Falling Slowly: 19 Love Songs (Our Wedding Mix)
July 19, 2008
The day is finally here. In a few hours I’m going to be a married man and this is the mix that we are giving out as CD favors (along with a few random musings that I included in a booklet) to the guests. I want to thank all my readers for the kind words over the years about me and Celeste, and for reading what I have to say here. I’m going to be gone for a week, honeymooning, but I hope you enjoy this mix while I’m away. Huzzah!
1. Sleeping At Last – Umbrellas
This is “our song”. I proposed to Celeste at a Sleeping At Last concert while this song was playing, after a special dedication from the band. We also shared our first dance to “Umbrellas”.
2. Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla
“Hoppipolla” (which is Icelandic for “Jumping Into Puddles”) is the song that played during the recessional and is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.
3. Iron & Wine – Love and Some Verses
Iron & Wine is Celeste’s favorite band and this is one of their prettiest love songs. Sean and Whitney gave a lovely performance of this song at our ceremony.
4. The Frames – Falling Slowly
This beautiful track is the theme to the film Once, it won best original song last year at the Oscars and is one of our favorite love songs.
5. The The – This Is The Day
This is an awesome wedding song and who doesn’t love accordian solos?
6. Nada Surf – Always Love
We both love the lyrics to this infectious song: “Always love , Hate will get you everytime”. Not bad advice, right?
7. Feist – Mushaboom
Feist is most famous for her “1234 “ iPod commercial, but this song is her best. The lyrics are about starting your life together and not having much other than love. Sounds like us!
8. U2 – Unchained Melody
This is U2′s enchanting version of the classic Righteous Brothers’ love song.
9. Barry Louis Polisar- All I Want
A cutesy folk tune with some clever love metaphors and a zippy harmonica solo.
10. Sufjan Stevens – Dress Looks Nice On You
Sufjan Stevens is my favorite singer/songwriter (take note, music appreciators) and I love just about everything he’s done. This gorgeous acoustic piece is no exception.
11. Stars – Ageless Beauty (The Most Serene Republic Mix)
This is the acoustic version of one of my all-time favorite songs. Brings a huge smile to my face every time I hear it.
12. Bob Dylan – I Want You
This is probably Dylan’s most accessible, irony-free track, and it’s one of his best.
13. Islands – Jogging Gorgeous Summer
This mix needed a bit more tropical flair. I love the lyric “Millions of sunsets but the one I remember, the one where you told me you’d love me forever”.
14. Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life
This is a folky love song that deserves the title of modern classic. It’s a heart-tugging, extremely honest track and the melody is lovely.
15. R.E.M. – At My Most Beautiful
One of my favorite ballads. This song is just completely heartwarming.
15. Headlights – Cherry Tulips
Headlights is an awesome band from Champaign, IL. This gushing love song was just released this year and it’s already one of my favorite indie pop songs.
17. Belle & Sebastian – Funny Little Frog
One of my personal favorite bands, I could pick a dozen tracks from Scotland’s Belle & Sebastian to add to this list. This is such a easygoing, irresistable love song. What other band can rhyme court with throat so convincingly?
17. Wilco – On and On and On
Wilco is another wonderful band that is very meaningful to me personally. “On and On and On” is their ode to marriage. The end of this song is simply magnificent.
19. U2 – Can’t Help Falling In Love
U2 closed all their shows on their Zoo TV tour with this passionate, gorgeous cover. I get chills every time I hear Bono hit that falsetto. It’s the perfect song to end our mix.
Tags: Barry Louis Polisar, Belle & Sebastian, Bright Eyes, Feist, Headlights, Iron & Wine, Islands, Nada Surf, Once, R.E.M., Sigur Ros, Sleeping At Last, Stars, Sufjan Stevens, The Frames, The The, U2, Wilco
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July 19th, 2008 at 9:02 am
The two of you and your mix give an old married girl the chills – in a good way. Congratulations!
July 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Congrats. I’ve always told everyone Mushaboom was Feist’s best song but (and an awesome song in general), but no one believes me!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Congratulations!
I look forward to listening to another one of your fantastic mixes.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Congrats on the wedding, and thanks for spreading some of the goodness to us! I love that R.E.M. track. Enjoy your honeymoon… blessings to you and Celeste now and for all the years to follow!
July 19th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
All,
Just got back from the wedding. Taylor and Celeste are now in marital bliss! The wedding and reception were simply beautiful and of course, filled with the music you’ve come to know as Taylor’s favorites. If you’ve never seen Taylor dance before, he can cut quite a rug. Aside from the playing of Aerosmith’s, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” (I had to call you out on it T), it was truly a Taylor mix. Congrats Taylor and Celeste and thank you for making me a part of your day! See you at Lolla!
Zissou
July 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hi Taylor,
Your grandmother Martha told us about your website on her way through KY to your wedding, so of course I had to check it out. You may remember visiting our farm (the Bright family farm) several years ago and bursting into song at the dinner table. I can’t remember the song we were trying to think of, some 60s era rock song, but I knew right then you were destined for great things! Love the tracks on your wedding CD. I’m way older than most of your site visitors, I’m sure (55), but I love good music and you’ve got some here!
Sallie
July 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Great list!
CONGRATS!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:47 am
Congratulations! It sure is a beautiful mix… Thanks for sharing it
July 21st, 2008 at 3:05 am
Congratulations on the wedding and thank you for all the music!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:46 am
hey, can i feature these songs in my blog? promise i will credit you guys. you rock!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Hey dude, I just want to say Congrats, and it’s kinda nice seeing as how we followed you from the proposal to the wedding itself. Umbrellas is really lovely and both of you look nice together. Thank you for your awesome music and have a good life together
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Congratulations! What a beautiful couple, and a beautiful mix. I’ve never heard this version of Mushaboom before, whose mix is it?
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Congratulations! I hope it was a wonderful day – the first of many, many wonderful days.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Congratulations! Thank you very much for having such an incredible music blog.. you have great taste in music and I really appreciate your sharing such wonderful music with us
July 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Way to go Taylor! I’ve been using your music to continue wooing my new bride. I’m just lucky she (and I) digs your good taste in tunes
July 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Congratulations and aw!
Ps. I agree about Mushaboom.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Incredible mix. Congrats!
July 27th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Hi Taylor! I found your site about two years ago and have been regularly following it since. Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your love of music with us!
July 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Congrats and thanks for sharing! I always think of you and your story when I hear Umbrellas. I love wedding mixes and yours certainly looks to be the best one I’ve seen yet. (well, after my own, natch
August 5th, 2008 at 12:33 am
puke.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Ow wow! People are still getting married? This is such great news.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
gahh looove those iron and wine and bright eyes songs
August 16th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
congratulations!
great choices, by the way.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
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May 31st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I’m totally making this mix for my fiance!
December 31st, 2009 at 8:30 am
Hi, I just ran across your post because I have been looking for the U2 Can’t Help Falling in Love track. I cannot find it anywhere…only the cheesy remix. Do you know where I can find it? I am getting married in a few weeks and would really like that song.
Thanks!
December 31st, 2009 at 8:54 am
The version I have up here is the ZOO TV Outside Broadcast soundboard recording and it is by far the best version available. Just click to download.
May 27th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Thank you so much! These are great songs for a wedding.
February 18th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Thanks for the track listing. I’ve been looking through my own collection and had most of these too. Some great inspiration here my own wedding.
April 21st, 2011 at 5:09 am
I am a dj from Houston and about half of the brides we talk to want to stray away from the traditional songs and make their wedding uniquely their own. Most of these brides think they are alone but the truth is the uncommon is becoming the norm. Check out the list of songs real brides have asked us to play at their wedding on our website http://djrobinfo.com/Nontraditional_Wedding_Musi.html
September 1st, 2011 at 6:53 am
Great music choice !!!