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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: tomk on February 25, 2010, 11:42:24 AM

Title: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: tomk on February 25, 2010, 11:42:24 AM
Fellow FOTs,
I'm getting married next month and need to get some songs to our DJ, and I'm hoping you guys can give me a little help.  I know Erika has posted something like this before and despite recommending GG Allin at a wedding, yesno's response in that thread has been pretty helpful.  If any of you have had a wedding, or been to one recently remember any songs that stood out please let me know.  We have our first song, father-daughter, mother-son songs picked out, just need some to keep the party on the dance floor.  Slow songs, fast songs, hip-hop, rock, it doesn't matter, I'd appreciate any suggestions.  Your help is much appreciated.  Don't forget to pledge next week.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: masterofsparks on February 25, 2010, 02:00:58 PM
I picked the music at my wedding and I used a lot of old soul because, really, who doesn't love that stuff? "Nite Owl" by Tony Allen & the Champs and "Sea of Love" by Phil Phillips are great slow songs and perfect for a wedding. I tended towards upbeat, poppier stuff like the J5, "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" by Crazy Elephant, and "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day. I also recommend "I Found a Love" by the Falcons because it's fucking awesome.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: yesno on February 25, 2010, 03:02:07 PM
I'm glad you liked that playlist (http://www.friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php?topic=5768.0). 

I also highly recommend old soul to get people of all ages and backgrounds on their feet.  I don't know as much about soul as MOS, I just stuck with Stax/Motown stuff for the most part.  Remember to play some familiar songs for people.  For the record, my actual wedding song was not anything by G. Gallin but Kermit's "Rainbow Connection."  Also played New Pornographer's "Challengers" and Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki" as slow dance songs.  Some classic country, too, I think.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: slipperyslope on February 25, 2010, 03:44:17 PM
For a wedding you will never forget:
John Cage - 4'33
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: tomk on February 25, 2010, 03:49:07 PM
no air mixes please
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: Reeleyes on February 25, 2010, 04:10:54 PM
Chicken Dance?
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: masterofsparks on February 25, 2010, 06:47:57 PM
Would you be willing to let Caleb play "Explosion" live?
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: Cotton on February 25, 2010, 07:18:33 PM
I second the Stax/Motown stuff.

Also, "Bueno Sera" by Louis Prima
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: Matt on February 25, 2010, 08:04:53 PM
Prince, "Forever In My Life"
Joe Jeffrey Group, "My Pledge Of Love"

If I think of more, I'll post them!
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: JustSheaNo on February 25, 2010, 08:15:37 PM
I second the Stax/Motown stuff.

Also, "Bueno Sera" by Louis Prima

Buona Sera... Scratchbomb and me played a bunch of Louie Prima at our wedding. Specifically we did a tarantello to Angelina/Zuma Zuma/Lazy Mary.

We played lots of old soul/motown, songs people know but don't hear ALL the time. We mixed that in with a select group of tracks by the Clash, the Pixies, the Ramones, etc, and lots of disco/early 80s freestyle.

I mean, I'm a Puerto Rican from New York. There had to be SOME freestyle at my wedding.

<"http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/xuiyt">
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: masterofsparks on February 26, 2010, 12:22:01 PM
If you want to mess with the slow dancers, work Porter Wagoner's "Rubber Room" into the mix.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: kevin_ on February 27, 2010, 12:21:17 PM
I DJ'ed my friends wedding (ugh, so much pressure), and while I tried to keep the music reasonably "cool," I also kept an emergency reserve of typical "crappy" wedding songs. Guess which went off better, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" or "Brown Eyed Girl"? The Gap Band nearly cleared the dance floor. Of course, you can take into consideration how hip or willing or drunk everyone will be at any given moment. But at least at the wedding I went to, the cheesier the music, the better results I had. I never before wished I had the Black Eyed Peas back catalog. If I were DJing tomorrow I would recommend playing "Single Ladies." Twice.

The biggest smashes were anything I played that I would consider junior high dance cliche and selections from a mysterious CD that was brought by someone on the groom's side of the family (he's half Hispanic), which was crazy Spanish-horn party rock music.

Congratulations on your nuptials.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: Dan B on February 27, 2010, 01:44:58 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dypR60Du16o
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: tomk on March 08, 2010, 05:44:45 PM
Thanks for all of your help.  Wedding is in 2 weeks and I think I've compiled a pretty decent group of songs.  Friends of Tom's are the best. 
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: dave from knoxville on March 08, 2010, 07:41:34 PM
I played guitar in a wedding Saturday, my first in a year or so. I never refuse to play whatever the bride requests, but I never want to hear the recording of this. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, We've Only Just Begun, Pass It On, Trumpet Voluntaire (with the trick being I was playing it solo as the mothers' processional, with a crazy echo and a pitch shifter processing it an octave higher. For EIGHT MINUTES.) And the recessional was Irish Blessing.

I love the family, and was genuinely excited to be a part of it, and in an odd way, it worked out. My question to you.....what would you guess as the age of the bride?
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: NJL on March 08, 2010, 08:17:29 PM
I played guitar in a wedding Saturday, my first in a year or so. I never refuse to play whatever the bride requests, but I never want to hear the recording of this. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, We've Only Just Begun, Pass It On, Trumpet Voluntaire (with the trick being I was playing it solo as the mothers' processional, with a crazy echo and a pitch shifter processing it an octave higher. For EIGHT MINUTES.) And the recessional was Irish Blessing.

I love the family, and was genuinely excited to be a part of it, and in an odd way, it worked out. My question to you.....what would you guess as the age of the bride?

23.  Is that Pass It On by The Coral?
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: dave from knoxville on March 08, 2010, 08:31:01 PM
Great guess. She's 21.

I think it was Pass It On by every kid who ever gathered around a campfire at Jesus camp.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: LJ on March 09, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
"The Gap Band nearly cleared the dance floor."
That's a travesty.

Here's the ultimate piece of advice: Keep it upbeat the entire time.  Don't think, "Oh, I think we'll want to have a slow dance in there for the couples."
No! Get that thought right out of your head, Mr. Mix in some more obscure stuff if you want, but keep it all upbeat, four hours if you have to.  This isn't a time for you to show off your rare Talking Heads seven inch collection.  Play to the crowd and have fun.
Congrats, btw.
Title: Re: Wedding Songs, Please Advise.
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on March 09, 2010, 10:16:24 AM
First of all, congratulations!

Second, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" by Jim Ford will get people dancing.