The Neapolitan songs that everyone knows are the longest running popular songs in Western music. Tenors appear to sing them more often then other vocal ranges. To bring them off requires a combination of characteristics that are almost never found in one singer. These are: fluency in the beautiful Neapolitan language, perfect diction, beauty of voice, and most important passion. The last is the hardest to convey while singing. The only singer I ever heard who meet all the requirements needed to completely realize these songs was Giuseppe Di Stefano (1921-2008).

Five of these songs are below with their English translations. Di Stefano’s diction is perfect allowing you to catch each word without difficulty. His voice is one of the most beautiful ever preserved on record, and the passion he brings is beyond analysis. It’s impossible to know how he made the effects that were unique to him. The photo below, taken by Robert Cahen, fully depicts the insouciance that Pippo displayed throughout his life. But when it came to singing he was a serious artist. In this genre he has no equal. The photo of Naples above the title was taken by me in 2001

At the San Francisco Airport in 1967. His kitchen utensils are in the case.

Giuseppe Di Stefano at the San Francisco Airport in 1967. His kitchen utensils are in the case.

The emotional intensity of this song is almost unbearable. Di Stefano is the only singer who fully captures it.

Core ‘ngrato
Cateri! Why do you say these bitter words?
Why talk to me and torment my heart, Cateri?
Don’t forget I gave you my heart, Cateri you have not to forget! What’s the meaning of these painful conversations?
You don’t think about my heart, you don’t care for him !?
Heart, ungrateful heart !
You’ve taken my life, Everything is past and you have forgot it…
Cateri, Cateri you don’t know that inside the church, I prayed God, Cateri… I also said to the confessor, I am suffering
And the confessor who is holy person said to me: My son, leave her, leave her …
Heart, ungrateful heart !
You’ve taken my life
Everything is past and you have forgot it!

This song is the most famous of all the Neapolitan songs. Di Stefano’s vocal ornaments (an inadequate word for what he does) amount to magic.

O Sole Mio!
What a wonderful thing a sunny day
The serene air after a thunderstorm
The fresh air, and a party is already going on…
What a wonderful thing a sunny day.

But another sun,
that’s brighter still
It’s my own sun
that’s in your face!
The sun, my own sun
It’s in your face!
It’s in your face!

When night comes and the sun has gone down,
I start feeling blue;
I’d stay below your window
When night comes and the sun has gone down.

But another sun,
that’s brighter still
It’s my own sun
that’s in your face!
The sun, my own sun
It’s in your face!
It’s in your face!

This song (Rain) is poignant and melancholy.

Chiove
You’re sick and you sing
you’re dying and singing …
its been nine days, nine,
and it rains … it rains … it rains …

The air is cold,
and the sky is dark,
and you in this cold,
you, alone, sing and die …

Who are you? you are a Canary …
Who are you? You are Love …
You are Love that even when it dies,
sings new songs …
Jesus, but it rains!

You, like a Madonna,
sing a lullaby to an angel
on the cross, who wants
to hear your voice,

A lone voice
that, in the night, sings …
And you, as a saint
You are all alone, alone, and you die …

Who are you? you are a Canary …
Who are you? You are Love …
You are Love that even when it dies,
sings new songs .
Jesus, but how it rains!

Everyone knows this one. It speaks or sings for itself.

Santa Lucia
On the sea glitters the silver star
Gentle the waves, favorable the winds.
On the sea glitters the silver star
Gentle the waves, favorable the winds.
Come into my nimble little boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come into my nimble little boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship!
Come aboard passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come aboard passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Inside the tents, putting aside supper
On such a quiet evening,
Inside the tents, putting aside supper
On such a quiet evening,
Who wouldn’t demand, who wouldn’t desire?
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Who wouldn’t demand, who wouldn’t desire?
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget what makes trouble for the sailor,
Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget what makes trouble for the sailor,
And go shout with merriment,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
And go shout with merriment,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

O sweet Naples, O blessed soil,
Where to smile desired its creation,
O sweet Naples, upon blessed soil,
Where to smile desired its creation,
You are the kingdom of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
You are the kingdom of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Now to linger? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Now to linger? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Come into my nimble little boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come into my nimble little boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

When the moon rises over Marechiare (a fisherman’s village) even the fish make love. My favorite line from all the Neapolitan songs.

Marechiare
When the moon rises over Marechiare
even the fish make love.
the waves of the sea churn with joy
in the bosom of the sea,
when the moon rises over Marechiare.

In Marechiare there is a window,
my passion flies there,
a carnation perfumes the air
beneath it, the water murmurs,
in Marechiare there is a window….

Who says that the stars shine bright
has never seen the splendor of your eyes.
I know so well their burning light
that descends into the depths of this heart.
Who says that the stars shine bright?

Wake up, Caruli (the singer’s lover), here the air is sweet,
how long have I waited for you?
The sound of my voice will accompany
a guitar that I’ve brought tonight
Wake up, Caruli, here the air is sweet