Wedding Music...

Putting together the music for the dancing/partying part of the reception has been a lot more difficult than I originally thought it would be. Going into it, I just thought, well, I'll just put together 3 - 4 hours of music I like and that'll work. And it would've, except that we invited other people, and they don't all want to hear Poison and Morris Day and the Time. I know I have to have a first dance with my lady, but otherwise, I don't want to be one of only two people up there. So, I had to sit down and try to organize a playlist that will get other people dancing and will still be fun for me.
I don't want the music to be generic wedding music; I want something that'll reflect our tastes. The problem with that is most people agree that my taste in music is....well, horrible. So, I had to ask myself some questions, as well as answer questions from other concerned people. These are those questions with some answers:
1. Can I play any song by Boston? Sadly, No. Not even Amanda.
2. Is there a way to include 3 Backstreet Boys songs? Probably not. 2 though.
3. What's a good 1st dance song?/What will your 1st dance be? There are plenty of options, but really, I want to have something that's not been done before. I went to a wedding where Summer of 69 was the 1st dance. It was their "song". We dont' really have a "song". And, as much as I like that song, it's out of the running just because someone else used it, right? Now, I'm pretty sure we're set on a 1st dance. It's different, sweet without being sacharine and it's the most closely guarded secret I have other than where I buried my Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards in 5th grade. (seriously, it was what a pirate would've done.)
4. How can I keep it interesting for everyone? Seriously, not as hard as I thought. I think the playlist will be a little front-loaded with more familiar songs, so that the older croud will be more interested. And I'm sort of banking on the fact that they'll either a) leave earlier, b) get tired of dancing, or c) not be able to hold their liquor as well as the younger crowd. But still, the more familiar songs are still pretty good. We've got some Jackson 5 in there, some B-52's, a little Jackie Wilson; there's good stuff up front.
5. So, it won't be just songs you listened to with your friends in college? No. But some of the old favorites have to be there. I mean, we're holding it at our college.
6. Will there by any hokey-pokey? Sadly, no. Dinah was injured in a hokey pokey accident when she was younger, so it would be too much to ask her to dance that cursed jig. (That might not be true.)
7. Seriously, no hokey-pokey? Then what about Chicken Dance? The rumor around the campfire is that a soon to be in-law of mine will be leading this with my future wife. And, yes, that's the gene pool my children will wade out of.
8. Have you found a place to put some Springsteen in? This is the most glaring ommision so far. Bruce is a favorite of mine and he's written so many good songs, but we (really I) can't find one that's dancey enough to work. (I can't do Dancing in the Dark, because I'm still so jealous of Courtney Cox.) UPDATE: I may have found a slow dance Springsteen that I can work in. So just know, New Jersey, order has been restored.
9. You lead us to believe there may be no Morris Day and the Time. And Poison. That can't be right. Listen, whatever party I go to/throw has room for Morris Day and the Time. That's a given. I won't even consider a wedding without Jungle Love. Poison, though. That's a tough call. I know my mom will be upset if I don't play Unskinny Bop. But, I think it might not make the cut. So far it isn't there.
10. Wow. So. No Boston. No Poison. What are you playing? Well. I want some surprises, but there's a lot of good stuff. Some Chubby Checker, Fleetwood Mac, a surprising amount of Michael Jackson, David Allan Coe (natch), Kenny Loggins, Wilson Picket, Talking Heads, The Coasters, They Might Be Giants. Good stuff.
11. Will there be anything for the hipsters? Um. Elvis Costello? He wears those cool glasses. That's hip right?
12. That's it Elvis Costello? Um. Next question.
13. So. Is everyone required to dance? Yes. I think in the invitations will be schedule of which dances everyone is supposed to dance and where. Dinah and I have put a lot of thought into what couples should dance next to each other, based on height, personality, wingspan, whether their suits/dresses might clash, OBP, and our own whimsy and capricious nature.
Anyway, I hope that clears things up and gets everyone (anyone) ready to have a good time.