8 songs to AVOID playing at your reception
Wedding Music: 8 Wedding Songs to Skip
1. “YMCA” — Village People
Why to Skip It: The fact that everyone knows the words, everyone knows the dance, and that this song fits lots of occasions — between innings at a baseball game, for instance — does not automatically qualify it as a must at your wedding.
2. “Chicken Dance”
Why to Skip It: At a wedding, everyone’s dressed to the nines and feeling festive. Is this really the best time to flap your arms like a chicken in front of your new spouse? Didn’t think so.
3. “Stayin’ Alive” — Bee Gees
Why to Skip It: There aren’t too many people who know more than one line and one dance move to this song — leave “Stayin’ Alive” to the Saturday Night Fever reruns.
4. “Every Breath You Take” — The Police
Why to Skip It: The Police are legendary, but the tune is a little high school dance-ish, and the line “Every move you make…I’ll be watching you” is a little stalker-ish.
5. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” — Bonnie Tyler
Why to Skip It: This song is worth skipping if only to avoid any guest from reenacting the profanity-laced rendition made famous from Will Ferrell’s wedding in Old School.
6. “Macarena” — Los Del Rio
Why to Skip It: You may know how to do the dance — but do you really want to? Besides, everyone has a few certain relatives they’d rather not see get down with that hip swivel move.
7. “My Heart Will Go On” — Celine Dion
Why to Skip It: We’re not passing judgment on Celine Dion, but Titanic propelled this song into the realm of romance cliche. Besides, remember that Leo died in the movie — a bit tragic for a wedding.
8. “Mony Mony” — Billy Idol
Why to Skip It: Not sure what Billy Idol is singing in this song? Most other people don’t know, either, and when that’s the case, a good 10 percent of sing-alongers will find a way to say something objectionable.
