A waltz that will make you smile
June 17, 2009 3:00 PM Subscribe
My partner and I want to find a waltz for our wedding, but we are looking for some happy, uplifting songs in waltz time.
We had originally picked Bobby Darin's "Blue Skies" as our first dance, but that's a foxtrot/quickstep and while we're learning a few different dances, i think we're most comfortable with a waltz. The problem I'm finding is that most of the classic waltz tunes are quite romantic and serious, and we're definitely not having that sort of wedding - we want a happy song that makes people smile.
Do you know a good uplifting song that we can waltz to? I'd love if it had a rat-pack feel to it but any happy tune, old or modern would be great to hear. I already know about The Rainbow Connection which is pretty cool, but not quite right.
Thank you!
We had originally picked Bobby Darin's "Blue Skies" as our first dance, but that's a foxtrot/quickstep and while we're learning a few different dances, i think we're most comfortable with a waltz. The problem I'm finding is that most of the classic waltz tunes are quite romantic and serious, and we're definitely not having that sort of wedding - we want a happy song that makes people smile.
Do you know a good uplifting song that we can waltz to? I'd love if it had a rat-pack feel to it but any happy tune, old or modern would be great to hear. I already know about The Rainbow Connection which is pretty cool, but not quite right.
Thank you!
Grandfather's Waltz is pretty awesome. The best recording is of Stan Getz with the Bill Evans Trio on But Beautiful -- but this video gives a sense of it at least.
posted by dseaton at 3:18 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by dseaton at 3:18 PM on June 17, 2009
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
I've never waltzed myself, so I'm not sure what makes a good song for it, but these are in the right time signature.
posted by Midnight Rambler at 3:23 PM on June 17, 2009
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
I've never waltzed myself, so I'm not sure what makes a good song for it, but these are in the right time signature.
posted by Midnight Rambler at 3:23 PM on June 17, 2009
My wife and I used The Great Pumpkin Waltz, by Vince Guaraldi. Everyone recognized it and thought it was a great choice.
This was an October wedding though, so it may not work for you.
posted by bondcliff at 3:27 PM on June 17, 2009
This was an October wedding though, so it may not work for you.
posted by bondcliff at 3:27 PM on June 17, 2009
All Will Be Dancing, and I'll Dance with You, by Ella Jenkins. It may be a children's song, but it is perfect 1-2-3 time, and it would make me cry to dance to this at anyone's wedding.
posted by emhutchinson at 3:34 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by emhutchinson at 3:34 PM on June 17, 2009
Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan (ignore the silly video). It's also pretty short.
posted by you're a kitty! at 3:38 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by you're a kitty! at 3:38 PM on June 17, 2009
Young Lovers Waltz by Robert Earl Keen (from the album No Kinda Dancer). It's a lovely, very sweet song about two people who love each other for their whole lives. Plus, it's in a nice, slow easy to dance to waltz time. It's an American roots music style song which might not be your thing, but it's a lovely song. It's what my boy and I taught ourselves to waltz to, so I've got nice associations to it myself.
You can give it a listen here or here.
posted by mostlymartha at 3:43 PM on June 17, 2009
You can give it a listen here or here.
posted by mostlymartha at 3:43 PM on June 17, 2009
What's New, Pussycat? Tom Jones
ps Unchained Melody is in 4/4
posted by carmicha at 3:45 PM on June 17, 2009
ps Unchained Melody is in 4/4
posted by carmicha at 3:45 PM on June 17, 2009
German, Bavarian waltzes could be what you're looking for.
Oom Pah Pah from Oliver.
The Waltz You Saved For Me? Duke Ellington has a version of this on Recollections of The Big Band Era that's more rat-packy.
Jerry Byrd's various waltzes on Steel Guitar Hawaiian Style. Gorgeous romantic fun stuff.
Willie Nelson has great waltzes: My Heros Have Always Been Cowboys. Not always uplifting but worth a look.
Sesame Street The Count sings "I love a waltz".
Suggragette a ragtime waltz.
The hubby and I choose a cajun waltz. Congrats!
posted by dog food sugar at 4:08 PM on June 17, 2009
Oom Pah Pah from Oliver.
The Waltz You Saved For Me? Duke Ellington has a version of this on Recollections of The Big Band Era that's more rat-packy.
Jerry Byrd's various waltzes on Steel Guitar Hawaiian Style. Gorgeous romantic fun stuff.
Willie Nelson has great waltzes: My Heros Have Always Been Cowboys. Not always uplifting but worth a look.
Sesame Street The Count sings "I love a waltz".
Suggragette a ragtime waltz.
The hubby and I choose a cajun waltz. Congrats!
posted by dog food sugar at 4:08 PM on June 17, 2009
What the World Needs Now (link goes to Dionne Warwick version, but Burt Bacharach might suit your rat pack criteria better)
posted by carmicha at 4:27 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by carmicha at 4:27 PM on June 17, 2009
The underwater level song from Super Mario Bros.?
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:56 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:56 PM on June 17, 2009
There's always The Logdrivers Waltz (song picks up around the 45 second mark). If you like, you can both put on lumberjack shirts for the dance.
posted by maudlin at 4:57 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by maudlin at 4:57 PM on June 17, 2009
Les Amants by les Rita Mitsouko. One of the happiest songs I've ever heard!*
* I can't understand most of the words, so it could be really depressing in French
posted by moonmilk at 5:02 PM on June 17, 2009
* I can't understand most of the words, so it could be really depressing in French
posted by moonmilk at 5:02 PM on June 17, 2009
Whoops! Much better version of The Log Drivers Waltz staright from the NFB here. There's a little Scottish content in the lyrics too, plus it all ends in a wedding.
posted by maudlin at 5:10 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by maudlin at 5:10 PM on June 17, 2009
Did you listen to "The lovers waltz" by mason and unger?
posted by peter_meta_kbd at 5:34 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by peter_meta_kbd at 5:34 PM on June 17, 2009
Maybe more subdued than you're thinking, but Not Fire Not Ice by Ben Harper is in waltz time and is a beautiful love song.
posted by moojoose at 5:38 PM on June 17, 2009
posted by moojoose at 5:38 PM on June 17, 2009
I guarantee you that this will be the craziest suggestion you receive.
On the soundtrack (score) to Johnny English, a 2003 parody movie of the 007 franchise starring Rowan Atkinson, is a track entitled "Kismet" It has the most beautiful string melodies and powerful brass crescendos mixed together with some electronica. It is about 5 minutes, in waltz time and really brings a crowd to its feet. Don't knock it until you've heard the whole thing :-)
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkp2CiugFaA
posted by sandra_s at 6:40 PM on June 17, 2009
On the soundtrack (score) to Johnny English, a 2003 parody movie of the 007 franchise starring Rowan Atkinson, is a track entitled "Kismet" It has the most beautiful string melodies and powerful brass crescendos mixed together with some electronica. It is about 5 minutes, in waltz time and really brings a crowd to its feet. Don't knock it until you've heard the whole thing :-)
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkp2CiugFaA
posted by sandra_s at 6:40 PM on June 17, 2009
The Blue Danube! Maybe not the whole thing, but the fast part that "everybody" knows. You can't get happier than this, it's merry-go-round/carnival/circus music!
And what maudlin said. Log driver's waltz is awesome!
posted by cathoo at 7:24 PM on June 17, 2009
And what maudlin said. Log driver's waltz is awesome!
posted by cathoo at 7:24 PM on June 17, 2009
People: John Prine and Iris DeMent's version of "We're Not the Jet Set."
"By a fountain back in Rome
I fell in love with you
In a small cafe in Athens
You said you loved me too
(G.J)
And it was April in Paris
When I first held you close to me
(T.W)
Rome, Georgia
Athens, Texas
And Paris, Tennessee
No we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevrolet set
There's no Riviera
In Festus, Missouri
And you won't find Onasis
In Mullinville, Kansas
No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevrolet set
But ain't we got love?"
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:56 AM on June 18, 2009
"By a fountain back in Rome
I fell in love with you
In a small cafe in Athens
You said you loved me too
(G.J)
And it was April in Paris
When I first held you close to me
(T.W)
Rome, Georgia
Athens, Texas
And Paris, Tennessee
No we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevrolet set
There's no Riviera
In Festus, Missouri
And you won't find Onasis
In Mullinville, Kansas
No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevrolet set
But ain't we got love?"
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:56 AM on June 18, 2009
Anne Murray's Could I Have This Dance (For The Rest of My Life)?
posted by Carol Anne at 5:00 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by Carol Anne at 5:00 AM on June 18, 2009
They Might Be Giants - Stormy Pinkness random link to mp3
posted by namewithoutwords at 6:02 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by namewithoutwords at 6:02 AM on June 18, 2009
Given your rat pack desires, why not That's Amore (Dean Martin)? Let us know what you choose!
posted by carmicha at 9:29 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by carmicha at 9:29 AM on June 18, 2009
It is You I Have Loved - Dana Glover (theme from Shrek, I think). There are nicer versions though.
posted by bitteroldman at 10:45 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by bitteroldman at 10:45 AM on June 18, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you everyone, these are absolutely wonderful choices! This is exactly the kind of variety I was hoping for, and please keep them coming - I'm going to sit down with my partner and see if any of them work for us, and will let you know when we pick something!
posted by ukdanae at 10:50 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by ukdanae at 10:50 AM on June 18, 2009
For the wedding of a couple I know, one waltz (which the groom could/would dance to) was required and the acceptable choice was -- Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
posted by Rash at 11:00 AM on June 18, 2009
posted by Rash at 11:00 AM on June 18, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you to everyone for your amazing suggestions - I won't mark a best answer because otherwise i'd have to mark them all!
We've settled on A Bicycle Built for Two, although we'll probably also play What the World Needs Now as that's such a lovely choice.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do
I'm half crazy all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two
posted by ukdanae at 4:06 PM on June 21, 2009
We've settled on A Bicycle Built for Two, although we'll probably also play What the World Needs Now as that's such a lovely choice.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do
I'm half crazy all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two
posted by ukdanae at 4:06 PM on June 21, 2009
Excellent choice, and congratulations!
posted by bitteroldman at 10:17 AM on June 22, 2009
posted by bitteroldman at 10:17 AM on June 22, 2009
Yes, and if you need an idea for the next waltz, why not Let Me Call You Sweetheart? Kinda corny, but just what you want, I think.
posted by Rash at 8:20 PM on June 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 8:20 PM on June 25, 2009 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by purplemonkie at 3:16 PM on June 17, 2009