Wedding Music

Unchained Melody is arguably one of the most popular songs in history.  Unchained Melody was written in 1955 by Hy Zaret and put to music created by Alex North. Unchained Melody has become among the most recorded songs written in the 20th century and it is believed that there are approximately 500 different versions of this song to date. Interestingly,  the song does not actually include the word “unchained”.

In 1965, The Righteous Brothers recorded a version of the song which resulted in it climbing as high as the number four spot in the music charts.  When Jerry Zucker was filming the movie, Ghost, in 1990, he used this version for the hot and heavy lovemaking scene between the movie’s two co-stars, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. The huge success of the movie, catapulted this popular version to the number one spot and made it very popular for use at weddings.

In 2003, Cyndi Lauper recorded an album consisting of cover versions of jazz standards which included  Unchained Melody. Cyndi Lauper interprets the melody and dynamics in such a way that make this version really shine. This is a great music choice for a Bride & Groom’s First Dance.

Unchained Melody

Whoa! My love, my darling,
I hunger for your touch,
Alone. 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.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
To the open arms of the sea.
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me,
I’ll be coming home, wait for me.

Whoa! My love, my darling,
I hunger, hunger!, for your love,
For love. 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.

“Only You (And You Alone)” (usually shortened to and commonly known as “Only You”) is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was recorded most successfully by The Platters,  Train covered the song in 2010 putting their own spin on the song by using a little of the instrumentation from “Hey Soul Sister” at the beginning, resulting in a more upbeat version of the song.

Train’s version, like The Platters original, would be great for a First Dance. It would also be suitable to be played as the Wedding Guests Arrive, during Pre-Dinner Drinks or during Dinner.

Only You

Only you can make this world seem right
Only you can make the darkness bright
Only you and you alone
Can thrill me like you do
And fill my heart with love for only you

Only you can make this change in me
For it’s true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand
I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true
My one and only you

Only you can make this change in me
For it’s true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand
I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true
My one and only you

“What a Wonderful World” is a song that was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1967. In December 2007, Katie Melua released a cover of this song, in which she sang with a recording of the late Eva Cassidy and is a great alternative to the Louis Armstrong version.

It would be perfect for the wedding reception pre-dinner dinks, background during dinner, Father/ Daughter or Mother/Son Dances.

What A Wonderful World

I see trees that are green,
red roses too
I watch them bloom
for me and you
And I think to myself,
what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days,
the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself,
what a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow,
so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
of the people passing by

I see friends
shakin’ hands,
saying “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”

Colours of the rainbow,
so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
of the people passing by

I see friends
shakin’ hands,
saying “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”

I see trees of green, red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself,
what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself,
what a wonderful world