Monday, June 1, 2009

Calling All Music Snobs


While I used to consider myself a know-it-all music snob, I long ago relinquished that title to those with more time on their hands and the wherewithal to engage in the activity. I have better things to do like play Mafia Wars and Scramble on Facebook. Oh right, and plan a wedding. And blog about it.

Early in the planning stages I found a cool article in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. She listed "songs you won't hear at every other wedding." The same article can be found here. Or, you can just see the list below:

For the Cocktail Hour
"I Only Have Eyes for You," Billie Holiday
"How Deep Is Your Love," The Bird and the Bee
"Tupelo Honey," Cassandra Wilson
"It's Wonderful," Ella Fitzgerald
"Soledad," Jorge Drexler
"In a Sentimental Mood," John Coltrane
"Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart," Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross
"I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," Nikka Costa
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," Shelby Lynne

For the Dinner
"The Weight," Aretha Franklin
"Wind Cries Mary," Jamie Cullum
"Don't Speak," Leela James
"Easy," The Commodores
"All at Sea," Jamie Cullum
"Shelter," Ray LaMontagne
"This Must Be the Place (NaiveMelody)," Talking Heads
"Across the Universe," Rufus Wainwright
"Closer," Travis
"The Look of Love," Dusty Springfield
"More Than This," Roxy Music

For Your First Dance
"Sea of Love," Cat Power
"Thank You," Lizz Wright
"Northern Sky," Nick Drake
"Brighter Than Sunshine," Aqualung
"In Your Eyes," Jeffrey Gaines
"Somersault," Zero 7
"Isn't It Romantic?," Tony Bennett
"A Case of You," Joni Mitchell
"You're the Best Thing," The Style Council
"Baby, Now That I've Found You," Alison Krauss
"Here Comes the Sun," Nina Simone

For the Father/Daughter Dance
"Maybe I'm Amazed," Jem
"Sweet Pea," Amos Lee
"In My Life," The Beatles
"Isn't She Lovely," Stevie Wonder
"I Can See Clearly Now," Jimmy Cliff
"A Song for You," Gram Parsons
"To Sir with Love," Al Green
"The Wind," Cat Stevens
"Have You Met Miss Jones (Swing When Version)," Robbie Williams

For Boogie Time
"Heart of Glass," Blondie
"Let's Stick Together," Bryan Ferry
"Mercy," Duffy
"What'd I Say," Ray Charles
"Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash
"Some Kind of Wonderful," Joss Stone
"Modern Love," David Bowie
"I Only Have Eyes for You," The Flamingos
"Valerie," Mark Ronson with Amy Winehouse
"Twistin' the Night Away," Sam Cooke
"('Til) I Kissed You," The Everly Brothers

For the After-Party
"If You Find Yourself Caught in Love," Belle & Sebastian
"Who the Cap Fit," Bob Marley
"Sirenes de la Fete," Brazilian Girls
"Following," Chungking
"Beautiful World," Colin Hay
"Heartbeats," Jose Gonzalez
"Cupid," Jack Johnson
"Karmacoma," Massive Attack
"Je T'aime Moi Nnon Plus," Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin
"Little Black Sandals," Sia

I've downloaded a lot of these for my own enjoyment, except for Belle & Sebastian. I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than listen to that melancholy, wrist-slitting crap. I also sent a copy of the list to my DJ. She's including these on her play list too. Very cool.

I also gave the list to my dad in hopes that he will choose a good father-daughter dance song. I don't know if it's his job to pick, but I think it would be nice if he did. It's also one less thing for me to worry about, right?

I'm also starting to think about the Do Not Play list. Off the top of my head, I've got:
The Macarena
The Electric Slide
The Chicken Dance
The Hustle
Love Shack
Grease Mega-mix
Theme from Friends
That's What Friends Are For
U Can't Touch This
Achy Breaky Heart
Gonna Make You Sweat
YMCA

What's really scary is that all of these songs were on Top Wedding Song Lists from various idiotic websites. What's on your Do Not Play list?

7 comments:

  1. I like your 'no play' list. I'd like to add...
    Anything by a boy band.
    Womanizer.
    Like a Virgin.

    Great list by MS!

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  2. My no-play list: White Wedding by Billy Idol.

    Points of interest: We consider walking down the aisle to "White Trash Wedding" by the Dixie Chicks. But we went for the cellist instead.

    And I was surprised to see Cat Power on the first dance list! Our first dance was to Cat Power's "Run to You." Loved it.

    Some great stuff on those lists!

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  3. heh! I < heart > Billy Idol, and am thinking that White Wedding, along with Dancing with Myself, must be on the Must Play list. funny.

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  4. Ooh, thanks for the suggestions! We are doing a Sam Cooke song for the first dance and inserting a one or two more throughout the night.

    Vintage Glam also had these suggestions a few weeks ago:
    Love You Madly - Ella Fitzgerald
    Sway - Julie London
    Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
    L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
    Is You Is or Is You Aint - Dinah Washington
    All of Me - Billie Holiday
    Take the A Train - Duke Ellington
    In The Mood - Glenn Miller
    Satin Doll - Frank Sinatra, Ella, or Duke Ellington - all good!
    Moonlight Serenade - Glenn Miller
    I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Rosemary Clooney
    Embraceable You - Sarah Vaughn

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  5. Haha... love your no play list!

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  6. No play list - ANY type of "group" synchronized dance. That Cha Cha Slide makes me want to sock someone in the throat.

    Or "I Will Always Love You", "Tears in Heaven", or anything by XTC. :-)

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  7. Thanks for the comment on my blog about my music list! I actually got a few songs from your list! So thanks for posting this! :D

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