# Father-daughter dances\* that aren't sappy, inappropriate, or lame. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322 "2006-02-07T00:17:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/21 "2006-02-07T15:46:36Z")
How about Bridge of Troubled Water Sail on silver girl Sail on by Your time has come to shine all your dreams are on their way ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/22 "2006-02-07T16:01:47Z")
When my cousin got married, he and his mom danced to The Rainbow Connection (yes, sung by Kermit) because that was his favoritest song in the world when he was small and his dad (who died when he was 8) used to sing it to him. Definitely not traditional wedding dance fare, but most definitely sweet and there were sniffles all over the hall. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/23 "2006-02-07T16:03:27Z")
I have to run it by **Mostly Missus** , but I believe I’ve come up with a strong candidate while mulling it over a bit more: James Taylor “Shower the People.” Again, one of the requirements is that it must work simultaneously for father/daughter, but also on my part for mother/son. We’d like to just make it one dance for both. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/24 "2006-02-07T16:13:42Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Again, one of the requirements is that it must work simultaneously for father/daughter, but also on my part for mother/son. We’d like to just make it one dance for both. That is a good idea. I also like the idea of an instrumental, then you wouldn’t have to worry about too much sentimentality. But the James Taylor song isn’t too bad either. Hope you have a great wedding! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/25 "2006-02-07T16:19:18Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > When my cousin got married, he and his mom danced to The Rainbow Connection (yes, sung by Kermit) because that was his favoritest song in the world when he was small and his dad (who died when he was 8) used to sing it to him. I like the idea of picking a song that means something to the daughter and dad, no matter if it’s a ‘wedding-ish’ song or not. My dad and I danced to (please don’t laugh) Sonny and Cher’s “I’ve Got You, Babe” because it reminded me of my dad. Specifically, of watching their show with him when I was little. We’d all sit down and watch it on Sunday evenings as a family, and something about it always reminds me of my father - it just seemed appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/26 "2006-02-07T16:39:06Z")
" I don’t want her you can have her, she’s too fat for me!" polka. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/27 "2006-02-07T16:51:25Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > " I don’t want her you can have her, she’s too fat for me!" polka. We’re already fighting to get the traditional Polish Apron Dance into the reception, so one Polka is already fighting to make it. That and “Too Fat Polka” isn’t on our DJ’s [very limited list of polkas](http://www.premiermobiledj.djintelligence.com/music/index.asp?artistsearch=&sort=artist&start=1&songsearch=polka&filter=index.asp%3Fremovefilter%3DRemove%2BFilter%23search) (at least ones that have “Polka” in the title). ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/28 "2006-02-07T16:59:51Z")
My cousin did “I Get a Kick Out of You” with her dad. A little more perky than the traditional song, and it was definitely fun for both of them. Susan ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/29 "2006-02-07T17:16:31Z")
There’s always Serge Gainsbourg’s “Lemon Incest” . . . ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/30 "2006-02-07T17:32:13Z")
I used the song _I Hope You Dance_ , but I almost used _Stand By Me_ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/31 "2006-02-07T17:41:47Z")
My SIL danced to **Daddy’s Hands** at her wedding, and I always thought **Because You Loved Me** by Celine Dion was a nice parent/child song. \*You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn’t speak You were my eyes when I couldn’t see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach You gave me faith 'coz you believed I’m everything I am Because you loved me \* ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/32 "2006-02-07T17:43:23Z")
It’s a _wedding_. The father-daughter dance is \*supposed \* to be sappy, lame, and even inappropriate. That’s _tradition_. Do you really want to disappoint the relatives and guests who show up just to hear “Daddy’s Little Girl”? ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/33 "2006-02-07T17:54:20Z")
I asked my dad to pick our dance song when I got married. He’s a HUGE Motown buff, and picked "Sunshine of My Life’ by Stevie Wonder. It’s not a really slow song but we were able to do a very happy, sweet dance together to a song that we both loved. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/34 "2006-02-07T17:55:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Do you really want to disappoint the relatives and guests who show up just to hear “Daddy’s Little Girl”? Yes, especially because I will be in the dance with my mother at the same time, and I am certainly not “Daddy’s Little Girl.” That, and **OMM** has far better taste than that, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/35 "2006-02-07T19:05:46Z")
Not to ruin the song for you, but I gotta say: Isn’t R. Kelly doing a remake of “Shower the People you love with Love?” ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/36 "2006-02-07T19:59:49Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > There’s also a great medley of \*What A Wonderful World \* and \*Somewhere Over The Rainbow \* by Israel Kamakawiwo`ole. That’s what we used for our parents’ dance (neither of us wanted to dance alone 😃 ). It was a hit - everyone said it was a lovely choice. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/37 "2006-02-07T20:14:43Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I like the idea of picking a song that means something to the daughter and dad, no matter if it’s a ‘wedding-ish’ song or not. > My dad and I danced to (please don’t laugh) Sonny and Cher’s “I’ve Got You, Babe” because it reminded me of my dad. Specifically, of watching their show with him when I was little. We’d all sit down and watch it on Sunday evenings as a family, and something about it always reminds me of my father - it just seemed appropriate. Aww, that’s totally sweet! 🙂 And I should add that my cousin kept what song they’d dance to a total secret, so his mom had no idea. She just burst into tears when she heard it; not out of sadness, but it was such the perfect song. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/38 "2006-02-07T22:08:32Z")
> [@](#): > > We’re already fighting to get the traditional Polish Apron Dance into the reception, so one Polka is already fighting to make it. Where I come from, the wedding isn’t official unless there’s a polka at the reception. You’ve got the exchange of vows, the rings, and the polka. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/39 "2006-02-07T23:54:01Z")
“Papa Don’t Preach”? 😉 At my nephew’s wedding, His bride and her father danced to some pop song that I forget, but it meant something to them because it was a song they often listened to while travelling together. My Nephew & his mom danced to “Sunrise, Sunset” which is sappy, etc, but it was a song at my brother and SIL’s wedding. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/father-daughter-dances-that-arent-sappy-inappropriate-or-lame/343322/40 "2006-02-07T23:55:23Z")
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