"All I'm sayin', pretty baby....la-la-love you, don't mean maybe..."
May 9, 2014 3:40 PM Subscribe
We have tons of music for our post-wedding ceremony gathering, but it's all indie and alt rock. We're happy with our playlist but we'd love to add some classic, non-traditional songs to the mix. Less Pixies, more Frank Sinatra/Nina Simone. Help us think of more! What are your favorite classic (not cliche) love songs? What we've got so far: Nina Simone, Asturd Gilberto, Neil Young. Thank you!!
I love love love Alberta Hunter's love songs. Particularly "Old Fashioned Love" or "Always," both of which are on Amtrak Blues.
And Linda Ronstadt's album of standards, called What's New (with the Nelson Riddle orchestra) has some great ones, such as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "I've Got a Crush on You."
posted by janey47 at 3:53 PM on May 9, 2014
And Linda Ronstadt's album of standards, called What's New (with the Nelson Riddle orchestra) has some great ones, such as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "I've Got a Crush on You."
posted by janey47 at 3:53 PM on May 9, 2014
I recently made a mix for our anniversary; cutting off all of the indie ones you probably already have:
God Only Knows - Beach Boys
Romeo's Tune - Steve Forbert
What Is Life - George Harrison
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
Crazy Love - Van Morrison
Somebody to Love - Queen
Ain't That a Kick in the Head - Dean Martin (mine's a Robbie Williams version, but you might want to go more Rat Pack)
posted by librarianamy at 3:57 PM on May 9, 2014
God Only Knows - Beach Boys
Romeo's Tune - Steve Forbert
What Is Life - George Harrison
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
Crazy Love - Van Morrison
Somebody to Love - Queen
Ain't That a Kick in the Head - Dean Martin (mine's a Robbie Williams version, but you might want to go more Rat Pack)
posted by librarianamy at 3:57 PM on May 9, 2014
Best answer: Here are the older songs my recent wedding cocktail hour playlist:
Give Him a Great Big Kiss - The Shangri-Las
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Ella Fitzgerald
Moondance - Van Morrison
Just a Little Lovin - Dusty Springfield
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
You might also find some good ideas on this Cocktail Hour Songs playlist from A Practical Wedding.
posted by carolr at 4:03 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Give Him a Great Big Kiss - The Shangri-Las
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Ella Fitzgerald
Moondance - Van Morrison
Just a Little Lovin - Dusty Springfield
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
You might also find some good ideas on this Cocktail Hour Songs playlist from A Practical Wedding.
posted by carolr at 4:03 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love with You makes me swoon-y. Also:
Ruby and the Romantics - Our Day Will Come
Al Green - Here I am Baby (Come and Take Me)
Otis Redding - My Girl (I like his version best)
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
posted by lovableiago at 4:05 PM on May 9, 2014
Ruby and the Romantics - Our Day Will Come
Al Green - Here I am Baby (Come and Take Me)
Otis Redding - My Girl (I like his version best)
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
posted by lovableiago at 4:05 PM on May 9, 2014
I put a prompt on my RSVP asking for a song suggestion and got back a ton of this kind of genre. That's one idea. It makes people feel special and your resulting experience is one that was created by a bunch of people you like.
posted by bleep at 4:11 PM on May 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by bleep at 4:11 PM on May 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
Eva Cassidy's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird".
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:21 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:21 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Sam Cooke - Wonderful World
The Drifters - This Magic Moment, Under the Boardwalk
Ben E. King - Stand By Me (yes, perhaps cliche, but lovely!)
Ella Fitzgerald - April in Paris, Lullaby of Birdland, Blue Skies
Sarah Vaughan - Misty
Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea
Amy Winehouse - Cupid (or if you prefer Sam Cooke...)
Van Morrison - Moondance
posted by ChuraChura at 4:25 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Drifters - This Magic Moment, Under the Boardwalk
Ben E. King - Stand By Me (yes, perhaps cliche, but lovely!)
Ella Fitzgerald - April in Paris, Lullaby of Birdland, Blue Skies
Sarah Vaughan - Misty
Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea
Amy Winehouse - Cupid (or if you prefer Sam Cooke...)
Van Morrison - Moondance
posted by ChuraChura at 4:25 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Al Green - Let's Stay Together
posted by peteyjlawson at 4:34 PM on May 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by peteyjlawson at 4:34 PM on May 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Carl Carlton - everlasting love
Mel Carter - hold me, thrill me, kiss me
Johnny Mathis - chances are
Aretha Franklin - say a little prayer (the aretha version is superior to the dionne warwick version by a lot.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:42 PM on May 9, 2014
Mel Carter - hold me, thrill me, kiss me
Johnny Mathis - chances are
Aretha Franklin - say a little prayer (the aretha version is superior to the dionne warwick version by a lot.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:42 PM on May 9, 2014
A couple of goofy cheeseball suggestions...
Barry Manilow - I can't smile without you
The Carpenters - Top of the world
Captain and Tennille - love will keep us together
Abba. All the abba.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:49 PM on May 9, 2014
Barry Manilow - I can't smile without you
The Carpenters - Top of the world
Captain and Tennille - love will keep us together
Abba. All the abba.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:49 PM on May 9, 2014
Marc Cohn "True Companion"
Etta James "At Last"
Ben E. King "Stand By Me"
Eagles "Love Will Keep us Alive"; "Peaceful Easy Feeling" (depends on how you interpret it)
Supremes "I Hear a Symphony"
Foot in Cold Water "Make Me Do Anything You Want"
Bee Gees "One"
Eric Clapton "Wonderful Tonight"
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 4:50 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Etta James "At Last"
Ben E. King "Stand By Me"
Eagles "Love Will Keep us Alive"; "Peaceful Easy Feeling" (depends on how you interpret it)
Supremes "I Hear a Symphony"
Foot in Cold Water "Make Me Do Anything You Want"
Bee Gees "One"
Eric Clapton "Wonderful Tonight"
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 4:50 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Blood, Sweat and Tears You Make Me So Very Happy. Great song. Peteyjlawson, props to you for your choice. And mazel tov!
posted by kate4914 at 4:51 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by kate4914 at 4:51 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, if you are open to reggae I would suggest:
Buju Banton "Love Sponge", "Wanna Be Loved" and/ or "Love Me Browning"
These are perennial wedding favorites at least in the Caribbean!
... I also forgot to add Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life"
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 4:55 PM on May 9, 2014
Buju Banton "Love Sponge", "Wanna Be Loved" and/ or "Love Me Browning"
These are perennial wedding favorites at least in the Caribbean!
... I also forgot to add Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life"
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 4:55 PM on May 9, 2014
Best answer: I was going to suggest Kate Rusby's interpretation of "You Belong to Me" but judging from the YouTube comments, many previous wedding parties have beaten me to it.
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:10 PM on May 9, 2014
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:10 PM on May 9, 2014
Blossom Dearie's Tea for Two (yeah, seriously) is great. As is her Like Someone in Love or Someone to Watch Over Me or If I Were A Bell.
posted by yoink at 5:19 PM on May 9, 2014
posted by yoink at 5:19 PM on May 9, 2014
While there are hundreds of American songbook standards that would do great, I nominate "I've Got The World On A String"
posted by thelonius at 5:57 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 5:57 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
"This will be our year," The Zombies
posted by c'mon sea legs at 6:31 PM on May 9, 2014
posted by c'mon sea legs at 6:31 PM on May 9, 2014
John Prine & Iris DeMent: In Spite of Ourselves
posted by elmer benson at 7:58 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by elmer benson at 7:58 PM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
A few non-traditional picks I've seen go over real well at weddings...Cher covering Dylan's Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, Van Morrison's Sweet Thing (my personal pick for Most Romantic Song Ever), and the song my wife & I used for our first dance, the Jerry Garcia Band version of Cigarettes & Coffee.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:48 PM on May 9, 2014
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:48 PM on May 9, 2014
Stevie Wonder, "I Believe When I Fall In Love With You It Will Be Forever." (If that's not too cliche after the scene in High Fidelity.)
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:24 AM on May 10, 2014
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:24 AM on May 10, 2014
And if you want some early 70's retro goofy cheesy, there's always The Partridge Family: I Think I Love You
posted by freakazoid at 5:58 AM on May 10, 2014
posted by freakazoid at 5:58 AM on May 10, 2014
It's in his kiss by Betty Everett for an up-tempo 60s pop song, if at least one of you is male.
posted by Kitty Cornered at 6:43 AM on May 10, 2014
posted by Kitty Cornered at 6:43 AM on May 10, 2014
Response by poster: These are all awesome suggestions, thank you!!
posted by onecircleaday at 10:10 PM on May 10, 2014
posted by onecircleaday at 10:10 PM on May 10, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:44 PM on May 9, 2014 [2 favorites]