Jazzy love songs
August 3, 2010 3:43 PM Subscribe
I am looking for an upbeat jazz song for a couple’s first dance at their wedding. Themes of true love, love at first sight, etc are preferable.
I promised a list of songs and am having trouble finding songs that are danceable and are not about barriers to love or difficulties.
I promised a list of songs and am having trouble finding songs that are danceable and are not about barriers to love or difficulties.
My Baby Just Cares for Me s pretty upbeat and danceable (except the the second last line indicates that it might just be about the singer's naivete)
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:57 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:57 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
"The Way You Look Tonight" is also a good one.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2010
'Do I love you?' as sung by Peggy Lee
(full disclosure: was in fact my first dance)
posted by calico at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
(full disclosure: was in fact my first dance)
posted by calico at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Come Rain Or Come Shine is about lifelong love and quite a classic. Depending on the arrangement it can be pretty upbeat, too. I like Diane Shuur's version, but there are tons to choose from.
posted by cross_impact at 4:05 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by cross_impact at 4:05 PM on August 3, 2010
All Right, Okay, You Win -- there are a lot of versions, but I like the incomparable Miss Peggy Lee's.
I also have an extreme soft spot for Dean Martin's Ain't That a Kick in the Head and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "Thou Swell" (available here) -- Nat King Cole also did a nice version.
posted by scody at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2010
I also have an extreme soft spot for Dean Martin's Ain't That a Kick in the Head and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "Thou Swell" (available here) -- Nat King Cole also did a nice version.
posted by scody at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2010
For our first dance we had our jazz combo do
"Someday My Prince Will Come", a la Miles Davis.
It's a waltz, and I'm in the lower 5th percentile of dancers, but I managed to get through it OK.
posted by schrodycat at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2010
"Someday My Prince Will Come", a la Miles Davis.
It's a waltz, and I'm in the lower 5th percentile of dancers, but I managed to get through it OK.
posted by schrodycat at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2010
Mel Tormé - Coming home baby: crowd pleaser, floor filler and an incredible song.
posted by ouke at 4:24 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by ouke at 4:24 PM on August 3, 2010
Night and Day makes me melt. Here are the lyrics. Also, Fly Me to the Moon.
posted by bearwife at 4:32 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by bearwife at 4:32 PM on August 3, 2010
"Nice Work if You Can Get It" (we used Peggy Lee's version though, and the lyrics are more "true love forevermore" emphasized than Billie's)
"One Note Samba" - Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz
"La Vie en Rose"- Louis Armstrong
Seconding "My Baby Just Cares for Me."
posted by ifjuly at 4:34 PM on August 3, 2010
"One Note Samba" - Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz
"La Vie en Rose"- Louis Armstrong
Seconding "My Baby Just Cares for Me."
posted by ifjuly at 4:34 PM on August 3, 2010
It Had To Be You was recorded by dozens of people, notably Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick, Jr.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2010
"Beyond the Sea" (performed by Bobby Darin) or more recently, performed by Robbie Willliams.
This is more of a Swing, and it is in the lines of "Fly me to the Moon".
It has great metal sections, that can add to the pomp of a first dance....
posted by theKik at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2010
This is more of a Swing, and it is in the lines of "Fly me to the Moon".
It has great metal sections, that can add to the pomp of a first dance....
posted by theKik at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2010
and "they cant take that away from me" as performed by Ella Fitzgerald & Louie Armstrong.
It is a very nice love song, and it can be certainly be arranged to be more upbeat.
posted by theKik at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2010
It is a very nice love song, and it can be certainly be arranged to be more upbeat.
posted by theKik at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2010
Maybe "I Get a Kick Out of You"?
Sinatra's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtwO2tKZmwQ
posted by 5Q7 at 5:21 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sinatra's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtwO2tKZmwQ
posted by 5Q7 at 5:21 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
"I Could Write a Book." I have seen this used for exactly this purpose (and danced to it), and it is perfect. (Frank Sinatra sings, and dances with Kim Novak; impossibly swinging Kenny Drew version with Wilbur Ware and Philly Joe Jones.)
posted by languagehat at 5:29 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by languagehat at 5:29 PM on August 3, 2010
Upbeat jazz, love at first sight: "Orange Colored Sky"
I was walking along, minding my business /
when out of an orange-colored sky /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
wonderful you came by!
I was humming a tune, drinking in sunshine /
when out of that orange-colored view /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
I got a look at you!
One look and I yelled, "Timber!" /
"Watch out for flying glass!" /
'Cause the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out I went into a spin and I started to shout /
"I've been hit!" /
(This is it!) /
(This is IT I-T IT!) /
I was walking along, minding my business /
when love came and hit me in the eye! /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
out of an orange-colored sky!
posted by tzikeh at 6:54 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was walking along, minding my business /
when out of an orange-colored sky /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
wonderful you came by!
I was humming a tune, drinking in sunshine /
when out of that orange-colored view /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
I got a look at you!
One look and I yelled, "Timber!" /
"Watch out for flying glass!" /
'Cause the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out I went into a spin and I started to shout /
"I've been hit!" /
(This is it!) /
(This is IT I-T IT!) /
I was walking along, minding my business /
when love came and hit me in the eye! /
FLASH! BAM! ALAKAZAM! /
out of an orange-colored sky!
posted by tzikeh at 6:54 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
You Stepped out of a Dream
L-O-V-E
...heck, just about the whole Nat King Cole catalogue.
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:47 PM on August 3, 2010
L-O-V-E
...heck, just about the whole Nat King Cole catalogue.
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:47 PM on August 3, 2010
Wow. My top three ideas already posted!
Our Love is Here to Stay - (Though I prefer John Pizzarelli's version from his album of the same name...)
Do I Love You - By Peggy Lee and George Shearing! (What a great sound!)
And Let There be Love - By Nat King Cole and George Shearing! (Again, wonderful!)
I know those have been posted, but I just wanted to add my vote to them!
As a fourth choice, to add to the George Shearing love, try
Lucky To Be Me - By John Pizzarelli and George Shearing from the album "The Rare Delight of You"
Something about that Shearing sound just begs for love songs!
posted by Kimothy at 8:02 PM on August 3, 2010
Our Love is Here to Stay - (Though I prefer John Pizzarelli's version from his album of the same name...)
Do I Love You - By Peggy Lee and George Shearing! (What a great sound!)
And Let There be Love - By Nat King Cole and George Shearing! (Again, wonderful!)
I know those have been posted, but I just wanted to add my vote to them!
As a fourth choice, to add to the George Shearing love, try
Lucky To Be Me - By John Pizzarelli and George Shearing from the album "The Rare Delight of You"
Something about that Shearing sound just begs for love songs!
posted by Kimothy at 8:02 PM on August 3, 2010
Miles Davis (and Bob Dorough): Nothing Like You last track on the album Sorcerer (Columbia, 1966).
It's great because it's only 2 minutes long and has simple catchy lyrics, but the uptempo can be a challenge if you're not used to dancing.
posted by furtive at 8:53 PM on August 3, 2010
It's great because it's only 2 minutes long and has simple catchy lyrics, but the uptempo can be a challenge if you're not used to dancing.
posted by furtive at 8:53 PM on August 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 3:50 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]