Broadway has produced a plethora of passionate love songs over the decades. But you’ve got to carefully review the lyrics, because not every Broadway love song works for your first dance.
For example, the epic “If I Loved You” from Carousel is an endearing love song with a melody that soars and touches the soul. But the qualifying word, “if”, in the title disqualifies it from consideration. There is no ‘if’ when it comes to your love affair!
Or take another Rodger’s & Hammerstein standard, “Something Wonderful” from “The King and I.” The lyric is sweet …
This is a man who thinks with his heart,
His heart is not always wise.
This is a man who stumbles and falls,
But this is a man who tries …
… but do want a song that suggests your new husband isn’t ‘wise’? Your call!
Some Enchanted Evening
On the other hand, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s iconic “Some Enchanted Evening” is perfect for your first dance song with Hammerstein’s timeless lyrics:
Some enchanted evening, someone may be laughing,
You may hear her laughing across a crowded room,
And night after night, as strange as it seems,
The sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams.
Here’s the version from the awarding winning movie, “South Pacific”:
The Temptations covered the song with an entirely different spin:
Which do you prefer? Columbus Pro DJs can play whichever version you prefer, and there are many, many more!
Somewhere
“The West Side Story” is loaded with great love songs with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Steven Sondheim. Bernstein borrowed a phrase from Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto to set up the song, “Somewhere.” Sondheim’s lyrics are touching:
There’s a place for us
A time and a place for us
Hold my hand and we’re half way there
Hold my hand and I’ll take you there
Somehow
Someday
Somewhere.
Here it is from the movie of the musical:
The American Film Institute considers this to be the 20th best all time song from the movies.
Here is an incredible duet of “Somewhere” with Barbra Streisand and Josh Groban. How would you like to dance to this song?
Cheek to Cheek
If you’re a fan of the ‘Great American Songbook,’ you may love Irving Berlin’s classic song, “Cheek to Cheek,” from the 1935 Hollwood musical, “Top Hat.”
These are happy, bouncy lyrics:
Heaven, I’m in heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we’re out together dancing, cheek to cheek.
Here’s Fred Astaire singing it to Ginger Rogers in the original movie:
For a more contemporary take, here’s Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett crooning this classic song together:
Dig Gaga’s hair! A good Broadway love song is something special, because it needs to convey a story with immediate impact to its audience. The question is, which song tells your love story best?
Whichever song you select for your first wedding dance, Columbus Pro DJs can play the version of your choice on clear, top end equipment, enhanced with artistic decor lighting. We’ll create the mood and the sound perfect for your love story.
