97 covers of "book of love": go.

September 21, 2009 9:08 AM

help me make a cool, sweet, smart, fun ipod mix for my wedding! bonus points if you have suggestions for processional/recessional music.

we're both in our 30's, creative professionals, with wide-ranging tastes. it's a lunch reception with no dance floor, so we're looking for a nice soundtrack for a lot of drinking and talking and eating. leaning toward lush-and-pretty or spare-and-pretty indie(ish) pop/rock. like a mildly edgier and more diverse version of the "grey's anatomy" soundtrack.

here are some songs i am thinking of contributing to the mix:

"book of love" - mike doughty's version (honestly i could just put "golden delicious" on repeat and be done with it, but it's a wedding, you gotta make the effort)
"in your eyes" - peter gabriel
"as is" - ani difranco
"crazy little thing called love" - queen
"the way i am" - ingrid michaelson
"i want you to be my love" - over the rhine
"first day of my life" - bright eyes
"white trash wedding" - dixie chicks
"all of my days" - alexi murdoch
"all i want is you" - u2
"silver lining" - rilo kiley
"when the day is short" - martha wainwright (slightly inappropriate, but whatever, i like it)

he likes most ska, all those bands that sound like the yeah yeah yeahs, and white stripes, but there's not a lot there that we'd be happy playing for great aunt miriam.

ideas?

posted by thinkingwoman to media & arts (19 comments total)

Previously.
posted by scarykarrey at 9:13 AM on September 21

This thread might have suggestions you can use, too. I'm still voting for "One Day Like This" by Elbow.
posted by runningwithscissors at 9:18 AM on September 21

Other thoughts, though some might be a little country-ish for you:

"I'm the Man Who Loves You" by Wilco
"The Idea of Growing Old" by The Features
"Blue Eyes" by Uncle Tupelo
"Amour Fou" by Vetiver
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show
"I Do Dig A Certain Girl" by Devendra Banhart
"Starting a New Life" by Van Morrison
"Lincoln Town" by John Hiatt
"Textbook Love" by Fleet
"I was made for You" by She & Him
Something by Iron & Wine -- maybe "Naked as we Came" but that's pretty dark.
Maybe "A Song for the Lovers" by John Ashcroft, but I'd check the lyrics first. Same thing for Band of Horses' "No One's Gonna Love You" and Gomez's "See the World."

I have a perverse sense of humor, so I'd play Of Montreal's "Tim I Wish You Were Born A Girl." YMMV.

I think Great-Aunt Miriam could totally deal with The White Stripes' "Hotel Yorba" -- honestly, there's going to be enough talking and background noise that no one's really going to be playing a whole lot of attention to the music, anyway. Play what makes you happy.
posted by runningwithscissors at 9:43 AM on September 21 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ok. Last time. I really do have other things to do, I promise.

Check out this thread. It's from 2007, though.
posted by runningwithscissors at 9:47 AM on September 21

Looking for big laffs? Process out to "Yakety Sax".
posted by jquinby at 9:48 AM on September 21

"Let's Do Everything For the First Time Forever" by Of Montreal.
posted by oinopaponton at 9:52 AM on September 21

"The Luckiest" by Ben Folds.
posted by fresh-rn at 9:55 AM on September 21

If you like Queen, you should definitely add "Millionare Waltz," which in my opinion is one of their sweetest and most fun.
posted by a.steele at 9:57 AM on September 21

That should have read "Millionaire Waltz." :)
posted by a.steele at 9:59 AM on September 21

My husband and I cut our cake to "Yakety Sax".

I thought it was hilarious.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 10:08 AM on September 21

It's my ultimate dream to walk down the aisle to Slim Whitman's version of "Indian Love Call". But I think that's probably pretty weird.
posted by elsietheeel at 10:28 AM on September 21

Pat Benetar, "We Belong". I've always thought that would be hilarious at a wedding.
posted by kestrel251 at 10:31 AM on September 21

For his ska sensibilities, I can give you a crowd-friendly song that even Aunt Miriam would think is sweet.

Lord Tanamo and the Skatalites - I'm In The Mood For Ska

It's a cover of "I'm in the mood for love." He doesn't actually say ska in the song. That's just in the title.

You can get the mp3 here.

To marry Yeah Yeah Yeahs with lush/pretty, look no further than Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Hysteric. Gets really nice at about 1 minute in. Never gets too much for pleasant background usage.

Otherwise on the lush/pretty front, here are a few:

JJ - From Africa to Malaga
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
Cocteau Twins - Carolyn's Fingers
posted by Askr at 10:32 AM on September 21

Some irony-filter is required, but I've heard TMBG's Lucky Ball & Chain at three different weddings now. I smiled each time.
posted by rokusan at 10:50 AM on September 21 [1 favorite has favorites]

"When U Love Somebody" by the Fruit Bats, perhaps?
posted by backwards guitar at 10:53 AM on September 21

Queen did a hilarious/awesome cover of the Wedding March that can be found on the Flash Gordon Soundtrack. Some friends used it as their wedding processional and it was a big hit, even if a bit corny.
posted by devnall at 10:59 AM on September 21 [1 favorite has favorites]

Not for the procession/recession, but dude. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) is a must for any day celebrating love.
posted by zoomorphic at 12:05 PM on September 21 [1 favorite has favorites]

It's not irreverent or edgy, but Sarah Harmer's Open Window (the Wedding Song) is smart and spare and pretty and indie-ish. And apparently, not well known.
posted by kitcat at 1:52 PM on September 21

We're getting married soon too and these are some from our iPod playlist:

Bill Withers - Lovely Day
Stevie Wonder - I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto - One Note Samba, the vocal version
Peggy Lee - Nice Work If You Can Get It, Love Is Just Around The Corner, I'm Beginning to See the Light
The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
Diana Ross and the Supremes - Love is Like an Itching in My Heart
The Ronettes - Be My Baby
Nina Simone - He Needs Me, Just in Time
David Bowie - Be My Wife
The Zombies - This Will be Our Year
Tom Waits - Sea of Love
Cat Power - I Found a Reason (a Velvet Underground cover)
Rachel's - Water From the Same Source
Tram - Once I Was
Edith Frost - Easy to Love
Yo La Tengo - You Can Have it All (a cover, George McCrae I think?)
Talking Heads - Naive Melody or Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
The Sea and Cake. Elevator music for hipsters! We're going with "The Colony Room." "Parasol" or "Sporting Life" probably would have worked too.
Brian Eno - I'll Come Running
John Coltrane - Acknowledgment (a.k.a. "that 'A Love Supreme' song...so popular as to be cliche, for a very good reason!)

The classical we're using is pretty unorthodox and kind of sad sounding, because it had personal significance (inside story; shared memories between us)--Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1, Schubert's Trio in E Flat...hipster friends of mine have used The Dirty Three and Explosions in the Sky as pretty instrumental music, even for processional stuff.
posted by ifjuly at 12:50 AM on September 24