I Wanna Dance With Somebody

A wise man (AKA Dave Barry, newspaper columnist) once said, "Nobody cares if you can't dance well.  Just get up and dance."  I love that quote.  I want each & every guest to know that this what I hope that they would know about the evening.  Maybe I should put that on a sign.  (Seriously.  That is such a good idea.  Note to self: add this to "to do" list).

So besides The Chicken Dance, The Bunny Hop, The Congo Line or Cotton Eyed Joe, what could have guests shaking their tail feather all night long?  


Obviously it's the music.  


When people hear a song that they just love they get up & dance.  Trust me.  I've seen it happen when I requested (the Great) Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" at a local bar that had an empty dance floor.


I know that the musical goddess trinity of Rhianna, Gaga & Britney are known to get everyone dancing... but I'm kinda leaning towards that being a generational thing & can't really picture FMIL Sweet Cream getting down to "S&M." (She definitely could, I just don't know if she would!).


I do know that it is the year 2011.  But I do also know my guest list.  We have such a diverse group of ages, backgrounds & music tastes. I would just like to put all of them in a big pot and let them simmer until they are perfectly blended, like the flavors of a really, really good chili.

Danger Mouse created "The Grey Album," by mixing Jay Z's "Black Album"

with the Beatles "White Album" & came up with something that I think is amazing.

So while FSIL Sweet Cream only loves any song that has a "Hey y'all & Ye 'haw!" in it, Papa Sweets has a passion for 70s rock.  Think Led Zeppelin.  Jimi Hendrix.  The Doors.  

FSIL2 Sweet Cream likes hip hop & Gmom Sweets shakes her 90-year-old hips to the Supremes.  

And me? I love it ALL.

So I want everyone to be happy.  And dancing.  But I already mentioned the dancing part, didn't I?

To make everyone happy dancing people, I picture a musical duel between Diana Ross & the late Hendrix that would challenge that of Aerosmith & Run DMC!

I love this mash-up & wish we could mash more up for our guests...

I must say that "Mash Up" was one amazing Glee episode!

I do find it so fascinating that many modern faves are pulled from a time when only vinyl existed (& Gmom Sweets hips were a lot younger!)...

The Girl Can't Help It / Little Richard vs. Clumsy / Fergie

I've Got A Woman / Ray Charles vs. Golddigger / Kanye West & Jamie Foxx

Sugar, Sugar / The Archies vs. Nasty Girl / Nitty

So we've been keeping a list on the fridge and scratching down the title everytime we hear something that we know everyone will like --or at least shake their booty to --whether it has a sweet country twang, a nice beat or an amazing guitar solo.  

We have an uhh-mazing list (that I can't wait to share -- posts about playlists are always my favorite!) that is continuing to grow and includes tunes that scale the later half of the twentieth century...from Billy Holiday, Shirlee & Lee, The Supremes and Lynrd Skynrd to The Ramones, MC Hammer and the Black Eyed Peas.  And whenever there is a time where I'm feeling blue I just YouTube one of the songs on the list & I get all siked up for the wedding!  Frown immediately turned upside-down.

How are you balancing the wide variety of musical choices (and generations) of your guests? 

Do you have a favorite song that borrows it beats from a decades ago, ala Fergie's Clumsy -- or even a perfect mash-up? What is your favorite oldie but goodie that you know that people just can't resist?  What about something new that even more seasoned guests love?  What should we add to the list??

Save the Last Dance -- and the first one -- for me.

Our song is the slamming screen door, sneakin' out late, tapping on your window...When we're on the phone and you talk real slow 'cause it's late and your mama don't know... Oh wait.  That isn't OUR song!  That's T.Swift's song with one of her many beaus.

As for our song. That is TBD.

There's a funny thing about first songs.  I don't know if it's just couples now-a-days put some much darn thought into it.  Maybe its just us detailed bees?

I remember Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Julia Stiles listening to records and putting so much thought into what "their" song was in the horrible movie -- even though I loved it -- Down to You.  And they were only dating for a few months.

Even though it seems perfectly
romantic to be skimming vinyl and sitting Indian style....
This somehow isn't realistically how me & Mr. Sweet Cream are picking our song...

Mama Bunts & Papa Sweets had a first song picked out - but on the wedding day the band could think of how to play the song.  So what did they wind up with as "their song?" Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love."  It must have been the times because that is also the song of not one, but two, of my friends' parents' songs who all got married in the 70s.

I do like that song -- especially the Ingrid Michaelson version... even though the original is great too.  No debates here.  It's definitely on our playlist.

Ingrid Michaelson's version makes me think of

real-live, can't-live-without-you true love...

I digress.  Our real "song" from many, many moons ago is Aerosmith's Don't Wanna Miss a Thang.  Am I dating myself?

 

Fast forward 15 years...that isn't a song we really want for our song.

So now, I'd love share with the hive some of my top choices -- which I preface by saying that Mr. Sweet Cream liked all of them until I excitedly said, "OK, Mr. Sweets. So this is our song?!?"  

A hesitated shuffling of the feet and a cock-eyed squinty look told me no... in fact it wouldn't be.  Don't worry, bees.  I asked him what his choices are.  He said that he would have to think about it -- but hasn't come up with much.  (Although nothing is better than Papa Sweet Cream wanting to dance to a Jimi Hendrix song for our dad/daughter dance.  He doesn't know which one... he just loves Jimi Hendrix & Led Zep.  And bees, the man don't dance!!)

Just for fun - let me run through the list of could-have-beens for our first song as man & wife:

Otis Redding / That's How Strong My Love Is

I just love the lyrics to this tune.

Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat / Lucky

What a sweet duet!

Natasha Beddingfeld / Love Like This

This was almost going to be it!  Mr. Sweet Cream loved the lyrics...

But for whatever reason, he changed his mind.

Cat Power / Sea of Love

Sigh. How can you not like this...

I actually wound up finding an amazing song -- actually from the Bee Boards -- that is the top running as we speak.  At first Mr. Sweets wasn't so sure about it... but after playing it 45+ times as he was working around the house I think it may have grown on him.  I really do think he likes it now!

Joss Stone & Common / What We Gonna Do Now

The lyrics are great! We both like that its a little peppy so we are not stuck into a standard sway.  We can have some fun!  But would we prefer something a little more classic? I don't know the answer to that one quite yet.

Did you and your FH agree right away on "your song?" Did you have "a song" already, but want a new one for your wedding day?  How did you decide?  What were your top contenders?

Also: Are you following Freddie Prinze's movie-mom's advice and going for something "timeless" and "classic," or do think that something the represents "you" (as a couple) is much more important?