First dance songs that haven't been done to death #Reception Advice#first dance#music#playlist#wedding songs March 17 2010 | Megan Finley Horowitz meggyfin Photos by: Alexandra Roberts Photography Photo by Melissa Doyle of Casting Memories Not that I have anything against Etta James' "At Last" or Michael Buble's "Everything," — they're both perfect first dance songs — 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 Bride 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! 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 Related Post Use a projection screen or a big wall for a video game reception Have access to a big projection screen or a big white wall? Instead of using it for a slideshow, use it for epic video game... Read more (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 Related Post 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 Related Post 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 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 Related Post 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? Secrets from a dance teacher: 6 things you need to know about wedding dance lessons Many, many (but not all) weddings feature dancing in some fashion. There's the first dance, the parent and child dance, and then there's the reception. That's a lot of dancing!… Read More 11 modern waltzes for your first dance The first dance is something I'm particularly excited about, but here is the issue -- the groom only knows how to waltz in 3/4 time. So here's the deal… I'd… Read More 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 and went right into a… Read More Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo 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! @meggyfin @thedashanddine @meggyfin PREVIOUS Juicy wedding photography from Pixie Vision Photography NEXT Chantal & Sean's dark red and black, rock 'n roll marriage party Show/Hide comments [ 1007 ] also try: The Cliks' "Nobody Else Will" (hear it) Reply We're planning on The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned) by The Decemberists! (hear it) Reply This was one of the songs we had the guitarist play when we walked away after the ceremony. It's such a beautiful melody. The Crane Wife has some great acoustic bits in it too. Reply Try "Swept Away" by Full Turnout. says it all. Reply This list is AMAZING. I have struggled with this because I didn't want a cheesy song that has been used forever and ever but still wanted to capture the beauty of the moment. LOVE THIS LIST!!! Reply William Shatner-Familiar Love Reply 'Everything' by Lifehouse or 'I Love You' by Climax Blues Band Reply We didn't dance at our wedding, but if we would have, we would have danced to "Dance With Me Now, Darling" by Hem. (hear it) Reply also My Morning Jacket's "Thank You Too" (hear it) Reply i like the idea of Everclear's "I Will Buy You a New Life." (hear it) Reply No Magnetic Fields?! Sacrilege! Either "It's Only Time" (hear it) or "The Book of Love." (hear it) Reply I 100% cosign. Our procession started with "The Book of Love" and then I walked in to Nick Cave's "Into My Arms." (hear it) Both songs still give me goosebumps. Reply We had our friend preform Into My Arms during our ceremony, but our first song was a deeper tribute: Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" (hear it) Reply That Peter Gabriel song, Book of Love is a cover of the Magnetic Fields song, btw. So…yeah. Reply We used The Pogues "A Rainy Night In Soho." It begins: "i've been loving you a long time, down all the years, down all the days…" (hear it) perfect. i reccomend it. Reply Undecided between a few songs, we went with the one we sing to each other the most, and rainy night in soho won out! Somuchlove!!! Reply The second I heard Blood Bank by Bon Iver I knew were I to get married, that song had to be it. It's slow, but not too slow and absolutely beautiful. (hear it) Reply We wanted a more obscure first dance song, something we hadn't heard a million times that would truly be "our" song. We settled on Little Trip to Heaven (on the Wings of Your Love) by Tom Waits. It's blues-ey and soulful and very romantic. Also, the muted trumpet gives it kind or a thirties/forties feel to it. Reply That's great! My fiance and I are playing with the idea of using Tom Waits' "Picture in a Frame." It's simple but beautiful…man, that guy can write a song. Reply We're having "warmness on the soul" by avenged sevenfold…… The most beautiful song we've heard and its almost as if they're telling our story Reply We are gonna use "walking on the moon"The Police. so fun:) (hear it) Reply My hubby and I danced to Toto's Africa at our wedding, so seeing it on this list made me smile like crazy. 🙂 Reply "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. It's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do." We're not gonna dance, but I am singing this song to Groom for sure." Reply my fiance and I LOVE Toto's Africa!! We are having it as our Recessional, and I imagine it will be requested many times at the reception…..we've gotten out friends hooked, too! Reply See also : Dean Martin's "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" for upbeat jazzy awesomeness. (hear it) Reply We're doing "I'll Cover You," from Rent (hear it) — we're both big fans of the musical, and it's such a sweet, upbeat love song. If my fiancee liked the Magnetic Fields a little better (read: at all), we'd be doing "It's Only Time," which is a slow, incredibly sweet song about life-long commitment (by a gay artist, which makes it even more poignant when he sings "marry me"). (hear it) Reply We thought of "I'll Cover You" also! We are going with "First Day of My Life" (hear it) because of sentimental value, but we're going to use "I'll Cover You" as our last song. Lurv! Reply i've wanted i'll cover you to be part of my wedding ever since i was a sophomore in highschool Reply Yaaaay! We're using Chuck Barry's "Never Can Tell" in June! We have a whole little swing routine and moves in honor of Pulp Fiction (our favorite movie). Reply *Gasp* I love that! Awesome choice. Was planning on learning a swing routine too :). Now I'm thinking "Girl, you'll be a woman soon" also from Pulp Fiction would be a good choice though. (hear it) Reply I think you should probably take "No Children" off the list, considering it's about a marriage ending and ending badly. Not sure even an unconventional wedding needs a song with the lyrics, "I hope you die, I hope we both die." Reply Alyssa: Au contraire! We've actually had a several OBBs dance to No Children at their wedding, and were very happy with their choice. Which is why I included it! Reply We're actually thinking of using that song. We've been Mountain Goats fans for a very long time, and that's one of our favorite sing-at-the-top-of-our-lungs road trip songs. Reply This is why music is becoming the most difficult part of planning. If I simply chose my favorite songs, we'd be listening to breakup songs for hours. Some of my favorite artists have made ONLY anti -love songs! However, I'm determined to have positive vibes going so I've been scouring the web for love songs that don't suck. Luckily I like a wide variety of music (just not many love songs) so there's a lot to choose from. I passed on "No Children" and added "This Year" to our playlist – which isn't about love, but it's not about breaking up so, yay. Reply The Mountain Goats have this great song called "Last Man on Earth" that I think is totally wedding-appropriate. Or even something like "Going to Georgia" or "Genesis 30:30" or "Sax Rohmer #1". Reply Ingrid Michaelson's cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" So beautiful! (hear it) Reply For the past 18 years, it's been UB40's version of (Can't Help) Falling in Love With You. (hear it) I am always astonished when I don't see that song on "Offbeat first Dance Songs" ESPECIALLY for "Whirlwind" romances (like mine! 😉 Reply I'm glad you both mentioned this song! I'm a HUGE Elvis fan, so I love the classic version, but UB40's is fun and upbeat too! I always thought I would want this song to be played at my wedding. 🙂 Reply Just for reference, the Elvis version is titled "fools rush in" sometimes if you have trouble finding it Reply look at Can't Help Falling in Love, by ThePianoGuys, it's a gorgeous arrangement! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZQNe8IMLtQ OR "You and I," (hear it) or "The Way I Am." (hear it) both amazing Reply We danced to You and I at our wedding. Everyone loved it. Reply I am totally considering doing a recording of this for my first dance song! 🙂 Reply Oh my gosh, you and me both! I've got to figure out how to get a band together to do the background, but I'd like to do the vocals of "The Way I Am" and surprise my man with it for our first dance. Now that will be a serious coup if I can pull it off. Reply I've always liked Neat Little Domestic Life – Of Montreal (hear it) Do You Realize? – Flaming Lips (hear it) Hotel Yorba – White Stripes (hear it) Reply Kate, Peter Gabriel wrote "The Book of Love," covered by both The Magnetic Fields and Now It's Overhead. We're thinking Dean and Britta's "You Turn My Head Around" (hear it) or The Band of Blacky Ranchette's "Getting It Made." (hear it) Reply Mz Fitz: Credit where credit's due! The Peter Gabriel version of "The Book of Love" is actually a cover of Stephin Merritt's original. Reply But he put it on his "Covers" album… so, that made me believe it was a cover, no? Reply Crazy Love by Van Morrison!!! (hear it") Reply My fiance and I are dancing to Crazy Love. Love it! 🙂 Reply "Hallelujah" cover by Jeff Buckley (hear it) No idea what its even about but it's what i'd use if i could do again…. 🙂 Reply I don't know who performed in, but my cousin had that song for her first dance song, too, and it ha a lot of meaning to them and such. They loved it! I know at least one verse's inspiration came from the Biblical Samson and Delilah. Reply "You Picked Me" by A Fine Frenzy. VERY sweet and touching, but not overdone at all! This is our song for sure! <3 (hear it) (Thanks for all the other ideas. I'm iPod-DJing my wedding and I'll have to add these!) Reply I love, love, love the Mountain Goats, and I'm all for being quirky, but "No Children"?? That song is the most vicious breakup anthem of all time. "Woke Up New" might be better. Reply I think that "Woke Up New" is a super sad breakup song! I like "No Children," I feel like even thought the couple is destructive, they will always go down together, even if it is in flames. Reply For the Mountain Goats I'd go with "Old College Try." I LOVE that song, but we are going with Cosmo Jarvis' "Gay Pirates" 🙂 Reply My brother and his wife used "Girlfriend" ("Summertime Rolls") by Janes Addiction. It didn't go over well with the 'rents, but everyone else loved it. (hear it) Reply My mom hates the original of this song, but loves the cover version by Puracane, slower and more traditionally "pretty," but just as sweet, subversive, and sexy. Reply My fiancee is a huge Goo Goo Dolls fan and he has the sheet music from Iris tatooed on his back. So he's going to record a version of Iris for us to dance together to. Reply Okay! We're getting ladies who are pretty heated up about the "'No Children' controversy of 2010" but I'd like to point out that a few former OBBs have used that song much to their delight, including this wedding. So let's keep the comments respectful. And let's hear more ideas! Reply Ray LaMontagne – Forever My Friend (hear it) Reply Can I hear the cover? I want this to be my wedding song but my fiance isn't a fan of the neutral milk hotel version. Reply When we started our wedding planning, the first song was the first thing that was taken care of. My husband said "I'm on it." Who knew it was that improtant to him? I should have know since he is in a band… We used "I love how you love me" but rather than the original or one of the many covers, he went a step further and got a whole new cover. My husband is friends with Jonah Matranga from Far who will record any song you want on a sliding scale. He did an AMAZING job and we gave a CD of his song and the original music the best man composed for the ceremony as favors. Reply This is so sweet! Thank you! Glad you loved it as much as I loved making it. Jonah Reply I love Jonah! He's the best! We'll definitely have "Oh I'm so lucky" and "smile" aaaand "I want you to be my witness"! Reply our song is :Stand by Me: by Ben E King…dating myself I know, but it never fails to move me when i hear it and we've been married 25 years now…sigh…its wonderful to still be in love Reply We are planning on "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. So funky and jazzy and sweet, I can't wait for our first dance! (hear it) Reply AAAAAH! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Cat Power – Sea of Love is on here. That won't be our first dance song (not sure we're even having a first dance) but that is OUR song! We heard a few different versions of it randomly together at different events when we started dating and it just stuck! *swoon* Reply i think we're going to use tracy chapman's "you're the one." (hear it) i love how it's not super gooey-lovey-dovey; i think the realism of it makes it so much more romantic than a lot of more traditional ones (not that i don't adore some ooey-gooey sappy songs! i just want something more meaningful for this) Reply oldies — "Calico Skies" by the Beatles (hear it) indie — "Jesus, Etc" by Wilco (hear it) indie folk — "Love Serenade" by the Waifs (hear it) "Tango" by Patty Larkin (or anything off her new "25" album… it's 25 love songs, but not lovey-dovey songs… some are sad, some are beautiful, some are just weird…) (hear it) "you" (from Kitchen Radio album) or "you meet the nicest people in your dreams" by Peter Mulvey (hear it) Reply Calico Skies is actually a Paul McCartney Song, not a Beatles song. It's off his album Flaming Pie, which was released in 1997. Reply We are dancing to "Oh,It is Love" by Hellogoodbye, sung as a duet by the best man and my fiance's sister. Its kinda one of our songs (we have many!). I'm really looking forward to it! (hear it) Reply We just decided on "Oh, It Is Love!" How did you dance to it? Neither one of us are very good dancers. We always pictured a slow song as our first dance. Now we're terrified lol. But we love this song. It suits us so well. Reply Not sure if there's going to be a way for us to have a first dance given the way our wedding's rolling, but if we have the option, we might use "This Must Be the Place" by Talking Heads. David Byrne <3 (hear it) Reply DH & I danced to "I Wanna Grow Old With You"! It just seemed so perfect for us and it's such a sweet but funny song. We got so many compliments. And I love that it's not over done. Reply I've always planned to play "life, in a nutshell," by Barenaked Ladies. It was originally written about the lead singers relationship with his wife but it fits an couple who are as happy together as they alone. (hear it) I also love the moludy peaches song that's used in Juno. (hear it) Reply we danced to ernestine anderson's version of "as long as i live." (listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryy7NMsZb0g&feature=PlayList&p=0D5350DB8F5D3298&index=0&playnext=1 )it's a classic swing song (think sinatra or buble), but not one that is ubiquitous or overplayed–i'd never even heard of it until two days before our wedding. cheesy? yes. danceable? absolutely. =) Reply My pick is Ray LaMontagne's "you are the best thing." (hear it. How about a list for offbeat songs to walk into the reception? I am having a hard time with that one. Reply we are using "little green bag" by the george baker selection. this is more of an homage to reservoir dogs (and it has fantastic opening music). (hear it) Reply I think we're going to play Sea of Love by Cat Power as our processional; we're walking out together, and having and ocean side wedding, and it would be really sweet. Reply We are walking into Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows. Its fun and up beat. (hear it) My future sister in law walked in to Jump by House of Pain, it made the whole dance floor do just that. (hear it) Reply We're going with 'Just Like Heaven' by The Cure. It's 'our song' and was playing on the jukebox in our local pub right before he proposed. We're also having the lyrics read during our (church) ceremony. (hear it) Reply I LOVE Neko Case, but I'm not sure that "this Tornado Loves You" is a good idea. I guess it would would if you're in an openly co-dependent relationship, or are marrying a stalker. Seriously, you and your guests would have to have really good senses of humor to have just about any Neko Case song. Reply I walked in to Sufajn Stevens – The dress looks nice to you (hear it). We danced to Sufjan's – To Be Alone With You. (hear it) We are kinda Sufjan fanatics, but what can I say? It is good wedding music! Reply We used "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (hear it) but "Sweet Darlin'" By She & Him was a close second. (hear it) Reply That sounds wonderful! I love Maps! Reply i'm walking in to the acoustic version of "maps". YYYs are my fave! 🙂 Reply We're doing Adele's cover of Dylan's Make You Feel My Love, which I love to pieces. Sweet and soulful. (hear it) Reply That gave me chills! Reply We are too! It's even weirder that this post came right after the one above it because my future husband still wants to use MAPS. We also tossed around Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Reply The Cure – Mint Car (hear it) The first verse is perfect can you get any better than… The sun is up I'm so happy I could scream! And there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be Than here with you It's perfect It's all I ever wanted I almost can't believe that it's for real Reply Excellent choice! That is such a fun, happy song. Reply Love this song! Love The Cure!!! Great choice! 🙂 Reply "In Your Eyes" always brings a tear to my eye, especially the acoustic version. I love it! "I Say a Little Prayer" is also a good one – very sweet and fun. Even an atheist like me loves it! Reply Oooh! The cover of "We've Got a World That Swings" by They Might Be Giants. We're massive TMBG fans. "I'd like to take you on this wild, wonderful venture, fly like a kite through space, no strings…" Reply TMBG all the way! "Another First Kiss" on their Mink Car album. Reply i am slightly offput that there are no rock, metal or industrial songs on here. BUT, we alts/goths/metalheads don't really need help picking out songs 😉 we tend to excel at it in the first place 😉 Reply Lily! Please suggest some! I was at a total loss. And no one I asked had any ideas for me. If you suggest some I will totally add them and I would be grateful to you! Reply We're into punk, old rock n roll, and rockabilly. We did a swing dance to the pop-punk song "I'm a Pretender" by The Exploding Hearts. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKls3n6lpWU) Other songs we considered: "Do you wanna dance" (hear it), "I wanna be your boyfriend" (hear it), "Oh oh I love her so", "she's the one" – by the Ramones Rockabilly Ramones covers by Full Blown Cherry "I will rock and roll with you" (hear it), "She my baby" by Johnny Cash "Oh Boy" (hear it), "It's so Easy" (hear it), "Everyday" (hear it), "You're the one", "I don't care (baby your so square) by Buddy Holly (hear it) "Come on, let's go" by Ritchie Valens (hear it) "Church on Sunday" (hear it), "Poprocks and Coke" (hear it), "80" by Green Day "Chocolate Eyes" (hear it), "He's All Mine" (hear it – Kim Lenz Other ideas: Me first and the gimme gimmes does covers of various popular songs "1-2 crush on you" (hear it) – the clash "what's inside a girl" – the cramps "mass pike" – the get up kids (hear it) "great expectations" (hear it), "old white lincoln" (hear it) – gaslight anthem "feel like makin love" (hear it), "more today than yesterday" – goldfinger "sweetnes" – jimmy eat world (hear it) "do you wanna touch me?" – joan jett (hear it) "what a wonderful world" – joey ramone (hear it) "this is for real" (hear it), "it had to be you" (hear it) – motion city soundtrack "and i will be with you" (hear it), "i just wanna do it with you" (hear it)- mr. t experience "i will dare" – the replacements (hear it) "hot un" – granpaboy "question" (hear it), "indefinitley" – the old 97s "valentine" (hear it), "our love" (hear it) – rhett miller "luv luv luv", "kissed" – pansy division "love you in the fall" – paul westerberg (hear it) "love you til the end" – the pogues (hear it) "the sun always shines around you" (hear it), "fuck the world" (hear it) – the queers "i know" – save ferris "i think we're alone now" – penny and the loafers "punk rock princess" – something corporate (hear it> "what i like about you", "i never promised you a rose garden" – the suicide machines (hear it) "i wanna waltz" (hear it), "i'll be you my heart" – wanda jackson "when i'm with you, i'm ok" (hear it), "inside me, inside you" (hear it) – ultimate fakebook "for always" (hear it), "here with me" (hear it), "without you" (hear it) – mxpx 'under the hedge" – ted leo (hear it) "i won't let me", "in love this way", "good good things" – the descendents "carry you" (hear it), "think the world" (hear it) – all "olive me" – nofx "this time darlin" – social distortion (hear it) "best of me" – the starting line (hear it) "no place feels like home" – midtown (hear it) "today's the day", "have you ever", "sweet sweet boy" – the unlovables "cupid's victim" – tiger army (hear it) "sealed with a kiss" – the eyeliners (hear it) uh yeah … so that's a lot but there's probably more …. Reply Ha. You just named, like, half of the music that was on my wedding mix. My husband and I had our first dance to the "I Want You Around" by The Ramones. The song "Danny Says" is actually really sweet too, but something other than junior high dance step pace was a little too much for us. Reply I'd love some suggestions for first dance songs that are a bit rock-n-roll. Was thinking of "All I want" by Staind? (hear it) Reply We danced to the Smashing Pumpkins version of "My Blue Heaven" for our first dance. Hubz is a HUGE SP fan… it worked out great, it's a waltz. (hear it) Reply We're dancing our first dance to "Chariots Rise (Acoustic)" by Lizzie West and Baba Buffalo. The song is originally from the movie Secretary, but this version is much sweeter and softer. (It also replaces the line "what a fool am I to fall so in love" with "what grace have I to fall so in love") (hear it) Reply "Secretary" is my favorite movie of all time. I love, love, love the song too. I may even put Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man" to throw people off too. 😉 (hear it) Reply My husband surprised me with our first dance song. It was How Deep is the Ocean by Billie Holiday. (hear it) Reply I don't care how old-meme it is; we are totally Rickrolling everyone for our first dance. If you take the time to listen to it, it's actually a sweet song about love and commitment 😀 Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down… Reply I wish I could find a photo someone sent me once – it was a Rickroll cake, just said…I think… "Never gonna give you up or dessert you." Coordinating wedding cake? :-p Reply Last summer, my boyfriend volunteered to dj for some friends' wedding. She very desperately wanted to have The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" be their first dance, and my boyfriend balked because it's not very first-dance-able. He searched high and low, and he found a mashup of The Commodores' "Easy Like Sunday Morning" with the Cure's "Just Like Heaven". It was AWESOME. (hear it) Reply D'oh! Did I just shart myself?? Awesome! Reply This may be my favorite comment ever left on Offbeat Bride. I just honest to god LOLed. Reply http://www.stupidfresh.com//brat_easyheaven_brat_mashup.mp3 Reply Seriously, you just saved my life! My wedding is 20 days away and I still couldn't find our first dance song. I am using the mashup between easy like sunday morning and the cure- just like heaven. I cried when I heard this, it's perfect. Thank you thank you thank you! Xox Reply I really like the cover by Gatsby's American Dream. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4cJQtZKnA Reply probably Cure´s Lovecats, that´s the one the DJ played during our engagement, on the club where we first maked out! Reply Love this list! Really liking the She & Him suggestions. Might I also offer The Blow's "Parentheses" to the indie category? (hear it) Reply We are using this somewhere in our wedding! Also, "Come On Petunia." I love The Blow. (hear it) Reply Read more comments 1 2 3 … 17 › Join the conversation Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Sign me up for your offbeat awesomeness newsletter! No-drama comment policy Part of what makes the Offbeat Empire different is our commitment to civil, constructive commenting. Make sure you're familiar with our no-drama comment policy. Biz owners & wedding bloggers Please just use your real name in your comment, not your business name or blog title. Our comments are not the place to pimp your website. If you want to promote your stuff on Offbeat Bride, join us as an advertiser instead.
This was one of the songs we had the guitarist play when we walked away after the ceremony. It's such a beautiful melody. The Crane Wife has some great acoustic bits in it too. Reply
This list is AMAZING. I have struggled with this because I didn't want a cheesy song that has been used forever and ever but still wanted to capture the beauty of the moment. LOVE THIS LIST!!! Reply
We didn't dance at our wedding, but if we would have, we would have danced to "Dance With Me Now, Darling" by Hem. (hear it) Reply
No Magnetic Fields?! Sacrilege! Either "It's Only Time" (hear it) or "The Book of Love." (hear it) Reply
I 100% cosign. Our procession started with "The Book of Love" and then I walked in to Nick Cave's "Into My Arms." (hear it) Both songs still give me goosebumps. Reply
We had our friend preform Into My Arms during our ceremony, but our first song was a deeper tribute: Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" (hear it) Reply
We used The Pogues "A Rainy Night In Soho." It begins: "i've been loving you a long time, down all the years, down all the days…" (hear it) perfect. i reccomend it. Reply
Undecided between a few songs, we went with the one we sing to each other the most, and rainy night in soho won out! Somuchlove!!! Reply
The second I heard Blood Bank by Bon Iver I knew were I to get married, that song had to be it. It's slow, but not too slow and absolutely beautiful. (hear it) Reply
We wanted a more obscure first dance song, something we hadn't heard a million times that would truly be "our" song. We settled on Little Trip to Heaven (on the Wings of Your Love) by Tom Waits. It's blues-ey and soulful and very romantic. Also, the muted trumpet gives it kind or a thirties/forties feel to it. Reply
That's great! My fiance and I are playing with the idea of using Tom Waits' "Picture in a Frame." It's simple but beautiful…man, that guy can write a song. Reply
We're having "warmness on the soul" by avenged sevenfold…… The most beautiful song we've heard and its almost as if they're telling our story Reply
My hubby and I danced to Toto's Africa at our wedding, so seeing it on this list made me smile like crazy. 🙂 Reply
"It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. It's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do." We're not gonna dance, but I am singing this song to Groom for sure." Reply
my fiance and I LOVE Toto's Africa!! We are having it as our Recessional, and I imagine it will be requested many times at the reception…..we've gotten out friends hooked, too! Reply
See also : Dean Martin's "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" for upbeat jazzy awesomeness. (hear it) Reply
We're doing "I'll Cover You," from Rent (hear it) — we're both big fans of the musical, and it's such a sweet, upbeat love song. If my fiancee liked the Magnetic Fields a little better (read: at all), we'd be doing "It's Only Time," which is a slow, incredibly sweet song about life-long commitment (by a gay artist, which makes it even more poignant when he sings "marry me"). (hear it) Reply
We thought of "I'll Cover You" also! We are going with "First Day of My Life" (hear it) because of sentimental value, but we're going to use "I'll Cover You" as our last song. Lurv! Reply
Yaaaay! We're using Chuck Barry's "Never Can Tell" in June! We have a whole little swing routine and moves in honor of Pulp Fiction (our favorite movie). Reply
*Gasp* I love that! Awesome choice. Was planning on learning a swing routine too :). Now I'm thinking "Girl, you'll be a woman soon" also from Pulp Fiction would be a good choice though. (hear it) Reply
I think you should probably take "No Children" off the list, considering it's about a marriage ending and ending badly. Not sure even an unconventional wedding needs a song with the lyrics, "I hope you die, I hope we both die." Reply
Alyssa: Au contraire! We've actually had a several OBBs dance to No Children at their wedding, and were very happy with their choice. Which is why I included it! Reply
We're actually thinking of using that song. We've been Mountain Goats fans for a very long time, and that's one of our favorite sing-at-the-top-of-our-lungs road trip songs. Reply
This is why music is becoming the most difficult part of planning. If I simply chose my favorite songs, we'd be listening to breakup songs for hours. Some of my favorite artists have made ONLY anti -love songs! However, I'm determined to have positive vibes going so I've been scouring the web for love songs that don't suck. Luckily I like a wide variety of music (just not many love songs) so there's a lot to choose from. I passed on "No Children" and added "This Year" to our playlist – which isn't about love, but it's not about breaking up so, yay. Reply
The Mountain Goats have this great song called "Last Man on Earth" that I think is totally wedding-appropriate. Or even something like "Going to Georgia" or "Genesis 30:30" or "Sax Rohmer #1". Reply
For the past 18 years, it's been UB40's version of (Can't Help) Falling in Love With You. (hear it) I am always astonished when I don't see that song on "Offbeat first Dance Songs" ESPECIALLY for "Whirlwind" romances (like mine! 😉 Reply
I'm glad you both mentioned this song! I'm a HUGE Elvis fan, so I love the classic version, but UB40's is fun and upbeat too! I always thought I would want this song to be played at my wedding. 🙂 Reply
Just for reference, the Elvis version is titled "fools rush in" sometimes if you have trouble finding it Reply
look at Can't Help Falling in Love, by ThePianoGuys, it's a gorgeous arrangement! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZQNe8IMLtQ
Oh my gosh, you and me both! I've got to figure out how to get a band together to do the background, but I'd like to do the vocals of "The Way I Am" and surprise my man with it for our first dance. Now that will be a serious coup if I can pull it off. Reply
I've always liked Neat Little Domestic Life – Of Montreal (hear it) Do You Realize? – Flaming Lips (hear it) Hotel Yorba – White Stripes (hear it) Reply
Kate, Peter Gabriel wrote "The Book of Love," covered by both The Magnetic Fields and Now It's Overhead. We're thinking Dean and Britta's "You Turn My Head Around" (hear it) or The Band of Blacky Ranchette's "Getting It Made." (hear it) Reply
Mz Fitz: Credit where credit's due! The Peter Gabriel version of "The Book of Love" is actually a cover of Stephin Merritt's original. Reply
"Hallelujah" cover by Jeff Buckley (hear it) No idea what its even about but it's what i'd use if i could do again…. 🙂 Reply
I don't know who performed in, but my cousin had that song for her first dance song, too, and it ha a lot of meaning to them and such. They loved it! I know at least one verse's inspiration came from the Biblical Samson and Delilah. Reply
"You Picked Me" by A Fine Frenzy. VERY sweet and touching, but not overdone at all! This is our song for sure! <3 (hear it) (Thanks for all the other ideas. I'm iPod-DJing my wedding and I'll have to add these!) Reply
I love, love, love the Mountain Goats, and I'm all for being quirky, but "No Children"?? That song is the most vicious breakup anthem of all time. "Woke Up New" might be better. Reply
I think that "Woke Up New" is a super sad breakup song! I like "No Children," I feel like even thought the couple is destructive, they will always go down together, even if it is in flames. Reply
For the Mountain Goats I'd go with "Old College Try." I LOVE that song, but we are going with Cosmo Jarvis' "Gay Pirates" 🙂 Reply
My brother and his wife used "Girlfriend" ("Summertime Rolls") by Janes Addiction. It didn't go over well with the 'rents, but everyone else loved it. (hear it) Reply
My mom hates the original of this song, but loves the cover version by Puracane, slower and more traditionally "pretty," but just as sweet, subversive, and sexy. Reply
My fiancee is a huge Goo Goo Dolls fan and he has the sheet music from Iris tatooed on his back. So he's going to record a version of Iris for us to dance together to. Reply
Okay! We're getting ladies who are pretty heated up about the "'No Children' controversy of 2010" but I'd like to point out that a few former OBBs have used that song much to their delight, including this wedding. So let's keep the comments respectful. And let's hear more ideas! Reply
Can I hear the cover? I want this to be my wedding song but my fiance isn't a fan of the neutral milk hotel version. Reply
When we started our wedding planning, the first song was the first thing that was taken care of. My husband said "I'm on it." Who knew it was that improtant to him? I should have know since he is in a band… We used "I love how you love me" but rather than the original or one of the many covers, he went a step further and got a whole new cover. My husband is friends with Jonah Matranga from Far who will record any song you want on a sliding scale. He did an AMAZING job and we gave a CD of his song and the original music the best man composed for the ceremony as favors. Reply
I love Jonah! He's the best! We'll definitely have "Oh I'm so lucky" and "smile" aaaand "I want you to be my witness"! Reply
our song is :Stand by Me: by Ben E King…dating myself I know, but it never fails to move me when i hear it and we've been married 25 years now…sigh…its wonderful to still be in love Reply
We are planning on "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. So funky and jazzy and sweet, I can't wait for our first dance! (hear it) Reply
AAAAAH! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Cat Power – Sea of Love is on here. That won't be our first dance song (not sure we're even having a first dance) but that is OUR song! We heard a few different versions of it randomly together at different events when we started dating and it just stuck! *swoon* Reply
i think we're going to use tracy chapman's "you're the one." (hear it) i love how it's not super gooey-lovey-dovey; i think the realism of it makes it so much more romantic than a lot of more traditional ones (not that i don't adore some ooey-gooey sappy songs! i just want something more meaningful for this) Reply
oldies — "Calico Skies" by the Beatles (hear it) indie — "Jesus, Etc" by Wilco (hear it) indie folk — "Love Serenade" by the Waifs (hear it) "Tango" by Patty Larkin (or anything off her new "25" album… it's 25 love songs, but not lovey-dovey songs… some are sad, some are beautiful, some are just weird…) (hear it) "you" (from Kitchen Radio album) or "you meet the nicest people in your dreams" by Peter Mulvey (hear it) Reply
Calico Skies is actually a Paul McCartney Song, not a Beatles song. It's off his album Flaming Pie, which was released in 1997. Reply
We are dancing to "Oh,It is Love" by Hellogoodbye, sung as a duet by the best man and my fiance's sister. Its kinda one of our songs (we have many!). I'm really looking forward to it! (hear it) Reply
We just decided on "Oh, It Is Love!" How did you dance to it? Neither one of us are very good dancers. We always pictured a slow song as our first dance. Now we're terrified lol. But we love this song. It suits us so well. Reply
Not sure if there's going to be a way for us to have a first dance given the way our wedding's rolling, but if we have the option, we might use "This Must Be the Place" by Talking Heads. David Byrne <3 (hear it) Reply
DH & I danced to "I Wanna Grow Old With You"! It just seemed so perfect for us and it's such a sweet but funny song. We got so many compliments. And I love that it's not over done. Reply
I've always planned to play "life, in a nutshell," by Barenaked Ladies. It was originally written about the lead singers relationship with his wife but it fits an couple who are as happy together as they alone. (hear it) I also love the moludy peaches song that's used in Juno. (hear it) Reply
we danced to ernestine anderson's version of "as long as i live." (listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryy7NMsZb0g&feature=PlayList&p=0D5350DB8F5D3298&index=0&playnext=1 )it's a classic swing song (think sinatra or buble), but not one that is ubiquitous or overplayed–i'd never even heard of it until two days before our wedding. cheesy? yes. danceable? absolutely. =) Reply
My pick is Ray LaMontagne's "you are the best thing." (hear it. How about a list for offbeat songs to walk into the reception? I am having a hard time with that one. Reply
we are using "little green bag" by the george baker selection. this is more of an homage to reservoir dogs (and it has fantastic opening music). (hear it) Reply
I think we're going to play Sea of Love by Cat Power as our processional; we're walking out together, and having and ocean side wedding, and it would be really sweet. Reply
We are walking into Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows. Its fun and up beat. (hear it) My future sister in law walked in to Jump by House of Pain, it made the whole dance floor do just that. (hear it) Reply
We're going with 'Just Like Heaven' by The Cure. It's 'our song' and was playing on the jukebox in our local pub right before he proposed. We're also having the lyrics read during our (church) ceremony. (hear it) Reply
I LOVE Neko Case, but I'm not sure that "this Tornado Loves You" is a good idea. I guess it would would if you're in an openly co-dependent relationship, or are marrying a stalker. Seriously, you and your guests would have to have really good senses of humor to have just about any Neko Case song. Reply
I walked in to Sufajn Stevens – The dress looks nice to you (hear it). We danced to Sufjan's – To Be Alone With You. (hear it) We are kinda Sufjan fanatics, but what can I say? It is good wedding music! Reply
We used "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (hear it) but "Sweet Darlin'" By She & Him was a close second. (hear it) Reply
We're doing Adele's cover of Dylan's Make You Feel My Love, which I love to pieces. Sweet and soulful. (hear it) Reply
We are too! It's even weirder that this post came right after the one above it because my future husband still wants to use MAPS. We also tossed around Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Reply
The Cure – Mint Car (hear it) The first verse is perfect can you get any better than… The sun is up I'm so happy I could scream! And there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be Than here with you It's perfect It's all I ever wanted I almost can't believe that it's for real Reply
"In Your Eyes" always brings a tear to my eye, especially the acoustic version. I love it! "I Say a Little Prayer" is also a good one – very sweet and fun. Even an atheist like me loves it! Reply
Oooh! The cover of "We've Got a World That Swings" by They Might Be Giants. We're massive TMBG fans. "I'd like to take you on this wild, wonderful venture, fly like a kite through space, no strings…" Reply
i am slightly offput that there are no rock, metal or industrial songs on here. BUT, we alts/goths/metalheads don't really need help picking out songs 😉 we tend to excel at it in the first place 😉 Reply
Lily! Please suggest some! I was at a total loss. And no one I asked had any ideas for me. If you suggest some I will totally add them and I would be grateful to you! Reply
We're into punk, old rock n roll, and rockabilly. We did a swing dance to the pop-punk song "I'm a Pretender" by The Exploding Hearts. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKls3n6lpWU) Other songs we considered: "Do you wanna dance" (hear it), "I wanna be your boyfriend" (hear it), "Oh oh I love her so", "she's the one" – by the Ramones Rockabilly Ramones covers by Full Blown Cherry "I will rock and roll with you" (hear it), "She my baby" by Johnny Cash "Oh Boy" (hear it), "It's so Easy" (hear it), "Everyday" (hear it), "You're the one", "I don't care (baby your so square) by Buddy Holly (hear it) "Come on, let's go" by Ritchie Valens (hear it) "Church on Sunday" (hear it), "Poprocks and Coke" (hear it), "80" by Green Day "Chocolate Eyes" (hear it), "He's All Mine" (hear it – Kim Lenz Other ideas: Me first and the gimme gimmes does covers of various popular songs "1-2 crush on you" (hear it) – the clash "what's inside a girl" – the cramps "mass pike" – the get up kids (hear it) "great expectations" (hear it), "old white lincoln" (hear it) – gaslight anthem "feel like makin love" (hear it), "more today than yesterday" – goldfinger "sweetnes" – jimmy eat world (hear it) "do you wanna touch me?" – joan jett (hear it) "what a wonderful world" – joey ramone (hear it) "this is for real" (hear it), "it had to be you" (hear it) – motion city soundtrack "and i will be with you" (hear it), "i just wanna do it with you" (hear it)- mr. t experience "i will dare" – the replacements (hear it) "hot un" – granpaboy "question" (hear it), "indefinitley" – the old 97s "valentine" (hear it), "our love" (hear it) – rhett miller "luv luv luv", "kissed" – pansy division "love you in the fall" – paul westerberg (hear it) "love you til the end" – the pogues (hear it) "the sun always shines around you" (hear it), "fuck the world" (hear it) – the queers "i know" – save ferris "i think we're alone now" – penny and the loafers "punk rock princess" – something corporate (hear it> "what i like about you", "i never promised you a rose garden" – the suicide machines (hear it) "i wanna waltz" (hear it), "i'll be you my heart" – wanda jackson "when i'm with you, i'm ok" (hear it), "inside me, inside you" (hear it) – ultimate fakebook "for always" (hear it), "here with me" (hear it), "without you" (hear it) – mxpx 'under the hedge" – ted leo (hear it) "i won't let me", "in love this way", "good good things" – the descendents "carry you" (hear it), "think the world" (hear it) – all "olive me" – nofx "this time darlin" – social distortion (hear it) "best of me" – the starting line (hear it) "no place feels like home" – midtown (hear it) "today's the day", "have you ever", "sweet sweet boy" – the unlovables "cupid's victim" – tiger army (hear it) "sealed with a kiss" – the eyeliners (hear it) uh yeah … so that's a lot but there's probably more …. Reply
Ha. You just named, like, half of the music that was on my wedding mix. My husband and I had our first dance to the "I Want You Around" by The Ramones. The song "Danny Says" is actually really sweet too, but something other than junior high dance step pace was a little too much for us. Reply
I'd love some suggestions for first dance songs that are a bit rock-n-roll. Was thinking of "All I want" by Staind? (hear it) Reply
We danced to the Smashing Pumpkins version of "My Blue Heaven" for our first dance. Hubz is a HUGE SP fan… it worked out great, it's a waltz. (hear it) Reply
We're dancing our first dance to "Chariots Rise (Acoustic)" by Lizzie West and Baba Buffalo. The song is originally from the movie Secretary, but this version is much sweeter and softer. (It also replaces the line "what a fool am I to fall so in love" with "what grace have I to fall so in love") (hear it) Reply
"Secretary" is my favorite movie of all time. I love, love, love the song too. I may even put Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man" to throw people off too. 😉 (hear it) Reply
My husband surprised me with our first dance song. It was How Deep is the Ocean by Billie Holiday. (hear it) Reply
I don't care how old-meme it is; we are totally Rickrolling everyone for our first dance. If you take the time to listen to it, it's actually a sweet song about love and commitment 😀 Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down… Reply
I wish I could find a photo someone sent me once – it was a Rickroll cake, just said…I think… "Never gonna give you up or dessert you." Coordinating wedding cake? :-p Reply
Last summer, my boyfriend volunteered to dj for some friends' wedding. She very desperately wanted to have The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" be their first dance, and my boyfriend balked because it's not very first-dance-able. He searched high and low, and he found a mashup of The Commodores' "Easy Like Sunday Morning" with the Cure's "Just Like Heaven". It was AWESOME. (hear it) Reply
Seriously, you just saved my life! My wedding is 20 days away and I still couldn't find our first dance song. I am using the mashup between easy like sunday morning and the cure- just like heaven. I cried when I heard this, it's perfect. Thank you thank you thank you! Xox Reply
probably Cure´s Lovecats, that´s the one the DJ played during our engagement, on the club where we first maked out! Reply
Love this list! Really liking the She & Him suggestions. Might I also offer The Blow's "Parentheses" to the indie category? (hear it) Reply
We are using this somewhere in our wedding! Also, "Come On Petunia." I love The Blow. (hear it) Reply