She took up piano at the age of five, attending Manhattan's Third Street Music School for two years, going on to the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island's Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute. There she met vocal coach Elizabeth McCullough, who worked with her through high school. She is a graduate of Staten Island Technical High School and Binghamton University, where she received a degree in theatre.
Her influences range from Fiona Apple to Coldplay. She regularly appears at Manhattan venues such as The Knitting Factory, CBGB's Gallery, Bar 169, The Sidewalk Cafe, Kenny's Castaways, and Pianos.
She began recording music in 2002, releasing Slow the Rain independently in January of 2005. In 2006, Ingrid released her second album Girls and Boys. Her music has recently enjoyed a bit more commercial success with songs like "Breakable" and "Keep Breathing" being featured on ABC show Grey's Anatomy, as well as a 2007 Old Navy commercial being set to her song "The Way I Am".
http://www.ingridmichaelson.com/
Over The Rainbow
Ingrid Michaelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way up high,
There's a land that I've heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
The bluebirds fly so high
Birds fly over the rainbow
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
The Bluebirds fly so high
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then oh why can't I
Why then oh why can't I
Ingrid Michaelson's rendition of the iconic Wizard of Oz classic, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," describes a world that is just out of reach. The lyrics highlight the beauty and wonder of a mysterious land that is said to exist beyond the surface of our reality. The singer wishes to experience this land, which is only accessible in dreams and in the imagination. She presents her desire to travel to this beautiful place through the metaphorical use of 'somewhere over the rainbow'.
The metaphorical language in these lyrics portrays a longing and a yearning for a world that transcends what is seen and experienced in daily life. The use of the bluebirds symbolizes the natural beauty of this land, and their ability to fly over the rainbow represents the notion that dreams are attainable. The singer further highlights her desire to reach this beautiful land by wishing upon a star. She hopes to wake up in a place where the clouds are far behind her, a place where worries and problems are easily forgotten. This song is a portrayal of hope, promising escape into a place of beauty and peace just beyond the horizon.
In summary, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is a metaphorical representation of a beautiful and peaceful world that exists beyond the confines of our everyday lives. The song is about the human desire to escape into this world and to leave behind the troubles and worries of our daily lives. Through this song, Ingrid Michaelson gives us a glimpse of the human need to transcend the chaos of the mundane and reach a place where we feel secure and happy.
Some interesting facts about the song are:
- The original version of the song was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the movie, The Wizard of Oz.
- The song was performed in the movie by Judy Garland, who was only 16 years old at the time.
- The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, who popularized the ukelele version of the song, which is often played at weddings and funerals.
- Ingrid Michaelson's version of the song was included on her 2018 album "Songs For the Season."
- The song has been performed by artists from various genres, including rock, pop, jazz, and country.
- It was featured in the movie, Finding Forrester, and on the television shows ER, Scrubs, and Glee.
- The song has won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Garland's version in 1960.
- In 2014, the song was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
- A Hawaiian version of the song has been used in the opening credits of the television show Magnum, P.I.
- The famous opening lines "Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high" were originally intended as a reference to skywriting.
Chords:
C Em F C/E
F C G Am
F Em Dm C
F G C
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow
Fantasizing about a place far, far away
Way up high
Somewhere difficult or impossible to reach
There's a land that I've heard of
A mystical, magical place rumored to exist
Once in a lullaby
A fleeting memory of a dream-like state
The bluebirds fly so high
In this fantastical place, even the birds soar to great heights
Birds fly over the rainbow
Wildlife thrives in this imaginary land
Why then oh why can't I
Yearning to escape reality and enter this mystical world
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Hoping that one day, somehow, an unknown force will make this dream a reality
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Desiring to be free from the burdens and worries of life
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
This place would offer a release from difficult emotions
Away above the chimney tops
Far up in the sky, out of reach of the mundane world
That's where you'll find me
This idealized space represents the ultimate hope and desire of the singer
Why then oh why can't I
Continuing to search for a way to escape into this enchanted world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amy Sparks
I Love this version :-) These lyrics are perfect nice to hear an artist sing them beautifully,
amelia kuiper
I saw her in concert and she is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! She would be the best friend in the world to have! 😍
Gary Allman
So many great and different versions of this song. I love Ingrid's for the vulnerability in her voice.
Rosa V
This was played at my sisters funeral too, she was only five though. She loved it as well and it always made her smile.
Kellie Hughes
oh gosh, i have just discovered this beautiful singer, and i love all her songs, she does an amazing cover!
xochitl
Her voice makes it so soothing!
Sing 4 Babies
I just might sell my soul for her voice...just saying...it's amazing.
NeshOner
i like all versions but this is definitly my fav. i love it♥
Robin Vanderwalde
beautiful rendition! love it!
sophia
Ahh, you can just feel the emotion in Ingrid's voice. No, it's not the same as the original; that's the point of a cover: to make it your own. And she's done just that. :)