Thursday, July 23, 2009

What Song?

A text message from my daughter, who will be married in 2 1/2 weeks, “What song for the daddy daughter dance?”

I don't know.

I've spent a good part of the afternoon looking. Most love-ish songs are inappropriate: let's jump in the sack, or I'm going to pine away now that you're gone. I like almost everything, except country. She likes almost everything, especially country. And I don't do maudlin, although that's the best way to describe my feelings during this afternoon's exercise.

Here are my current thoughts:

  • Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds.
  • La Chanson de Claudine, Mason Williams.
  • Walk Away Renée, The Four Seasons.

I like the songs, none of them seem quite right. I've looked at a few websites, and was a bit surprised to find “Landslide.” I love the song, but doubt the appropriateness. My daughter told me a few days ago that “Butterfly Kisses” is popular, which to me is an argument against. And it violates the maudlin stipulation.

It's enough to make me think that writing the checks is going to be the easy part.

Anyway, serious suggestions would be gratefully received.

Peace

17 comments:

G. M. Palmer said...

oh God no, "Butterfly Kisses" is horrid.

"Teach Your Children" -- CSN&Y
"Tupelo Honey" -- Van the Man

if you want maudlin just go with "Daddy's Hands" ;)

two from teh internetz:

"Sunrise, Sunset"
"What a Wonderful World"

Best of luck, stewie!

stu said...

"Teach Your Children" -- CSN&Y

Very good—the current front runner. Many thanks.

"What a Wonderful World"

I'd actually considered the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version of "Over the Rainbow."

Best of luck, stewie!

Thanks, I'm going to need it!

jh said...

i don't mean to push the envelope here
but
how about
"money for nuthin and chicks for free" - dire straits
or "sultans of swing"
might be more tame or tamer (?)

i've always liked
neil young's
"like a hurricane"

"if i were a rich man" bridges the generational divide
after the wedding it may be more appropriate

"bring in the clowns"

"both sides now"
that's it
joni mitchell
can't lose

blessings on the advance of your genes
hopefully

j

Kirby Olson said...

Luther Van Dross' Dances with My Father is pretty strong stuff, but he does have a big sound voice, but I don't know if it's dance-able.

Does it have to be a slow dance, or do you want to shake your hips?

stu said...

jh—

You know, I'd think that these are odd suggestions, except that I've considered "Brothers in Arms," which in some bizarre way is appropriate. So I guess I'm kind of odd right there with you.

But great music, all around, as I hoped and expected.

blessings on the advance of your genes
hopefully


I think eventually, but probably not immediately. The "marry young, but get to know one another before dragging kids into it" worked well for my wife and I. At least, we're not lost now that they're gone, as with some couples I've seen.

Kirby—

Luther Van Dross' Dances with My Father is pretty strong stuff, but he does have a big sound voice, but I don't know if it's dance-able.

Interesting. I haven't heard this before, and will have to listen a few times before I figure out if it works. My sense is that it is dance-able.

Does it have to be a slow dance, or do you want to shake your hips?

I'm better with the slow stuff, but my daughter can shake it to just about anything. Anyone with any aesthetic sense is going to be looking at her, anyway, so it probably doesn't matter so much if her dad looks like a doofus.

As for me, the form of dancing that was most common at my high school was derisively, but perfectly accurately, characterized as the "grapple and stagger." And my sense of rhythm is middling for a 52 year old white guy.

G. M. Palmer said...

There's a Clapton song called "Father's Eyes" I think -- and then there's the Dylan standard "Forever Young" (done very well by ol Pineapple Head Rowdy Roddy Stewart)

jh said...

hey gm
i'm with you on "forever young"
i've played it more than once at a wedding
the message is great it is a hymn to love and friendship and trust
i'd do that one
"may you be forever young"

yeah- dylan - can't go wrong
"tangled up in blue" might
not work
but forever young

j

G. M. Palmer said...

interesting -- the Rod Stewart version was supposed to be a different song -- either plagiarism or crytomnesia. Either way Rod & Bob ended up splitting the proceeds.

If you want a nod to country, apparently Johnny Cash did a cover.

stu said...

"Forever young" by Dylan might work too.

As for Rod Stewart, I was way overexposed to "Maggie May" and "Tonight's the Night." Smarmy. I'll stay with the original.

G. M. Palmer said...

as long as dylan doesn't play harmonica it will be all right

stu said...

as long as dylan doesn't play harmonica it will be all right

Can you hum a few bars? I don't know that song...

Wendy Hoke said...

I think it's Tim McGraw who has made a song popular at least in country music....something like "I love her first."

It's a dad speaking about his daughter's upcoming wedding and giving her away, but his (the father's love) came first...it's really good.

WW

stu said...

I think it's Tim McGraw who has made a song popular at least in country music....something like "I love her first."

I found a version by Heartland, but not Tim McGraw. I don't know—a good song, but a borderline tear jerker, and there are going to be some easy criers there.

jh said...

if there's enough good wine a live band and some good dancing
the tears will fall on the floor
no matter what
gush a bit pal
it's a wedding for godz sake

j

stu said...

if there's enough good wine a live band and some good dancing
the tears will fall on the floor
no matter what


Yea, but I'd rather not be the guy who starts it. I don't want to be a spectacle, just my daughter's dad.

Conservotarian Emmy said...

Thanks for inviting me over here--

I vote no on Butterfly Kisses, it’s very very silly.

My dad and I danced to the duet from the Pearl Fishers (Au Fond Du Temple Saint) by Bizet. There's a particularly lovely version to be had by the Opera Band, Amici.

Jacques and I danced to Rufus Wainwright's Hallelujah (from the Leonard Cohen) for our dance, and it was pretty fantastic. But then again, we had a Maypole, so judge for yourself: D

But for daddy/daughter dancing I also recommend Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. Absolutely beautiful--about priorities in our lives, and how much better we'd be if we measured our lives in love rather than in minutes.

What a Wonderful World is fantastic as well. It’s sort of melancholy though...at least that's how it makes me feel.

In my own odd tastes, I've always thought the octet from The Phantom of the Opera, Prima Donna would make a wonderful dance, though probably not for this particular occasion.

Can you tell I'm an actress in musical theatre?

Oh! Find your Grail, the reprise at the end of Spamalot is one of my current favorites. My brother and I danced to that one, and it worked really well!

Anyway, congratulations on your daughter's marriage! I wish you both the very best--and don't forget to have fun at the wedding! At least you don't have to walk her down the aisle then turn around and perform the ceremony like my dad did!

Conservotarian Emmy said...

Oh! And at the risk of seeming rather Freudian (since I think Freud was a fraud on his best days,) I also like the song "Someone Like You." Van Morrison, I think? It really is gorgeous, unless you have a lot of psychologists in the family.