Ceremony

You can’t go wrong with Pachebel’s Canon or Vivaldi’s Spring for walking down the aisle. We’ve suggested a number of other delightful classics in previous blogposts. On the other hand, suppose you want your Bay Area wedding to be a little different? What about Leonard Cohen’s rock classic, “Hallelujah”? And for an additional twist, how about the a cappella group Pentatonix’s take on this classic?

Take a listen:

Cohen’s lyrics are mysterious, laced with biblical references without really being religious. Some call it the ultimate secular hymn. The joyful repetition of the word ‘hallelujah’ certainly creates a celebratory mystique for walking down the aisle. Something for you to consider.

The Canadian Mr. Cohen wrote the song in 1984. Although not an immediate hit, the song’s popularity grew over time and has been covered by over 300 recording artists.

Another Cohen song may be perfect for your first dance song

He followed up Hallelujah with an extraordinary love song, also written in 1984, that might be perfect for your first dance song at your wedding reception: “Dance me to the end of love.”  The song has several layers of meaning to it, but for purposes of a first dance song, it’s all about growing old together, as the lyrics reveal:

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on

Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long

We’re both of us beneath our love, we’re both of us above

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love.

The song is very danceable, as it emulates the style of a traditional Greek folk dance, known as a ‘hasapiko.’ The instrumentation is defined by violin and accordion and brought to life with Cohen’s inimitable smoky vocals.

Do you want to make a statement for your first dance? This is a song that pulls people in, as you can hear below:

For a jazzier twist, you might want to consider American chanteuse Madeleine Peyroux’s version over the legendary Canadian’s:

Whatever your preference, Denon & Doyle can provide whatever version of your wedding procession song or reception first dance song you like best. If your budget can’t afford Pentatonix to sing your wedding procession song, we may be a much better fit for your budget. Hallelujah, let the celebration begin!