Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with music and wedding

HELP! Need Wedding Playlist!!

madmamasmith — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:35:50 -0800

HELP! I am (was) using my ipod instead of a DJ for my wedding that is in 10 days and it just CRASHED! It synched to my computer without warning and now all my wedding playlists are GONE! I'm a dope and only very recently started using an external hard drive...long story short I need help to rebuild my wedding playlists. With the stress of the wedding planning I cant even remember to poop, let alone the collection of music ive been building for years!! I would appreciate ANY and ALL recommendations but I need the most help with the dance portion. I love all kinds of music from all eras and I want to make sure there are some dance hits from my school days ie TLC, SWV etc but I also want to play some newer hits and I am suffering serious brain fart. I'm also 6 months pregnant so I have baby brain as they say.

So far my playlists are thus (in a nutshell)

Preceremony/seating:

sun kil moon, joni mitchell, elvis, alasdair roberts, some instrumental stuff etc., peter gabriel

Dinner/Cocktail:

cocteau twins, yo la tango, van morrison, fleetwood mac, sufjan stevens, nina simone, otis redding, nuetral milk hotel

Dancing:

MGMT, MIA, Soldia Boy, JAson Derulo, Kool & the gang, outkast, madonna, pssion pit, cure, aha, TI, iggy pop, peter bjorn and john, daftpunk, the knife, george michael.......

Can you find an Irish band for my wedding?

mpbx — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:12:39 -0800

Help me find an Irish band to play my wedding's cocktail hour in the Schenectady / Albany NY area. Much to my surprise, I'm having a hard time finding an Irish duo (guitar and fiddle) to play traditional Irish music at my wedding's cocktail hour. We're not interested in the purist Celtic stuff, we want a band that will play "The Irish Rover," "The Foggy Dew," and other songs you'd hear on the Irish Hit Parade or your local pub. Most of the decent groups I've found online are prohibitively far away, which pushes their cost way up. Any assistance is appreciated!

97 covers of "book of love": go.

thinkingwoman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:08:51 -0800

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?

Help Us Rejoice!

kwaller — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:49:44 -0800

MazelTovFilter: A friend is getting married this weekend, and he's having a hard time finding a decent MP3 version of "Hava Nagila" for the reception. Can the hivemind help? He's looking for something somewhat traditional. It'd be easiest if he could download it from iTunes, though he's willing to travel for a CD in Greater Boston.

He has found:
—a version by GOLEM! with the lyrics "have a tequila" (too wacky)
—an instrumental version by violinist André Rieu (tempo changes are a little extreme)
—a David H. Yakobian version ("too synthy," reversed chorus and verses)
—an Israel Singers version (part of a medley; still synthy)
—a Bobby Morganstein version (not a fan of his Hebrew accent)

Thanks so much for your help!

How to play this on the violin?

sconbie — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:17:04 -0800

How to transpose cello music for violin? I have been asked to accompany the groom when he sings this song to his new wife. Bonus points for free download of the sheet music with violin arrangements.

At least it's not Canon in D.

siclik — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:24:02 -0800

Can you identify the classical song playing during this wedding processional? [Video Inside] I'm editing a wedding video for a friend and trying to overlay a higher quality audio file, but before I can download the song, I need to identify it. Here's the video:

http://vimeo.com/2827410

Bonus points for anyone who links to a royalty free version of the song that I can download. This is not for profit - just helping out a friend.

Thanks in advance!

Can anyone help me find some fairly chilled, beautiful music based on a few things I like?

farfaraway — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:19:44 -0800

Can anyone help me find some fairly chilled, beautiful music based on a few things I like, both for general listening and as potential wedding music? I've recently been really taken with Somewhere over the rainbow by
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. I have always hated this song, but he does such a lovely version of it. I'm really looking for some similar pieces which could be used as a wedding processional piece....I like the idea of walking down the aisle to a nice summery sounding track. Accoustic or not, doesn't matter. Any ideas? Other things I like include:

Finley Quaye - Dice
Patrick Park - Something Pretty
Youth group - Forever young
Michael Nyman - The Promise
The O'Neill Brothers - How Beautiful (for piano)

..but for one reason or another none of these are quite right (either because of the lyrics or too fussy)

Music to eat to. Romantically.

heavenstobetsy — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:24:29 -0800

Looking for suggestions of songs to be played during dinner at a fairly casual wedding. No DJ, we're just using a PA and some variety of cd player. We're looking for mostly mainstream type mellow-ish music. The bride so far as come up with:

- Amy Winehouse
- Coldplay
- Radiohead
- Feist
- Verve
- The Smiths

So along the vein of those artists probably. At least vaguely romantic in tone/lyrics would probably be best. Thanks in advance, Hivemind!

Help me find the ultimate montage music!

Spyder's Game — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:01:12 -0800

I am editing together a "best of" wedding montage for a friend's anniversary. Give me a piece of music that speaks of beauty, love triumphant, joy and happiness, with a good measure of mysticism, mystery, or, uh, ethereal-ness (?). Bonus points if we can make 'em cry... Buddy of mine's anniversary is in mid-Sept. I am in possession of the original wedding tapes and would like to suprise them with a montage (maybe more than one) of the highlights of their wedding.

I want to do something personal for them, but this is a suprise, so asking them about their musical tastes is right out, as it'll ruin any suprise. I think a beautiful piece of music and the footage from their wedding (which they have not yet seen) will really blow them away.

I am leaning towards instrumental music, or music with vocalization (i.e. Enya) in another language. If you have something spectacular with great lyrics, I'm all for it, though. The current odds-on favorite is from the Gladiator sountrack - "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard. Ten points to you if you can find something better!

Things to avoid:
1) Anything cheezy. Like pornography, "cheezy" is hard to define, but I think we all know it when we see it.

2) Anything overused. "Unforgettable" and "What a Wonderful World" are both amazing songs, but WAY too popular. I want something that makes my friends feel special. I'd love it if after they see it they say "Where did you GET THAT MUSIC?!?"

3) Anything TOO out there. "Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet or "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys might be hysterical choices for some of YOUR friends, but not these two. It's not really the moment for a novelty or "joke" song. I'm trying to avoid the posts that say, "Dude, wouldn't it be AWESOME if..." No. No, my friend. I'm afraid it wouldn't....

Ok, having said all that, let's hear 'em!! Was there anything created for you that used a piece of music you just loved, and couldn't get out of your head? Bring it on!

Last-minute wedding reception music - HELP!

irishkitten — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:34:05 -0800

We're looking for dinner music for our wedding reception in a week! More behind the cut... The wedding/reception is next Saturday. We're looking for some good suggestions for jazz/bluesy type music over the dinner hours. Our DJ has been less than helpful throughout the entire process(we're providing over half the evening's music), his dinner music 'isn't in the online database', and he has a couple 'crooner' cds that he generally uses. My hubby and I are a little more picky than the DJ seems to understand, and would like to sample songs, instead of the DJ picking random music. I'd 86 the DJ but with a hefty deposit and a week to go, it's not possible. What IS possible, is for us to provide him a CD with what WE want to hear. We just don't know where to start. Help? :)

Thanks, MeFites!

Similar song to Christina Aguilera's Candyman

artifarce — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:51:50 -0800

Similar-in-style songs to Christina Aguilera's Candyman? I'm helping plan a wedding dance list, and this modern boogie is a lot of fun, but I don't want to be the one that drops "he makes my cherry pop" into this particular dance hall. In other words, it should be clean too. I've searched the "neoboogie" tag a bit on last.fm, but there's a lot of boring songs there to wade through. I want something hip, fast, and that would make both the old and young generations stand up for a little swing dancing. I'm not explicitly looking through music from the last 10 years, but it'd be preferable. Good covers are great too.

They couldn't have asked us LAST week?

cereselle — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:02:33 -0800

Wedding Music filter: My sister and I (both mezzos) have been tagged to sing at our cousin's wedding. This Sunday. Please help us find a song that is a) a duet, b) that we can both hit the notes on, c) is something we know or is easy to learn, and d) is not stupid. Does such a song exist?

It's all been done (but maybe we should do it again)

messylissa — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:36:28 -0800

Songs about soulmates? Always looking for the proverbial perfect love song, and thought that maybe these threads could use an update.

Hoping for indie pop/rock songs, but others are welcome as well.

Help me find a wedding song to perform.

omidius — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:45:08 -0800

Wedding Song Filter: I am searching for love songs that I can perform (on classical guitar) at a close friend's reception. It will be performed half in spanish, half in english. I'm a male in the mezzo-soprano to alto range, my guitar skills are novice-to-intermediate.

Johnny Mathis version of "Always and Forever" ?

leticia — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:42:05 -0800

Did Johnny Mathis sing "Always and Forever"? Anyone know where I can find it (ie, CD, download)? Looking -- on very short notice, ie, within 24 hours -- for someone's wedding song to play at their 25th anniversary celebration/renewal of vows. I'm told it's "Always and Forever" by Johnny Mathis. But the "Always and Forever" I know is sung by Earth Wind & Fire.

I've done some web searching on this and coming up empty handed. So I would really appreciate any help in identifying/finding this tune.

Help us with dance music for a wedding!

k8t — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:36:04 -0800

Dance music for a wedding! Please help. You've already helped with the "mingle" music, but now we wanna get our dance on. '70s, '80s, indie, light on the hip hop. It needs to work for all ages, but doesn't have to be totally sex-free. We don't want any YMCA or Macarena. PLEASE HELP!

Playlist suggestions, world/lounge/techno

billtron — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:10:14 -0800

MusicFilter: I need to make a playlist for a cocktail hour this weekend. I'm looking for more things like Suba, Amon Tobin, or the Gotan Project. Preferably without lyrics, although non-English lyrics would be acceptable. Bonus points for Italian elements or Rat Pack ambience.

So only happy Nick Drake, right?

inoculatedcities — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:52:27 -0800

Help me decide what song(s) to play at a friend's wedding? One of my closest friends is getting married in a month and has asked me to play guitar during the ceremony at his wedding. I've known he and his fiancee for years, at one point lived with his fiancee even, and he's sort of an older brother/paternal influence on me due to our age difference (he's about ten years older). Needless to say it's probably going to be a very emotional occasion. They want me to play two songs during the ceremony, when they walk down the aisle, then when they march back after the vows are exchanged. It's going to be a rather large wedding too. The tough part is that they've asked me to pick the songs. I have been thinking about playing an instrumental of Nick Drake's "Thoughts of Mary Jane" but can't really settle on anything. I'd like something finger-picky and beautiful. Help me out MeFites!

Indie wedding playlist help!

k8t — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:56:51 -0800

WeddingMusicFilter, help me make a iPod wedding playlist for our indie-loving friends. I've asked for romantic indie music before. But additional suggestions for a multiple-hour playlist are requested from the Hive.

A somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony?

bigd — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:52:30 -0800

Suggestions for a somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony? I've searched all over, to no avail, to find something that is hauntingly beautiful in just the right way. A very long-time friend has asked me to sing in her wedding in August, and I'm having a terrible time finding a song that seems appropriate, given her guidelines. She wants something that is not too contemporary (not jazz, for example).

She's having a somewhat pagan-oriented ceremony. She said that she'd like something that has a musical feel similar to "Scarborough Fair," but with lyrics that are more wedding appropriate. She's open to the possibility of folk songs, but would probably prefer something that is romantic and a little bit haunting, if that makes any sense. As far as the non-contemporary thing goes, she also said that it could be cool if it were something that would feel appropriate as the soundtrack to "Pride & Prejudice," but I'm not sure what that means.

I may sing a cappella (I've done that in two other weddings - it doesn't freak me out), or my husband could accompany me on his violin, which could actually be pretty cool given the right song.

Please help.

Explain "Come Rain or Come Shine"

josh — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:42:11 -0800

In the song "Come Rain or Come Shine," what does the singer mean when she says, "Don't ever bet me"? My fiancée and I want to use "Come Rain or Come Shine" as our wedding song. But we don't understand this verse:

I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things.
But don't ever bet me,
'Cause I'm gonna be true,
If you let me.

We get the general idea--but what does "don't ever bet me" mean, exactly? Is it slang? What are we missing?

wedding ceremony music for a soprano

ztdavis — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:10:35 -0800

What wedding songs (ceremony, not reception) would music lovers here suggest to be sung by a skilled, classically trained soprano accompanied by a not as skilled, works-for-a-small-church pianist? I am getting married this August we are lucky enough to be good friends of a recent graduate of Indiana University's music school. She has an excellent voice and can sing just about anything.

The pianist, on the other hand, is used to your regular Sunday church hymns. She can probably play anything simple if we give her plenty of time to practice, but simpler is better.

I wile away my hours listening to Brian Eno, Radiohead, Godspeed! You Black Emperor and various other things that don't lend themselves at all to a wedding. My lovely fiancee listens to a lot of the same stuff, plus country music. And I hate just about anything that sounds twangy orr like popular country music.

So we are at a loss. From what I have gathered from occasional listenign to A Prairie Home Companion, something more classically ballad sounding from the last half of the 19th century would be peachy keen in my book. That's just one vague idea, though, to us anything is fair game and worth a listen. Hymns are fair game, but I'm not particularly fond of them.

Julie is interested in something that "has sincere lyrics about love."

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

No, I will not do the "Macarena"

engling — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:22:53 -0800

Non lame, no cheese, dj for my brother's wedding. Do they exist in the Seattle area? Suggestions and other advice are welcomed.

Reccommend a band

gaby — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:09:33 -0800

Barn dance/ceilidh in Derbyshire: looking for a recommended ceilidh or barn dance group come play at my wedding reception. I'm looking for a full group who can play for a few hours in the evening, before the obligatory duff wedding DJ. I've found plenty of bands with websites but I have no idea who's good or bad.

We're looking for an entertaining band, that can motivate the crowds into joining in (rather than just play music). They need to be able to come to Derbyshire to play. Any good recommendations or experiences?

Why does rocking out take all these cables?!?!

Wavelet — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:50:38 -0800

DIY Wedding Reception Music Sound System?!?! Frazzled bride has Putting together a punk rock (alternatively, cheap ass) wedding. For the DIY sound, though, I am somewhat stymied. What I beseech you for, askmefi: how to put together, with a sub-$600 budget, a fairly decent localized sound system for dancing at the reception? A system which would allow the music source to be a laptop would be optimal.

This reception is in a large hall with high ceilings, and with over 200 guests. Not all of them would be dancing at once, I assume. The sound can be limited to one area, but should be reasonably loud and accomodating to multiple music genres. I am not averse to buying stuff over the internets, but brand and gear suggestions which might be on Craigslist would be awesome, too.

If this is a terrible idea, suggest Bay Area DJs willing to play whatever the heck we want, even if it is the Pop-O-Pie's "The Catholics Are Attacking."