming to make yuppies feel more ethereal about their purchases and vacation plans -- and basically anyplace you've ever ordered a daiquiri. As much as it makes me think of the Sheraton in Kona, it also makes me think of the Internet bubble economy circa 2000.

That's where Dan Kois comes in. He's written "Facing Future" for the 33-1/3 book series. (The series of books pairs a writer up with a legendary album and has the writer do a pocket-sized book-length essay about it.)

I had the pleasure of reading Facing Future in manuscript form last summer. Of all the authors who've ever asked me to read their book for them, this was the one I put the least amount of red pen marks on. It's an engaging and tragic story, quite well told, about a darker and more wistful side of life and death in Hawaii.

(Review repurposed from my blog, hankstuever + dot + com ... come by sometime.)

This is the first 33 1/3 book in three years. I don't know what took them so long, but it's good to see this unique and worthy publisher back on track.

In keeping with the 33 1/3 ethos, Facing Future by Dan Kois is roughly 90% music journalism and 10% personal interpretation. It starts with an encapsulated biography of Israrel Kamakawiwo'ole: his family history, musical education, the bands he played with, influences, and personal life, including his battles with obesity and drugs. The narrative of the album's creation is surprisingly entertaining. Israel led a big, colorful life and became an icon of not only Hawaiian music, but Hawaiian identity and culture. The book also contains translations for the album's Hawaiian lyrics and a song-by-song explication.

There's even a bit of controversy. Kois is particularly critical of record producer Jon de Mello, who was largely responsible for the heavy synth sound on certain songs on the album and the extensive licensing of Israel's music, which Kois argues has become over-commercialized. In light of de Mello's stance-- that he licenses Israel's heavily in accordance with the big man's last wishes to support his wife and child-- Kois' criticism is perhaps unduly harsh, and de Mello and Kois have exchanged barbs in interviews and articles since the book's publication.

That said, Facing Future is an entertaining journalistic account of the creation of a one-of-a-kind classic and a thorough guide to understanding and enjoying the album today. Hopefully it won't be another 3 years until the next 33 1/3 volume.

Really enjoyed this book, it gave some great insights into Brudda IZ and the making of one of the greatest albums of all time.

This book is not only an interesting look into the making of a specific record, it's also a fascinating cheat sheet for Hawaiian culture, which is both genially familiar and surprisingly foreign. IZ was a cultural hero and a big personality, and this book is a fascinating peek into his tragically short life.