asaris

So, my fiancee and I are trying to pick a song for our first dance, and having some trouble. Ideally, the song would be somewhat indie and easy to dance to without choreography. I thought you tilted people might have some good suggestions!

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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

The_Jazz

Personally, I'd look at pre-c.1975 music only. Anything that's going to be acceptable for a slow dance (in other words, holding each other) is going to have questionable lyrics for most later things. But that's me.

Maybe you can give us some examples of what you've already considered and discarded along with the reasons?

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Redjake

My wife and I went through this same predicament and ultimately decided not to do one at all. Tough choice for it not to come off hokey or corny.

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Baraka_Guru

Do you know how to waltz?

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asaris

I know how to waltz, at least well enough to fake it. My fiancee, however, does not. Most of the songs we've rejected at this point have been because they're too hard to dance to, too raunchy, or they belong to someone else. The list we're looking at right now is:

The Way You Look Tonight, by Elton John
Lady in Red, by Chris DeBurgh
“Don’t Know Much” Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville
“The Way I Am” Ingrid Michaelson
“O! Valencia” Decemberists
“That Teenage Feeling” Neko Case
“Lifelong Fling” Over the Rhine
“Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois” Sufjan Stevens
“It’s Good to be in Love” Frou Frou
“I’ll Stand By You” The Pretenders
“The Road Song” Anne and Pete Sibley
“Throw me a Rope” KT Tunstall

So if you guys know good songs similar to these, or think one of these is a really bad idea, that'd help. We're both really tempted to do a song like NIN, Closer, just to be 'amusing', but we both know better than that.

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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

ShaniFaye

Asaris, we used Broken by Amy Lee & Seether lol

how about Have I told you lately by Rod Stewart

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Xerxys

Hey Ya by OutKast

ngdawg

"Beautiful" by Gordon Lightfoot

At times I just dont know
How you could be anything but beautiful
I think that I was made for you
And you were made for me
And I know that I will never change
Cause weve been friends through rain or shine
For such a long, long time

Laughing eyes and smiling face
Its seems so lucky just to have the right
Of telling you with all my might
Youre beautiful tonight

And I know that you will never stray
Cause ya been that way from day to day
For such a long, long time

And when ya hold me tight
How could life be anything but beautiful
I think that I was made for you
And you were made for me

And I know that I will never change
Cause weve been friends through rain or shine
For such a long, long time

And I must say that it means so much to me
Just to be the one whos telling you
Im telling you
That youre beautiful

Listen

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Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

CinnamonGirl

Just please, please, PLEEEEEEEEASE do not do that "Bless the Broken Road" song. (although, I'm guessing by your list, you wouldn't even consider it!)

I don't recognize a few on the list, so I'm going to listen to them later and report back. I'd also throw in "At Last" by Etta James and "Two" by Ryan Adams (okay, okay... I'm a huge dork for that song...) as suggestions.

Do you guys have a "song"? Something that played on your first date/first kiss/something to that effect?

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sapiens

Little Trip to Heaven by Tom Waits

Little trip to heaven on the wings of your love
Banana moon is shining in the sky
I feel like I'm in heaven when your with me
I know that I'm in heaven when you smile
Though were stuck here on the ground
I got something I've found
And it's you

I don't need to take no trip to outer space
All I have to do is look at your face
And before I know it I'm in orbit around you
I thank my lucky stars that I found you
When I see your constellation, your my inspiration
And it's you

*whistle*

Your my North Star when I'm lost and feeling blue
Your my sun that's breaking through, it's true
And all the other stars seem dim around you
I thank my lucky stars that I found you
When I see your smiling face
I know nothing gonna take your place
And it's you, and it's you, and it's you,
and it's you, and it's you, and it's you

kramus

Wendy Matthews "I've Got to Have You"

Wendy Matthews - I've Got to Have You - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music

My Lady just asked me if I was calling her when she heard the link playing from our room

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ColonelSpecial

I recommend "First Day of My Life" by Brighteyes. It is sort of indie in that not everyone has heard of them. It is a moderately slow song but not excruciatingly so.

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highdro69

How about 'wonderful tonight' by eric clapton? the lyrics can be construed to be sung to a man or a woman, and they're certainly not raunchy in the least bit; just a pretty song about being in love

edit: awe crap, that's not indie in the least. i fail hard. my bad.

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vanblah

Got any friends who are musically inclined? Have them write a song just for you. You could tell them exactly what you want.

Of course, this depends on when the wedding will take place.

LoganSnake

Why do the boring, played out first dance with a song that has probably been used in a million and a half weddings?

Do a salsa performance or something. Choreograph it. Be different. Wow your guests. Go down in your family's history as the best first dance they've ever seen.

That's my plan, at least.

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genuinegirly

Eva Cassidy: Fields of Gold.

Suggestion for first dance: link it up with your daddy-daughter dance.

Bride and groom starts dancing, the bride's father asks to cut in. The groom's mother sees him alone on the dance floor and asks him to dance. Then the groom's father asks to dance with the bride, people switch up. Everyone in the wedding party ends up being invited to dance and so on. My father started this trend spontaneously at our wedding reception and it worked seamlessly. It's a great way to get people on the dance floor.

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SabrinaFair

"Protection" by Massive Attack

I love the song, but couldn't ever use it if I ever get married because it has significant ties to a former relationship. It's very sweet, not overplayed, and is just made for soulful swaying.

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noodle

If I hear "Danny's Song" one more time at a wedding, I'm going to puke.

I love Etta James' "At Last", that suggestion rocks, CinnamonGirl.
A little Barry White? "Can't Get Enough of Your Love (Baby)"? Some Al Green "Let's Stay Together"? A little Bee Gees' "If I Can't Have You"?
Okay, my wedding, should I ever choose to have one, would weird people out.

Just don't use Kenny Loggins and you'll be fine.

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sapiens

No Highway to the Danger Zone? Darn!

The first dance isn't that important. Presumably, the wedding is the larger expression of your love. I wouldn't stress about it too much. If you want to dance to a song at your wedding that's meaningful to the two of you, go for it. If there isn't an artist or song that you both find meaningful, dance to something else. If that's not good enough, you don't have to have a "first dance" if you don't want one. Do what you want.

Poppinjay

Heh. My most recent journal entries are about them. I heart them.

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snowy

I've always wanted to dance to "Wonderful Tonight" at my wedding. We'll see if that actually happens; the prospective groom has two left feet, and no dance we've ever danced has lasted more than 30 seconds!

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Anxst

My girls and I used:


I thought it was nice, and it's one of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs. Plus, it's easy to dance to.

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MSD

Haha, I never would have thought someone else would suggest Massive Attack.

Charlatan

I kind of get tired of hearing the same songs at weddings. Here are some songs that I suggested to a friend recently.

Great Lake Swimmers - Various Stages
Tom Waits - Innocent When You Dream (this is a different version than the album version) Royal Wood - Juliet
Royal Wood - I'm So Glad
Elvis Costello - She (this is a bad video of the live version but you should get the gist) Barenaked Ladies - Call and Answer (again a video of the live version...)

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thespian86

Indie! That's me! Its my birthday and I demand you pick one of my songs;

Wonderwall - Ryan Adams.
Winter 05' - Ra Ra Riot
Sweet Darlin' - She and Him
Those to Come - The Shins
Wheel - John Mayer
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths
For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti - Sufjan Stevens
America - Simon & Garfunkle
Beautiful - Me'Shell Ndegeocello (kind of cheesy but overwhelmingly pretty)
Please Do Not Let Me Go - Ryan Adams
Don't Give Up On Me - Solomon Burke (A Classic)
I Taught Myself How To Grow Old - Ryan Adams (he captures need; amazing)
Is This It? - The Strokes (hahaha for the ironic at heart)
Don't Watch Me Dancing - Little Joy (a personal favorite for this list and very unknown band if you are going for "Where did you get that song?!)
Hero and Leander - Adam Guettal's "Myths and Hymns" (it's a musical theatre song cycle; very contemporary and beautiful)
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard (ONCE soundtrack)
Talking Bird (Demo) - Death Cab For Cutie (it's on The Open Door EP)
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
So Sorry - Feist
Time - Ben Folds
Head Over Heels - Tears For Fears (supreme choice)
My Father's Gun - Elton John (if you're going for a great song and not "lyrics")
The Bleeding Heart Show - The New Pornographers
The Kids Don't Stand A Chance - Vampire Weekend
Don't Let Your Love Be Colder Than Death - The Virgins
Beside You - Van Morrison (also one of my favorites)
Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
Spitting Venom - Modest Mouse (for the token "long song")
Dónde Está la Playa - The Walkmen
Bright Young Thing - Albert Hammond Jr.

That's what I have to offer. There are a lot; I know. I hope that helps though.

[ps. Dammit that BNL song is perfect; i wish I would of thought of it]

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Sue

Huh. I don't know any kind of indie songs. Before I read that part I was going to suggest some Sinatra or Harry Connick Jr. Then I read it, and that idea got blown out of the water.

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Martian

If we're going to bust out the Waits, I'd rather suggest Picture In A Frame:



Does it have to have lyrics? Another nice Tom Waits song is Closing Time. I don't have a Youtube link to a version I like, but here it is on some other site:


I'll be back with more later.

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ratbastid

"Warm Beer and Cold Women", anyone??

Probably wouldn't be appropriate.

Manic_Skafe

You only live once.

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tooth

There's a song about it?


/Hometown

thespian86

A beautiful song on one of the best concept albums this decade

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EX: Whats new?
ME: I officially love coffee more then you now.
EX: uh...
ME: So, not much.

telekinetic

We were boring literalists and went with "Better together" by Jack Johnson.

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