T-minus two months on my wedding, and we’re having second thoughts about our choice of “first dance” song. We were set on … well, before I mention the song, I will admit that it’s sappy and cheesy, but it’s a wedding song, so while it’s not something I’d throw in the CD player on a regular basis, it’s ok because a wedding is a sappy and cheesy event, and it doesn’t get much more sappy than the first dance.
Anyway, the song was From This Moment On by Shania Twain. Now the more we think about it, it’s too perfect. It’s clearly designed and marketed specifically to be a wedding song. Too calculating, and too successful (several wedding websites list it in the top 5 common wedding songs) and we’d like something a bit more personal and less predictable.
But the fact remains that the sentiment in the song is exactly how we feel. We’ve waited a long time for this day and we’re extremely excited to be starting a new life together. This weekend, we sifted through our CD collections, looking for something else. Here were the top contenders, all rejected for various reasons:
[ul][li]Rebel Heart, by the Corrs (Instrumental, very pretty, but we’d like some meaningful lyrics)[/li][li]Runaway by the Corrs (It was sounding great until the “by candlelight, make love to me through the night” which is a bit too evocative for our relatives)[/li][li]Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. (This is “our song” because it was the first song we ever danced to. But GonzoGal thinks it’s too one-sided because the lyrics are all about how great “he” thinks “she” is, and not vice-versa)[/li][li]Remember When by Alan Jackson (This one was recommended on a wedding board, and sounded great until “We came together, fell apart. And broke each other’s hearts.” We’ve never broken up in our 8 years together, and this is one of many songs that got the axe for talking about break ups, hard times, fights, etc.)[/li][li]The Reason, by Hoobastank (Aside from being way overplayed, it’s got the “i never meant to do those things to you.” line and and the implication that one or both of us was a bastard or failure or something before being turned around by the other.)[/li][li]Nothing Else Matters by Mettalica (great lyrics. A bit too hard rockin’ and growling toward the end. Also feels like I should be required to have a mullet if we chose it as the wedding song.)[/li][li]Eternal Flame by the Bangles. (too questioning. Do you feel the same? YES! That’s why we’re getting married!)[/ul][/li]
We’re looking for a song that fits how we feel about each other, and fits our history, which has been nothing but good (at least in respect to our relationship). We’re both fine upstanding people, and have a healthy, happy relationship. You’d think there’d be more songs about that, but I guess hardship makes for good art.
It would be a bonus if the song was from an artist we both enjoy, and maybe we missed something while combing through the CD’s, so here’s a partial list of what we like:
They Might be Giants, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Weezer, Green Day, Metallica, Blue Man Group, Pearl Jam, Fountains of Wayne, The Cranberries, The Corrs, Ashley MacIsaac, Thanks to Gravity, Third Eye Blind, Nine Inch Nails, Bon Jovi, Belly, Blink 182, The Corrs, Lisa Loeb, Alanis Morrisette, Evanescence, The Bangles, Tegan and Sara, Yellowcard, Jewel, Enya, Queen, Tool, System of a Down.
(This is just off the top of my head and flipping through my cd binder, but as you can see, it’s pretty eclectic, and some of them are certainly not wedding material. It’s tough to dance to “Sober” or “Chop Suey”)
So, I put it to ye of fabulous taste and offbeat wisdom… any suggestions?
