This Time I Don't Want to Embarass My Daughter

Cafe Society
1

Although I am sure I will anyway.

My dear daughter has informed me that, after she graduates from college (next June - did I mention that she got straight A’s?) she and her boyfriend are going to get engaged.

Insert several paragraphs here of wailing, gnashing of teeth, hysterical pronouncements that he is not good enough for her, she is too young/I am not old enough/NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Unfortunately, I have tried with all my might to dislike her boyfriend and failed. He is a nice guy - not good enough for her, but as I have mentioned in the past, anyone who does not use his Nobel Prize acceptance speech to propose to her is not good enough, so I will have to resign myself to the inevitable. Anyway.

Being the sort of person she is, my daughter has already begun planning the wedding, and she informs me that my role will be twofold -
[ul][li]Paying for all this, and [/li][li]Picking out a song for the daddy-daughter dance at the reception.[/ul]As you might expect, she is a woman who plans ahead. [/li]
Being a person whose musical tastes are both shallow and outdated, I turn to the Dope for advice. Not with paying for it, although if anyone wants to send a large cash gift to help out, I can promise a tastefully worded and timely thank-you note from us, suitable for framing, lining bird cages, training puppies, or whatever. No, I need suggestions for the song.

I lack social sensitivity of any sort, but if I pick out a humorous selection I don’t think I will live to hear the first chorus, so it will have to be something appropriate. No “Superfreak” or Weird Al Yankovich parodies, in other words. I would also like to avoid anything creepy, so songs that suggest any kind of romantic relationship are out. And it is a happy occasion, obviously, so many songs about loss are too much of a downer.

I have been browsing about a bit, and the best I can come up with so far is “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. It is a pretty song, I have always liked it and I think Whitney had a heck of a set of pipes, and it conveys the sense of bittersweetness I am feeling as my daughter moves on to the next part of her life.

Do you have suggestions? Any songs that you heard at similar occasions that you remember? I am hoping for something fairly well known, if possible, but my musical experience is severely limited, and I am sure most of you know lots of songs that would be just as good or better.

Any assistance you can give me will be gratefully appreciated.

Regards,
Shodan

2

I suppose conveniently spraining an ankle or breaking a leg are not viable alternatives? :slight_smile:

3

Paul Simon’s “Father and Daughter”. It’s from the soundtrack of a kid’s movie, but it’s just an absolutely wonderful song, and it certainly sounds like it’ll be appropriate. It’s the song my wife would have danced to with her father.

4

You mean mine? No, my daughter would never fall for it.

Besides, it has to be slow enough to dance to it, so a cast is not a good enough excuse.

Someone elsewhere suggested “I Hope You Dance” by LeeAnn Womack, and while I like the song, it doesn’t say that I love my daughter, which is a sentiment I need to include.

Regards,
Shodan

5

Daddy’s Little Girl this one sung by Michael Buble’

6

I think you need to pay a liiiiiitle closer attention to lyrics. “I Will Always Love You” is basically a breakup song, which I’m sure you aren’t going for. Have you thought about “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder?

7

Not heard of it. I’ll have a listen - thanks.

Regards,
Shodan

8

Just go ahead and embarrass her. It’s your job.

9

Rich Girl.

10

I second Paul Simon’s song. If that is not slow enough, perhaps/surely there is an arrangement that could be found in the appropriate rhythm.

11

Landslide, Fleetwood Mac.

12

Ultra-corny suggestion. When my sister was very young, my father always (nightly, for a good long time) sang to her before putting her down to bed, “You are my sunshine”. Ultra-corny, but slow enough you can dance to and, who knows, the sappy sentiment might appeal to her. Or embarrass her, who can tell?

13

I did Stand By Me by Ben E King at my social and I Hope You Dance - LeeAnn Womack (mentioned above).

Also “In my Daughter’s Eyes” - Martina McBride

14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI62onmyIf8 :smiley:

15

Gangnam Style. This song fits anywhere.

16

I also like Daddy’s Little Girl, but by The Mills Brothers or Al Martino.

What about The Way You Look Tonight?

17

One to consider - “You raise me up” take your pick from the selection of artists that have covered it.
Two to avoid…

Wedding one. It wasn’t the first dance, it was the band playing something before the first dance. Either way, “Will you still love me tomorrow?” perhaps shouldn’t have made it onto the playlist.

Wedding two. The groom’s former band reunited for one last gig halfway through the wedding reception. “let’s stick together” was the only song they could remember the chords for.

Here’s a few more…

18

The Party’s Over?

19

This song comes really, really close to choking me up whenever I hear it, and I’m not entirely sure why.

20

Well, the father-daughter dance is supposed to be bittersweet, right?