If you want to relax and have a happy heart, listen to this album. We love to listen to it night and day.

World is Wonderful. It is sad that IZ is no longer making great Hawaiian music.

I bought this CD for my husband for his birthday and we are both enjoying it immensley. It is very soothing and enjoyable.

Wonderful WorldThis CD is the best. IZ will be now and forever the best vocalist and musician in the world. I would recommend this CD to everyone.

If you like Iz's music, you'll love this. I listen to it over and over and over...

This Iz CD is wonderful as are all of his CD's. Each has excellent music that is so relaxing that it must be better than medication for high blood pressure.

If you know anything about Hawaii, its history, its leaders, then you know about Iz. With the addition of the orchestra, this is the best yet! I ordered copies for all my friends with connections to Hawaii.

Iz has a soothing, velvety-voice like no other. What a legacy to leave the planet. Great price & item. Highly recommend.

I can't believe that they did this to IZ's recordings. I've never felt so disappointed in my life. The vocals are over-processed and echo-y, and the orchestral arrangements are a complete mess. To release crap like this is completely disrespectful to to IZ's legacy. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS ALBUM. DO NOT EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM.

The amazing thing is that Iz survives the cheezy obviously-computer-generated orchestrations dubbed incongruously onto his music. It adds nothing, yet is unable to destroy the soul of the music. That is almost a reason to buy the CD, just to witness this, but then the producer would get money, which he should not get. Like the first time I heard the White Album as elevator muzak, this is a truely distressing CD. And yet, unlike John, Paul, George, and Ringo, Israel Kamakawiwo`ole survives the humiliating debasement of his music. With all of your might, do not buy this CD. Instead get Facing Future if you are new to his music. Facing Future
Kurt

I love Iz's music - if you do too - skip this CD. The orchestral arrangements are formulaic, weak and hokey. I was hoping there would be some innovative takes on the music - but it left a lot to be desired.
If you like Yanni, John Tesh, or Muzak - by all means get this one.

Otherwise - stick to the original cuts of these songs.

I have almost all of IZs albums and that's the reason I bough this one. It was then, that I realized that it was "arranged" with a big orchestra. I guess it is OK to listen to because his voice and the orchestrations are nice on their own, but I'm not crazy about it because I cannot think they necessarily go toghether well. It is probably just me, but I like his voice and his ukalele sound much better. It is still GOOD, don't get me wrong...but it's just my preference. But I loved the presentation...the cover is beautiful!

The music on this CD is absolutely wonderful. In my opinion, Iz is one of the all time greats, especially for Hawaiian music. I have all of his CD's, and play them over and over. I recommend his albums to everyone. I think once you listen, you will be hooked. Happy Listening.

I LOVE IZ'S MUSIC! HE SING FROM HIS HEART TO YOUR SOUL. I HAVE MOST OF THE SONGS THAT ARE ON THIS CD HERE ALREADY BUT THIS CD HERE HAS HIM SINGING WITH AN ORCHESTRA. AHH THE MAGIC MIXERS OF OUR TIME. THE ORCHESTRA / IZ WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT! BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL... A GIFT FROM GOD

Why ANYONE would feel the need to "remake" or add to the music of IZ is way beyond me (other than the obvious - $$$$). Skip this one and pick up any one of his previous albums - Trust me, they're all you'll ever need!

I think that this is a good cd with the music of IZ, it has somewhat of a softer feeling to it.

As a long time Iz fan, I found these "updated" songs tastefully done. I
give Mr. de Mello credit, he showed a lot of restraint with his
enhancements. Iz's voice and ukulele are never over powered by the
orchestral sounds.

The songs on this ablum are definitely not my favorite versions, but
they are enjoyable. And it's always good to hear Iz's voice...

I just finished listening to the complete CD and did not notice it had ended. Over produced is one term that comes to mind. Orchestrated in bizarre parts throughout. The reviewer who called it "The Little Mermaid" type of music was correct. It just doesn't sound right. The simplicity of Iz and a ukulele on a white sandy beach was tied to the Disneyland Monorail and Goofy was the pilot. A disaster on the scale of Ishtar. Sometimes, shoes are not required.

Iz is beautiful, but nothing new here. Don't waste your money. The two stars are for Iz, otherwise zero stars.

I love virtually everything Iz has done, and this is no exception. The innovative mixing of previously recorded vocals with new orchestration works. It is not necessarily better than the existing Iz recordings; it is different, and therefore well worth adding to your collection.

I understand the marketing side of wanting to expand IZ's presence (and get more dollars), but shame on de Mello for insulting Hawaiians and all that IZ stands for. The orchestra add-on was way overdone in my opinion... if you're into "The Little Mermaid" sound, then this is probably for you, but if you're looking for more of IZ's sweet voice and beautiful, clean sounds of ukulele, don't bother buying this CD. You'll be disappointed.

I was anxious to purchase this CD, after reading about the technology, etc., used to produce this CD. I like the overall quality of the product, but did not appreciate the fact that the "Ahi wela" verse was left out of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!", the verse that all of us keiki Hawaiians heard from our mothers, and memorized as soon as we could sing. Also, leaving "Somewhere over the rainbow" out of "Wonderful World" in my opinion was a huge mistake. But I have the original versions of these songs, so I feel ok about the final product, notwithstanding the comments mentioned above.

What did I do to deserve this in my recommendations? Was it that foolish purchase in a drunken stupor of those Don Ho albums so long ago? The Zamfir tapes? The Peruvian flute music?

By pairing Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's timeless vocals with orchestral arrangements, producer Jon de Mello clearly seeks to continue the expansion of Hawaiian music's reach in the music industry and with music lovers throughout the world. He has succeeded mightily in allowing more listeners for whom Hawaiian music is an anachronism to appreciate the universal quality of Hawaiian music in general and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole in particular. Israel's voice has never sounded better and as he says, "you'll never meet another Hawaiian like IZ".

This is a nice version of Israel's music heard in a whole different light. My wife and I fell in love with the music of Iz when we married in Hawaii a couple of years ago and I just purchased this for her birthday. I was concerned with the adverse reviews before we'd even heard it, but they did a great job of not overly orchestrating it... it's a different but refreshing remake of some Iz classics and some I've never heard.

It's a very 'up' record with much of Iz's music re-released. They've dressed the songs up a bit with more orchestration, which takes away from the simple beauty of his previous work, but still lovely.

I love his version of "Wonderful World." Louie's is still my favorite, but it's good to hear the song literally go around the world in covers.

...I couldn't wait to hear this, and I was amazed. Iz would be really happy that his request for his producer Jon de Mello to put shoes on his feet were granted, and beautifully so.
In theory, this orchestral treatment may "scare Iz purists", but in reality, it's a creative and evolved choice that is ethereal and gorgeous to listen to. I cried every time I heard it, and I listened to it 5 times in a row.

I'm a BIG Israel fan and was amazed at the quality of this new release. The orchestra is beautiful and I feel like Israel really carry's the musicians and shines as the lead vocal -- as he should be. I was very impressed. This is a must have in my opinion.

I was distracted in the store and failed to read the part about the orchestra on the back cover so this is mostly my own fault, but I am disappointed with this.
The orchestra takes away from the beautiful simplicity of the music. There are quite a few times when a bass will be plucked while IZ is singing and it takes me right out of the moment. Also, the promotional video (as another reviewer stated) led me to believe that another version of White Sandy Beach was on this cd.
It's not terrible, but not up to the original versions I've heard elsewhere.

This is pure Muzak and is Brother Iz's classic songs re-released terribly as bad elevator music.

..of IZ's music. The orchestration sounded more like [father] Jack de Mello than [son] Jon de Mello. Much more formal than any other arrangement I've heard of his music.

The liner notes state: "..There came a time when Israel wanted more...He looded at me and said: 'Put shoes on me.' ..." I'm not sure Iz meant wingtips!

All that said, I liked it.

If you are a fan of IZ, as I am, I don't recommend this CD. The syrupy orchestral arrangements here take his simple, beautiful music and turn it into something that is not IZ. I am just speaking for myself but I could not get through this CD. It made me feel sad which is something his music never does.

PS: This wonderful promo video has nothing to do with the music on this CD.