7 Mandatory Wedding Songs: Western Classic Edition
Friday, April 07, 2017
Some days ago when I got stuck in traffic with my partner, the radio (somehow) kept on playing some love songs that well-suited with a wedding ceremony. Well, I called them as mandatory wedding songs. They are songs that you can always find in a wedding party. And those songs are classic! Well, some old love songs just last forever, right? They never die. No matter how cheesy and corny the lyrics are, they are delicious and addictive songs. They have attractively sweet melody and heartwarmingly pretty sound that could mesmerize your heart and soul. You cannot help but feel like you are showered with love whenever you listen to these songs. What a perfect song for a happy celebration such as wedding, right? Therefore, I got inspired to make a list of seven mandatory wedding songs, and this time is the Western classic edition. What I mean by classic here is that the song was released before 2000s. And of course, they are not also popular as a wedding song in their time, but also still popular nowadays.
7. George Benson – Nothing’s Gonna Change My
Love For You
Starting the list on
number seven is a classic titled “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You”,
performed by American singer and guitarist, George Benson. It was originally
recorded in 1984 and first released in 1985 as a part of the singer’s album,
“20/20”. This sweet song is written by composers Michael Masser and Gerry
Goffin. Since then, it was covered by many recording artists. The song speaks
about a pledge to love someone forever and that nothing in this world can
change it. Hence it is chosen as a wedding song, since a wedding is the moment
when two people pledge their love towards each other for eternity.
“Hold me now, touch me
now, I don’t want to live without you. Nothing’s gonna change my love for you. You
ought to know by now how much I love you. One thing you can be sure of, I’ll
never ask for more than your love.”
6. Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling in Love
Next on number six of
the list is a classic performed by the King
of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, titled “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Written
by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George David Weiss, the
melody of the song is based on a popular classical French romance love song
written by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini in 1784, “Plaisir d'amour”. The song was first released as a single on
October 1st 1961, and later as a part of the soundtrack studio album, “Blue
Hawaii” in October 20th 1961 as the song was featured in Presley’s 1961 film of
the same name, “Blue Hawaii”. During the following four decades, it was
recorded by numerous other artists. The song’s lyrics contain a love confession
towards the significant other; a sweet and honest confession that is
well-suited for a happy ceremony of love such as a wedding.
“Like a river flows, surely
to the sea, Darling, so it goes. Some things are meant to be. Take my hand, take
my whole life too, for I can’t help falling in love with you.”
5. Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
Up on number five of
the list is a classic titled “Unchained Melody”. It was written musically by
Alex North and lyrically by Hy Zaret in 1955. The music was originally used as
a theme for the little-known prison film, “Unchained”, and the
most notable version of this song is the one performed by the Righteous
Brothers. The musical duo was released this song as a single on July 17th 1965
for their album, “Just Once in My Life”. Out of the hundreds of recordings made
upon this song, Righteous Brothers’ version (performed as a solo by Bobby
Hatfield) became a jukebox standard for the late 20th century. This
version achieved a second round of great popularity when it was featured in the
1990 blockbuster film, “Ghost”. Lyrically, the song expresses a free love
confession in an unchained melody. A wedding, for people who (still) believe,
is an expression of love, hence this song would be a nice expression for the
sweet moment.
“Oh, my love, my
darling, I’ve hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time. And time goes by so
slowly. And time can do so much. Are you still mine? I need your love. I need
your love. God speed your love to me.”
4. Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle – A Whole
New World
The famous romantic
duet titled “A Whole New World”, performed by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle, is
on number four of the list. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice,
this beautiful ballad was written for Disney’s 1992 animated feature film,
“Aladdin”. The original version was sung by Brad Kane and Lea
Salonga during the film. A single version with Bryson and Belle on the
vocals was released on November 5th 1992. The lyrics of the song allude to the
story between the primary characters, Aladdin and Jasmine, about
the new world they are going to discover together while riding on
Aladdin’s magic carpet. Well, a wedding is about entering a whole new
world, after all. Hence this is a perfect ballad duet for this happy ceremony.
“A whole new world, a
new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us no or where to go, or say we’re
only dreaming. A whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew. But now from
way up here, it’s crystal clear, that now I'm in a whole new world with you.”
3. Shania Twain – From This Moment On
Opening up the big
three of the list is my favorite classic ballad titled “From This Moment On”,
performed by Canadian singer, Shania Twain. Written by Twain herself along with
Robert John “Mutt” Lange, this song was released as a single on March 14th
1998, taken from the singer’s third studio album, “Come On Over”. This song is
just heartwarmingly beautiful. Besides, I feel like I have personal relation
with this song since I frequently hear this song played on the radio when I and
my partner together in the car. It is just a sweet perfect moment. The lyrics
depict the overwhelming yet heartwarming feeling someone has when they are
about to begin their new life with their significant other. A wedding marks the
moment of beginning of a new life two people have. Hence this song is perfectly
beautiful to accompany the moment.
“From this moment life
has begun. From this moment you are the one. Right beside you is where I belong,
from this moment on. From this moment I have been blessed. I live only for your
happiness. And for your love I’d give my last breath, from this moment on.”
2. Bryan Adams & Barbra Streisand – I
Finally Found Someone
On the runner-up
position of the list is a classic duet titled “I Finally Found Someone”. It was
performed by Bryan Adams and Barbra Streisand and released as a single on
November 5th 1996. It was written by the duo singers along with Marvin Hamlisch
and Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The song was part of the soundtrack of
Streisand’s self-directed 1996 romantic comedy drama movie, “The Mirror
Has Two Faces”. The lyrics of the song follow the story of a man and a woman
who have finally found each other and both feel certain that they are the one
for one another. When we decide to marry someone, we must be sure that the
person is the right one for us, right? Therefore, it suits the wedding ceremony
since we celebrate the moment with the one we have finally found.
“Oh, I finally found
someone; someone to share my life. I finally found the one to be with every
night. ‘Cause whatever I do, it’s just got to be you. My life has just begun, I
finally found someone.”
1. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love
Finally, on the top
position of the list is the ultimate love song titled “Endless Love”. The
classic duet was written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded by Richie
himself in a duet with his fellow soul singer, Diana Ross. They recorded the
song for Motown, and it was used as the theme for the Franco
Zeffirelli’s 1981 film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel of
the same name, “Endless Love”. It was released on August 1st 1981 as the
single from the film’s original motion picture soundtrack album. In the lyrics,
both lovers declare their endless love for one another. Indeed, the essence of
a wedding is the moment of a declaration of love between a man and a woman, as
they seal a promise to each other that they would stay together despite ups and
downs, highs and lows, and best and worst; a promise to give an endless love to
each other. Therefore, this heartwarming beautiful duet is well-suited for a
wedding, since there is a little bit of sentimental and melancholic feelings
felt through the lovely melody of the song. It is wonderful yet heart-wrenching
at the same time, as well as a wedding ceremony.
“And I, I want to
share all my love with you. No one else will do. And your eyes, they tell me
how much you care. Ooh yes, you will always be my endless love.”
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