First dance songs that haven't been done to death
Reception Advice
By
on March 17, 2010
802
Thanks to Emily's Junk for submitting this to the OBB Flickr pool.
Not that I have anything against Etta Jame's "At Last" or Michael Buble's "Everything," — they're both perfect first dance songs — but I've heard them both WAY to many times at weddings. So, combining my database of musician friends (some of whom made the list), Shrie's music writing experience and Ariel's… whatever the hell Ariel listens to (which, I believe, includes everything from deep neo-soul to esoteric Euro dance pop), the OBB team has compiled a list of totally not overused first dance songs, from the silly, to the romantic, to the extremely controversial!
Oldies but Goodies — along the same lines of "At Last"
- 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
- (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 'n 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
- (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
- 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!
- Neutral Milk Hotel'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
- 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
- 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)
As in our last post for "Non-sappy father/daughter dance songs" if you've got any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
About Megan Finley
Megan Finley is the Managing Editor for Offbeat Bride and the Associate Publisher for the Offbeat Empire. When she's not slaving away for the Empire, she's sharing her dork side on her own blog and on Twitter @meganfinley.
Melissa said
We had a Halloween wedding with a gothic/medieval/renaissance/vampire/Lord Of The Rings mixture. So we used "Love Song For A Vampire" by Annie Lennox from the soundtrack to Bram Stoker's Dracula.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhG8zC4npsE
We also used it as our processional but done by a string trio. It was really perfect for us.
Fiona said
Neither of us wanted anything sappy, so we used Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." We got the idea from Shaun of the Dead and it was awesome. Even my conservative grandma thought it was very "us" and enjoyed it.
To dance with our parents we used "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder, which I think would also make for a happy, upbeat first dance.
Stephanie said
I have a playlist in a section of the notebook I always carry with me, just so I can scribble ideas in it.
Right now, my top picks for our first dance are:
"Everything" by Alanis Morisette
"Love You Til the End" by the Pogues
"Smother Me" by the Used
"The Best is Yet to Come" by Frank Sinatra
"The Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel
"Let's Do It" – the Etta James cover
We have pretty diverse musical tastes between us and right now he's pooping on dancing at all, so we'll see how that goes.
Cady said
Ella Fitzgerald's "From This Moment On" is ubpeat and very appropriate. It's what I'm playing for my first dance.
Lisa said
We did "You Brought a New Kind of Love" by Robin McKelle… it was very swingy and fun.
ashlie said
We had a terrible time trying to decide on a first dance song…I wanted "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", he wasn't into it, I wanted "Tribute" by Tenacious D, he wasn't into it…we went through a million choices, including "I Want to Know Your Plans" by Say Anything, one of my favourite songs of all time. Nothing was quite right until I suggested Ryan Adams' version of "Wonderwall" and we decided that was perfect. Sweet, but not sappy and not overdone.
jinx said
Ok, bear with me, because I have a feeling people are going to be losing their minds when they see the artist on this, but "One in a Million" by Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana/whatever. I know, I KNOW. But it's an awesome song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0w87D7aR_4
(ignore the video and listen to the song…totally sweet)
Tobi said
We danced to "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos.
Mz Fitz said
Good call on Chuck Ragan, Raina! I think we've got Jon Gaunt on the guest list.
Kari said
My fiance and I are likely dancing to All or Nothing by Theory of a Deadman and using Adam Sandlers Grow Old With Me for our cake cutting ceremony.
I want to do something different, but not tacky.
Michelle said
Some of the songs I've considered are:
Amazing – Aerosmith
I Thank You – ZZ Top
Is This Love – Bob Marley
I'll Stand By You – The Pretenders
What I'm actually working on is recording a blues cover of 'I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles. I'm going to sing it with my friends' Delta blues band backing me up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well. It'll be a surprise for my fiance.
ChristyM said
iTunes has a great list of music called Indie Rock Love Songs. Great stuff (most are artists already mentioned in post and comments). I picked most of my wedding music from here.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObj…1&wm=1
BellaZombirella said
I am having a hard time picking a song, but I am leaning towards "Feeling Good" bu MUSE! MUSE is our favorite band, and most of their songs are beautiful and passionate and lovely! I didn't know this song was a cover for the longest time lol! I think it is a perfect choice:
Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel
(refrain:)x2
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel
(refrain)
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
ALSO, for a bunch off offbeat free thinkers y'all are being mighty judgmental about ppl's songs! It's a very personal choice, and if someone wants a song about killing or drugs or what the hell ever that's their business! It's their day, not yours! Remember that before you sneak in a comment about how blah blah's song was SOoo inappropriate and hey don't you know that song's about eating baby kittens????
Love, BZ
Catalina said
I can understand the backlack against 'No Children', but if we have a song that's it. I have a wonderful memory of hands clasped tight screaming it at a concert and a smile filled kiss when it ended.
I love the Bright Eyes and Deathcab suggestions as well. Another great one is Cloud Cult's 'May Your Hearts Stay Strong'
Vicki said
Friends of mine walked in to the The Pixies, "Where is my Mind?" and I thought that was pretty cool.
Chelsea said
Thank you for this list and all the suggestions!!! I've been trying to find a really good but not over done song and had no luck, until now, thanks again!!
Angie said
We used Bon Jovi – Next 100 Years – it's our song and Bon Jovi played it at our first date. If I could go back and re-pick I'd use Stand Inside Your Love by Smashing Pumpkins. The hubs loves them and it's beautiful (It's also the inscription on the inside of his ring).
Cassandra said
We used "St. Lawrence River" by David Usher, but another good one is "Dance Me to the End of Love" by Leonard Cohen (there is a lovely cover by Madeline Peyroux if you don't love Mr. Cohen's voice or cadence). If you are looking for something darker, "Stirb Nicht vor Mir" by Rammstein is a good one too!
Jen said
We were an ocean apart for 1.4 years, and one of the songs that best fit that situation is "I Will" by the Beatles. I'd never heard it before, listened to it once, and fell in love. It's short, it's happy, it tells a story. Our last song will be "Gold" by Interference from the Once soundtrack. I used part of it for my mate's ring tone. Every time I hear it I think back to when we were apart. We can't tell if it's a happy song or not, but it's beautiful and has fantastic memories attached.
Rachel said
I love love love this list! I would also respectfully submit "You Can Close Your Eyes" by James Taylor. Soft and gentle and beautiful! I also love the José González version of Massive Attack's "Teardrop". Thanks for opening up such a great conversation!
And I agree…how about walking down the aisle songs. We are going to do "Magical Mystery Tour" by the Beatles (the slow part at the end is so regal with all the horns. love it!).
RainbowConnection said
Ingrid Michaelson's "Take Me the Way I am" — Adorable, fresh, upbeat. I love that song!
Maria said
We are dancing to "Somebody" by Depeche Mode.
Plymouth said
My sweetie and I are dancing to "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. Because it's the closest thing to "our song" that we have – shortly after we started dating we discovered that we both collect covers of it! There are a LOT of covers of it. No, it's not a love song, but, really, I prefer it that way. And we're having a totally goth wedding so it fits.
Though "Still Remains" by STP is a good one. I could imagine dancing to that
rodrigues said
I wanted our first dance to be Bright Eyes' "First Day of My Life" so bad, but we decided to dance to our live band… and it was a mariachi band. Still wish that had been the song!
Bridget said
Ceann' "Till Death Does It's Part" very tongue in cheek funny!