[wedding stuff] Music Fail

[offbalance]

Ever since before the engagement became public, I've been mainlining wedding blogs like nobody's business. I've learned some interesting tips and tricks, and even learned things to back away from slowly. It's been an education. I've found communties to join and other like minded people I can squee with or learn from.

Or in some cases, look at askance.

Now, anyone who's watched a countdown show on Vh1 has seen a musician talking about people who use songs for the first dance at their wedding that are inappropriate. Not strange or quirky (I knew a couple who's wedding song was "Jailhouse Rock", and I thought that was awesome), but couples who dance to Sting's greatest stalker song ("Every Breath You Take" is NOT a love song, people!!) or U2's "With or Without You." (written during a rocky period of Bono's marriage, the lyric is:" I can't live: WITH OR without you." As in, I can't stand you right now. Edge said in an interview that when people who share that this was their first dance at their wedding, they wish them luck).

So, imagine my surprise when Offbeatbride.com, often a beacon of sanity in a very scary bridal world (trust me) posted their list of First-Dance Songs That Haven't Been Done to Death, they included "No Children" by the Mountain Goats.

No, I couldn't believe it either.

For the unfamiliar, "No Children" comes from a concept album called Tallahasse that Mountain Goats leader/frontman/solo force behind created about two characters he calls the Alphas. The Alphas are a disfunctional couple who, after some life problems erupt, decide to buy a house in Tallahasse, Florida and drink themselves to death. The songs are about events that lead up to this, events after they buy the house, and conversations/fights they have in it. "No Children" is one such songs. I've included a link to a neat fanvid of the song, but I feel these lyrics need to be highlighted to be properly appreciated:

I hope that our few remaining friends
Give up on trying to save us
I hope they come up with a failsafe plot
to piss off the dumb few that forgave us

I hope the fences we mended
fall down beneath their own weight
and I hope we go on past the last exit
I hope it's already too late

That's a sweet sentiment, no? Totally what you want your loved ones to hear after you allegedly make a lifelong commitment to one another and are now swaying to the music in front of all assembled, right? Who wouldn't love lyrics like these!

And I hope the junkyard a few blocks from here
someday burns down
and I hope the rising black smoke carries me far away,
And I never come back to this town again
In my life
I hope I lie
And tell everyone you were a good wife
And I hope you DIE.
I hope we both die!

Really? Does anyone bother listening to the lyrics? I mean, this really states love and commitment to some people? I guess so.

I have no idea what our first song will be. But it will be better than this!!

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Some of the comments made me go...WHAT.

"I Will Follow You Into the Dark"?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?!

That either reminds me of my parents (sad oh god), or a suicide pact.

NO THANKS.

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

I know!!

Even still, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" at least has expressions of some love and fidelity, however bent. If someone told me that the song "No Children" perfectly described their relationship? D: I'd reccommend a good counselor.

[quasisonic.livejournal.com]

DUDE WTF NO.

What's next, Last Kiss?!?!? O_o

Some part of me feels that if we hadn't run off to CA to get married, the Numa Numa song would have figured into our wedding. XD So would Birdhouse in Your Soul for that matter, but these are specific sentimental favorites.

I just...WHAT.

[firynze.livejournal.com]

Nah, next up is clearly Nightmare of You's "I Want to be Buried in Your Backyard."

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

Now that's a song I should track down. The title alone...

[firynze.livejournal.com]

It's frighteningly saccharine and catchy.

[quasisonic.livejournal.com]

LOLZ XD

Before we decided to run off, my hubby and I really carefully considered some songs, we wanted pretty songs that had just the right emotional sentiments....i think some people are only going for that first qualifier. O_o

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I think people straight up don't listen too closely to lyrics.

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

... But http://offbeatbride.com/2010/02/vintage-vegetarian-wedding included the lyrics as a pullquote!

"In my life… I hope I lie
and tell everyone you were a good wife
and I hope you die.
I hope we both die!"
-The Mountain Goats

[firynze.livejournal.com]

That's the ONLY explanation I can think of.

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

RIGHT?!

I prefer the Stephen King version of Last Kiss: "When I woke up, she was lying there, I brushed her liver from my hair..." XD

I think entering to "Numa Numa" and then the band/dj/ipod busting out "Birdhouse in Your Soul" would be epic and awesome.

[quasisonic.livejournal.com]

you know the thing about the Numa song? In english its a really sweet love letter essentially! The refrain is "when you leave my colors turn to gray" Its being sung by a guy who's so in love that the person he loves brightens all the colors in the world to him. <3

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

Aww. Well, it's also a good party-starter. It'll amp up the crowd and excitement just enough.

[firynze.livejournal.com]

...people scare me. Especially most people planning weddings. *shudder*

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

Seriously. Although there is excellent Car Wreck Factor (tm).

[firynze.livejournal.com]

This is true! And those are disturbingly fun to watch.

[whtegrlwthehair.livejournal.com]

i vote for frankie avalon's "bobby sox to stockings."

[rubytramp.livejournal.com]

Beach Boys - "God Only Knows" is our song, and if we'd danced at our wedding it would have been to that. I officially pass it on to you, use it if you wish. Or not.

[quodlibetic.livejournal.com]

It was so, so, so hard to decide on a first song! It had to be an actual good song, one that we both genuinely liked outside of the "first dance" criteria -- so many "first dance" songs are just awful! The song also had to be one that we could dance to, factoring in that neither of us can really dance!

I do love what we ended up choosing, even if it happens to be fairly popular*: Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." I looked at the lyrics right now, and my eyes teared up for a sec remembering the day. Aw. :)

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
'Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

Since, since we've been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue

Let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can't see
You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here's what I want us to do)

Let's, we oughta stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

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* I'd imagine - I truly have no idea.