What to Choose: A Cliched Wedding Song or an Offbeat One?

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

16 Oct 2008 07:26 AM

Tuesday proved to be a bonanza idea-receiving day for me. Not only did Jade send me the link to the Dear Abby letter from the distraught widower, but a rep from SPIN.com contacted me, too. He wanted to let me know about an article on their site called "Marriage Anyone? Top 5 Coolest Wedding Songs" by Abigail Everdell. He thought it might make for either interesting conversation or spark readers to reminisce about the song they played at their wedding.

I think it might do a little of both.

Cliched Songs

How many of you played Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" as your wedding song?

Wayne and I ended up with that one. I say ended up because our song is Modern English's "Melt With You." As I wrote about in another blog, it's always haunted us. While we were eating dinner in the restaurant we were checking out as a possible reception venue, it came on. When we asked if they could also provide the music, including that song, they said yes.

But as is par for the course on a wedding day, something went wrong. Their music system went out on them right as guests were arriving. Amazingly, I was fine with not having music. But Wayne's brother and best man knew we couldn't have a proper reception without tunes. He ran home and grabbed his music system and CDs. It was he who selected "in Your Eyes," because, as he told me later, "you and Wayne's relationship has always reminded me of the love that couple shared in that movie." (Have I ever mentioned what a great brother-in-law I have?)

Anyway, "In Your Eyes" wasn't one of the cliched songs mentioned in the SPIN.com article, but it probably would be considered one. ("Unchained Melody," "When a Man Loves a Woman," and "It Had to Be You" were the three mentioned. And a blanket "anything ever covered by Harry Connick Jr." was also thrown in.)

Some others might include "Have I Told You Lately?" by Rod Stewart, "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flach, "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" by Bryan Adams, and "You're the First, The Last, My Everything" by Barry White.

Offbeat Songs

It's been so long since I've been to a wedding that I can't even remember the songs that were played at the ones I went to. I don't remember hearing any of the same ones for the first dances. (I do know that absent from the last few weddings I attended was the traditional wedding march song as the bride makes her way to the altar, though.)

The SPIN.com article suggestions for offbeat picks were "Ambulance" by TV on the Radio, "Just Another Sucker on the Vine" by Tom Waits, "The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack" by Liars, "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" by Otis Redding, and "I Found a Reason" by Velvet Underground.

Aside from Otis Redding, I've never heard of any of the other songs or artists. I watched the YouTube videos each song was linked to through the article and decided the author did a wonderful job. To me, they were indeed offbeat wedding song picks.

So what song did you go with (for the Marrieds out there): a cliched one or an offbeat one? For those of you About to Be Marrieds, which are you considering?

Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here.

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Photo credit: Photographers SXU screen name is Duchesssa and the link to her website. Standard restrictions apply for use of this photo.

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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Jade Walker (964) 16 Oct 2008 09:17 AM

We're not planning on having a DJ or a band, so no wedding song for us. However, if we end up slow dancing in the hotel room during our honeymoon, we'll probably queue up "My One and Only Love" by Sting or "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones.

FWIW, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel is my favorite song of all time -- but only the uncensored version. The radio cut is crap.

Courtney Mroch (9169) 16 Oct 2008 12:44 PM

Oh, those are very good songs you'd pick. And about "In Your Eyes"...COOL! I did not know that. Now I do. Neat. =)

Heidi (5274) 16 Oct 2008 01:17 PM

We didn't have a DJ or band at our reception, but I walked down the aisle to the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and after the ceremony we walked UP the aisle to the Smashmouth cover of "I'm a Believer" (the one from the movie Shrek)

While "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is a traditional song, it's not a traditional wedding song (at least not that I'm aware of!), and when DH suggested "I'm a Believer" I thought it was a great idea that I wouldn't have come up with on my own :)

Courtney Mroch (9169) 16 Oct 2008 03:22 PM

"I'm a Believer" - I LOVE THAT!!!! Thanks so much for sharing, Heidi.