I recently found myself in a discussion regarding the
importance of lyrics in choosing songs to play for a wedding. I am not sure how
much this topic is debated, but I thought it would make for an interesting blog
post. There are a few times where the right music must be selected when playing
a wedding; bride and groom, father-daughter mother-son, money dance, bouquet
toss and a garter toss. There will always be a difference of opinion as to what
songs are played at each dance/event.  However,
I feel there are times when the lyrics are more important than popularity.

Depending on who you speak with, lyrics are the most
important part of any song. I feel that lyrics are important, but being a DJ, I
feel the instrumental parts are also important. My job is to read the crowd and
play what people will like and hopefully make them want to dance. That is not
always an easy job, but it is enjoyable. What makes people dance depends on the
type of crowd and the type of event. If the event is a club setting, the crowd
is mostly a dance crowd and therefore it is all about the mixing and making
sure the beats are even and the party never stops. If the event is a wedding, the
music played is much more diverse and reading the crowd becomes much more
challenging. This is where the discussion began the other day; do I play songs
based solely on lyrics or popularity?

The answer to the inquiry is simply both. I know my library
very well, so I am able to decide which song to play depending on the occasion.
However, the timing of when to play certain songs can be the difference between
a successful and disastrous DJ gig. When it comes to performing at a wedding,
the right song at the right time is essential.

If you are playing music for the wedding in addition to the
reception, then you must play the right processional and recessional songs.
Some brides like the traditional songs and some prefer to choose their own for
this occasion. The reception will almost always include a dance for the new
bride and groom as well as a dance for the mother-son and father-daughter. In
my experience, it is during these specific dances with important meaning, that
lyrics are much more important than the popularity of the song. However, please
remember that the songs chosen for these dances might be chosen by the parties,
but they might also ask you what you would recommend. Keep in mind that as much
as lyrics are important, you must be able to dance to the song. A good example
of the wrong song is “Two People Fell In Love” by Brad Paisley. This song is
amazing lyrically for a wedding. However, I made the mistake once of playing
the song and it was a disaster because it is a difficult song to dance to because
of its pace. You must be well aware of the age and personalities of the bride
and groom before suggesting this type of song. You can use the songs the bride
and groom request to help deduct what their personalities are like and what
type of songs they would enjoy.

Other than those specific occasions, I feel popularity is
more important. For instance, during a money dance (a dance where the bride and
groom dances with members of the wedding party in which the other party pins
money to the dress or tux to dance with the bride or groom) it is important to
play slow songs continuously until the crowd dies down. However, those songs
should be popular more so than lyrically strong. You could play “Neon Moon” by
Brooks and Dunn and it would work just as well as “Amazed” by Lone Star.
Obviously, “Amazed” is more lyrically strong than “Neon Moon” since “Neon Moon”
is about love lost.

In closing, I would just like to say that you will be
popular at any wedding by playing songs that the crowd is familiar with and
with a good dance beat. Just keep in mind that lyrics play a large part in the
first dance for the newlyweds and the mother-son, father-daughter dances during
the reception and the entrance and exit for the bride during the wedding. Happy
DJing!