7 Mandatory Wedding Songs: Western Classic Edition

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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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