FIRST DANCES from my 2012 WEDDINGS

Tallying up the First Dance choices of my 2012 wedding couples, old stalwarts Frank, Frankie, and Van the Man led the list.  Frank as in Sinatra – one couple chose his ever-popular “The Way You Look Tonight,” another his lesser-known “Day By Day.”  Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take Your Eyes Off Of You” was three couple’s First Dance, although one of the three used the Broadway version from “Jersey Boys.”  Van Morrison got the honors with “Into the Mystic,” “Someone Like You” and “Crazy Love,” and yet a fourth  couple went with Michael Buble’s rendition of the latter.

Another popular choice was The Cure’s “Lovesong” as covered by 311 and Adele.  Among contemporary artists, only Ray LaMontagne was picked more than once – both times his “You Are the Best Thing.” 

Other First Dance choices included songs by current artists Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Ingrid Michaelson, Train, Alicia Keys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  A few couples dug into the soul oldies vaults for First Dances by the likes of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.  One choose Etta James’ classic “At Last.”  Country music-loving clients  danced to Anne Murray’s “Can I Have This Dance” (one to her recording, another to a karaoke version sung by a cousin of the bride), Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Sammy Kershaw.

Here's the complete list:

“A Thousand Years” Christina Perri

“At Last” Etta James

“Bring It On Home” Little Big Town

“Can I Have This Dance” Anne Murray

“Can I Have This Dance”  (karaoke version, sung by bride’s cousin)

“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” Frankie Valli 

“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” John Lloyd Young (from Broadway’s “Jersey Boys”)

“Come Away With Me” Norah Jones

“Crazy Love” Van Morrison

“Crazy Love” Michael Buble

“Day By Day” Frank Sinatra

“Do You Remember” Jack Johnson

“Even If I Wanted To” Daisy Dern & Dave Gibson

“Harvest Moon” Neil Young

“Here” Rascal Flatts

“Hey Mama” Mat Kearney

"Hysterics” (acoustic version) Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“I Only Have Eyes for You” Flamingos

“I Want to Be Your Man” Roger & Zapp

“I’ll Let Nothing Separate Us” Otis Redding
“If I Ain’t Got You” Alicia Keys

“If I Give My Heart To You” Doris Day

“Indefinite Leave to Remain” Pet Shop Boys

“Into the Mystic” Van Morrison

“Love of My Life” Sammy Kershaw

“Love Song” 311

“Love Song” Adele

“Making Memories of Us” Keith Urban

“Marry Me” (acoustic version) Train

“Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney & Wings

“One True” Mishka

“Someone Like You” Van Morrison

“Stand by Me” Phillip Phillips

“Stick With Me Baby” Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

“The Way I Am” Ingrid Michaelson

“The Way You Look Tonight” Frank Sinatra

“Three Little Birds” Bob Marley

“True Companion” Marc Cohn

“You Are The Best Thing” Ray LaMontagne

“You Are The Best Thing” Ray LaMontagne

 “You’re So Fine” Wilson Pickett