045: Non Stereotypical Italian Music with Michael Hynes

Living Villa Cappelli

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 Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

Your 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 Hallelujah

Hallelujah, 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 Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I 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 Hallelujah

Hallelujah, 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 name

And 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 did

Loneliness 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 nude

Goodbye Norma Jean From the young man in the 22nd row Who sees you as something as more than sexual More than just our Marilyn Monroe

Written 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"

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 mind

I'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 mind

It 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 News

It 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 mind

It 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 News

It 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 mind

I'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 me

I 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 own

I 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 try

But 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, yeah

Oh, 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.