There are pop songs with simple melodies that once you hear it, you will remember. The following song is in that category, and same as I, you might have heard this tune. It so happened that, recently, I ran across it serendipitously on youtube.
It is called "L'Italiano", a 1982 hit in Italy, if not Europe, by Toto Cutugno. It has been propagated through the world, with lyrics written in different languages. Look how happy the Italians at this concert were. It got to rub onto you, even if you have only a vague idea that they were happy to be Italian.
YouTube - Song Lasciate Mi Cantare-L'italiano) by:Toto Cutugno(2006)
Not knowing Italian, I could catch only a few words, such as "spaghetti al dente", and "Americano"! So, of course, I need to check it out further.
For people who know a bit of Italian, see the following.
YouTube - Toto Cutugno - L'italiano
Else, if you are like me, knowing no Italian other than a few words related to pasta but still curious, see the following English translation.
Toto Cutugno - L'Italiano (Lasciatemi cantare) lyrics & video
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But that's not all. I also found a version with French lyrics, sung by Herve Vilard. This singer, I knew from his hit "Capri c'est fini" from the 70s.
YouTube - herve vilard "mediterranenne"
Despite my love of the language, I will admit here that my French is very weak as it comes to listening (and talking), having learned the language mostly by reading in my earlier years. So, I found the following Karaoke link for the lyrics. It is now a French love song (happy not sad!), most suitable for a traveler to Southern France to hum along. More than the lyrics, look at the Mediterranean romantic scenes in the video (which I don't think is representative of the shore of the Camargue region that was referenced in the lyrics).
Oh, how I love to make a return trip to Southern France!
YouTube - herve vilard karaoke "mediterraneenne"