By popular demand, the ultimate wedding song list of songs I ultimately actually played at my wedding

Yup, this is pretty much what it was like on the dance floor all evening. (Photo by David Siegel, via Facebook)

Posts have been sparse on the ol’ blog for the last couple of weeks, but I have an excellent excuse: On Saturday I got hitched to the love of my life. From now on, I’ll no longer be writing about whatever out-there comment my fiancée made at some show we attended but about whatever out-there comment my lovely, wonderful wife made at some show we attended.

I put waaaaaay too much time into selecting music for the day. My lovely, wonderful wife decided to let me indulge my childhood fantasy and contract a brass quintet to provide music for the ceremony. The Berkeley Brass Quintet did an excellent job. I can confidently recommend them for all your ceremonial brass needs.

Rather than hiring a DJ for the reception, I dragooned my best man into manning his laptop and emceeing the event. I put together a playlist with about three times as much music as we possibly could have played in the time we had the venue rented. It should come as no surprise that it was full of a bunch of odd, obscure music that most of the guests had never heard; although I did throw in a few pop hits, and I also allowed my lovely, wonderful wife to add a few of her favorites.

The big hit of the evening was unquestionably “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” by Das Racist, as remixed by Oakland DJ Wallpaper. I had guests coming up to me all night asking me what that song was and where I’d found it. I guess they don’t read Pitchfork.

[download mp3 … if you really, really want to]

I also had several guests request that I post the playlist for the evening, so here it is, to the best of my recollection:

Dinner Music

  • “Anecdote,” Ambulance LTD, 2004
  • “I`ve Just Seen a Face,” The Beatles, 1965
  • “Beyond The Horizon,” Bob Dylan, 2006
  • “Stay a Little Longer,” Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, 1947
  • “My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains,” Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, 1972
  • “Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes),” Carla Thomas, 1961
  • “June Hymn,” The Decemberists, 2011
  • “Lovin’ You More Every Day,” Etta James, 1965
  • “The Gambler,” fun., 2009
  • “Moonlight Serenade,” Glen Miller, 1939
  • “Baby, We’re Really In Love,” Hank Williams, 1951
  • “Gold,” Interference, 2007
  • “Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” Iron & Wine, 2007
  • “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” (Bob Dylan cover), Nickel Creek, 2005
  • “I Got A Sure Thing,” Ollie & The Nightingales, 1968
  • “These Arms Of Mine,” Otis Redding, 1962
  • “All My Love,” Patti Paige, 1950
  • “Dressy,” Reigning Sound, 2002
  • “In A Circle,” Robert Pollard, 2011
  • “Angel Dream (No. 4),” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1996
  • “Sweet Jane,” The Velvet Underground, 1970
  • “I’m Always in Love” (unplugged), Jeff Tweedy, 1999

Special Music

  • First Dance: “Dream a Little Dream,” The Mamas & the Papas, 1968
  • Father-Daughter: “A Wink and a Smile,” Harry Connick Jr., 1993
  • Mother-Son: “In My Life, “The Beatles, 1965
  • Bouquet Toss: “The Sign,” Ace Of Base, 1993
  • Garter Toss: “Ladies Of The World,” Flight Of The Conchords, 2008
  • Last Dance: “Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing,” The Magnetic Fields, 1999

Dancin’ Tunes

  • “California Love,” 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman, 1995
  • “Intergalactic,” Beastie Boys, 1998
  • “Hollywood Freaks,” Beck, 1999
  • “Cannonball,” The Breeders, 1993
  • “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” Cake, 2002
  • “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” Cass Elliot, 1969
  • “One More Time,” Daft Punk, 2002
  • “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” (Wallpaper remix), Das Racist, 2009
  • “What a Fool Believes,” The Doobie Brothers, 1978
  • “Can You Picture That?,” Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem, 1979
  • “Your Song,” Elton John, 1970
  • “At Last,” Etta James, 1961
  • “Start Wearing Purple,” Gogol Bordello, 2005
  • “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” Hall & Oates, 1981
  • “Jump in the Line,” Harry Belafonte, 1961
  • “Jump Around,” House of Pain, 1992
  • “New Sensation,” INXS, 1987
  • “I’ll Be There,” Jackson 5, 1970
  • “Canned Heat,” Jamiroquai, 1999
  • “Gloria,” Laura Branigan, 1984
  • “Toxic” (Britney Spears cover), Local H, 2005
  • “Safety Dance,” Men Without Hats, 1982
  • “Billie Jean,” Michael Jackson, 1982
  • “Float On,” Modest Mouse, 2004
  • “Apart From This,” Mountaineers, 2003
  • “The Party’s Crashing Us,” Of Montreal, 2005
  • “1901,” Phoenix, 2009
  • “Raspberry Beret,” Prince, 1985
  • “Love Rollercoaster” (The Ohio Players cover), Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1996
  • “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” Scissor Sisters, 2006
  • “Chorniy Bumer,” Seryoga, 2004
  • “Fight In The Club” (The Flaming Lips and 50 Cent mashup), The Kleptones, 2004
  • “Such Great Heights,” The Postal Service, 2003
  • “Last Dance,” The Raveonettes, 2009
  • “Africa,” Toto, 1982
  • “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” Wang Chung, 1986
  • “Friends,” Ween, 2007

Songs That I Don’t Remember Hearing but Were on the Playlist and Would Have Gotten Played if the Reception Had Been Thrice as Long

  • “Check The Rhime,” A Tribe Called Quest, 1991
  • “Dancing Queen,” Abba, 1977
  • “Lovesong,” Adele, 2011
  • “Take On Me,” a-ha, 1985
  • “Birthday Card,” Anna Ash and The Family Tree, 2009
  • “Respect,” Aretha Franklin, 1967
  • “In The Drink,” Barenaked Ladies, 1996
  • “Copacabana (At The Copa),” Barry Manilow, 1978
  • “Tum Balalaika,” Barry Sisters, 1959
  • “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” Belinda Carslile, 1987
  • “Poison,” Bell Biv Devoe, 1990
  • “The Luckiest,” Ben Folds, 2001
  • “Crazy In Love,” Beyoncé, 2003
  • “Go Daddy-O,” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 1997
  • “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” Big Joe Turner, 1954
  • “California Stars,” Billy Bragg & Wilco, 1998
  • “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run),” Billy Ocean, 1984
  • “Heart of Glass,” Blondie, 1978
  • “Livin’ On A Prayer,” Bon Jovi, 1986
  • “Holding Out for a Hero,” Bonnie Tyler, 1984
  • “Northern Lights,” Bowerbirds, 2009
  • “Meet Me in the Basement,” Broken Social Scene, 2010
  • “De Camino A La Vereda,” Buena Vista Social Club, 1997
  • “Two Six Packs,” Cash O’Riley & The Down Right Daddie$, 2005
  • “Bright Lights Bigger City,” Cee Lo Green, 2010
  • “Jerkin on Some Sizzurp (36 Mafia x The Caesars),” Dave Wrangler, 2010
  • “Under Pressure,” David Bowie & Queen, 1981
  • “New Age Girl,” Deadeye Dick, 1994
  • “Rhythm of the Night,” DeBarge, 1985
  • “Groove is in the Heart,” Deee-Lite, 1990
  • “Let’s Hear It For The Boy,” Deniece Williams, 1984
  • “Come On Eileen,” Dexys Midnight Runners, 1982
  • “Lullaby,” Dixie Chicks, 2006
  • “9 To 5,” Dolly Parton, 1980
  • “All She Wants To Do Is Dance,” Don Henley, 1984
  • “Take the A Train,” Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, 1938
  • “Livin’ Thing,” Electric Light Orchestra, 1976
  • “Anyplace is Paradise,” Elvis Presley, 1956
  • “Jailhouse Rock,” Elvis Presley, 1957
  • “Doublebarrel,” Gaucho featuring Tamar Korn, 2010
  • “Freedom 90,” George Michael, 1991
  • “Crazy,” Gnarls Barkley, 2006
  • “Feel Good Inc.,” Gorillaz, 2005
  • “Ripple,” Grateful Dead, 1970
  • “Summer Bonfire,” Great Lakes Myth Society, 2007
  • “I Need Your Love So Bad,” Irma Thomas, 1964
  • “Laid,” James, 1993
  • “Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi),” Janelle Monáe, 2010
  • “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me),” Jay-Z, 2000
  • “St. Elmos Fire (Man In Motion),” John Parr, 1985
  • “Shotgun,” Junior Walker & The All Stars, 1965
  • “Footloose,” Kenny Loggins, 1984
  • “Jungle Boogie,” Kool & The Gang, 1973
  • “Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Miss Thing,” Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, 2000
  • “WWW,” Leningrad, 2004
  • “What A Man,” Linda Lyndell, 1968
  • “No-One Else But You,” Louis Armstrong, 1928
  • “Do Something,” Macy Gray, 1999
  • “Dance Me to the End of Love,” Madeleine Peyroux, 2004
  • “Like a Prayer,” Madonna, 1989
  • “Borderline,” Madonna, 1983
  • “Homens,” Manu Chao, 2001
  • “My Guy,” Mary Wells, 1964
  • “Goods (All in Your Head),” Mates of State, 2004
  • “Brand New Key,” Melanie, 1971
  • “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” Michael Jackson, 1979
  • “This Is How We Do It,” Montell Jordan, 1995
  • “Fell In Love,” Moxy Früvous, 1994
  • “I Wanna Dance with You,” Nathaniel Mayer, 2004
  • “You Get What You Give,” New Radicals, 1998
  • “The Look Of Love,” Nina Simone, 1967
  • “B.O.B,” Outkast, 2000
  • “Mambo 8,” Pérez Prado, 1951
  • “In Your Eyes,” Peter Gabriel, 1986
  • “Lilly,” Pink Martini, 2004
  • “Sympathique,” Pink Martini, 1997
  • “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince, 1984
  • “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I feel fine),” R.E.M., 1987
  • “Day Dreams,” Raphael Saadiq, 2011
  • “Night Time Is the Right Time,” Ray Charles, 1961
  • “We’re Dancing Lambada,” Red Elvises, 1999
  • “It Takes Two,” Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, 1988
  • “Stick With Me Baby,” Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, 2007
  • “Come On-A My House,” Rosemary Clooney, 1951
  • “Meant To Be,” Squirrel Nut Zippers, 1996
  • “Twilight,” Squirrel Nut Zippers, 1996
  • “Got My Own Thing Now,” Squirrel Nut Zippers, 1996
  • “Steve’s Last Ramble,” Steve Earle, 2000
  • “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever),” Stevie Wonder, 1972
  • “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” Stevie Wonder, 1966
  • “Superstition,” Stevie Wonder, 1972
  • “Breakout,” Swing Out Sister, 1987
  • “Electricity,” The Avalanches, 2001
  • “Living Of Love,” The Avett Brothers, 2007
  • “Ink Free Baby Of Mine,” The B Stars, 2010
  • “Rock Lobster,” The B-52’s, 1979
  • “Eternal Flame,” The Bangles, 1988
  • “Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Mix),” The Beach Boys, 1966
  • “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” The Bob Seger System, 1969
  • “Lovefool,” The Cardigans, 1996
  • “Then He Kissed Me,” The Crystals, 1963
  • “How You Like Me Now,” The Heavy, 2009
  • “And We Danced,” The Hooters, 1985
  • “New York Girls,” The Kingston Trio, 1959
  • “My Sharona,” The Knack, 1979
  • “Rymes To Beats,” The Lyricisits, 2005
  • “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” The Pretenders, 1986
  • “What I Like About You,” The Romantics, 1980
  • “My Girl,” The Temptations, 1965
  • “My Doorbell,” The White Stripes, 2005
  • “Baba O’Riley,” The Who, 1971
  • “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1993
  • “Mickey,” Toni Basil, 1981
  • “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia),” US3, 1993
  • “Blister In The Sun,” Violent Femmes, 1982
  • “Bust a Move,” Young MC, 1989
Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


9 + nine =