Posted by
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!
Feeling first dance shy? If you want to dance, but are feeling the pressure, nothing says you have to dance alone. Grab your wedding party,... Read more
- (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 Sam Cooke’s “That’s Where It’s At”
Great for brides who want something old/classic, but not something that everyone has heard a billion times.
Nice list! We used a Melody Gardot song (one of the happy ones, If the Stars Were Mine) and I’m always surprised to not see more of her on lists like these. 🙂
We are going to use a mash up ha.
Dig-Incubus
Vermillion Pt 2- Slipknot
Computer Love-Zapp & Roger (an ode to use meeting through a chatroom 14 years ago)
We danced to the old Gershwin classic, “Our Love is Here to Stay.” There are some wonderful versions by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, or Billie Holiday, as well as more recent recordings.
I love Trevor Hall’s “The Lime Tree,” The Used’s “Smother Me,” and Coheed & Cambria’s “Wake Up.” (Yes, that’s another sad/breakup one, but it’s so beautiful!)
I am SO thrilled you have Mazzy Star Fade into You on that list!! That was our wedding song back in 2004, so we are way ahead of the times. None of our friends or family had even heard of it and surely thought it was a strange choice, but that was always our song, just because. We first heard it in a pool hall and loved it….didn’t even know the artist, but just wanted to play it again. And anytime we argued all it took was to hear that song and instantly the argument was over. It’s the song that is magic for us. Thank you for the memories.
i wanna do “fell in love with the girl” by white stripes…
“Here’s To Us” by Halestorm, best wedding song ever
Being a wedding photographer, I’ve heard just about all of these. However, I did hear a couple songs that were different from the norm…Sky Full of Stars by Cold Play and Madness by Muse.
We recently released a new CD by Chris Jasper (former Isley Brothers) and we are getting a lot of response from fans who have said that they are using first track “The One” as their wedding song….lyrically and musically, it is perfect. You can hear it on youtube here: http://youtu.be/JOudgMXuyfU
Here are the lyrics:
1ST VERSE
Hello my love, there is something that I want to say
You’re that once, once in a lifetime love, here with me today
CHORUS
You’re the one that I love (I love)
I’ve been waiting, waiting all of my life
Girl, you’re the one that I love (love)
I’ve been searching, searching everywhere
You’re the one that I love faithfully, faithfully, yeah
2ND VERSE
You say that you love me, and I know it comes straight from your heart
Tell me over and over and over again, we will never part
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
You are that rare elusive treasure that no one can seem to find
I feel so good inside knowing you’re mine, mine
REPEAT CHORUS
Tell me over and over and over and over, over and over and over and over
That you love me too
Tell me over and over and over and over, over and over and over and over
That you love me too
Girl you’re the one that I love
I’ve been searching, everyday, searching everyday, I’ve been searching for you baby
You’re the one that I love, I’ve been waiting, waiting for you all of my life
Girl, you’re the one, you’re the one, you’re the one, you’re the one
I’ve been searching, everyday, searching everywhere
I’ve been looking hear and there, looking everywhere, I’ve been waiting, waiting all of my life
Girl, I’ve been looking hear and there, looking everywhere, I’ve been searching
At our wedding, my husband and I danced to “Calling You” by Blue October. How’s that for different?
We’re considering “Fall Into Me” by Sugarland if you’re into the country vibe.
Why would you choose the Beach Boys “God only knows” when the first line begins with “I may not always love you” ?!!
If you’re a musicals fan, “You and Me” from Victor/Victoria is a fun choice 🙂
I have to add “Waiting for a Long Time” by The Highwaymen. Wish that would have been the song we used to walk in and walk out. It was just our walk out song.
Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition of “You Do Something To Me” from Red Hot + Blue. Tender, understated, and not done to death.
In so many comments, I don’t know if its been posted yet:
Rio Reiser – Ich werde dich lieben
The hubby and I danced to The Veronica ‘ s “Speechless” at our wedding.
Early on in our relationship, I was just doing a random YouTube Wormhole excursion and came across that song. I sent the (now) hubby a link to it exclaiming “US! TOTALLY US!” He agreed and it’s been our song ever since.
https://youtu.be/rIIH5-TRsUY is the link to song with the lyrics.
Kiss the girl- The little mermaid!
You should check out Evermore, I Do by Summertime’s End – beautiful wedding song!
Chorus:
So see these hands, because they never held any others.
And feel this heart, because it never belonged to another.
And hear these words, because I’ve never said anything so true.
I vow that I will love you now, so evermore, I do.
We are going to use Saint Asonia – Waste my Time
These turned out to be all lesser-known Disney music. Not sure what happened there. Destiny isn’t as romantic as some of these, IMO, but I like it and it’s about space; given some of the other songs people have said they used in this thread, it’s possible it’ll be the perfect thing for someone. Links are all to YouTube, because I don’t think Amazon sells most of these.
Promise – parks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM8n0oRXWUg)
We Go On – parks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUZPzasXGM)
Remember the Magic – parks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9udBwdXnOGk)
Destiny – parks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B98v_66iX4U)
Candle on the Water – Pete’s Dragon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBZ2mV1GwuQ)
If you like a little upbeat song this could work, She’s amazing
Great list! We are actually dancing to “Baby, I Love You” by The Ramones. It’s one of our favorites and we love that it hasn’t been done to death.
Ours was “the story so far” by a new found glory ?
For the animation film geeks like me, I really love “For the Dancing and the Dreaming” from How to Train Your Dragon 2. I personally especially enjoy the cover version from Erutan Music, but there’s lots of versions, fast and slow on the youtubes 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCOe4x-LXcE&channel=UCrvczGINBiBV-N9mZybHCZQ
And of course for the humorous bride and groom, but I’d be careful not to alienate the guests, a bit of Tim Minchin is always great.
While Your Lips are Still Red by Nightwish
Rock Your Soul by Elisa
La Vie in Rose by Edith Piaf
And for the anime fans, My Truth from Your Lie in April
Great suggestions. We danced to “I Could Be the One” by Sonia of Disappear Fear.
If you want some really great romantic love songs, check out the songs written by Chris Jasper of the Isley Brothers on his website, such as “The One,” “Dance With You,” “I Love You,” “Share With Me,” and dozens more! Go to ChrisJasper.com