How much time did I spend on the Mix CD project? Oh, let's say I clocked in at "way too much" time. I had more songs that could fit on two 80min CDs so I had to whittle things down trying to keep something for every taste, from every genre. Not all of these songs are great for dancing, but hopefully the will inspire SmartyPants and FribsinCharge to take an active role in planning the music for their wedding. Kudos to me for not including anything from a Disney Movie, any favorites from Country Music Television, or anything from a boy band (unless you count The Turtles as a proto-boy band).
Volume I: Love Songs Sweet and Sassy
Track List
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" James Taylor
"The Book of Love" Peter Gabriel (cover of the Magnetic Fields)
"It's Only Time" The Magnetic Fields
"God Only Knows" The Beach Boys
"Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" The Police
"When the Stars Go Blue" Ryan Adams
"If I Stand" Jars of Clay
"In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel
"My Love is Your Love" Whitney Houston
"He Loves Me" Jill Scott
"The Luckiest" Ben Folds
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" The Proclaimers
"If I Ain't Got You" Alicia Keys
"Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper [bonus points for inside joke]
"If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" Belle and Sebastian
"Such Great Heights" Iron and Wine (cover of The Postal Service)
"Better Together" Jack Johnson
"Power of Two" Indigo Girls
"Keep Me In Your Heart" Warren Zevon [ideal for Father/Daughter Dance]
Volume II: Classics and Cliches
Track List
"Happy Together" The Turtles
"100 Years" Five for fighting [groan, I know]
"At Last" Etta James
"Try a Little Tenderness" Otis Redding
"Cruisin' " Smokey Robinson
"Thank You" Dido
"Hallelujah I Love Him So" Peggy Lee
"I Could Write a Book" Dinah Washington
"I Get a Kick Out of You" Ella Fitzgerald
"Our Love is Here to Stay" Michael Feinstein
"My Baby Just Cares for Me" Nina Simone
"Everything" Lifehouse
"The Way You Look Tonight" Michael Buble
"Change in My Life" The Persuasions
"When A Man Loves A Woman" Percy Sledge [people advocating for the Michael Bolton version will be shot]
"What a Difference a Day Made" Jamie Cullum
"Something's Gotta Give" Ella Fitzgerald
"Wild Horses" The Sundays (cover of The Rolling Stones)
"I Second That Emotion" Smokey Robinson
"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" Carmen McRae
The number one song I wanted that I could not get was Tracy Chapman's The Promise. It was not available on iTunes or Music Match and I have no idea where my original CD went. I toyed with including an acapella version by the Wesleyan Spirits, but the quality wasn't that great and I didn't want to sour the Bride to this beautiful song. This song could even be used for the bride's procession down the aisle in a non-secular ceremony. Honorable mentions are too many to name. If you've got more killer suggestions, you can send them. Maybe there's a Volume III in the future.
So how did we do? A quick google search of "romantic songs wedding" turned up some truly horrible lists, like this one. Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me?" That's a break up song! She's leaving the cap off the toothpaste just to spurn her deadbeat lover, for Chrissakes. Or look at this list of 100 Love Songs. Billy Ray Cyrus's "Achy Break Heart?" Game over, sir. Game over.
If you or someone you know is getting married soon and you don't want to do the legwork of putting these songs together, let me know and maybe we can work out a barter/trade.
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5 comments:
You are a really great friend! We did this at our wedding. I just couldn't see hiring a lame-o DJ when my then fiance ( now husband) worked for not one but two special event companies. I figured that after taking their equipment to and from the airport god knows how many times, the least they could do was loan me some powered speakers for the night. I do suggest having who ever is in charge of running it have some time to practice with it prior to the day. I have been to 2 weddings where the bride walked down the aisle to the wrong song, much to her annoyance!
Great List, Cupcake. FYI NSYNC is not a group I like at all. I only know their music from many young clients I have had who were fans. I actually had to learn and sing their songs which I think is an occupational hazard.
the Bride and Groom are so lucky to have a great MoH like you.
Great job! I JUST finished sending the excel file of our wedding songs to my mom because her friends (whose kids are all somehow getting married) asked for ideas. We didn't have a DJ - I spent hours crafting 3 lists of songs: cocktails, dinner, and dancing. I liked seeing Better Together on your mix - that was our first dance song. We did a combo father&bride and mother&groom dance and the song was Unforgettable...Nat King Cole. People were really into the medley/cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/It's a Wonderful World by Israel Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
I'm sure she's going to love the CD's.
Cupcake! You are totally forgetting some good ole Canuck love songs! Bryan Adams is one of the many from this way that you can find playing at slow dance time at your local dance bars and high schools hee hee... (Everything I do) I do it for you is a good one by him as is Have you ever really loved a woman?. I think they might work for ya I know one or the other is a constant at our wedding gatherings. I'm glad to hear you're back is better chicka! Have a great one!
Why did you go with the Peter Gabriel vesrion? I guess I haven't heard it, but the MF version is pretty darn good.
Our top three wedding songs so far are:
God Only Knows - Beach Boys
Book of Love - Magnetic Fields
What A Wonderful World - Joey Ramone
I am kinda sad that God Only Knows is the theme song for Big Love, but we put it on our list last year and I'm sticking with it. And Book of Love is so perfect...
What A Wonderful World is going to be our first dance song. Neither of us are much good at dancing, so at least we could be silly during it.
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