Some things never change...

[Jeff H]

This past Saturday night I went to a wedding reception, but only because the groom was the son of one of my favorite cousins. I usually try to avoid such events, since these days I rarely really know (or care) about the person getting married, and I'll admit to a bit of resentment over the whole ritual; no one ever gave me and my partner of over 14 years a big party and thousands of dollars in prizes. :razz: But I digress...

I was curious (and a little worried) about what kind of music would be played by the DJ at the reception. The bride and groom are 20 years younger than me, after all. Would we hear N'Sync and Britney? Hip hop?

None of the above it turned out. Apparently there is a single CD of Songs That Must Be Played At Every Wedding For The Rest Of Time. We heard "Celebration," "Macarena," "Electric Slide" and "Achy Breaky Heart" (the bride's family was from Texas). And yes, even "YMCA"; the DJ even supplied a cowboy hat, an Indian headdress, a biker cap and a construction helmet for the wedding party to wear. And I'm not sure if my 74-year-old mother was trying to be a smart-ass, but she did score points when she asked me, "Shouldn't you guys be dancing to this?"

So the music was not necessarily bad, just boring. Just thought I'd share this observation. You can all wake up now.

[BrunoRepublic]

What about "Lady In Red"?

No wedding is complete without it!


Seriously though... I too am starting to get really pissed off about weddings. What bothers me most is that often they're for co-workers or acquaintances that I know well enough that I can't decline, but once they're off and married, I never see them again. This has happened to me four times now. At the same time, I can't use your arguement, Jeff. I've been single all my life.

My sister has been engaged for about 4 years now. They've bought the house and all, but still no date has been set. She says she doesn't want a big wedding, or for people to make a huge deal out of it. I have to laugh at the irony of this, for this is one wedding that I would have no problem buying a nice big gift for.

[nrgbeat]

Hey, I like "Lady In Red"

You can have your "Love Shack", "Macarena" and "Achy Breaky Heart" but don't pick on my Chris De Burgh or I'll pick on "Left To My Own Devices"

[Jeff H]

I forgot about "Love Shack"!!! Yep, they played that one too, Nrg!

[DanceMan]

I don't think that any engagement party, wedding reception, anniversary celebration, retirement bash, birthday soiree or Roast would be complete without at least one elongated playing of Arrow's, "Hot, Hot, Hot."

When my partner and I celebrated our 25th anniversary, I told the DJ to abstain from playing certain tunes....unfortunately, certain folks that I had invited insisted on hearing the above-mentioned as well as some hokey long-player which sent me and a few other high-tailing it for an outside breather or bathroom break...Needless, to say, with every defiance, the DJ's tip shrank.

[QUINNY]

DanceMan: Hot, Hot, Hot would be near the top of my list. THE happiest piece of disco music ever. Shame it's been a tad overplayed.
Let's face it, how could you not play 'Celebration', Good Times or any other of those loved but loathed Disco classics?

[markydefad]

Hey, I'm gonna go with Hustlebaby's fave wedding song "Bad Luck" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes!!!!! Now I think that was probably just an odd choice of inappropriate DJ programming--BUT I say --PLAY IT.

You can counteract that by playing "Best Disco In Town" where they repeat the phrase "Bad luck is good luck, bad luck is good luck".

BTW, back in St. Olaf..the song was "We've Only Just Begun". Does that "date" me????

[Nano]

Be cool guys... you don't have to tolerate "Disco Samba" by Two Man Sound at EVERY fuckin' wedding party like me! :lol:
I've already told this tale, but let me tell it again. "Disco Samba" (released around 1978) is a "Stars in 45"-style blending of Brazilian samba tunes... that is, not the originals, but as played by this touristic samba combo (I believe they're from Holland!). Lasts a complete LP side, around 20 endless minutes long. (From that time I also remember "Caribbean disco show" by Lobo, the same concept on Latin Caribe dance tunes.)
OK, in Argentina it became common to stage a special section in wedding parties called "Carnaval carioca". Someone passes Carnival masks and hats, pitos (the ones used by referees), cornetas (hand honks), confetti, etc. to all guests. Then, whatever is being played sinks in and "Disco Samba" comes out, ALL 20 MINUTES OF IT, while people blow their pitos and throw thin threads of paper into the air, pretending they are very happy!
I remember Blaxman laughed a lot with this story. I told about it to a Brazilian lady and she went nuts... Couldn't believe we pacific people of Argentina could be TORTURED that way by local wedding etiquette...

[BrunoRepublic]

On 2002-09-16 13:51, Nano wrote:
Be cool guys... you don't have to tolerate "Disco Samba" by Two Man Sound at EVERY fuckin' wedding party like me!

Oh GOD...

If that is anywhere near as horrid as that wretched "Que Tal America" track that they put out, well... you've got my deepest sympathies!

"Say Whuuuuuuut?"....

(Sound of stereo system being tossed off balcony)

[markydefad]

What about a spin for Tammy Wynette's immortal "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" or is that tempting the gods????

If I ever had a wedding....
I think a quick seque from "We've Only Just Begun" to "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" would be a hoot!!!

And then I'd have Jussi play "Walk The Night" by the Skatt Brothers for the hip Tom of Finland crowd!!!! :lol:

[BrunoRepublic]

How about Joy Division's gloom classic, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"?

[QUINNY]

The only weddings I ever did as a mobile DJ were all very similar. Grandad and Grandma got pissed as rats and disgraced themselves in some way, Kids would scream the place down and run around and around and around driving everyone (except their dumbass parents) crazy, one family would look at the other and everyone would get up and dance stupid for the last hour. Then they'd all want more and either stuff huge amounts of money in your hands to carry on and/or get really stroppy if you said 6 hours was really enough.
Weddings, Smeddings YYYYUUUUUUKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

[NickNack]

Thankfully I've only played one wedding in my dj career and that was for close friends (lesbians, btw) of my lover and me. I've refused every other request, no matter how strong and how much money was being offered. Reason: Because of the horror stories you guys are relaying right now. And Jeff, that "wedding music til the end of time" CD you brought up --- don't kid yourself --- they're out there. Along with CD's for graduations, birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, anything and everything so today's jock doesn't have to think.

At the wedding for my grrlfriends, they had two requests: 1) Play the fun part of Paul Jabara's "Disco Wedding" and, 2) Do whatever you want as long as you throw in a Stylistics love jam every now and then. Easy enough, and no screaming kids!

[markydefad]

Jeffy,

Speaking of custom made tapes. fit for "special occasions", I've even heard there are tapes floating around for homosexuals of a certain age under the title-- "Fit For A Queen"!!!

Shocking BUT TRUE!!!!! :lol:

[Nano]

A lesbian wedding? Nick, are there any video tapes available?
Marky, maybe as we speak Jussi is working his "influences" in the Finnish Parlament to stage one of those "pop art" exhibitions with... traffic cones! :lol: