Piazza Navona Inspires Country Music
In 1992 while living just outside of Rome I had a tendency to skip organized school activities that were not mandatory. I chose Oktoberfest over a Florence trip, I skipped a 4 day travel weekend to write a philosophy paper (to prove I could), and I bailed out of a couple of organized art walks of the city to stick around campus and spend some time alone.
While I would like to participate in those art walks now as I could not tell you Rococo from Rembrandt I do not regret for a minute the choices I made. My alone time was usually spent writing but on a particularly pleasant sunny day I decided to put on my headphones and sit outside awhile to take in the views of the suburban countryside and reminisce.
I had made a few tapes of music from home and had found a fellow Texan in my class who shared a passion for Texas folk music. I had some killer mixes of Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keen, and of course Willie Nelson to sing me to sleep on nights when I was sick of Italy, my classmates, or my own mind.
I remember this day that I was listening to some B sides from Garth Brooks and in the moment I became lost in the beauty of the place and began to sing. Now, I may not be American Idol material as I just don’t have a big range; however, my voice was made for country and the twangier the better. I think I was belting out Same Old Story from the “No Fences” album when I heard some sudden whistles and polite applause from a window above me.
Clearly I had not been alone and I was startled mightily and immediately embarrassed. The two young ladies had stayed behind to rest and were actually napping when my neo-country drawl took them from their slumber. They called down to me and were in fact quite polite about the ordeal. I was mortified of course because I was in that “dance like no one was watching” mode and felt violated.
I think it was 12 years or so before I ever sang out loud in public again, at a wine warehouse in San Francisco. I still listened to “London Homesick Blues” on that trip to Rome; I would just mouth the words to myself as I drifted to sleep not to disturb anyone or call unwanted attention to myself. Without my singing hobby I was forced to write with greater frequency and perhaps that is why I am here today writing and crooning alone in my home; living while no one is watching.
About Michael Housewright
Of those options, you chose to sing Garth Brooks? They should have kicked you out of Italy.
Hey, it was 1992.Same Old Story was written by Tony Arata and it is a classic Honky-Tonk tune. I think Garth did some really nice stuff on his first two albums that are true to the genre and not the poppy stuff that made the radio. There were myriad reasons they should have kicked me out of Italy; just not this one
Great story!!
And I can totally relate – I briefly met a wandering pianist in Florence once, and we did some bad, but very enthusiastic Puccini in the streets – and Italians are just so encouraging towards anything passionate and expressionist! Love those people
if you can even begin to sing Puccini you deserved to be there
I think it is just as bad as being caught talking to yourself especially when the person you didn’t know was there says, “Did you say something?” So embarrassing.
Although if you were really belting it out and were having a Sound of Music moment, then you have got me beat hands down…
Susie, St Peters was about 8 miles away and I am sure I interrupted the Pope’s studies
Hahaha! Too funny…okay, you definitely have me beat.
I used to dance to Garth Brooks many years ago, about the time you were singing in Italy!
That was also a pastime for a redneck boy from Ennis, TX. Thanks for supporting your brother-in-arms
Are you from Ennis? Been through there many times on the Houston to Dallas trek. I’m from Kingsville, south of Corpus Christi. Graduate of Texas A&M University, Class of ’77.
I am indeed from Ennis. University of Dallas Class of ’95. Did you know Joe Barton at A&M
Yes, I did.
Joe’s son Brad is a lifelong friend of mine. We graduated in the same class in Ennis and he is one of my favorite people. I spent many an hour at the Barton house playing board games and just being a kid.
SING OUT LOUD!
Jess
no fear anymore…I will sing for the president if he was around
Your posts about Italy are tantalizing! I have a friend who has an olive farm in Tuscany and I keep saying year after year that I must go, but it is always…maybe next year. And I can just imagine your singing country songs in Italy. I am sure they could tell that you were from Texas.
You MUST go to see your friend…drop everything and do it. It will change your life
To be honest, I was very surprised by this. I pegged you for one who revels and soaks up attention, even when accidental and inadvertent. For you to have such a strong reaction to appreciation and praise to your voice, it gives me cause to consider your other sides. So many layers to you, Michael Housewright.
I am always 100% happy to engage an audience when I am prepared or when I am in an improv mode. I am a nasty perfectionist and I have never really thought my voice was ready for prime-time. Hell, I am only just now telling stories I could have written 10 years ago but was not sure they were “good enough”. Now I am ancient and I know the window will close if I don’t jump. At 22 I could not handle the scrutiny as I felt their applause was in jest and their claps were mocking. I had no idea that one of the girls liked me. I was quite obtuse in my day