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At Villa Cappelli, we often surround ourselves with stereotypical Italian music like pizzica or Neopolitan classics, but when guest Michael Hynes visited, we were entertained with the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel and more! It was another magical moment with our guests, and hopefully, the podcast captures even just a little bit of that.
Topics we cover:
- How guests surprise us with their talents here at Villa Cappelli, including our latest guest from Australia, Michael Hynes
- How Steven has never tried Vegemite
- What Vegemite is actually like
- How we “discovered” Michael talent at the piano
- How Michael can easily memorize the songs, but is slower in memorizing the lyrics
- Paul’s favorite song from his Catholic Confirmation (and yes, he really does sing in during the episode)
- Michael is a human jukebox, knowing over 500 songs!!!
- How Steven couldn’t memorize a song for the life of him during high school band
- Michael doesn’t consider himself a genius, but the writers of the songs are the geniuses
- How we got our piano at Villa Cappelli, especially since neither Paul nor Steven play
- Other guests have also just sat down at the piano and started playing
- Mike plays Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Here is Leonard’s version, but dare I say I like Michael’s better?
Here are the lyrics for those die-hard fans:
“Hallelujah”
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing HallelujahHallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
HallelujahYour faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahI did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
- The pianos that Michael has at home
- Michael’s whole family is musically inclined
- The amazing organ in the Terlizzi cathedral
- The day of shopping Paul and Michael did
- Steven’s theory on why some Italian Americans call pasta sauce “gravy”
- How the Italians and Irish never got along, until….
- Some Australian slang
- A little about the cockney rhyming slang
- Michael sings a bit of “I get no kick from champagne”
- A bit about songwriters and how songwriters and lyrists work together
- The mural discovered in Terlizzi showing the story of Joseph and his multi-colored coat
- Paul’s experience seeing an Elton John concert
- Michael sings “Candle in the wind”
Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your nameAnd it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever didLoneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nudeGoodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn MonroeWritten by Bernie Taupin, Elton John • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group
- Why Paul believes that song has done more for Marilyn’s legend than anything else
- The famous castrato from Terlizzi
- Three of Paul’s most memorable concerts
- 1. Three Dog Night
- And Michael sings a bit of “Joy to the World (Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog)”
- 2. Watkins Glen Racetrack with 700,000 people
- Billy Joel at Carnegie Hall
- A Michael sings “New York State of Mind”
- 1. Three Dog Night
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach
Or to Hollywood
But I’m taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River Line
I’m in a New York state of mindI’ve seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
But I know what I’m needing
And I don’t want to waste more time
I’m in a New York state of mindIt was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily NewsIt comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons
I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mindIt was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily NewsIt comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons
I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mindI’m just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line
‘Cause I’m in a New York state of mind
- And finally, Michaels sings us out with “Somebody to love”
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
(take a look at yourself)
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord, what you’re doing to meI have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can’t get no relief, Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?I work hard (he works hard) every day of my life
I work ’til I ache my bones
At the end (at the end of the day) I take home my hard-earned pay all on my ownI get down (down) on my knees (knees)
And I start to pray (praise the Lord)
‘Til the tears run down from my eyes
Lord, somebody, somebody (please)
Can anybody find me somebody to love?(he works hard) everyday (everyday)
I try, and I try, and I tryBut everybody wants to put me down
They say I’m goin’ crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
I got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahOh, Lord
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
(Can anybody find me someone to love)Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat (you just keep losing and losing)
I’m OK, I’m alright (he’s alright, he’s alright)
I ain’t gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
One day (someday) I’m gonna be free, Lord!Find me somebody to love [repeat]
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Some pics of Michael and Tanya during their stay with us:
What did you think of our non stereotypical Italian music? Let us know in the comments.
How’s this for ego…..commenting on the podcast I was on.
Had a great time at the Villa. The place is beautiful, Paul and Steven were wonderful hosts and Puglia is a wonderful part of the world to see.
Also, the Ragu that I helped Steven make (which was simmering away while the podcast was recording) was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth (insert rude joke here).
All the best guys and hope to see you soon.
Cheers….Michael
Awww, thanks Michael! It was so much fun having you all here. Come back soon!
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