First Dance Songs Your Friends Probably Won’t Pick First
August 26, 2008
We’ve mentioned first dance song options here a few times, but haven’t so much gone through the motions. Unlike your Grand Entrance Song, which most people choose to show some creativity with and have a litle fun around, the first dance is one that most likely, people are going to pay attention to the lyrics to the song. This summer, a lot of people were talking about a playlist of top first dance songs from discjockeys.com, but let’s open it up a little bit further than that, perhaps…
One song I’m hearing a lot of right now is Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours,” which has been making a move this year when it comes to people’s dance choices. It’s a little bit faster than some might be used to, but it’s definitely modern and shouldn’t make you feel like you’re picking something that you might have seen picked at a wedding 10 years ago.
Also making the list of modern, and not something all your friends might have chosen is Rivers Cuomo’s “I Was Made For You,” which I’ll bank that your mom or dad will give you a look about, but it’s a pretty awesome song. [via]
Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” is another option that ups the tempo a little bit and makes perfect sense, no?
Okay, okay so it’s another Jason Mraz song, but it’s a really good one, too. Check out “Lucky,” where Mraz and Colbie Caillat do a great duet.
Last, but not least, you have to check out The Fray’s “Look After You,” which any of you who watched NBC’s “Journeyman” might recognize…
Now there’s five songs for you that you probably won’t catch at anyone else’s wedding.
Getting your first dance on (again)
July 13, 2008
If there’s one thing that you’ll continue seeing here, it’s going to be random first dances from people’s weddings. Now I hadn’t seen this one featuring Alya & Aaron before, but it’s made a few rounds and has almost 200k views, and it’s worth checking out.
It was shot by NYC-based Rockmelon, who posted about it on their blog back in February. [link via IDoSugar]
The first thing I noticed upon watching it was the number of camera angles that appeared to be involved. I mean, it’s not every day you get a two or three camera shot at a wedding, cuts and all, with this kind of precision, is it? Rockmelon video producer Leyda Cordova tells Groomify via email that their crew had three cameras present (one fixed, two manned), and they snagged footage from a fourth camera that a guest shot. Additionally, Leyda let us know that this was the first time that one of their customers had asked them to shoot a dance with the end result of it being the video getting posted online. She also said that most of the couples they meet with would be “horrified” at trying to do a dance like this. Not surprising, IMHO.
Some interesting facts came out of the conversation, though… Cordova ballparks that 2 out of 3 first dances shot last year were choreographed (which means that yes, guys, you probably need to get your dance lessons on), and that those of you who are thinking that the whole choreography and online video is a new thing need to get a grip. Turns out that the Rockmelon folks were seeing that three years ago while working in Australia, on the reg, with “Dancing With The Stars,” probably being an influence.
While I can see some of this type of thing being a bit of a fad, Cordova suggests that the millenials crew - along with Gen X & Y - are always going to be looking for a way to spice up an event, and their wedding will fall right into that bucket. She’s probably going to be more spot on than I am about this sort of thing, but I’m wondering how long it’ll be that people are specifically shooting something just to see what kind of chart they can top on YouTube or somewhere like that.
Props to Leyda & the Rockmelon crew for taking the time to share their thoughts on first dance videos, and we’ll be keeping an eye on their blog to see what’s coming next!
Listen to the lyrics, please
June 28, 2008
Okay, so I’m sure that some of the lyrics aren’t 100% spot on in the songs we’ve previously pointed out for playing at your wedding, but there are always going to be songs that you definitely shouldn’t be dancing to for your first dance as the new couple, IMHO. Let’s regroup on a few of those. And yes, I’ll be writing another post like this in the future, and we’re more than happy to take your tips, if you’ve got ‘em.
Over at Bridalwave.tv, they’ve brought up two Sarah McLachlan songs, both of which are great songs as far as songs go, but I can’t say that “I Love You” is a solid suggestion, considering how the song “turns out” towards the end. They’re spot on about “Angel” on the same record, but let’s consider the whole song when putting these dances together, no?
Howabout this classy, super popular song that we all can probably recite the lyrics to at karaoke, but probably haven’t actually listened to: Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” made monstrously famous by the film Titanic.
That’s not to say the song doesn’t mean what we think it does, but it’s not really “about” starting off a life together. It’s kind of dedicated towards two people who’ve been separated, only to be back again “one day.” Check it out: “Love was when I loved you, One true time I hold to, In my life we’ll always go on.” Again, beautiful song, as songs go, but not the best choice for your first dance.
Going WAY back to the summer of 2006, the ever-awesome Stereogum offers up a post where people have stacked up poor song choices at weddings they’ve been to (or been in, no doubt - “My friend chose this one, really!”). Some highlights (and really, scroll all the way through) are the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” or an absolutely random choice with “One” by U2 - even The Edge says that “it’s not that kind of song.” Now if only commenter Jim was serious when he writes that he’d gone with NWA’s “I Ain’t The 1″ which Ice Cube sums it all up in the closing with “I don’t see no rings on this finger.”
While we’re having fun, we’d be remiss if not to point out that Ten Car Train’s got a great list of songs that you probably just shouldn’t be playing at your wedding, unless you’re typically that humorous. Not that they’re inappropriate for first / last / parent / whatever dances, but they’re ones that if you were to play them randomly throughout, without being completely tongue in cheek (most people aren’t, sorry), then you’ll leave a few guests confused. That said, I can certainly appreciate the use of a totally inappropriate song as your intro, just because it’ll be a good kicker, but playing Luda’s “Area Codes” in the middle of a dance-happy segment probably isn’t in your best interests, as good a song as it is. My personal fave of that bunch is Pearl Jam’s “Betterman,” which isn’t exactly about relationships where a lot of positive reinforcement is going on.
[ed: it should be noted that, sometime soon, we'll have a batch of Grand Entrance songs that you should *absolutely* use because they'll a) make a lot of your guests cringe inside, but dig it or b) make an absolutely heart-thumping moment become just a bit more awesome. So don't get all snippy if it seems like a contradiction to this post]
Grand Entrance Songs: Volume 1
May 17, 2008
One of the most awesome things about getting married is when you can collaborate with your spouse-to-be on various things. Everyone’s got their “things” they’re interested in. I’m typically given the “creative one” responsibilities while she’s much better with our budgets and a lot of the other responsibilities (timing, invitations, logistics). A big interest area for me is the music.
Now, I don’t think I’m going to be the mega-paranoid groom who is going to give a list of 100 songs to the deejay (I’ll probably most certainly have a “do-not-play” list, though), but as far as the entrance songs, various dances, etc., I’m all about it. One of the things that I’m regularly doing with friends and colleagues these days is throwing out random songs that fit certain parts of the reception, and the Grand Entrance - the part when the bridal party comes into the reception area - is one of my favorites. I’m sure this’ll be something we do here at Groomify a few times, so here goes my first try here on the site. Would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on entrance songs, even if my suggestions do all suck.
One last thing - keep in mind you really need probably 30-60 seconds of a song in order to handle the “build-up” plus the “introduction” your DJ or emcee is doing, so you gotta keep in mind that the lyrics of the song aren’t necessarily what you should be concerned about. In no particular order….
Underworld - “Born Slippy Nuxx”
You probably remember this one from Underworld, and that’s all well and good, but the reason I think it works is the intro works up nicely, and it’s definitely something that you can talk over. Plus, the bassline is killer.
MIMS - “This Is Why I’m Hot”
As suggested by Dave and Jeremy, you gotta include MIMS’ absolutely slow and low “This Is Why I’m Hot.”
Alright, the lyrics might not be 100% appropriate or anything, but that bassline on its own qualifies it for inclusion. Who doesn’t want to walk on in to pounding bass and some piano keys getting the quick-fast-inahurry treatment?
John Williams - “Imperial March”
Some of you might recognize this from your addiction to the Star Wars flicks, perhaps? Maybe the in-laws will be a little concerned upon hearing this, but if you have any sort of strings playing live, maybe it works? As suggested by Omar C on Twitter.
AC/DC - “Thunderstruck”
It’s got a great lengthy intro, some chanting, and flying guitars that will do nothing if your reception peeps aren’t out of their chairs. A+ from this groom-to-be.
Rob Dougan - “Clubbed To Death”
Sure, the name doesn’t exactly evoke a positive thought, but this jam from The Matrix will surely get people jived. The adjustment from the strings to the bass and horns gives you something fun to walk on in to without causing too much of a stir.
What else, guys?
Some thoughts on choosing music
May 3, 2008
Now, I’m nowhere near even thinking about what the music will be prior to and into our upcoming wedding, but after watching the following video, it might have me working a little harder to find something else just as “good” [read: effective].
After watching what Rob Paravonian has to say about Pachelbel’s Canon, you might feel the same way too, and make sure you show this to your SO. Hell, even this violinist who plays in weddings is telling you to think otherwise. I don’t know about you, but I like to consider this kind of thing when I’m looking at different people who’ll be working throughout an event like my wedding.
Just sayin’.
Gnarls Barkley’s sophomore followup - out early!
March 19, 2008
You thought you were gonna have to wait for Gnarls Barkley’s sophomore album, , until April, huh? Well, you (along with the rest of us) thought wrong. Paste’s Nikki King has the deets, including a quote from a press release that came out this morning citing that the “timing was just right to go for it.”
Well, if you’re going to put it that way. Typically, album shifts are to avoid other things (usually albums that are going to destroy said album that week), but I’m guessing this was just a situation where they wanted to let it fly. Dunno. What we do know is that if it’s anything like, or better than, Danger Mouse & Cee-Lo’s debut that it’ll be rocking school dances (do they still have those?) across the globe.
Fragma - “Toca’s Miracle 2008″
March 18, 2008
There’s no shortage of club bangers that make their way into weddings, especially when it comes to Grand Entrance songs (Zombie Nation, anyone?), and when it comes to Fragma, it doesn’t get any better. They’ve put out yet another version of “Toca’s Miracle” (trust me, you know it), and as Gerard McGarry says at Unreality Music, “You’ve got to admire the sheer nerve of Fragma - they’ve been re-mixing and re-releasing Toca’s Miracle since the original came out in 2000.” ’nuff said.
Enjoy the latest iteration here.
Recent Comments