# Wedding Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 8, 1999, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263 "1999-10-08T19:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stevie_Rave_On)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/1 "1999-10-08T19:06:00Z")
My sister is getting married a week from today, and she just sent me an email asking me what to tell the DJ to play. (She already has slow music and music for dinner/cake cutting/garter, etc.)She just needs good dance music. I really like progressive house music, but obviously this would be inappropriate. She sent me a list of some of the songs she thought would be OK. Some of her suggestions, with my thoughts next to them: **Pump up the Jam** Hit the mute button **C’mon & Ride IT (the Train)** I’d rather not **Rhythm is a Dancer** This songs makes everyone lose their rhythm **100% Pure Love** 100% Pure Crap **I Like to Move It** I’d like to Change It, Change It **Finally** That’s what I’ll yell when the song is over Most of these songs are dance hits from aroun '94-96. Trying to play to a mixed crowd of various ages is hard, and I had a few suggestions, but I was wondering if you can help me out. * * * It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/2 "1999-10-08T19:26:00Z")
Well, there’s the Bob Dylan/The Band wedding song, called “Wedding Song.” That seems appropriate. It’s on PLANET WAVES. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/3 "1999-10-08T19:30:00Z")
How about Franz Lehar’s lovely and melodic “Merry Widow Waltz?” ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/4 "1999-10-08T20:24:00Z")
How out of it am I? The only one of those I recognise is “Rhythm is a Dancer”. * * * **\>^,^\<** “Cluemobile? You’ve got a pickup…” OpalCat’s site: [http://opalcat.com](http://opalcat.com) The Teeming Millions Homepage: [fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/5 "1999-10-08T20:29:00Z")
Oh, Flora. NO ONE hears that any more without thinking about Uncle Charlie in SHADOW OF A DOUBT. if I heard the “Merry Widow” at a wedding, I’d start looking around for Theresa Wright to strangle. Opal: You think YOU’RE out of it? Look at the two posts preceding yours. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![kknick34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kknick34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kknick34)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/6 "1999-10-08T21:25:00Z")
If your goal is to get everyone to dance think the following: Motown 70’s Disco Madonna B-52’s Sinatra 80’s - 90’s Dance Music Take requests and don’t forget the old folks, they love to Polka. ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/7 "1999-10-08T21:50:00Z")
I’m planning my wedding, too, and I’d like to thank Stevie for the list of songs to remind the dj NOT to play. Also on that list is: Electric Slide Old Time Rock N Roll “Grease” medley Oh What A Night Stayin’ Alive I Will Survive I think I’m going to stick with Big Band songs (but not the overplayed Entertainer or Brian Setzer stuff) - very danceable, and not so “clubby.” Oh, and Lyle Lovett’s “She’s No Lady (She’s My Wife)” will definitely be played. * * * Sucks to your assmar. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/8 "1999-10-09T02:33:00Z")
If there are multiple generations attending the wedding, I would have to suggest a band called The Mavericks. Most of what they play is romantic, and it is most like what adult stations instead of R&R in the 60s (they were featured on the film Apollo 13). Great (slow) dance music. * * * Sue from El Paso [members.aol.com/majormd/index.html](http://members.aol.com/majormd/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/9 "1999-10-09T03:23:00Z")
Some friends of mine got married right after college. Big Catholic wedding with huge Catholic reception, complete with a DJ playing his “Greatest Catholic Wedding Hits” box set, complete with Hokey Pokey and Electric Slide. The bride and groom were able to stand it for about two hours before going out to the car and getting the KMFDM. Cleared out the old folks pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/10 "1999-10-09T20:32:00Z")
Hey, I have an idea! Why don’t you play “Shout” and everyone can raise their hands high in the air when they sing “Shout.” Or how about the hokey-pokey? That’s always good to get everyone dancing! \Lisa, \ still wondering why everyone left her reception early. We hadn’t even gotten to the chicken dance… ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/11 "1999-10-09T20:40:00Z")
You forgot that annoying “Roll Out the Barrel” polka song that everyone seems to play at wedding receptions. At the (dry!) wedding reception I attended early in the summer, they played that, the Electric Slide, the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance, AND the Boot-Scootin’ Boogie. I’m amazed I made it through without having a drop to drink. Oh, and as for “I Will Survive,” the only way that song gets played anywhere near me is if it’s the Cake version. For good party music that people of all ages will probably enjoy, pick up one of those funk compilations, like Pure Funk. I’d imagine hearing “Love Rollercoaster” and the theme from Shaft would get any place rockin’. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/12 "1999-10-09T21:26:00Z")
Oh, don’t forget James Brown’s classic, “I Feel Good.” I personally loathe that song. But it makes people dance. That one & “Mustang Sally.” Gaaaaaaaack. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/13 "1999-10-11T09:58:00Z")
## For some reason, Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life” gets every drunk relative on the floor doing weird and embarassing twist motions. Seen it last friday, at my friends wedding, and on 20,000 other weddings for that matter… “Paradise by the dashboard light” will get at least 2, maybe 3 generations off their chairs. Coldfire * * * “You know how complex women are” - Neil Peart, Rush (1993) ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/14 "1999-10-11T12:30:00Z")
If I ever get married again and have a reception (two big ifs, it looks like) I would have the dj, play “Tenderness” by General Public…Love that song. They played it during the wedding scene in the movie “Clueless”. * * * Gail “Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you, my friend– Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again…” -Steely Dan ---
**Author:** ![Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stevie_Rave_On)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/15 "1999-10-11T16:17:00Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. My sister did have a No-No list that she gave the DJ that included: The Hokey Pokey YMCA Electric Slide Grease Megamix I Will Survive Shout ## Thank God I won’t have to listen to that crap. I’m also grateful I won’t have to see my relatives embarrass themselves doing the YMCA dance It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever. ---
**Author:** ![torq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@torq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torq)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/16 "1999-10-11T21:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > “Paradise by the dashboard light” will get at least 2, maybe 3 generations off their chairs. Yep, I’ve seen this happen. And it does so despite the fact that no one quite knows what to do during all those pauses in the middle, so you wind up with everyone just kind of standing around and looking at each other. Also, the tempo jumps around a lot. PBtDL is probably the least danceable song I know that people will actually TRY to dance to. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/17 "1999-10-12T08:28:00Z")
Try “Bohemian Rhapsody”… 😉 Although that’s clearly not a wedding song: “Momma, just killed a man…” ## On second thoughts… Coldfire * * * “You know how complex women are” - Neil Peart, Rush (1993) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/18 "1999-10-12T10:20:00Z")
I walked by a display playing Disco Duck last week. Put that on the Do Not Play list. Someone I work with had this experience. They had a Western themed wedding and asked the DJ if he would be able to play country songs for the reception all night. His response" Sure, no problem." That night at the reception he had one country music mix CD, and he played Big Band music all night. Personaly within 10 seconds of country music being played, I have to be out of that room. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/19 "1999-10-12T12:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > “Bohemian Rhapsody”… Although that’s clearly not a wedding song: “Momma, just killed a man…” Not to be a pain in the ass (I know, I know, too late) but I always thought it was, “Mama, [bold] I [/bold] just killed a man.” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263/20 "1999-10-12T12:09:00Z")
Gawd, I hate these HTML codes! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-songs/9263.md?page=2)