We’re definitely getting into the season of weddings! In the past week, I’ve received at least three emails asking for song recommendations for wedding-friendly cover songs, first dances, etc. And I’m happy to oblige, but I’m just one man. I’m enlisting your help.
Here’s an email from Robert:
I am going to a wedding in London in May and have been asked to choose 7 songs for the reception party. I really like the idea of taking 7 covers of well known songs that people can dance to but with a twist. So I was wondering if you had any suggestions. The crowd will be a hip bunch of 30’s/40’s somethings.
What say you? Have some good suggestions for Robert?
It's a tricky one, as you know Brian from your Wedding DJ days, so easy to offend! I reckon they might be 80's and early 90's fans. Not sure what this hip thing is though…
1. Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy. Ok she's dead and that's a downer but the lyrics seem OK.
2. When you say nothing at all by Alison Kraus. Best known by Boyzone in the UK, but lovely lyrics for a first dance maybe.
3. Dancing Queen by Sixpence None the Richer – All the women will love a bit of Abba after Mamma Mia!
4. Hallelujah by Allison Crowe – the only version that won't have anyone throwing a 7!
5. Hooked on a Feeling by Vonda Sheppard…though i'd play the Hoffmeister personally, PROVIDED a few drinks have flowed by then.
6. Romeo & Juliet by Coles Whalen. Brian's favourite song and criminally omitted from the countdown
7. (for a laugh) (Your love has lifted me) Higher & higher by Dolly Parton – Come on, it's Dolly!!
Is Fields of Gold nearly unique in its celebration of mature committed love? A rare thing.
Mary Black does a nice version too.
I nominate Cassandra Wilson's cover of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon." Old marrieds get to feeling nostalgic at a wedding, and this gorgeous cover of a gorgeous song will have them all dancing and toasting.
If the crowd is in their 30s 40s, go with something really old or something they vaguely remember. (I disagree with Wayne on this one, sorry Wayne)
For me it is 'Love will keep us together' by Captain and Tenille hands down.
For a good laugh, throw in 'You're no good' by Linda Ronstadt.
And for a classic opening dance go with "L.O.V.E.' by Nat King Cole.
(all are covers btw)
How about 'Here Comes The Broad', performed by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Swing/big band usually gets the fun girls up and dancing!
Actually Coverville #558, songs 5-7 are possibilities.
Believe it or not, Jonathan Coulton's "Baby Got Back" was played at the last wedding I went to. Not even during the reception; it was part of the procession music.
Fall at Your Feet (orig Crowded House) by Mary Black – slow dance
Throw Your Arms Around Me (orig Hunters and Collectors) by Crowded House – or hundreds of others – another slow dance
Telstar (orig The Tornadoes) by The Models – just to dance themselves crazy
I'm a Believer (orig Neil Diamond) by the Monkees – ditto
Don't Fear the Reaper (orig Blue Oyster Cult) – by The Muttonbirds – double ditto
Song From Under the Floorboards (orig Magazine) – by My Friend the Chocolate Cake – in case they're cockroaches
Sunday Night Yap/Here Comes the Night (orig Them) – by Pierce Turner – in case anyone else wanted to marry them – or to clear the building
Yeah, perhaps a swing-ish cover of a classic might get some folks dancing. Dick Brave and the Backbeats "Complicated" or "Get the Party Started," Paul Anka's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," etc…
More cowbell!!
We used the Nutley Brass Band Ramones album for our dinner music. It was great. Perfect dinner music and had a cool element of an inside joke to people that knew the songs.
Norah Jones' cover of Wild Horses makes a nice slow song to dance to.
Does anoyone know a good cover of Richard Marx's Now and Forever, that was the song at a wedding I was at recently, that was nice.
Kinda tacky but I like old songs so The Wallflowers cover of Into the Mystic
"Stand by your Man" by Lyle Lovett
-Garth Brooks' rendition of Billy Joel's Shameless. Played it as the first dance at more than one wedding reception.
-In the same vein, Bob Dylan's "To Make you Feel My Love" has been covered multiple times, but the best wedding versions are by Garth Brooks and Billy Joel.
To echo the above poster – I wouldn't say it was tacky… The Wallflowers did a very nice cover of Into the Mystic for the first dance scene in American Wedding.
-Techno Chicken Dance. I abhor the Chicken Dance and whenever the guests are insistent enough to browbeat me into playing it, I exact my revenge by dropping the Techno version on them and forcing everyone to dance themselves into a coma.
Adele does a great cover of "To Make You Feel My Love" that I think is lovely.
I thought of a few others:
-Fatboy Slim's cover of "Kung Fu Fighting" is a good "get 'em on the floor" song.
-Brian's post reminded me of Brian Setzer's covers of Jump Jive and Wail, and Mack the Knife (my favorite version of that song.)
Ständchen, by Schubert
Devoted to You, by the Everly Brothers, covered by Melanie Doane.
Jamie Cullum — "I Get A Kick Out Of You" (Cole Porter)
Joss Stone — "L-O-V-E" (Nat King Cole)
Cassandra Wilson — "Someday My Prince Will Come" (from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
Shonen Knife — "Top of the World" (The Carpenters)
Tony Bennett/Dixie Chicks — "Lullaby of Broadway" (Doris Day)
Shelby Lynne — "Wishin' and Hopin'" (Dusty Springfield)
Luscious Jackson — "I've Got A Crush On You" (George Gershwin)
Techno Chicken Dance – Brilliant!
Jimmy Scott & Flea do the best version ever of Carpenter's "Love Will Keep Us Together"
Look for it on a disk called Lounge-A-Palooza, which has a bunch of other great cover trax.
Peter Gabriel – The Book of Love (Magnetic Fields)
Adele – To Make You Feel My Love
The Bird and the Bee – How Deep is Your Love
The Cranberries – Close To You
I don't know if this qualifies, but when my sister got married, she processed to the Wedding Version of Dancing Queen from the soundtrack to Muriel's Wedding. I think only the right people noticed. 😀
Herman's Hermits – White Wedding – Billy Idol
Kathryn Williams – Into your arms – Nick Cave
The Book of Love -The Magnetic Fields
In Your Eyes -by ANYONE