Wedding, First Song for Dancing?

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TacomaTony · #1 Post by **TacomaTony** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:34 am

With my wedding fast approaching, August 23rd....my fiance has asked me to pick three songs so she can choose a song for our very first dance as a married couple. I need some recommendations please....

Things to consider...
We want to Lindy...
We won't have any chance to dance right before hand, we will have been sitting and or mingling...
Not too short, not too long...
We don't want it to be way too common and overplayed, for example, Anything on the "As Good as it Gets" Soundtrack is probably a no.

One song I have in mind is "Itty Bitty Pretty One". It is the song we got engaged to. It is a little fast and a touch short, but I love that song! I had a copy of it, but i think I misplaced it during our recent move...

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Tacoma Tony

Soupbone · #2 Post by **Soupbone** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:53 am

Congrats on the wedding, Tony. I'm actually doing the same search myself, as I'm getting married on October 4.

I will read the recommendations with interest. But, right now I'm leaning toward "White Heat."

Lawrence · #3 Post by **Lawrence** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 11:43 am

Might seem obvious, but "Exactly Like You" with Carmen McRae could be ideal. "I know why I waited...."

Platypus · #4 Post by **Platypus** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:59 pm

Congratulations! We have had two recent swing weddings in town and three coming up in the next 6 months. All of the local DJs have been involved in helping collect music ideas for the couples. Most of us have burned "luv" themed CDs in our collections. I will post a list this weekend for ya. Do you have a preference in the style, speed, or wording of the songs?

Last weekend's first dance:
"I love being here with you" Ernestine Anderson...the sweetness and joy in her voice make this song a classic first dance song.

julius · #5 Post by **julius** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 1:54 pm

This Bitter Earth.

NO JUST KIDDING

TacomaTony · #6 Post by **TacomaTony** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:45 pm

julius wrote:This Bitter Earth.

NO JUST KIDDING

I was thinking Metallica, "Sad but true". But that is more of a Shag song.....

TacomaTony · #7 Post by **TacomaTony** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:46 pm

Platypus wrote: Last weekend's first dance:
"I love being here with you" Ernestine Anderson...the sweetness and joy in her voice make this song a classic first dance song.

Thank you all for the congratulations...

"I love being here with you", I do like that song! What is the common version of that song that I hear DJ's play?

kbuxton · #8 Post by **kbuxton** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 12:14 am

TacomaTony wrote: "I love being here with you", I do like that song! What is the common version of that song that I hear DJ's play?

Usually Ernestine Anderson.

Platypus · #9 Post by **Platypus** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 6:56 am

Ernestine Anderson
same version is available on:
album: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series
album: Ow! with the Concord Jazz All Stars (available on Emusic)

Platypus · #10 Post by **Platypus** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 9:15 am

Listed below are some of the songs I put together last week for my friends. I looked for medium speed, love-oriented lyrics, somewhat groovy (they liked groove), and joyfulness in the singer's voice. There is a one line break in between songs that fit my criteria and songs that don't quite fit my own criteria for a first song, but might fit yours. Don't forget to check emusic for some of these songs (I have listed those that I remember having seen on there, but I am sure I missed some). Hope this is a good starting point for y'all!

Let's Fall in Love - Louis Armstrong
Let's Do It - Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington (emusic)
They all Laughed - Ella and Louis (another friend used this as their wedding song, starts like a ballad and then speeds up into a slow swing)
As Long As I Live - Ernestine Anderson, Maxine Sullivan
You Were Meant for Me - Maxine Sullivan
Comes Love - Ella and Louis
What a Wonderful World - Barbara Morrison (faster than the Louis Armstrong version)
Exactly Like You - Carmen McCrae, Benny Goodman, Django Reinehardt
I'm beginning to see the light - Harry James
The Very Thought of You - Helen Humes
Things are Looking Up - Maxine Sullivan
Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Joe Williams, Ray Charles
You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You - Sammy Davis, Jr. and Count Basie
I'm in the Mood for Love - Ella Fitzgerald
Until I met You - Count Basie, Joe Williams
This Can't Be Love - Mary Stallings

All of Me - Duke Ellington version featuring Johnny Hodges (emusic)
I'll Always Be In Love With You - Count Basie and Milt Jackson (emusic)
Yessir, that's my baby - Count Basie (emusic)
Love You Madly - various, usually fast
Somebody Loves Me - various
Call Me Irresponsible - Bobby Darin
S'Wonderful - Benny Goodman
I was doing alright - Ella Fitgerald
The Best Thing for You (would be me) - various
It had to be you - various
I've got you under my skin - various
I get a kick out of you - Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald
You are my Sunshine - Gene Harris, Ray Charles
There is no greater love - various
I fell in love with you - Henry Red Allen
You were meant for me - Maxine Sullivan
My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone
Like Someone in Love - Various
Hep Cat's Love Song - Cab Calloway
I'm putting all my eggs in one basket - Ella, Carmen McCrae
For you my love - Lou Rawls
It's only a paper moon - Nat King Cole, also Count Basie and Zoot Sims have a sweet instrumental version (emusic)
All Around the World - Lou Rawls
At Last - Etta James

and, just an additional FYI, my friends chose "I'm a believer" as their recessional and "don't falter at the alter" as their processional..... whatever you choose, make it fit the two of you and have fun with it.

Drew · #11 Post by **Drew** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 9:12 pm

"Wonderful Thing" Count Basie. No lyrics, just a romantic little melody.

Matthew · #12 Post by **Matthew** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:37 pm

I've got a couple of suggestions. For comparison, these are about the same "speed" as the Beach Boys' "Fun, Fun, Fun," which is a song that I would not recommend for the first dance.

"Good Evenin’, Good Lookin’" - Benny Goodman Orchestra, Helen Forrest singing
"Me, Myself, and I" - Billie Holiday singing.

Lindy Bomb · #13 Post by **Lindy Bomb** » Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:07 am

A friend of mine got married about 6 months ago, he and his wife used My Baby Just Cares for Me. Unfortunately, the DJ used the Indigo Swing version- Nina's is so much better. So much better.

Bob the Builder · #14 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Sun Jul 27, 2003 3:38 am

Platypus wrote: Last weekend's first dance:
"I love being here with you" Ernestine Anderson...the sweetness and joy in her voice make this song a classic first dance song.

I used this one in my Wedding jam back in April. Its a nice song.
Got a bit board of it half way through. There's not as much to play with in it as you would think. Very much so enjoyed the dance still.
Just remember a Wedding jam is one for the first times most people see them sleves dancing to one entire song on their own. If I was to do it againn, I'd chose some thing with a little bit more energy.

Bob

Shanabanana · #15 Post by **Shanabanana** » Sun Jul 27, 2003 5:06 pm

Another one you might consider:

Solid as a Rock - Ella Fitzgerald (Last Decca Years)

Definite wedding theme, fun for a jam, and great music.