Track of the Day: JD Kelleher – Over The Rainbow (2023)
For just over two decades, singer-songwriter and actor JD Kelleher has been sharing their natural musical talent with the masses. Already making a mark in most of Ireland’s theatres, the Irish non-binary gay artist moved to London in 1992 where they began making more noise in the West End acting world. Along with theatre, JD Kelleher has done television shows including the hit Irish comedy Finding Joy; but we are interested in their musical endeavours. According to Spotify, Kelleher has been pursuing a solo musical project since 2015 to critical acclaim. From their debut cover single of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ to 2021’s single ‘Too Much!’, Kelleher captures the core of human essence in their songs.
Along with various cover songs, such as Carlos Santana’s ‘Put Your Lights On’, JD Kelleher releases their version of Judy Garland’s ‘Over The Rainbow’. Following their song ‘Too Much!’, Kelleher approaches Garland’s classic song with a smoother, cooler, more chilled-out jazz meets indie-rock sound. A toe-tapping sensation, Kelleher brings new life to ‘Over The Rainbow’ with their rich vocals and smooth instrumentation. Now, I don’t know if anyone should refer to this single as sexy, but a hint of sexiness lurks in Kelleher’s dulcet tones making it perfect for those smoky jazz clubs.
A beautifully crafted single, ‘Over The Rainbow’ is always seen as a song filled with hope, joy and an optimistic desire to reach your dreams. JD Kelleher shares that they were “…enchanted and mesmerised by the film but The Wizard of Oz was also my first experience of theatre…it ignited a passion and love in me for the performing arts, singing and music…” In my opinion, their cover of ‘Over The Rainbow’ encapsulates Kelleher’s passion for performing arts, as well as oozing this love for music in a sonic embrace.
Not only does Kelleher’s cover version of ‘Over The Rainbow’ express a need for people to reach their dreams, but it also marks 30 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland. Kelleher explains, “as an LGBT adult, the song continues to resonate for the queer classic that it is. ‘Over The Rainbow’ is coming out of the closet to shine beautifully without being condoned for who you are.”
For more from JD Kelleher, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Discover more smooth jazz tunes on The Other Side Reviews Jazz playlist:
