Thursday 18 June 2015

Guest Post - Jennifer Gilby Roberts - Choosing a Song for Your First Dance

Don't Forget the Lyrics!

Music is the food of love and no dish is more important than the tune to which a newly married couple take to the dance floor.  With so many fabulous classic and modern love songs out there, the choice is a difficult one.  And with all the millions of other wedding details to get right, it's not surprising that some couples forget one crucial thing – to actually listen to the words. You see, there are a lot of songs that are rather misleading. Some of the song is very romantic, but other parts a little less so.

For example, YouTube is full of proposals done to 'Marry You' by Bruno Mars.  Now, I adore that song.  I could listen to it all day.  And a lot of it is very romantic.  But let's examine the lyrics a little more closely.

“It's a beautiful night
We're looking for something dumb to do
Hey, baby
I think I want to marry you”

Now, leaving aside the mildly derogatory 'baby', is it just me who would prefer not to be told that marrying me is a dumb thing to do?

More worryingly, however, we have these lines:

“If we wake up and you wanna break up that's cool
No, I won't blame you
It was fun girl.”

Personally, I'd like a little more commitment from my future spouse than that.

Continuing in this vein, it seems to be worryingly common to choose a song that is actually about breaking up.  Popular examples include 'How Do I Live Without You?' by Leann Rimes and 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston.  I suppose, on the face of it, it is romantic to go on about how you couldn't bear to live without the other person, but I can't help feeling that this isn't what you want to focus on on your wedding day.  It's supposed to be a happy occasion – share some joy with your song choice!

We had a lot of music at our wedding.  Some of the songs we chose:
'L.O.V.E' by Nat King Cole (our first dance)
'Happy to be Stuck with You' by Huey Lewis and the News
'June Bride' from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
'(This Will Be) An Everlasting Love' by Natalie Cole
The theme tune from The Muppets (don't ask)
I'm very happy with our choices.  They were fun and they were joyful and they were us.  Because the greatest choice of all is one that reflects you as a couple.  One where it's obvious to everyone there – or at least the people who know you best – why you chose that particular song to start you on your journey together.


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About Jennifer Gilby Roberts

Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.
Her books include The Dr Pepper Prophecies, After Wimbledon and Early Daze.

Find Jennifer at her blogFacebookTwitterPinterestGoogle +,  GoodreadsLibraryThingBarnes & NobleAmazonKobo and iBooks


Thank you so much Jennifer Gilby Roberts for that very interesting, and completely true post about Wedding Song lyrics. I loved reading it. 

4 comments:

  1. That made me smile. It's a good point, Jennifer. Most only know the chorus. :) x

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  2. It's like 'Born in the USA', which is considered very patriotic by those Americans who haven't actually listened to the verses.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, yes, yes, Jennifer! Even Ronald Reagan thought it was patriotic!

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  3. Good post, Jen! L.O.V.E. - wonderful!! Mine was Fly Me to the Moon :)

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