Top Ten Wedding Song SUGGESTIONS
After posting my list of overplayed wedding songs, a reader named Ashlee asked the next logical question… so what do you play then? As it turns out, that question was a lot harder to answer than I thought it would, and made me appreciate the job of a wedding DJ a little more than I used to. As I pondered, I was only able to come up with a short list of suggestions that’s very long on shortcomings.
When my exbrotherinlaw Dave and I set out to make the music list for our double wedding, we came up with an exquisite list of music that met any combination of three criteria -
1. It had to be a love song, or a song about love.
2. It had to have special meaning to someone or, ideally several people in the family.
3. It had to be something that at least 25% of the people in attendance wouldn’t mind hearing.
I wish one of us still had that list, because I’d love to share it now.
It’s not easy to come up with a list of good, tasteful music for a wedding. Stephen Thompson did the same thing and came up with the same problems I did, and since he wrote his article before I did, I’ll link you to his article. In a nutshell, the number of truly appropriate songs for a wedding, much less those that people can dance to, is very limited.
If you’re hiring a DJ, and want the DJ to play a specific list, you could be putting the DJ in a tough spot. Commercial DJ’s, especially those of the wedding variety must appeal to the lowest common denominator of taste.
I’d like to believe that if you asked most DJ’s if they listened to the music they played at weddings at home, they’d say “Hell no.” These are, after all, people who do their work because they’re presumably interested in and at least a little passionate about music. Writing this article has forced me to now officially take back at least half the bad things I’ve said and written about wedding DJ’s in the past.
1. You are the Sunshine of my Life - Stevie Wonder
There are a lot of Stevie Wonder songs that are pure, beautiful love songs. This just happens to the most cheesy and romantic, and therefore my favorite.
2. Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor
This has all the elements of a great wedding song. It’s bombastic, sappy and from Moulin Rouge. You can even overlook Nicole Kidman’s not-so-great singing.
3. At Last - Etta James
I guess this is the most common wedding song played in the United States…. but for good reason. It should never be done by anyone else but Etta James, so if you’ve hired a band don’t let them play this.
4. Sexual Healing - Ben Harper or Marvin GayeThe bride and groom aren’t the only two people that want to get laid after the reception. This song is for those people.
5. Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
Nobody sings romance across the ages like Frank Sinatra. The problem is that everybody places New York New York and not this, or a handful of other fantastic completely romantic Frank songs.
6. In the Mood - Benny Goodman
This song is great to dance to for all ages and will endear you to those old folks on your guest list that might leave you a lot of money in their wills. There’s a version of this in a medley with a dance track in the background. Do not, under any circumstances, allow your DJ to play this version. There’s a special place in hell for people who do those remixes.
7. I Feel Good (I Got You) - James Brown
Even though it’s been expropriated for a laxative commercial or something like that, it should be required to have at least one song by the Godfather of Soul at every American wedding.
8. Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead
As much as polite folk would like to deny it, there are Deadheads in any gathering of more than…ummm…. 75 people. It’s as great as any song about a tragically codependent relationship could be.
9. When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy SledgeThere are a lot of great versions of this song that are perfect for weddings. Michael Bolton’s is NOT one of them. Don’t play any song by Michael Bolton at your wedding. Or EVER.
10. Are We Dancing - John Davidson and Lesley Anne WarrenThis is a very very obscure song that almost nobody has heard, but I had to put it on the list anyway. It’s from Disnee’s “The Happiest Millionaire” and it’s a wonderfully romantic song that people won’t know but will dance to anyway just because they want to dance to a slow song. Then tons of people will ask what the song is.
So there you have it. Having made the list, I generated another list of songs worthy of honorable mention, or more mention than perhaps some of these songs merit. I also realize there’s nothing on the list done in the past decade. Oh well. That’s where I need you to
COMMENT!
Technorati Tags: wedding DJ, Stevie Wonder, Nicole Kidman, Ewan MacGregor, Etta James, Ben Harper, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Grateful Dead, Deadheads, Michael Bolton
Filed under: Music on July 18th, 2007
Here’s a reader with some good additions to both the good and the bad lists! http://rachelruminations.blogspot.com/2007/07/wedding-reception-rotation-retirees.html
A great wedding song is True Companion by Marc Cohn.
“Shinning Star” the Jerry Garcia version. I know its long but I cut out most of the middle jam and spliced it back together. couldent even tell.
I like NOFX’s Buggley Eyes. The guys actually played this song at one of the band members wedding, its on their DVD, some might not find it an appropriate wedding song, then again some people don’t have a sense of humor. Here’s the entire lyrics, its not a very complex song.
Have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
Have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
You got so loaded, you thought that she
Was the most beautiful gal that you ever did see
Yeah, have you ever gone to sleep with Bo derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
Woke up in the morning, to your surprise
A couple melons in tube socks,
And buggley eyes
Yeah, have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
I feel cool and validated now - I even have ‘Are We Dancing?’ on my list.
The Magnetic Fields - It’s Only Time, Book of Love
Mirah - Words Cannot Describe, Sweepstakes Prize
Ben Folds - The Luckiest
Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Rocky Votolato - Before You Were Born
Clem Snide - Several songs off “Soft Spot”
Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights
Broadway -
I’ll Cover You - Rent
Closer Than Ever - Bombay Dreams
Small Umbrella In The Rain - Little Women
Thou Swell - A CT Yankee (nice version by Blossom Dearie)
Love To Me - The Light In The Piazza
All Things - Thou Shalt Not
Are we dancing is just the most irresistable schmaltzy song ever! It takes guts to play something that corny!
These are great suggestions - but if you’re hiring a “professional” DJ, he or she isn’t going to have a lot of this stuff.
Why? Because it’s GREAT stuff. I have to check out a few of these songs myself. I just started listening to iron and wine.
How about Buggley Eyes by NOFX?
Its a rather short song but quite good. There was a video on one of their dvd’s where they sing this song at one of the band members wedding which is why I mention it.
Just on the outside chance you’re not familiar with this song its about getting drunk and sleeping with an ugly chick, heres the lyrics. I did mention its a short song right?
Have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
Have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
You got so loaded, you thought that she
Was the most beautiful gal that you ever did see
Yeah, have you ever gone to sleep with Bo derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
Woke up in the morning, to your surprise
A couple melons in tube socks,
And buggley eyes
Yeah, have you ever gone to sleep with Bo Derek
And woke up with Bo Diddley?
shit I said that one before. I shoulda read all the comments…. my bad. Now I need something to redeem myself, hmmm…
How about “I don’t wanna be in love” by Good Charlotte. Its not a very good song but it would be ironic. Nah I can do better.
OOH how about Helena by The Misfits, the opening lines are, “If I cut off your arms and cut off your legs
Would you still love me anyway?
If you’re bound and you’re gagged, draped and
displayed Would you still love me anyway?”
Its probably obvious that I’m not married and if I do I doubt I’ll get my way on a lot of things, it wouldn’t be a very traditional wedding, but it would be fun!
The NOFX song DID grab my attention - since a certain fellow blogger always raves about them. I made a freaky love songs CD for the QoMU a while ago, and it had some great, weird, ironic picks like these.
How about the Dead Milkmen, “If you love somebody, set them on fire” they have lots of interesting songs.
Does it breakdown further into my chemical romance?
Nice! We rather appreciated the website. A lot of Stevie Wonder songs that are pure, beautiful love songs. A lot of great versions of this song that are perfect for Fashion and Vintage weddings. Michael Bolton’s is NOT one of them. Don’t play any song by Michael Bolton at your wedding. Or EVER.
Great article, thank you. I just signed up to your blog RSS.
Thanks Harold!