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Not that I have anything against Etta James' “At Last” or Michael Buble's “Everything,” — they're both a perfect first dance song — but I've heard them both WAY too many times at weddings.
So, combining my database of musician friends (some of whom made the list) with the Offbeat Wed editorial team's tastes, we've compiled a list of totally not overused first dance songs… from the silly, to the romantic, to the extremely controversial! Because when the newlyweds step onto the dance floor, we want to keep things unique!
The goal here is to share wedding songs that you might not have heard too many times. We love the likes of Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Adele, Jack Johnson, and Frank Sinatra too, but if you want your guests to feel surprised at your reception, you might want to go for one of these more unusual first dance songs.
Oldies but Goodies — classics along the same lines of “At Last” or Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody”
- The Beach Boys “God Only Knows” (hear it)
- Shuggie Otis' “Strawberry Letter 23” (hear it)
- Marvin Gaye's “Let's Get it On” (hear it)
- Otis Redding's “That's How Strong My Love Is” (hear it)
- Van Morrison's “Sweet Thing” (hear it)
- The Zombies' “This Will Be Our Year” (hear it)
- The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” (hear it)
- Toussaint McCall's “Nothing Takes The Place Of You” (hear it)
- Al Green's “Love and Happiness” (hear it)
Sexy Romantic with great lyrics
- (Ariel's) Me'Shell Ndegéocello's “Love Song #1” (hear it)
- Ben Folds' “The Luckiest” (hear it)
- Peter Gabriel's “In Your Eyes” (hear it)
- Massive Attack's “One Love” (hear it)
- Mazzy Star's “Fade Into You” (hear it)
- Portishead's “All Mine” (hear it)
- Lou Reed's “Perfect Day” (hear it)
Wonky and Fun
- Adam Sandler's “I Wanna Grow Old With You” (hear it)
- The “Family Matters” theme song “As Days Go By” (hear it)
- Doris Day's “A Bushel And A Peck” (hear it)
- The Velvet Underground's “I'm Sticking with You” (hear it)
- The Band's “Cripple Creek” (hear it)
- Toto's “Africa” (hear it)
- Sam Hart's “Mario Kart Love Song” (hear it)
- Rick Roll those bitches!
Indie
Make the first dance less nerve-wracking: GROUP DANCE!
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- (Megan's) Pavement's “We Dance” (hear it)
- Jon Brion's “Here We Go” (hear it)
- Neko Case's “This Tornado Loves You” (hear it)
- Sufan Stevens' “The Dress Looks Nice On You” (hear it)
- Wilco “I'm the Man Who Loves You” (hear it)
- The Cure's “Friday I'm in Love” (hear it)
- Bright Eyes' “First Day of my Life” (hear it)
- Nick Drake's “Northern Sky” (hear it)
- The Pixie's “La La Love You” (hear it)
SUPER Indie
Have your first dance right at the altar
Sandra-Lee and Conrad's take on a first dance struck us as genius. Right after the ceremony, right at the altar, they had their big smooch... Read more
- Bird and the Bee “My Love” (hear it)
- Obi Best “Nothing Can Come Between Us” (you can get a free mp3 here)
- The Moldy Peaches' “Anyone Else but You” (hear it)
- The Mountain Goats' “No Children” (hear it) — yes, some people find this song controversial!
- Jeff Mangum's “I Love How You Love Me” (hear it)
- She & Him's “I Was Made For You” (hear it)
- Captain Beefheart's “I'm Glad” (hear it)
Jazzin' — along the same lines of Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, or Louis Armstrong
- Sara Gazarek's “Makes Me Feel This Way” (hear it) or her version of “You Are My Sunshine” (hear it)
- Harry Connick Jr.'s “Come By Me” (hear it)
- Kurt Elling's “I Feel So Smoochie” (hear it)
- Jamie Cullum's “I Think, I Love” (hear it)
- Renee Olstead's ” A Love That Will Last” (hear it)
Upbeat Swingin'
- (Shrie's) Chuck Barry's “You Never Can Tell” (hear it)
- Barry Louis Polisar's “All I Want Is You” (hear it)
- Sly & the Family Stone's “You Can Make It If You Try” (hear it)
- Huey “Piano” Smith's “Little Liza Jane” (hear it)
Laidback Easy-Peasy
- Mayer Hawthorne's “Make Her Mine” (hear it)
- Cat Power's version of “Sea of Love” (hear it)
- Peter Gabriel's “Book of Love” (hear it)
- Air's “Playground Love” (hear it)
- The Fruit Bat's “When U Love Somebody” (hear it)
Dark and Romantic
7 First Dance Alternatives for Dance-shy Couples
What if you like to dance, but you just don't want to have to be the ONLY ONES dancing? Or, maybe you love being the... Read more
- Judas Priest's “Angel” (hear it)
- Rammstein's “Ohne Dich” (hear it with English translation)
- Type O Negative's “Love You to Death” (hear it)
- Stone Temple Pilots' “Still Remains” (hear it)
- Incubus' “Monuments and Melodies” (hear it)
- Killswitch Engage's “My Curse” (hear it)
- HIM's “Join Me In Death” (hear it)
Oh, you want more?
About the Author: Megan Finley Horowitz
When Megan's not writing, traveling, and sleeping, she's eating like the fate of the world depends on it. (You're welcome, world!) You can snoop into her personal life over on her website The Dash and Dine!
We danced to “Four Left Feet” by the Ditty Bops — sweet, folky & funky.
Yes! Thanks for this!
I think we’re going to use Nick Cave “Into My Arms.”
I’m partial to the Get Up Kids “I’ll Catch You” but it’s a little long…
“You Are My Las Vegas” by Columbus based band, Red Wanting Blue. Featuring ukulele, tuba, and trumpet a very cute toe-tapper.
To chime in on Chuck Ragan, “Symmetry” is also a contender.
@lduncz
We are doing that same song! My FI is obsessed with Bowie, plus I just really love that song.
We’re terrible dancers, we only dance at home (mostly in the kitchen.) (Like idiots.) So if we do decide to dance to anything, I think it would have to be Her Space Holiday “Sleepy Tigers.” It describes us perfectly and we can dance like the idiots we are. 😉
we are planning to use “Can’t Buy Me Love” by the Beatles because it totally describes our relationship (we are sooooo poor)
I love love love “Never Let Down” by Andrew WK and my friend is going to cover it on Ukulele for us. Perfect!
What an awesome collection! So fabulous!!
We used Joshua Radin’s Today and had contemporary dancers step in as our ” spirits” cos we are useless dancers…
the dance link is here..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEmaGSZ_9iw
some of u might remember us. xx
My fiance and I will be dancing to “Just Breath” by Pearl Jam this June. It is a song that he heard on the radio, and reminded him of how he felt about me. When he played it for me the first time, I had my arms around his shoulders and we were both crying while the music played.
We did Tim Minchin’s “Drowned”. It was silly and sentimental at the same time.
oh my god….
you put Type O Negative on that list.
*sniffle*
I really have come to the right place.
<3 <3
Actually.. despite the fact that a love of TON was one of the things that brought us together, we hadn't yet considered it for part of the wedding.
How foolish of us. 🙂
We’re not having a first dance…but “our” song is Dice by Finley Quaye and Beth Orton so we are walking in to the reception to that. Also we are having Starlight by Muse played on a string quartet during the ceremony.
If an impromptu first dance eventuated then I like Jesus, etc by Wilco…so sweet!
I LOVE this selection….we have an alternative to our ceremony entrance dance but not our first dance yet so this list is GREAT!!!!!!!!! 😉 C X
going old school ‘somekind of wonderful’ the drifters and I want Hayes Carlls version of bob dylans ‘paint my masterpiece’
We haven’t had a real conversation about this yet, but I’m thinking of making a pitch for “My Favourite Book” by Stars. The lyrics are so sweet. I also love “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab but think I’d end up a sobbing mess on the dance floor.
My Favourite Book
I was always late, you never afraid, that we could be falling
All our friends would say, maybe we should wait, but they can’t see what’s coming
And to this day, when everything breaks, you are the anchor that holds me
And that is why we’ll always make it
How I know your face, all the ways you move, you come in, I can read you
You’re my favourite book
All the things you say, the way you shift your eyes
I never knew there was someone, to make me come alive
When the days are long, and the thunder with the storm, can always get me crying
You can make my bed, I’ll fall into it, shattered but not lonely
Because I never knew a home, until I found your hands, when I’m weathered
You come to me, you’re my best friend
And that is why we’ll always make it
How I know your face, all the ways you move, you come in, I can read you
You’re my favourite book
All the things you say, the way you shift your eyes
I never knew there was someone, to make me come alive
And when we’re making love
I’d give up everything up for your touch
How I know your face, all the ways you move, you come in, I can read you
You’re my favourite book
All the things you say, the way you shift your eyes
I never knew there was someone, to make me come alive
When you go to work all the day I wait
For you to come home, recount our time, in our little place
First dance: The nerdy and adorable “Mario Kart Love Song” by Sam Hart
Last Dance: Because of an early life obsession with Baz’s R&J “Kissing You” by. Desiree
Ours is going to be a remake of “send me an angel” but ours is the metal version by thrice!
I’m utterly amazed that NO instrumentals are on the list. Might I remedy that with suggesting some Percy Grainger? In particular, I like the viola version of “Arrival Platform Humlet” and perhaps an abbreviated version of “Hill Song Song No. 2”. Ralph Vaughan Williams also has some some lovely instrumentals that would be good for first dances.
If you can’t choose between an instrumental and sung words, there’s always Arirang, the classic Korean folk song. There are quite a number of beautiful instrumental arrangements and many sets of lyrics that deal with the nature of love. I actually discovered it through middle and high school band, and it remains one of my favorites to this day. I was originally thinking about dancing to “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls, but I’m not so sure now that I remembered “Arirang”.
Blue Eyes by the Cary Brothers!
My husband mentioned that he wanted to dance to “Julia” by the Beatles 2 days after we were engaged. Little did he know that was always a girly dream of mine to have someone sing, play or dance to that song with me. It was absolutely perfect when we did 🙂
I lurve this post! I have been thinking about using Perfect Day or Van Morrison Crazy Love or Into The Mystic for our first dance, but now I am definately walking down the isle to Calico Skies! Thank you Lynda!
also
Seriously, It is NONE of any ones business why someone wants a certain song to be THEIR song. This blog is generally hate free and I don’t think I have ever seen this much snarkiness over something that can be so meaningful to a couple!
Alexi Murdoch- all of my days
Ray lamontagne- hold you in my arms
Lovers spit- broken social scene
The weepies- somebody loved
The blowers daughter- Damien rice
Parachute- she is love
I’ll follow you into the dark- death cab for cutie
Swing life away- rise against
Such great heights- iron and wine
First day of my life- bright eyes
Brett dennen- she’s mine
The one who loves you the most- brett dennen
Matt costa- sunshine
Rogue wave- eyes
When I go- slowclub
Mates of states- for the actors
Landon pigg- falling in love in a coffee shop
Blood bank- bon iver
Jose Gonzalez- heartbeats
Never, Never Gunna give you up- Barry White. PERFECT.
Some great ideas but if you want your family and guests to join in you’ll need a song that everyone recognises and can dance to.
Unfortunately some of the top ten wedding first dance songs here in the UK are actually too slow to dance to!
“Here comes the sun,” by The Beatles.
I always thought it would make a perfect wedding dance song. It’s not very long, so nothing drawn out, and easy to move to, even if you have two left feet.
Of course, the best part are the lyrics, about getting through hard times and now things are looking up, and I associate it from being together.
I want to walk down the aisle to an instrumental version of “Lover’s Spit.” So beautiful.
Our first dance last Sunday was Jackie Wilson’s “Your love keeps lifting me higher and higher” – a family favorite and used in Ghostbusters 🙂
We were tied between the following:
“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls
and
“I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
We ended up using “Iris” as our first song (and wonderfully being in our own world together), and used “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” for the couples’ dance after the father-daughter song. Best of both worlds. Wonderfully powerful and sappy, and just a good rhythm to both of them.
I love this post!
Here’s a few of the songs my FH and I have been considering:
Brand New Day (Dr. Horrible Soundtrack)–a little too ridiculous for our grandparents, but we almost went with it
You Belong to Me (Dean Martin)
I Don’t Want to Set the World On Fire (The Ink Spots)
Deed I Do (Ray Charles or other)
You Picked Me (A Fine Frenzy)
Inside and Out (Feist)
Parentheses (The Blow)
Side by Side (Nick Lucas)
Can’t take my eyes off of you (Muse)
Inside and Out (Feist)
Muse-Feelin’ Good–this is my top pick as of right now
I love the band HIM, but they have much better songs than “Join Me” that have less of a 25-year-old goth vibe. Try the song “In Joy and Sorrow”, which actually does a better job of capturing the idea of love forever with lines like “In joy and sorrow, my home’s in your arms.”
If you want to be really different, you can use “Under the Sun” by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. But they are not for all aesthetics at all.
My fiance and I are thinking of using “The Nurse who loved me” by A Perfect Circle. Because I’m a nurse and I love him.
Tess, I wouldn’t necessarily say that there are “much better” songs, this particular song meant a great deal to the couple that inspired me to add it to the list. But there are, as you point, a great many other options out there and maybe “Join Me” will inspire people to find them. And also, I love the song “The Nurse Who Loved Me!” Sounds like it’s perfect for you guys!
I’m not sure what the difference is between someone saying she thinks “At Last” is overused and someone saying she thinks “No Children” is inappropriate. It’s all personal opinions. I’d never heard “No Children” before today, and while I don’t “get” it as a wedding song, I’m sure if a friend of mine used it and I had some more context, I’d think it was fine. I also have NEVER heard either “At Last” or “Everything” used as a first dance song, so I’d be grooving on either of those choices (looove me some Buble). I think its impossible not to HAVE opinions about *theoretical* song choices (it was the reason behind this post, no?) but for me, those opinions and judgments completely disappear when it’s a friend or loved one’s wedding. I have never seen a first dance that wasn’t completely lovely and perfect, no matter my feelings about the song going into the wedding. And even if your friends aren’t as easily swept away by the magic of the moment as I am, no one’s opinion besides yours counts. Who cares if your song is too common or too hate-filled? It’s your song and no one has to like it but you.
Cool list 🙂
I’d love to see one like this for father/daughter and mother/son dance too. I’m completely at a loss for that one heh.
http://offbeatwed.com/2007/06/non-sappy-fatherdaughter-dance-songs
haha yeah I just saw that do’h!
I love the idea of using Ohne Dich as a first dance song. My FH found an album of mixed versions of it and some of them are amazing, my fav being the Schiller remix. For our wedding we decided to go with a song called Lotus(remix) by Susumu Hirasawa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9muQIB-q_A) It is one of my all time favorite songs, but the song is not very well known. I’m sure we will be getting some strange looks from people, but the song is very us.
Edith Piaf – Hymne a l’amour!
We danced to Jamie Cullum’s version of “I Only Have Eyes For You”. It’s our song because it seemed to be playing all the time when we first started dating, but that was mostly because I had that cd in my car for a solid month!
For our wedding song, we had it narrowed down to several choices (we actually had a bracket going!), and we were all over the place.
If you like classics that may have been cliched once but arent heard much nowadays:
Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” (which was our winner)
If you like happy, bouncy cheese:
Blessid Union of Souls’ “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)”
If you’re into sap and cliches, but want to stray a bit from the beaten path:
Lenny Kravitz’s “Let Love Rule”
And if you want to piss off Grandma:
The Darkness’s “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
Um, I might have missed this somewhere, because this is so obvious that I’d be amazed if no one has mentioned it yet… But what about Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You”? I’ve always wanted to have it at my wedding. It’s great for classic rock lovers, beautiful, and has simple, sweet lyrics.
“If the sun refused to shine I would still be loving you.
If mountains crumbled to the sea there would still be you and me.
Kind woman, I give you my all
Kind woman, nothing more.
Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of loves lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong, together we shall go until we die.
Inspiration’s what you are to me, inspiration, look… see.
And so today, my world it smiles,
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles.
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad, happiness….I’m glad.
If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
If mountains crumbled to the sea, there would still be you and me.”
This has been my first dance song pick since I was a little girl. I always thought I would fall in love with any boy who ever sang that to me.
We are totally dancing to “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Zepplin!
And “On the Low” by Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions.
I’ll be honest, at some point I started skimming these lists ;), but I still didn’t see any songs for the retired raver in me.
We’re planning “Marcetta” by Gigi D’Agostino for in processional and Tiesto’s “Elements of Life” for the recessional.
Songs we’re considering for first dance:
* gigi d’agostino – l’amour toujours/I’ll fly with you
*ethan stoller – BKAB (geepoint mix)
*astroline – close my eyes
*dido – don’t leave home (gabriel and dresden remix)
*blank and jones – flying to the moon
*baz luhrman – happy feet (high heels mix)
*tiesto – in my memory (gabriel and dresden remix)
*scott hardkiss – infinitely gentle blows
*divine inspiration – the way
Just wanted to offer up our little glowsticky offbeatiness 🙂
Home-by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic zeros. “home is where I’m in love with you” It’s pretty awesome.
We did a swing dance to Bobby Darin’s “Somewhere beyond the sea.” It was awsome and everyone seemed to love it. 🙂
I’m digging the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Hysterical” especially the acoustic version.
I Love You by A Band Of Bees <3
“Someone to Fall Back On” by Jason Robert Brown
we are using “Married Life” from the Up soundtrack
We totally chose Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You. Glad to see it on this list and that others see how cool and lovely this song is too!
My fiance and I are thinking about using “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles. 🙂 It describes us almost too perfectly, and it’s fun! We’re also planning on Rick Rolling our guests during the first dance, haha.
I’ve decided to use “hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley. I’m a big Buckley fan, love the biblical references, it was used in the Watchmen soundtrack…..just a great, slow, and sexy!
“sea of love” – but tom wait’s version…we’re walking out of the ceremony together to “if i were a carpenter” sung by johnny and june cater cash.
john mayer – slow dancing in a burning room.. or is that too grim
I was pleased to see STP on here, but I think we’re going with “I Got You” by Stone Temple Pilots. It does have a bit of a heroin reference, but the song is still just way too perfect for us 🙂 very awesome song and my bridesmaid didn’t pick up the reference so hopefully family won’t either lol.
Their cover of Dancing Days ain’t half bad either.
Another song for you to consider, “Ain’t Love A Kick In The Head”, Dean Martin. My hubby and I danced to that. Fun. 🙂
We used The Magnetic Fields “The Book of Love”. Totally fit us perfectly.
WHERE was this post before our wedding (2.27.10)?! Music was the last thing I did, and since I was fried, and hubby was NO help whatsoever, I just threw “At Last” on the iPod during a frantic, stressed out,”I cant deal with his” fit.
But then again, I probably could’ve done better had we not planned the entire wedding in 3 weeks 🙂
Oh well.
We are using The Promise by when in rome. It is sooo our love song.
As for No Children. That is our secondary love song. I love that song and we’ve considered playing it at the reception, maybe late, after all the fuddy duds have gone home. But I think it is one of those songs that is more fun for us in the car. No one else ever seems to get why it is, well, romantic to us.
“No Children” seems more like a divorce party song to me. Alternate Mountain Goats songs might be “Historiography” or “I love you.Let’s light ourselves on fire.” or even “Jenny”.
Awesome list! I love some of these songs to death.
another fun idea is find a ridiculous song, that has pretty decent lyrics, and if you have any friends with bands, ask them to cover it and make it slowdanceable.im slowly convinving my brother, a metalhead drummer in a coverband,to do a rendition of bad romance by lady gaga for us. because that is just nuts.
Awesome idea! Bad Romance is the song I fell in love to…
I danced with my father to the song “My Wish” by Rascal Flats. It was a nice sweet song that hasn’t been done to death. Of course my Dad and I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time at my 4 year old who was sitting on the bar flirting with the bartender.
We had “My Heart Will Go On” sung by the Screaming Jets. It was done for Andrew Denton’s Breakfast show on Triple M here in Sydney. Seriously awesome.
It was that or “We’re So Pretty” sung by the Deltones (Beach Boys style).
My guy and I are going to dance to The Bird and The Bee’s cover of “How Deep is Your Love” 🙂 It couldn’t be more perfect.
I will be singing, “My Favorite Book” to my new husband at some point in the evening – with or without accompaniment. Shhh…he doesn’t know. 🙂
I’m *so* glad someone else brought up, “Heartbeats”…so lovely.
I’m so tempted to use Stateless, “Bloodstream”, the boy and I had a moment when we heard it for the first time…but alas, the tone is awfully heavy.
So many great leads here, though! Thanks!
Keep them coming!
THanks SOOOOO Much for this post! This is a dilemma for us, and now we have so many options!!! And I got some new songs to groove to regardless….
I need some songs that a Swing Band can play and aren’t too cheesy.
I was thinking of Brazil (theme from Brazil) because damn, I love that song, but I’m afraid I’m ignoring other really wonderful swing songs…
I’d love to do “Closer to the bone” (i forget who sings that) but I’m not exactly a slender sweetie, so it doesn’t work!
‘Forever Young’ by Alphaville was our first dance song – perfect beginning for a night of cheesy 80’s music – and brings to mind Napoleon Dynamite 🙂
My original choice was ‘No Rain’ by Blind Melon and my husband’s first choice was ‘The Touch’ by Stan Bush (it’s from the Transformers 1986 movie) so Alphaville was our perfect compromise.
For rock, I love the idea of dancing or otherwise using Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” from the Houses of the Holy Album. It’s epic classic rock that’ll please every generation, and has both slow/soft as well as rockin’ out sections! It starts out perfectly!:
“Hey, lady, you got the love I need,
Maybe more than enough.
Oh, Darlin’, Darlin’, Darlin’, walk a while with me,
Oh, you got so much, so much, so much. “
Hi,
Long-time reader, first time commenter. Our first dance will be a west coast swing routine to Cake’s Love You Madly – it was my second choice, but it’s such a great dance song, so we had to do it.
Our first choice was Barenaked Ladies’ I Love You, which would have been just perfect if it wasn’t so tricky to dance to (especially for us beginners). But the lyrics are just too sincere to pass up:
I like soup
And I like ice cream sandwiches too
I like fishsticks
But I love you
Sigh…Maybe for the cake cutting.
The two suggestions on here that I love the most are the Mario Kart Love Song (I can’t believe that I’ve never heard that before, as obsessed as I am with that game!), and Rick Rolling – I’m SO going to bring this up with the FH tonight, I think he’d be all for it!
Thanks for the great suggestions everyone!
Ashley, you are totally right. I’ve just added the Mario Kart Love Song and Rick Rolling to the list!
We’re going to use “My Favourite Book” by Stars.
My hubby and I danced to “The Lovecats” by The Cure… we had a TON of fun, and it was a lot more fitting for us as a couple than a slow dance would’ve been.
and for the “Dark and Romantic” category – our other option was “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths. (Husband vetoed it as “creepy,” sigh.)
“The Polite Dance Song” by the Bird and the Bee
or
“Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac
I think the second one is pretty funky.
So happy to see Marvin Gaye “Lets get it on” on this list. This has been our song for years, even our ringtones for each other. My fiance doesn’t think it is appropriate as a first dance! I do! It’s our song and our friends know it. Family will have to deal with the content…
I LOVE “Luckiest” by Ben Folds… I have also think that Brandi Carlile’s “Dying Day” would be perfect for a couple who had a long distance stint in their relationship!
I’ve sworn that if I ever get married, in an actual wedding setting, the first dance will be Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen“, because . . . well, because it’s just awesome. Sappy, yes. Cliché, yes. A two-step instead of a waltz or slow dance, yes. I don’t care.
If I get married, my first dance song is definitely going to be something by 311. Their cover of The Cure’s “Love Song” seems perfect, but I might go with something else by them since they have a lot of laid back lovey songs. 🙂
We danced to “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys at our wedding–love that song.
We also considered “Have Love Will Travel” by The Sonics and “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks.
“Better together” Jack johnson
It’s been our song since high school and if we ever have the opportunity to plan a wedding together we will most likely use it. 🙂
Here’s to highschool sweethearts!
I absolutely LOVE Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You. The name is misleading, it’s so sweet and the perfect speed for dancing, I love it!
My man isn’t as into indie as I am, so Ben Folds- The Luckiest is way up on the list, since we both love Ben Folds.
finally someone mentioned “no ones gonna love you” the first time i heard that song i starting crying and swore it would be my wedding song. months later my best friend told me she was getting married and told me she needed a wedding song. for a minute i thought about not telling her about it, but i didn’t want to be selfish, so i played it for her and she had the same reaction as i did. a year later her and her husband danced to it. i still want to play it at my wedding.
Hank Williams Howlin’ At the Moon. It’s quirky but very sweet without being sappy.
the cranberries- Linger, its not the usual sappy song, and it talks about him being caught with someone else, but in the end i love that it says “im just a fool for you” and all that really matters is choosing the one song that reminds you of each other! no one else needs to like it!
We are getting married on June 19th at a beautiful resort in florida and are making it super-fun retro styled… my dress is leopard print with a huge red bow…. our cake will be covered with cherries… Anyway – we are dancing our first dance to the Beach Boys “Don’t worry baby”. SUCH a cute song! We absolutely can’t wait.
Such an awesome post.
My boy picked:
Pistol by Dustin Kensrue
I love how you curse when I wake you up
And sweetly demand that I fill your cup.
I follow your cool gun powder glare
Honey, you lay me bare.
You’re the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my bets,
Oh, I put all my money on you.
When I’m in the dark, girl, you bring me to light.
It seems like you’re almost always right.
So keep boxing my ears when I sew them shut.
Baby, you sure are tough.
You’re the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my fears,
Honey, I feel so safe around you.
If the tiller man taught me anything,
It’s that a hard-headed woman is what I need
To help me to always do my best.
Baby, my life is blessed.
You’re the girl of my dreams
Darling, please wear this ring
You’re an angel through and through.
Time to lay down my life,
Honey, I’d do it gladly for you.
Time to lay down my life,
Honey, I’d do it gladly for you
*sigh* I love him. 🙂
Other options:
Maybe I’m Amazed by Jem
Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg
My fiance and I have decided to go with “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra. First song we ever danced to because it was used in a musical we were both in. Kinda sappy, but it means a lot to us.
Our song has always been “Melt with you” by Modern English. I know there have been slower covers that people like but FH and I are going to use the original. I’m suprised no one has mentioned it yet.
Has no one said Love Song by The Cure or 311or Voltaire? (depending on the version you like)
We are using ‘Love Song’ by Snake River Conspiracy for our recessional…. great cover. LOVE IT. We are also using ‘All I Need’ by Radiohead for our first dance. Suggestion: “Hot Lava” by Perry Ferrell and D.V.D.A.
I’m thrilled that I’m not the only one that’s considered “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson:) But I’m actually thinking of singing the song as a surprise present for my FH. Here are a few others that we’ve considered:
“Be Still My Heart” The Postal Service
“Breathe Me” Sia
“Your Ex-Lover is Dead” Stars (This may seem an odd choice but this song has seen us through some tough times and it always brings a smile to our face)
“You and I” Ingrid Michaelson (VERY sweet song!)
About this “No Children Controversy 2010″(lolz), it might not be a song that I would choose, but I applaud anyone that has. After all, variety is what OBB is all about:D
For our first dance, we’re planning to use “Go Places” by the New Pornographers. It was written by A.C. Newman for his then girlfriend, now wife, but is sung by Neko Case – so best of both worlds!
Also, we are walking in to “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Which is my current song addiction.
Hey for the Gender Neutral best love song ever….
Androgynous by Joan Jett and The Black hearts.
“Here comes Dick
He’s wearing a skirt
Here comes Jane
You know she’s sporting a chain
Same hair revolution
Same build evolution
Tomorrow who’s going to fuss
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know
Love each other so
Androgynous
Now something meets boy
And something meets girl
They both are the same
They’re overjoyed in this world
Same hair revolution, unisex, evolution
Tomorrow who’s gonna fuss “
Everything Changes by Staind. Absolutely love that song…..and he is the mess I chose.
We are so happy we found this list… the minute we heard Mario Kart Love Song we were SOLD!
It is perfect for us in so many ways… including the fact that we met at a Halloween party and this past year dressed up as Mario and Luigi for (our anniversary…) Halloween. We also brought the costumes back to life for our Christmas photos, so all of our relatives know about our Mario-love.
We are definitely going to dance to it for our wedding. 🙂
Can anyone help with a non-cheesy song for mother and son? My FH doesn’t even really like to dance, so preferably a short one.
We did a choreographed dance to Bjork’s “It’s Oh So Quiet.” So much fun!
OMG video plz. 🙂
DITTO!!
Warmness on the soul by Avenged sevenfold is really sweet with a little rock edge.
boats and birds by: gregory and the hawks. its on my list of songs that I’d want. 🙂
Good friends at an out door B-B-Q wedding went with James Brown’s “I Feel Good” at the moment of the “you may kiss the bride”. Nothing cooler than 100 people jumping to their feet at the same time and dancing their asses off!!
Good suggestions! I’d like to add a few:
Bif Naked’s cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”
Nick Cave’s “Straight to You” or “The Ship Song”
For those 80s metal fans, “Save All Your Love” by Great White
Jerry Only of the Misfits did some great 50s covers such as “This Magic Moment” and “You Belong to Me”
I could go on, but I’ll stop now. 😉
Super, super indie- Check out THE ROSEBUDS song SHAKE OUR TREE.
Everything for my wedding will be inspired by this song.
Actually, The Rosebuds have a lot of great love songs that would work really well. And some of their songs can easily be done ‘sing-a-long’ style very easily, so you could even get your whole wedding party involved!
They are on Merge Records, which has a ton of incredible artists, some of which I’ve seen listed on here. http://www.mergerecords.com
Birds, in love. Its upbeat, sung between a man and a woman
http://www.mergerecords.com/store/store_detail.php?catalog_id=361
That bird’s ready I know
He’s tired of being alone
He’s working all on his own
Building himself a home
And take that finch when he sings
See his mate by his wings
And if you listen real close
You may even hear them say
Will our love ever end? (woah no)
Will you stop being my best friend? (woah no)
Will you speak harsh words to me? (woah no)
Singing a story of love in the leaves
(oo-oo-o-oo)
Before the winter takes hold
And the figs are dry and cold
The birds all meet in the tree
And confess love’s what they need
Perform love on their limbs
And sing one of love’s true hyms
And if you listen real close
You can even hear them say
Will ya ever not treat me right? (woah no)
Are you ever gonna hold me down? (woah no)
Will you get tired holding me tight? (woah no)
Looks like the story of love grows, alright
Will our love ever end? (woah no)
Will you let the dogs shake our tree? (woah no)
Will you stop being my best friend? (woah no)
Looks like the story of love never ends
‘God Only Knows’ is “our” song, but we danced first to ‘Nothing Can Change this Love’ by Sam Cooke. I celebrate his entire catalogue.
Others we considered – The Pledge (Brendan Benson); Dearest (Buddy Holly); Umbrella (Rihanna); Hex (Neko Case)
my fiancé and i are doing book of love by peter gabriel!!! i didn’t want a song that we had heard at another wedding or that people would expect(plus i’m a scrubs addict and it was on the series finale lol)i’m stoked to see it on the list
Oh then we’re going into an awesome mashup of different songs that all have to do with dancing. 😀 from lady gaga to all she wants to do is dance, madagascar and many many more!! So excited!!!
H.I.M. – In Joy & Sorrow
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson
We’re still having trouble picking ours, but these are a few:
“Winter Song” – Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles
“Question” – Old 97s (a bit corny, but cute!)
“On Lengendary” – Further Seems Forever
“Breathe In” – Frou Frou
“Luckiest” – Ben Folds
“If it Kills Me” from the Bossa Nova Sessions – Jason Mraz
For the longest time I wanted to use “If You Were Here” by Thompson Twins (Sixteen Candles ending!) but now, I absolutely have my heart set on our first dance being “Last Beat of My Heart” by Siouxsie & the Banshees. Incredibly heartfelt, tear-inducing, powerful lyrics and beautiful music, not to mention she has one of the most amazing voices of all time. It’s also the only love song she ever wrote and she wrote it for her husband.
Tracy Chapman I am yours
Music was my first decision. I’m going up the aisle to a string quartet version of Pixies “Gigantic”. We’re coming back down to Barry Louis Polisar’s “All I Want Is You”. Our first dance is Nick Cave’s “Into My Arms”.
We are dancing to, “Blurry Eyed” by Fair
my runner ups were, “Sea of love” by Cat Power and “Tonight” by Lykke Li
All of the songs are beautiful Blurry Eyed was just the most….epic?
If I could get my fiance to wear a trench coat and hold up a boom box playing, “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel to me at the wedding all my dreams will come true. I would probably have to die since nothing else in life could top that moment.
Broken by SEETHER
Love song: Tesla
Still Loving you: Scorpians
I’ll never let you go: Steelheart
November rain: Guns and Roses
When I see you Smile: Warrent
Diamonds and rust: Judas Priest
These are just a few on our hit list!!
I would like to have Beautiful Bride by flyleaf played during the reception.
Wow, great list. My fiance and I have decided to have our first dance as husband and wife to the song “Zombies Ate My Neighbors” by Single File. We’re both obsessed with zombies so it’ll be fun and have meaning to us. When I first brought it up as an idea, he grinned from ear to ear. I loved it.
Haha! My fiance & I are planning on the Adam Sandler one! It was actually the first song we ever danced to! Too funny. 😛
I like A few of Jeff Healy’s songs. My dad was in a band when I was a kid so I adore music they used to cover!
so
Jeff Healy – angel eyes or lost in your eyes
A7X – dear god or warmness of the soul
Metallica – nothing else matters
Rise against – Swing life away
oh theres just so many!
Is november rain about breaking up? I love that song and I’d love to walk down the isle to it one day!
I’ve been having a really hard time planning my wedding, I’ve never even been to one! I needed some inspiration for my invitations and since I LOVE music (mostly metal) I got the idea to add a verse or chorus to one of my favorite songs as the opening for the invite. We then decided to make that song, our first dance song. I’ve done a lot of looking online and haven’t seen this one listed very often, but.. I love it!! Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
There is a fantastic Piano version of Nothing Else Matters on Amazon that we downloaded to play during the meal.
Oh and if you need instrmental music, check out The Vitamin String Quartet. I’m using their version of Switchfoot’s Dare You To Move to walk down the aisle!
Wow, thank you thank you THANK YOU for introducing me to the Vitamin String Quartet! All of my wedding woes have been solved. Their instrumental of “In Your Eyes” has me crying like a baby!
My fiance badly wants to dance to Ozzy’s “Goodbye to romance”. Its slow enough to dance to and he thinks the lyrics are “appropriately amusing”. Goodbye to romance? Goodbye to friends? I agree, amusing, but I don’t think so….
Neutral Milk Hotel’s “I Love How You Love Me” is dead set, going to be my wedding song, I could not believe when I saw it on this list! Kudo’s for that!
we have always wanted to use ‘i love you’ by the climax blues band…i went through everyones posts on here & was totally suprised to not see it!
i personally enjoy…
MODERN NATURE by Sondre Lerche
GIRL U WANT by Devo
TIERGARTEN by Rufus Wainwright
and BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO by Dinah Shore, if you don’t mind going a little cheesy. 😉
OMG: thank you for this list. It’s fantastic. We already knew what our “first dance” song was gonna be (the Bright Eyes’ song on this list), but the others might be a great playlist for ceremony and/or dinner time. Thanks!!!
Re: non sappy father/daughter dance songs
My father passed last year and I’m getting married this year and I’m doing a photo slide show for our dance and I’m using “Wish You Were Here” by Incubus. Just a suggestion for any future brides out there who has lost a parent before there wedding.
Muse’s cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”. It has amazing beat and begins slow but after a bit it starts rockin and is still totally danceable.
I might have missed it in earlier comments, but “You and Me” by dave matthews…my man played it for me one night after we had been dating a few months, and it was the night i knew in my heart i wanted to be with him forever….love that song. it mightb e overdone or something…but I had never heard it before he played it for me….check out the lyrics, they’re great.
Sarah Vaughan’s version of I’m Glad There is You. Perfect for couples who took a while to figure out that they were meant to be together! (yes, this is what we’re using for our song)
I found this one on a compilation CD, “chillout 06/the ultimate chillout” (Netwerk America); “Bellissimo” by San Ilya. Written decades ago by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II, updated by this contemporary electronic group, female vocals. Gorgeous. “…bellissimo, mon amore….”
The song that makes me think of offbeat bride: nellie mckay’s “I wanna get married”
I think that Quelqu’un m’a dit by Carla Bruni would be beautiful. It’s basically how you can be together because someone told me that you still loved me. DCFC I will follow you into the dark would be beautiful and for those who love musicals Somewhere that’s green would be adorable. Or All I Ask of You.
We are going to use “Thirty-Three” for the bridal party entrance, Erik Satie’s 1st Gymnopedie (which has been done commonly, but my mom loves it and I have an academic relationship with Mr. Satie), and “Friday I’m in Love” as the recessional (great especially for a Friday wedding). If I have my way, it’ll be Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” for the first dance. it’s an excellent waltz.
“Us and Them” by Pink Floyd
My fiance and I really want something original but classic. I really want to use “Lovesong” by The Cure, but I’m not sure if its too obvious? We both love the song, but we were thinking about using “Friday I’m In Love”, which I am glad is on the list.
Long time reader, first time commenter. This list is amazing! I’m so excited to see so many other brides using such great music at their weddings. Here’s my list.
Together – The Raconteurs
I Know, I Know, I Know – Tegan and Sara
Nineteen – Tegan and Sara
We are probably going to use “Nineteen” because it is our song but we are afraid people won’t understand it and think that it’s too sad. It just describes our relationship perfectly.
We’re having ‘you’ve got a friend in me’ from Toy Story, kind of sums up our ‘sunday nights on the sofa watching kids films’ approach to life.
We’re stuck between “I See Tomorrow In Her Eyes” by Ron Sexmith (gorgeous, optimistic, and entirely wedding appropriate yet extremely indie)…
… or the ever-popular “Into The Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie (wildly romantic and very “us” but possibly not parent friendly, especially as his family is quite religious)…
… or possibly our friend Patrick Brealey’s song “Sweet Home Oklahoma” (slow, folky and magical)
I know Dave Matthews Band does not sound very “offbeat”, but we are probably using a song of their last album called “You & Me”. It’s really lovely, take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f4TItnxVOw
Just shows how relative the concept of ‘offbeat’ is… in Belgium, DMB is hugely offbeat… so there you go. “You and me” will probably be ours too! 🙂
A happy, upbeat one:
You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
It’s the song played in the dance segment of 500 Days of Summer.
Love this song! I want it played once we have signed the paperwork 😉
Love the ideas on here. I’m also fond of The Beach Boys song “Forever” and Chantal Kreviazuk’s “Feels Like Home”. Both have really good lyrics that I think are well-suited for a wedding dance.
i’m not getting married anytime soon, but my boyfriend and i decided that if we do get married, our first dance will be to “modern nature” by sondre lerche
Great song! I fell in love with it when I saw Dan in Real Life.
Wow! I think ya’ll just made up my mind for me 🙂
I was contemplating about Otis Redding “Thats How Strong My Love Is” and I just saw it as a suggestion here. My other choice was “Echo” by Incubus but I think Otis wins. I’m totally psyched about this site! I wish I would have found it soooner.
Sleeping at Last – Umbrellas… hands down the most beautiful song ever. Other favorites are “Funny Little Frog” by Belle & Sebastian, “Jogging Gorgeous Summer” by Islands, “Ageless Beauty” (The Most Serene Republic Mix) by Stars and “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver.
We danced to “Ain’t No Easy Way” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. it was awesome!
I’ve always thought Marc Cohn’s “True Companion” would make a beautiful first dance song.
http://www.amazon.com/True-Companion-Remastered/dp/B00122YQ8W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1273761981&sr=1-1
have to second this. It would have been my first choice except that my dad and step mom had it as their song.
I walked down the aisle to The Moldy Peaches ‘Nobody else but you’, but our first dance was Dave Matthews Band ‘Crush’. We’ve been DMB fans since we met and it just made sense.
Jen – I LOVE your choices! I’m from Belgium where DMB is only known by about 200 ppl or so (well, very little anyway), and my fiancé ‘discovered’ them a few years ago. We went to see a concert and I was blown away. Truly some of the BEST music in the world. We’ll probably dance to ‘You and Me’ at our wedding in September.
And The Moldy Peaches… well, I must admit, I love every song from ‘Juno’ 🙂
Our first dance will be to “alright for now” by tom petty. very sweet song. another tom petty song we plan to play at the wedding is “yer so bad” which is romantic in an odd way. haha we havent made a music list but i am sure its going to be great and different. my FH says we are having nothing but pearl jam, metallica, etc. playing at our wedding.
Good ones I’ve seen: Johnny Cash’s “Flesh and Blood,” Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey,” and John Legend’s “Stay with You.”
We will be dancing to, Vampire Love by the Misfits : ) It’s a fun, punk song….I think we can get into it and make it fun for our guests too.
I’m walking in to The Maccabees ‘Toothpaste Kisses’.
We haven’t decided on our first dance yet but it will probably be a Beatles song as we are having a Beatles tribute band at our wedding!
My walk down the aisle song is “I’ve just seen a face” sung by my soon to be husband.
I notice that Cat Power’s version of Sea of Love is in there – a nice version indeed.
However if you’re going for “offbeat” I’d have to say that the Tom Waits version is absolutely amazing 😛
i’m going for “Mad About You” by Laurel Aitken (awesome old reggae tune)
or “Rest of Our Lives” by Social Distortion
hard decision.
We’re going with “Thank you, too” by My Morning Jacket
Ok, I read alot of comments but didn’t see these (sorry if you mentioned it and I missed it lol) but these three make me cry which a good sign that they mean alot to me LOL.
Paramore – Only Exception
Alanis Morrisette – Everything
HIM – Right Here in My Arms
The HIM song will be our first dance song and I’m using Paramore and Alanis in the ceremony. Of course with the word “asshole” edited out lol. I love the original version but the family would shit a brick.
“tonight, tonight”–the smashing pumpkins.
I eloped in Vegas so we didn’t get to have a song, but if we did, we would have danced to Ball and Chain by Social Distortion.
NIN – were in this together now…awesome.
Always – Erasure
I don’t know yet if we’re having actual dancing (or just clearing a space for people to get up and shake it a bit), but our processional song will be “Emperor of Wyoming” by Neil Young, and the recessional will be “Marie Marie” by Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women.
Totally using Elvis’ “Wonder of You”:
When no one else can understand me,
When everything I do is wrong,
You give me hope and consolation,
You give me strength to carry on.
And you’re always there to lend a hand in everything I do,
That’s the wonder,
The wonder of you.
And when you smile, the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I’m a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything
I guess I’ll never know the reason why
You love me like you do.
That’s the wonder,
The wonder of you
Another great one we’ll use somewhere is “Made Up Lovesong #43” by The Guillemots. So perfect for us.
my fiance and i are going to have our first dance to “into the mystic” by van morrison. my mom is a huge van fan so i grew up listening to him. it’s so perfect and not overly sappy in anyway shape or form! i also love “if you were the woman and i was the man” by cowboy junkies. we are big natural born killers fans, so i have to find a way to incorporate this song into our wedding somehow!!!
We are using “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul Simon
I’m thinking about having “Home” by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes for our first dance. It’s upbeat and awesome, the only problem is that the song is so meaningful to me that I tear up every time I hear it….
Love love loveee everything about this song!
We used “Home” as our first dance song after going to an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes show on a whim and loving it. I saw them in concert again a couple months later, and started crying uncontrollably as soon as they started playing “Home.” So I hear ya. 🙂
Our first dance will be to “i want to hold your hand” but not the beatles version, the one from the (beatles themed)movie “across the universe”. It is slow, soft and so cute. It makes me cry everytime I hear it.
We will be using “Day to Soon” by Sia. It’s a lovely song.
“You Sure Look Swell” – Sondre Lerche
“Still My Home” – Viking Moses (if she meets me with her tears hallelujah I will give to her all my years….)
“Baby” – Rufus Wainwright
“I Found A Reason” – Velvet Underground
“Two Of Us” – The Beatles
Wonky ‘n Fun – Anyone Else But You by the Moldy Peaches (from Juno) 🙂
“Coming Back to Life”–Adam Dale
“As Long as You’re Mine”–From _Wicked_
“Shiksa [Girlfriend]”–Say Anything
“Loving You”–Paolo Nutini (A little racy, but it’s still a sweet song)
“Alive with the Glory of Love”–Say Anything (the radio edit XD)
We are having Al Green – Lets stay together.
We both love it and the lyrics are perfect…
“I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is alright with me
You make me feel so brand new
I want to spend my whole life with you
Let me say that, since
Since we’ve been together
oh Loving you forever
Is all I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue
Let’s, let’s stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad”
Does the fact it has not been mentioned yet mean that it is totally overdone or is it just not alternative enough?
x
“Living of Love” by The Avett Brothers!
I also love “Murder in the City” by The Avett Brothers. It’s beautiful in general, and I absolutely love the line, “Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.”
Friends of mine danced to “It’s You I Like” by Mr. Rogers. It was so sweet and simple. I just went to the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood website to hear it again and it brought tears to my eyes!
And another favorite: Ingrid Michaelson’s “The Way I Am.”
I think Melt with You by Noucelle Vague is also great!
Melt with You
We’re undecided right now, but the first dance is a toss up between “Tush”-ZZ Top, or “Pride and Joy”-Stevie Ray Vaughn. And the recessional is either “Jessica”-The Allman Brothers (the song we play every time we go on a road trip/adventure), or the Indiana Jones theme. He wants to have a fedora that he has to run back to get if we use that one.
Ok, I just spent too much time scrolling through all of these great suggestions and feel I must mention a few songs that I don’t think are on the list anywhere.
1. Hubby and I LOVE “The Ballad of Love and Hate” by the Avett Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xUZkKd58c)
2. Other good Avett Brothers choices: “I and love and you” and “January wedding”
3. Short and sweet: Fountains of Wayne-“Yours and Mine”
Lyrics:
In about an hour
The sunlight’s gonna fade
And you and me
We’ll divvy up the wine
Like everything else here
Yours and mine
Pickin up the paper
Coffee’s been made
It’s book review and face the nation time
Two in the same mind
Yours and mine
4. What??! No Cat Stevens?! He’s my favorite since the 4th grade when I swore I would marry him (I’m not). My love songs playlist includes:
“I found a love” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUTXrhwsOA4)
and
“Rubylove” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoOXIoqCWnE)
5. Another folksy tune about growing old together: Greg Brown “Hey Baby Hey”
Can only find a cover on you tube, but this guy’s not bad : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFu_NbtfIEU&feature=related
6. We’re building a commemorative family bouquet & walking in to the wedding to a friend’s version of “Downpour” by Brandi Carlile (minus the bridge–no moving on like a rolling stone). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rP9iX6xVCo
Hope somebody loves one of these songs as much as I do!
Signed up so I could thank you all for this amazing post! I’m not a wedding dance kind of girl, but just can’t wait to play lots of great music at our wedding, and this has given me so much inspiration! A lot I didn’t know of, so I’m enjoying them now on YouTube – big thanks everyone!
I am doing the same thing – have spent the entire weekend looking up recommendations on You Tube! What a great way to spend a weekend in! Some GREAT, unexpected tunes. Thanks everyone.
Well 3 weeks and 4 days my husband and I dnaced to Hard to concentrate by Red hot Chilli Peppers-its an unreleased track so you’d only know it if you have the stadium arcadium album-but has special meaning to us and the words are very apt 🙂
kissing you- Des’ree (from romeo n juliet) is kind of sad and beautiful and I think it’s a good pick!!
love love love that song. good choice.
311’s cover of The Cure’s “Love Song”, its a gorgeous upbeat kinda reggae song. 🙂 “For You” by My Last Mistake (small, unsigned indie band), “Hero/Heroine” by Boys like Girls, “Pieces” by RED, “I Belong to You” by Muse.
Love all of these songs! Our first dance will be to Tom Waits’ “Little Trip to Heaven”. We plan on inundating our wedding playlists with tons of early Tom!
This song was offered by a MOJO reader in the Reader’s Top 10, August issue: the Ramones’ 1979 cover of the 1963 Ronettes hit, “Baby, I Love You”. He writes; This tune was the first dance song at a mate’s wedding. Apparently the song has been used in a TV ad in the States to promote a product for erectile dysfunction. Funny choice, really.” I agree.
“For Real” by Amel Larrieux is a nice R&B / indie soul track that IMO would be wonderful for a first dance song.
My boyfriend and I are going with Love You Madly by Cake. It’s strangely us.
love this idea!
I think I’ve finally found our first dance song! Most OBBs will remember Leah Muse. Well, she and her husband have the perfect song on his latest ep! It’s a duet called hold my head above the water. His band’s name is Quiet Company. Go look it up, it’s seriously so cute! And you can get it on iTunes if you don’t want to order the whole cd!
Oh, and it’s only 2 minutes 25 seconds! =] Excellent!
Prairie wedding – Mark Knopfler – jazzed up just slightly (live band). A little quiet maybe but lovely for a few minutes ‘calm in the storm’ for us two..
By the gods! I am so gonna suggest Rick Rolling the first song to my FE!! WANT!
My fiancé is mostly against the first-dance idea (and has already vetoed the idea of rickrolling our guests). However, I think Judas Priest might change his mind!
I’ve also just decided I want to walk down the aisle to Parlay from PoTC: At World’s End (we’re strongly considering a pirate wedding and I think it would be perfect).
I totally forgot about this: The Baseballs’ cover of Umbrella (neither of us can stand the original, but this version is totally awesome). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URxzu8EFBVY
I’m between:
Jump Little Children – By The Way They Dance
Barbara Lewis – Baby I’m Yours (or the cover by Arctic Monkeys)
We picked “You’re the One” by The Black Keys. Our runner up was “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, but we couldn’t figure out what to do during the “conversation” portion of the song. Still, it’s a super cute song.
Oh Heavenly Day — Patty Griffith
how about “when you look me in the eyes” by the jonas brothers…..im not a fan of theirs song but i heard it at me cousins wedding it was very romantic
We danced to Incubus’ Dig. There is plenty of meaning in this song for a couple who has endured many ups and downs together and landed on their feet together too.
I love this list.
For my wedding our recessional was to “la la love you” by the Pixies and our first dance was to Ben Folds “The Luckiest” fun to see both of them made your list!
As a side suggestion my friend danced to “Somewhere over the Rainbow” by IZ (Israel Kamakawiwo’ole) it was quirky, cute and yet still romantic
There’s an acoustic version of Foo Fighter’s “Everlong” from a KROQ acoustic show a million years ago is a song that we’ll be dancing to. I can’t wait!
(Actually, we’re doing 2 couples dances, and the other song will be Sarah McLachlan’s “Push” because it’s an amazing song also.)
good call!! Everlong would be a great song!!
Total curiosity: Why would someone pick the Mountain Goats’ “No Children”? I’m not picking on them, I am curious. It’s about a brutal divorce… and while it’s cool and all… mouth agape. Someone answer?
This was hotly debated a few months ago. I included it because we’ve had TONS of offbeat couples dance to this song for their first dance. But I think Billy said it best so I’ll direct you to his comment:: http://offbeatwed.com/2010/0…ment-62133
My fiancee and I are going with “Dance Me to the End of Love” by Leonard Cohen. He’s the same guy who wrote the “Halleluyah” song in Shrek, but this song is much more danceable. The first time he played it for me, I thought “this is our wedding song”…and we weren’t even engaged yet!
I don’t know if this one has been mentioned, and it definitely wouldn’t be appropriate for everyone’s first dance but how about, “Everyone I’ve Ever Slept With” by Momus. My favorite part is, “I’d like to thank everyone
I have ever slept with
Some of you are squirming out there
Hoping and praying
I won’t reveal your names
Don’t worry, we all know who you are”
There are two perfect songs, in my Opinion:
1. First Day Of My Life, Obv.
2. If it’s not with you By Phoenix: Which has a perfect wedding line: “If it’s not with you, There is no thing that makes wanna settle down”.
How about ‘Let my love open the door’ by Pete Townsend? Also heard on ‘Dan in Real life’ in a great cover by Sondre Lerche, or also his song ‘ ‘my hands are shaking’ (….from carrying this torch, from carrying this torch for you!)
I didn’t have time to read through all 16 pages so I’ll just go ahead and post this. My fiance and I are going to be dancing to Love You Madly by Cake. At least that’s the plan now, we’ll see if we can learn how to dance in time.
My choice would be “Dig’ by Incubus. The first time I heard it, I thought “what an awesome first dance song!”
For sentimental reasons, my fiance and I are dancing to “Ladies and Gentlemen…” by Spiritualized. Slightly depressing but the album was a gift he gave me just after we met.
I have a small list of songs that, amazingly, I haven’t seen yet in any of the comments. Hope it helps someone!
‘You Got It’ by Roy Orbison – This is my choice for a first dance, not too sappy, easy to dance to, and that voice!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYhMrtZM1WA
‘Lay me Down’ by Ashley MacIsaac – It’s got a fiddle, which may not be for everybody, but it is such a pretty song.
“You are my sun, my moon, my stars,
Forever yours, forever free
Together as one, the world is ours,
You are my destiny”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkq5xkkFarA
‘Excuses’ by the Morning Benders – The CD version is beautiful, but live version is goosebump inducing, make sure to check out the video below, the strings, my god!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jgmgE-QDzA
‘Gamble Everything for Love’ by Ben Lee – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reIDepQzVJY
‘Funnel of Love’ by Wanda Jackson – If your looking for a classic Rockabilly song to dance to, this one is fun and cute from the Queen of Rockabilly. There is also an amazing Psychobilly cover by Demented Are Go!, which I personally like more than the original by Wanda, but that’s personal bias, it would definitely make an impression as a first dance song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf5FvUt7iIw – Wanda Jackson Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZxENYvo7pg – Demented are Go! version
‘Frenzy’ by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Definitely for an adventurous bride, this song would be amazing at a voodoo themed wedding (oh my goodness, I wish!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SWXOBBrZlg
‘True Believer’ by Dragonette – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LZd8TT2Nyo
‘I only want to be with you” Rasputina ft. Twiggy Ramirez – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHADXTs2RJ0
‘Angels Wings’ by Social Distortion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glEd8-Klkjs
Yay- Cat Power’s Sea of Love was our first song! Of course it tied in nicely with our beach wedding too. And it was only 2 minutes long, thus saving our guests from too much boredom 🙂
I was reading this list and wracking my brain for something that -I- would like at my wedding…”Brightest Hour” by The Submarines is the only song that means what I would want along with a slow rocking beat that wouldn’t dismay my sweet-two-left-feet honey.
And if THAT didn’t work, then I was going to go with my second choice being Tilly and the Wall’s “Rainbows in the Dark”. Wouldn’t be just us on the floor for long! That song demands that your feet get to moving!
i haven’t looked through all of the pages but i’m shocked i haven’t yet seen :
band of horses- no ones gonna love you
ben harper- forever
david gray- sail away
joshua radin- only you
the spill canvas- this is for keeps
some other good ones but untraditional:
matt skiba- next to you
the spill canvas- one thing is for sure
the spill canvas: staplegunned
So many fantastic options!!
ingrid michaelson – The way i am
tower of power – Willin’ to learn
from disney cinderella- So This is Love
Stevie wonder- ‘Overjoyed’ or ‘Signed, Sealed Delievered.’
Landon Pigg- Falling in love in a Coffee shop
Cary Brothers – Blue Eyes
Kenny Chesney and Dave matthew- “I’m Alive”