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Ask the DJ DJ Craig answers your questions on how to hire DJ's, what to expect, the music played at your wedding and any other questions you may have.

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  #1  
Old 09-04-2008, 04:39 PM
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Default Unique First Dance Song Ideas

Looking for an unusual, original slow song? You've come to the right place.

Here are some overlooked gems that aren't getting the attention they deserve.


1. "You Give Me Something"- James Morrison

Never heard of him? Give it some time. Morrison is new to the music scene but his soulful voice will make you wonder why he isn't already a household name.


2. "You Take My Breath Away"- Queen

The band that brought operatic, Pomp Rock to it's pinnacle could also perform an inspired ballad. This song is stark and captivating in it's naked emotion.


3. "Falling Slowly"- Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

From the Academy award winning soundtrack of "Once", you may have missed this song if you didn't see the movie. In the film and in real life, Hansard and Irglova bring a refreshing innocence into a world of corporate, commercial muzak.


4. "The Way I Am"- Ingrid Michaelson

On this simple and straightforward song, Michaelson wants to "catch you" when you fall and "buy you Rogaine" when you start losing your hair. Now that's love.


5. "Breathe Me"- Sia

Sia's already making a mark for herself as a talented performer. The fact that her music ranges from percolating Pop to deep, reflective, Alternative Rock doesn't hurt. "Breathe Me" is simply arresting, Sia's voice crackles across it as if she's just had a good cry.


6. "The Golden State"- John Doe

You may remember John Doe as front man for the 80s Punk band X. His guitar still has a biting edge, as do his lyrics. He wants to be "the aching in your heart" even if you are "the hole in (his) head". Doe knows that love is not always easy but he is still willing to give it all he has.


7. "God Only Knows" (1967 Rehearsal)- The Beach Boys

This recently released "lost" track shows that even in rehearsal, Brian Wilson and company could create pure magic. No studio trickery here, just great harmonies.


8. "The Very Thought Of You"- Frank Sinatra

When is the last time you heard this? If you can't remember, that's a shame. When "The Chairman" sang about love, he meant it. It's still Frank's world, we just live in it.


9. "One"- Mary J Blige & U2

Mary revamps this classic 80s ballad and adds an R&B edge. Bono helps start the song and later gracefully steps out of the way to let Blige's power kick in.


10. "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair"- Nina Simone

Sang in nearly a cappella style, Simone bares her soul with a stunningly unabashed vulnerability. This is earthy, real and inescapable.


11. "We're All Alone"- Boz Scaggs

Boz starts off singing with a soft solo piano. By the time the orchestra crescendo hits full force, it's too late- you have been teleported into Romanceville with no return ticket.


12. "Stay Awhile"- Journey/ 13. "Patiently"- Journey

Choosing between these two is like deciding which twin to keep. Before Journey hit it big with their Arena Rock anthems, Steve Perry's voice rang out to the universe on these odes in search of divine love.


14. "What a Wonderful World"- Tony Bennett & k.d. lang

Tony and k.d. do Louis Armstrong proud on this classic duet. Bennett is smooth as silk and Lang simply sparkles.


15. "Never My Love"- The Fifth Dimension

Back in the Summer Of Love, The Association had a huge hit with this devotional anthem. The Fifth Dimension's subsequent cover may make you forget all about that. Marilyn McCoo's vocals soar over a soulful horn section, making you wish the song would go on and on.


Happy Listening,

DJ Craig

To hear samples of these songs go to my blog at:
http://1weddingdj.blogspot.com/

Last edited by DJ Craig; 09-04-2008 at 04:43 PM. Reason: clean up html
  #2  
Old 09-04-2008, 05:57 PM
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Thanks! This is a great list! I'm going to download and listen to a few of them!
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  #3  
Old 09-04-2008, 06:05 PM
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There is a player with all the songs already on it at:

http://1weddingdj.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Craig
Wedding DJ

Last edited by DJ Craig; 09-04-2008 at 06:07 PM. Reason: correction
  #4  
Old 09-04-2008, 06:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Craig View Post
6. "The Golden State"- John Doe

You may remember John Doe as front man for the 80s Punk band X. His guitar still has a biting edge, as do his lyrics. He wants to be "the aching in your heart" even if you are "the hole in (his) head". Doe knows that love is not always easy but he is still willing to give it all he has.


7. "God Only Knows" (1967 Rehearsal)- The Beach Boys

This recently released "lost" track shows that even in rehearsal, Brian Wilson and company could create pure magic. No studio trickery here, just great harmonies.
Both awesome suggestions... I can't even listen to "God only knows" without tearing up. It's just beautiful.
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Old 09-04-2008, 07:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Craig View Post
9. "One"- Mary J Blige & U2
Mary revamps this classic 80s ballad and adds a soulful edge. Bono helps start the song and later gracefully steps out of the way to let Blige's power kick in.
Er actually, unless they've changed the song, One is about AIDS. I don't think that's really a good song for a wedding.
A quote from Edge: "I often come across people who've told me they played it at their wedding, And I think, 'Have you listened to the lyrics? It's not that kind of a song'"
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Old 09-04-2008, 08:13 PM
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neebelung neebelung is offline
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Originally Posted by Ciarrai View Post
Er actually, unless they've changed the song, One is about AIDS. I don't think that's really a good song for a wedding.
A quote from Edge: "I often come across people who've told me they played it at their wedding, And I think, 'Have you listened to the lyrics? It's not that kind of a song'"
But music is so subjective... what the songwriter intends it to be about is very rarely what listeners interpret it as (and one listener's impression will vary widely from the next). So if someone loves the song, and it means something to them, then why not use it?
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  #7  
Old 09-04-2008, 09:16 PM
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Sure, if someone really wants to have their first dance to One, they can, but I'm not sure it should be recommended as a first dance song to a couple that doesn't know what they want and is looking for suggestions. I didn't know it was about AIDS, but I've always thought it didn't sound like the healthiest relationship. "Then you make me crawl"?
  #8  
Old 09-05-2008, 01:21 AM
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Thanks for the replies, everyone.

What I'm "recommending", is that people look for and listen to things that are off the beaten path and they may discover something they really love.

If one closely scrutinizes the lyrics, they may be taken aback by even some of the most beloved romantic songs in pop history.

Many could be interpreted as containing passages describing unhealthy obsession, infidelity, unrequited love, burning jealousy, broken hearts, relationship dysfunction and extreme co-dependence.

I believe that, fortunately, most people listen to a song in it's entirety without overanalyzing each phrase. It's the overall feel of the song that matters most and that may be miles away from what the writer originally intended.

When Robert Smith of The Cure wrote "Let's Go To Bed", he set out to intentionally craft the worst love song ever. After his band got ahold of it and it was produced, it became a cherished New Wave anthem. Knowing Smith's original intentions doesn't make me love the song any less.

As has been mentioned, music likes are subjective and change depends on who is listening. My intention here is to offer an alternative for the cliched, overplayed schmaltz that many fall back on like a bad habit and encourage them to embrace something different, if it suits them.

DJ Craig
Wedding DJ
  #9  
Old 09-05-2008, 02:48 PM
ladedah ladedah is offline
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Originally Posted by NovemberGal View Post
Sure, if someone really wants to have their first dance to One, they can, but I'm not sure it should be recommended as a first dance song to a couple that doesn't know what they want and is looking for suggestions. I didn't know it was about AIDS, but I've always thought it didn't sound like the healthiest relationship. "Then you make me crawl"?

it's not about AIDS, although the video was about AIDS and proceeds from the song were given to charity for the benefit of AIDS....if you read interviews by Bono about the song, he says it was a time the bad wasn't getting along and differences about the direction they should go and the song was meant to imply that often people, although very different, are in the same circumstance where they need each other to survive.......that in a nutshell it song "is about relationships"....
  #10  
Old 09-29-2008, 12:13 PM
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Hi All,

"When I take Your Hand" which is new released song from Shaun Barrowes which has been consider as a wedding song and one another new song is "You're All My Reasons" would also fit as the first dance at weddings. So maybe now I have 2 First Dance wedding songs!

Last edited by spaul; 10-04-2008 at 02:30 PM.
  #11  
Old 10-15-2008, 03:41 PM
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I just heard John Michael Montgomery's new release, "Forever". I'm not a huge Country fan but that's a good song!

Here's the kicker- it's a FREE mp3 download at Amazon!

Click Here For Your Free "Forever" Download

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...19690_10542190

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  #12  
Old 10-15-2008, 03:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ Craig View Post
I just heard John Michael Montgomery's new release, "Forever". I'm not a huge Country fan but that's a good song!

Here's the kicker- it's a FREE mp3 download at Amazon!

Click Here For Your Free "Forever" Download

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...19690_10542190

Wedding DJ

We danced to "Forever" at our wedding-but it was the "Forever" by Ben Harper, which is probably one of my favorite love songs.
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Old 10-15-2008, 06:10 PM
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Ooooh, I love John Michael Montgomery, and I'm not even a huge country music fan.
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Old 11-17-2008, 11:35 PM
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Edwin Mccain's "couldn't ask for more". Good lyrics.

Last edited by mushroom-eater; 11-17-2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason: wrong
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