Ray Charles Somewhere Over the Rainbow

“Over the Rainbow“ (often referred to as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow“) is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie. Over time it would become Garland’s signature song. In the film, part of the song is played by the MGM orchestra over the opening credits. About 5 minutes later, Garland, in the role of Dorothy Gale, sings “Over the Rainbow“ after unsuccessfully trying to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her regarding an unpleasant incident involving Dorothy’s dog Toto and the nasty spinster Miss Gulch (Margaret Hamilton). Dorothy’s Aunt Em tells her to “find a place where you won’t get yourself into any trouble“, prompting Dorothy to walk off by herself and sing the song. The famous sequence itself, as well as the entirety of the Kansas scenes, was directed (though uncredited) by King Vidor.