The Top 10 Timeless Wedding Songs for 2009

The first dance is one of the most romantic parts of a wedding and the song you choose is a vital part of the moment. This is a list of the Top 10 most timeless wedding songs which have been chosen by voters in 2009. It’s a great resource for brides and grooms who are having trouble finding the best wedding song for their first dance.

 

10) ‘Bless the Broken Road’ by Rascal Flatts

Album: ‘Feels Like Today’ – Released in 2005

Also appeared in: ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie,’ in which the band appeared as themselves and played ‘Bless ‘he Broken Road’ for Miley Cyrus’ grandparents.

Interesting Facts:Originally written in 1994 by members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Marcus Hummon, Rascal Flatts’ version is the most successful, topping the Billboard Country Music charts for five straight weeks.

 

9) ‘Valentine’ by Jim Brickman & Martina McBride

Album: ‘Evolution’ – Released in 1997

Also appeared in: The TV special ‘My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman,’ in which the two performed the duet together.

Interesting Facts:The song went platinum, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, making it one of McBride’s first hits on contemporary radio. Both artists are known for their romantic sound.

 

8 ) ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton

Album: ‘Slowhand’ – Released in 1977

Also appeared in: ‘Friends’ episode ‘The One With the Proposal,’ which has been deemed by fans as one of the best episodes in the series’ 10-year run.

Interesting Facts: This wedding song was written for Clapton’s then-wife Pattie Boyd, a model who was previously married to the Beatles’ George Harrison. For Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday celebration, Clapton played with the band Dire Straits as a guest guitarist with a surprise rendition of ‘Wonderful Tonight.’

7) ‘Open Arms’ by Journey

Album: ‘Escape’ – Released in 1981

Also appeared in: An episode of ‘The O.C.’ titled ‘The Power of Love.’ Throughout the series, references are made to main character Ryan Atwood being a huge Journey fan.

Interesting Facts: ‘Open Arms’ almost did not make it on Journey’s album because guitarist Neal Schon hated the song, commenting that it sounded like ‘Mary Poppins.’ In a 2005 article from ‘Lumino’ magazine, the song was referred to as a “wedding anthem.”

6) ‘Faithfully’ by Journey

Album: ‘Frontiers’ – Released in 1983

Also appeared in: Season 7 of ‘American Idol’ when the song was covered by Kristy Lee Cook for the show’s “80’s Week.”

5) ‘Don’t Know Much’ by Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt

Album: ‘Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind’ – Released in 1989

Also appeared in: An episode of ‘Scrubs’ titled “My Lucky Night’ in which Turk sings it in an elevator.

Interesting Facts:This song was recorded by Bette Midler in 1983 as ‘All I Need to Know,’ with minor chart success. In 1990 the song won a Grammy for best pop performance by a duo with vocal.

4) ‘Everything I Do (I Do It for You)’ by Bryan Adams

Album: ‘Waking Up the Neighbours’ – Released in 1991

Also appeared in: The ‘Family Guy’ episode ‘Oceans Three and a Half,’ where Stewie attempts to win over the affections of a newborn and creates a detailed music video to ‘Everything I Do.’

Interesting Facts:This was the most successful song of 1991, reaching the No. 1 spot in 18 countries. It was composed last-minute for the film ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ when the producers decided they needed a promotional song.

3) ‘I Finally Found Someone’ by Barbra Streisand

Album: ‘Duets’ – Released in 2002

Also appeared in: The 1999 album ‘All Time Greatest Movie Songs,’ released by Sony.

Interesting Facts:This wedding song was co-composed by Streisand for the 1996 film ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces.’ The song reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Streisand’s first hit in nearly a decade.

　

2) ‘Unchained Melody’ by The Righteous Brothers

Album: ‘Just Once in My Life’ – Released in 1965

Also appeared in: The pottery scene of ”Ghost,’ starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, easily one of the most memorable scenes in American movie history. The movie relaunched the song in 1990 to a new generation of listeners.

Interesting Facts:This is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, with a reported 500 versions in various languages. Six weeks before his death, Elvis Presley included a cover of ‘Unchained Melody’ in a television performance, which would be his last. Also, this was the wedding song for Kevin Costner and his wife, Christine Baumgartner.

1) ‘At Last’ by Etta James

Album: ‘At Last!’ – Released in 1961

Also appeared in: 1998’s ‘Pleasantville,’ starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire.

Interesting Facts:This song has been recorded more than 30 times, two of which occurred before Etta James cut her famous version. James’ rendition was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, though it reached only No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart. At Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s wedding, the bride walked down the aisle to ‘At Last.’