44 Weddings, 42 First Dance Songs (2009)

As the year draws to a close, I thought it'd be fun to compile and post a complete list of the First Dance songs chosen by my 2009 wedding couples (including two whose weddings are coming up over the next few weekends).

The list is refreshingly diverse: old standards, indie rock, R&B ballads, classic rock, country, a Broadway show tune, a Latin song.

Many of the songs were already on the extensive list of suggested First Dance songs I give my clients; a few were new to me but are now included in my suggested list; and a few were outlier picks that I don't expect to use again (which is fine, the First Dance choice is very much the bride and groom's personal choice).

Of the songs below, only two were used more than once by my 2009 wedding couples:  Etta James' "At Last" and Ben Folds' "The Luckiest."  I performed at 44 weddings this year, and played 42 different First Dance songs, sung by 39 different artists. (Besides Etta James and Ben Folds, the Foo Fighters and Frank Sinatra were represented twice.)

Here's the honor roll: the First Dances of Good Note's 2009 newlyweds:

Allison Krauss, “When You Say Nothing At All”
Babyface, “Every Time I Close My Eyes”
Beach Boys, “God Only Knows”
Ben E. King, “Stand By Me”
Ben Folds, “The Luckiest”
Ben Harper, “Forever”
Big & Rich, “Eternity”
Bobby Darin, “Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”
Brad Paisley, “Then” 
Chicago, “You’re the Inspiration”
Johnny Hartman with John Coltrane, “My One and Only Love”
Eric Benet, “Spend My Life With You”
Etta James, “At Last”
Etta James, “Sunday Kind of Love”
Eva Cassidy, “Songbird”
Foo Fighters, “Miracle”
Foo Fighters, “Everlong” (acoustic version) 
Frank Sinatra, “Love Is Here to Stay”
Frank Sinatra,“Night and Day”
Frankie Valli, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
Harry Connick Jr, “The Way You Look Tonight”
Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole, “Over the Rainbow”
James Morrison, “Better Man”
Jason Mraz ,“I’m Yours”
Josie de Guzman, “If I Were a Bell” [from Broadway's "Guys and Dolls"]
Journey, “Open Arms”
Juanes, “La vida es un Ratico”
Lionel Richie, “Stuck on You”
Little Big Town, “To Know Love”
Lone Star, “Amazed”
Norah Jones, “Come Away With Me”
Oasis, “Let There Be Love”
Prince,“Adore”
Rachael Yamagata, “Meet Me By The Water”
Rascal Flatts, “Bless the Broken Road”  
Sam & Dave, “Hold On I’m Coming”
Sister Hazel, “This Kind of Love”
Stevie Wonder, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
The Notwist,  “Consequence”
Tom Waits, “Sea of Love” 
Van Morrison, “Crazy Love”
Wings (with Paul McCartney), “My Love”