Please suggest a song for a golden wedding
September 22, 2011 9:59 AM Subscribe
My parents will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in August 2012, and my family is already planning a commemorative catered dinner/dance. On the evening's agenda will be a musical solo, sung by my talented teenaged niece Peaches and accompanied by my sister on the piano. I'd like some suggestions as to what song Peaches might sing.
My parents did have a wedding song but unfortunately neither of them can remember what it was [snarf!]. I'm thinking they would probably like to select something classic (classic meaning mid-20th century, not Beethoven). I suggested "Somewhere My Love" as my father says it's one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, but he said much as he loves that song the lyrics are about a couple who can't be together so it wouldn't suit them. I think my dad's suggestion of "The Old Gray Mare, She Ain't What She Used to Be" would not be suitable either. Not if he is at all interested in ever celebrating a 51st anniversary, at any rate. So many other love songs that I can think of seem to be about unhappy love. What can you suggest, MeFites?
My parents did have a wedding song but unfortunately neither of them can remember what it was [snarf!]. I'm thinking they would probably like to select something classic (classic meaning mid-20th century, not Beethoven). I suggested "Somewhere My Love" as my father says it's one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, but he said much as he loves that song the lyrics are about a couple who can't be together so it wouldn't suit them. I think my dad's suggestion of "The Old Gray Mare, She Ain't What She Used to Be" would not be suitable either. Not if he is at all interested in ever celebrating a 51st anniversary, at any rate. So many other love songs that I can think of seem to be about unhappy love. What can you suggest, MeFites?
Honestly, I think your dad's suggestion of "The Old Gray Mare" is hilarious. Maybe have an earnest slow song, and then segue into it for laughs and to change up the atmosphere to dance & fun?
posted by kestrel251 at 10:09 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by kestrel251 at 10:09 AM on September 22, 2011
I wanted to suggest Unchained Melody because it rings a bell for my parents, who had their 50th a few years ago. However, just like Somewhere My Love, it's about pining for someone. My parents danced to Somewhere My Love too...
posted by cabingirl at 10:10 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by cabingirl at 10:10 AM on September 22, 2011
Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World.
posted by headnsouth at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by headnsouth at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
"I've got a brand new pair of roller skates, you've got a brand new key"
posted by spicynuts at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by spicynuts at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm a sucker for Unchained Melody (1955). Here's a video by of the song by the Righteous Brothers, who made it a jukebox standard.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by Short Attention Sp at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
Our Love Is Here to Stay! I sang it at my dad's, ahem, third wedding. But for a 50th anniversary it is THE perfect song.
posted by laconic titan at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by laconic titan at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2011
Can't Help Falling in Love was among the top hits the year your parents got married.
posted by Wordwoman at 10:14 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordwoman at 10:14 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hands on the Wheel. Which is a Willie Nelson song, but this is a Norah Jones cover, so there's piano and and a woman. Here are the Lyrics:
At a time when the world seems to be spinnin' hopelessly out of control,
There's deceivers an' believers an' old in-betweeners,
That seem to have no place to go.
Well, it's the same old song, it's right an' it's wrong,
An' livin' is just somethin' that I do.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.
I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home.
An' in the shade of an oak down by the river,
Sit an old man an' a boy,
Settin' sail, spinnin' tales an' fishin' for whales,
With a lady they both enjoy.
Well, it's the same damn tune, it's the man in the moon.
It's the way that I feel about you.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.
An' I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:15 AM on September 22, 2011
At a time when the world seems to be spinnin' hopelessly out of control,
There's deceivers an' believers an' old in-betweeners,
That seem to have no place to go.
Well, it's the same old song, it's right an' it's wrong,
An' livin' is just somethin' that I do.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.
I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home.
An' in the shade of an oak down by the river,
Sit an old man an' a boy,
Settin' sail, spinnin' tales an' fishin' for whales,
With a lady they both enjoy.
Well, it's the same damn tune, it's the man in the moon.
It's the way that I feel about you.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.
An' I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:15 AM on September 22, 2011
Come Rain or Come Shine (here's my favorite version, by Dinah Washington)
posted by amarynth at 10:23 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by amarynth at 10:23 AM on September 22, 2011
Here is another list of songs released that year.
Are they Beatles fans? "Love Me Do"!
posted by brujita at 10:25 AM on September 22, 2011
Are they Beatles fans? "Love Me Do"!
posted by brujita at 10:25 AM on September 22, 2011
I will (by the beatles). Here's the Allison Krauss version.
posted by tomswift at 10:30 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by tomswift at 10:30 AM on September 22, 2011
Kurt Weill's September Song. It's a "standard" that's been covered by a bunch of people, the lyrics are fitting, and it's been used at other weddings (my own parents', in fact, in '67).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on September 22, 2011
"When I'm 64" by Lennon and McCartney
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:46 AM on September 22, 2011
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:46 AM on September 22, 2011
Through The Years, Kenny Rogers
You're Still The One, Shania Twain
posted by Falwless at 10:47 AM on September 22, 2011
You're Still The One, Shania Twain
posted by Falwless at 10:47 AM on September 22, 2011
Something from the Rosemary Clooney songbook will fit the approximate time period of their meeting and marrying and will be appropriate in romantic tone. Something like 'Be My Life's Companion' or 'You'll Never Know' would be really lovely.
[Also: Please don't let Peaches sing Peaches.]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:48 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
[Also: Please don't let Peaches sing Peaches.]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:48 AM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
here, there and everywhere by the beatles
grow old with me by mary chapin carpenter
posted by koroshiya at 11:21 AM on September 22, 2011
grow old with me by mary chapin carpenter
posted by koroshiya at 11:21 AM on September 22, 2011
turn the old gray mare around on him!
the old gray stallion ain't what he used to be...
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:16 PM on September 22, 2011
the old gray stallion ain't what he used to be...
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:16 PM on September 22, 2011
I think "I'll Stand By You" would make me bawl for the rest of the night. (That could be good or bad).
posted by nakedmolerats at 1:23 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by nakedmolerats at 1:23 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
"They All Laughed" is a great, jazzy tune with a not-too-taxing vocal range, and piano accompaniments should be easy to come by. Ella Fitzgerald's generally considered the definitive interpreter, but I'm quite fond of Stacey Kent's take.
posted by evoque at 3:08 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by evoque at 3:08 PM on September 22, 2011
"We've Only Just Begun." Because it's gorgeous, and who wants to think that they're near the end of the road?
posted by Scram at 10:22 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Scram at 10:22 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I've decided to make my parents a CD with ten songs on it, nine of which are the best of the suggestions here:
"Harvest Moon", Neil Young
"Unchained Melody", Righteous Brothers
"Our Love is Here to Stay", Ella Fitzgerald
"Can't Help Falling in Love", Elvis Presley
"Hands on the Wheel", Norah Jones
"Come Rain or Come Shine", Dinah Washington
"I Will", Ben Taylor
"Be My Life's Companion", Rosemary Clooney
"Through the Years", Kenny Rogers
And when I was talking to my parents the other night and told them about the CD, my dad requested that I put another, specific, song on it. Back in 1958 when they first started dating one of their first handful of dates involved their seeing Love in the Afternoon, starring Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. Dad has ever since then remembered a particular song from the soundtrack, called "Fascination". It's been covered a number of times, but I think I'll put the Connie Francis version on the CD. Which I intend to entitle, "These Happy Golden Years". My parents may still choose another song that is not among the ten, but I am sure they'll enjoy and keep the CD anyway, so it won't be wasted effort.
who wants to think that they're near the end of the road?
You're quite right, and I made an effort to avoid any songs that emphasized age or made it sound like everything lay in the past. I know I'd hate that if I were them!
Thanks all for your suggestions!
posted by orange swan at 7:51 PM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Harvest Moon", Neil Young
"Unchained Melody", Righteous Brothers
"Our Love is Here to Stay", Ella Fitzgerald
"Can't Help Falling in Love", Elvis Presley
"Hands on the Wheel", Norah Jones
"Come Rain or Come Shine", Dinah Washington
"I Will", Ben Taylor
"Be My Life's Companion", Rosemary Clooney
"Through the Years", Kenny Rogers
And when I was talking to my parents the other night and told them about the CD, my dad requested that I put another, specific, song on it. Back in 1958 when they first started dating one of their first handful of dates involved their seeing Love in the Afternoon, starring Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. Dad has ever since then remembered a particular song from the soundtrack, called "Fascination". It's been covered a number of times, but I think I'll put the Connie Francis version on the CD. Which I intend to entitle, "These Happy Golden Years". My parents may still choose another song that is not among the ten, but I am sure they'll enjoy and keep the CD anyway, so it won't be wasted effort.
who wants to think that they're near the end of the road?
You're quite right, and I made an effort to avoid any songs that emphasized age or made it sound like everything lay in the past. I know I'd hate that if I were them!
Thanks all for your suggestions!
posted by orange swan at 7:51 PM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I made the CD and took it home at Thanksgiving. We listened to it over supper that Friday night. Mum and Dad said they would be happy with any song on it, and also thought that Peaches should have some input into what song she sings, so it was decided that Peaches and my sister will be the ones to choose a song off the CD. Don't have their decision yet, but it'll be interesting to see which one they want to do.
posted by orange swan at 3:16 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by orange swan at 3:16 PM on October 26, 2011
« Older Can I bring cans and bottles on a New Orleans... | Tired of the anti-hero. I need a hero. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by shornco at 10:05 AM on September 22, 2011