Songs For A Winery
May 2nd, 2008 @ 12:14 pm by Mrs. Penguin
We asked Mr. Penguin’s brother Paul for a little help picking out some songs with an “Italian-American” vibe to play during dinner at our reception, since the winery we’re getting married at has a Tuscan theme. We thought Paul would be the expert to turn to since he has both a love for music, and a love for Italy. It didn’t all have to be sung by Italian Americans, but we wanted the music to all fall in the same genre. Rather than shove a couple ideas our way, he sat down and made this amazing comprehensive list (with notes!) and I thought I’d share it with all of you in case you’re looking for similar music…because even if you’re not getting married at a Tuscan winery, Sinatra is always in vogue!
Funiculi Funicula- There’s a 3 Tenors version of this, or at least Pavorotti that’s good, a must have
Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano- The “Talented Mr. Ripley” version is by Adriano Celentano, who’s huge in Italy now, but I think the original is by Renato Carosone
Bella Notte-This is the song from Lady & The Tramp when they eat spaghetti
Eh Cumpari- Julius LaRosa, this one still gets the little kids in Italy going
Swinging On a Star-Bing Crosby, probably Bing’s best, swingingest song
Play A Simple Melody-Bing Crosby
I’m not sure he’s Italian, but Bobby Darin-Beyond the Sea,
and Mack the Knife are great
Okay, key songs in the Dean Martin ouevre-
Innamorata-a must
Volare-a must, though the original’s by Domenico Modugno, you can choose which one’s more suitable
Hey Brother Pour The Wine-perfect for a vineyard, and catchy as hell
Buona Sera-not as well known, but it’s a good wedding song
In The Cool Cool of the Evening-a song about throwing a party, well suited
You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You- I prefer it to Sinatra’s version
On An Evening in Roma-a must, Cathy probably knows it from “Under the Tuscan Sun”
Watching the World Go By
That’s Amore-speaks for itself
Come Back to Sorrento-This is a classic
Italian song, also check it out by Pavorotti
That Lucky Old Sun
King of the Road-Roger Miller’s version’s probably better, not sure if Miller’s Italian though
Arrivaderci Roma-You know it from the Simpsons when Homer floods the city to be an artist
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head-great
Everybody Loves Somebody
The Sinatra Stuff:
Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week
Someone to Watch Over Me-slower, but good
Night and Day-Tony Bennett does a good version too
The Song Is You
I’ve Got the World On a String
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
I Get a Kick Out of You
Love and Marriage-If you don’t play this you’re a damn fool
The Tender Trap
Your Make Me Feel So Young
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Witchcraft
Let’s Get Away From It All
Come Fly With Me
Almost Like Being in Love
Strangers in the Night
Summer Wind
All I Need Is The Girl
My Way
Pennies From Heaven
Me and My Shadow
Luck Be A Lady
The Way Your Look Tonight
Fly Me To the Moon
New York, New York
Something-The Beatles song, but Sinatra and Tony Bennett both do great versions of it, I like Bennett’s better, I think
As Time Goes By-Casablanca song
Cheek to Cheek
It Had to be You
I’m Gonna Live Till I Die
Well, Did You Evah
My Cucuzza-Louis Prima
Angelina-Louis Prima
Just a Gigalo/I Ain’t Got Nobody-Louis Prima, look at him a lot, his songs are pretty well suited, but I don’t know all of them
Round and Round-Perry Como
Don’t Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes-Perry Como
Steppin’ Out-Tony Bennett
Sing You Sinners-Tony Bennett
Just in Time-Tony Bennett, Sinatra’s version is good too
Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Tony Bennett
I Left my Heart in San Francisco-Tony Bennett, maybe a little sad for a wedding
For Once in My Life-Tony Bennett, everyone sings this song, but I like this version
…And of course, Superfreak-Rick James
Ha ha. I’m super freaky, yowwww.
Any more songs we’re missing for a Tuscan Winery backdrop?
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17 Responses to “Songs For A Winery”
You and I think a like! we too are gettinig married at a winery (Finace’ is Italian) and we are having many of the same songs played. I told our DJ that I want the appetizer time and the dinner hour to feel like we’re at the Olive Garden…..We are having a lot of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin played..
Check out Cecilia Bartoli, she is an Italian opera singer, but also has two albums of classic Italian songs (”AN ITALIAN SONGBOOK” and “ITALIAN SONGS CANZONI”.)
Might be nice to have a female voice for variety amongst all those hunky crooners. 
You need to throw in a tarantella!
EXCELLENT suggestions. Thanks for sharing! My Italian side of the family would love this stuff!
Do you have “That’s Amore” listed? My mom loves that song and we will probably play it at our wedding.
Red, Red Wine? Just kidding. 
the notes were particularly helpful, especially the one on the simpsons because i TOTALLY knew what song he was talking about. lol
but this is a great comphresive list! he went to town.
Every time I thought “oh, what about…” it was just a little further down on the list. I love this music, it is what we played at our wedding and the dance floor was packed.
I dunno, maybe its a little cheesy but the first thing that I think of when I hear “Italian” is the movie “Life is Beautiful (La Vita Bella) it has a really pretty soundtrack, the main theme especially. And I always loved the movie.
Buon giorno, Principessa!
You should consider including Rosemary Clooney’s “mambo italiano”! It’s so fun!!
What about “Via con me” by Paolo Conte? It’s the song from the mastercard commercial with all the playing kitchen gadgets… It was also in French Kiss with Meg Ryan, but I’m pretty sure it’s in italian.
What a great list!
Gotta love Dean Martin… Was he the best or what!
How about some romantic Mario Lanza songs? He had some great versions to the known standards - “sweet mystery of life”, “santa Lucia”, and some well known operatic arias.
And by the way Bobby Darin was italian, I believe his real name was Robert Cassoto so anything by him would be great. He has a great song, I think it’s called “so many places”, very upbeat and fast, fantastic to dance to.
The whole La Dolce Vita soundtrack has some wonderful tracks–gotta love some Nino Rota!
don’t forget to add dean martin to your list…! as for another really good opera piece, look for “nessum dorma”. i forget the composer. pavoratti does it so well.
I love this list!! I would also recommend The “Return to Me” and “Big Night Out” soundtracks. And I love love Michael Buble’s version of “Night and Day” a little better than Sinatra’s. He also sings several other standards on your list. It is hard to prefer someone over Old Blue Eyes but some of Michael’s versions win by a slight margin.
HUH? More SINATRA music then TONY BENNETT? That is ridiculous! And where is any songs by JIMMY ROSELLI? We get tired of SINATRA being forced upon us! Younger people know quality and favot TONY BENNETT!
Mrs. Penguin, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 26, Video & TV Producer/Director/Editor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Engagement Date: January 29, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 14, 2007
Venue: Winery in the Gold Country
About Me: I'm a silly mess of a girl who, above all else in this world, LOVES the Spice Girls. I eat sushi at least 3 times a week, and feel guilty about how much it costs the other 4 days a week. I love designer jeans and cheap accessories. I don't like sweets, but I love the UCLA Bruins!
I hope you don’t mind hearing all this music again in September. This is AWESOME!!!