My friend Joel is getting married in November, and a while back he asked a bunch of us for some recommendations on good love songs that might work during the recessional.
The creative brief was that the song had to be semi-modern (nothing from 80’s or earlier) and that it would be performed by a female vocalist and a guitarist. Their three finalists were “Mass Romantic” by the New Pornographers, “Hotel Yorba” by the White Stripes, and “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon (which obviously breaks the 80’s rule).
Imagining any of these songs sung in an acoustic fashion while the newly married couple rushes down the aisle is an interesting exercise for me, so I took him up on his challenge. I took semi-modern to mean indie rock, but I also tossed in a few classic nuggets.
Here’s the mix-tape I came up with which includes their finalists:
- Danny’s Song by Loggins & Messina
- Gold In The Air Of Summer by Kings Of Convenience
- To Be Alone With You by Sufjan Stevens
- Such Great Heights by Iron & Wine
- Our Way To Fall by Yo La Tengo
- I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab For Cutie
- If You Find Yourself Caught in Love by Belle & Sebastian
- Elevator Love Letter by Stars
- Kodachrome by Paul Simon
- Such Great Heights by The Postal Service
- Break My Body by Pixies
- Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers
- Do You Realize?? by The Flaming Lips
- Hotel Yorba by The White Stripes
- Sleepwalking by Modest Mouse
- The Past and Pending by The Shins
- Fresh Feeling by Eels
- Hello Sunshine by Super Furry Animals
- History of Lovers by Iron & Wine
- by The Luckiest by Ben Folds
- Moment In The Sun by Clem Snide
- In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
What are your favorite indie love songs?
Great list!
Others:
I Summon You - Spoon
Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap
Tonight - Stars
Blossom - Ryan Adams
Where Is My Love - Cat Power
Waiting To Know You - Fiery Furnaces
“Gold in the Air of Summer” and “The Luckiest” are a must, though go to kingsofconvenience.org and try to download one of the better live versions of “GITAOS”, the intro piano is better than the album version, there are some good, clear versions of it on there.
Elevator Love Letter is a classic.
“Someday Some Morning Some Time” - Billy Bragg & Wilco
“Last Tide/Floating” - Sun Kil Moon
“Hey Mamma Wolf” - Devendra Banhart
“I’ll Be On The Water” - Akron Family
“Naked As We Came” - Iron & Wine
“Last One” - Mystic Chords of Memory
“Fingernail Moon” - Viking Moses
“May It Always Be” - Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
“Shut Up I’m Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings” - Sunset Rubdown
“Knot Comes Loose” - My Morning Jacket
…. and my all time favorite….
“Sweet Thing” - Van Morrison
Yeah, Van Morrison was up there from the non-”indie” list. Sounds like we need another mix!
After seeing M. Ward’s version of “Let’s Dance” (from 2003’s Transfiguration of Vincent) live last night, it would definitely be on the top of my list
So many new Indie bands coming out of the wood works, but there is one that stands out like a man among boys. I will agree with Zeon’s music blog. The Kunek record “Flight of the Flynns” is one of the best records I have ever heard. Kunek is going to explode in time.
true love waits: radiohead
i’m so happy when you’re near: the shaggs
reservations: wilco
brand new colony: postal service
wraith pinned to the mist and other games: of montreal
great great list! if someone gave me a mix like that, i think i’d promptly swoon.
Anoter songs:
night nurse - britta philips & dean wareham
i call it art - the kills
by your side - cocorosie
Boats and Birds - Gregory and the Hawk
This is the best indie love song ever.. too the wedding has long passed b/c it is acoustic and sung by a girl!
Other Faves:
I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab
I Know I Know I Know - Tegan & Sara
Beating Heart Baby - Head Automatica
Lion’s Mane - Iron & Wine
The Blowers Daughter - Damien Rice
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Piazza, New York Catcher - Belle & Sebastian
Funny Little Frog- B&S
Overjoyed - Waking Ashland
Mushaboom - Feist
Oh, It Is Love - Hellogoodbye
The Honey Tree - Brooks Chambers
You’re All I Have - Snow Patrol
Heart - Stars
Lets Get Married - Archie Star
Strange And Beautiful (I’ll Put A Spell On You) - Aqualung
Just Like We Do - Eisley
You’re missing “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes
the cutest indie love song is “anyone else but you”-moldy peaches
I made a Valentine’s day mix for my friends last year, and called it Oh, It Is Love Vol. 1
Oh, It Is Love - Hellogoodbye
Elevator Love Letter - Stars
Lovefool - The Cardigans
First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
Gamble Everything for Love - Ben Lee
Somebody to Love (Queen Cover) - Anne Hathaway
Hands Down (Acoustic) - Dashboard Confessional
Your Misfortune - Mike Doughty
I Want You to Want Me - Letter to Cleo
Every Breath You Take - Sting
Better Love - Steel Train
Never My Love - Pete Yorn
Friday I’m in Love - The Cure
Love You More - Alexi Murdoch
Follow You, Follow Me - Red House Painters
Love Will Keep Us Together - not sure
Love Love Love - The Mountain Goats
Elephant Love Medley - Ewan McGregor & Nichole Kidman
Right now I’m working on Vol. 2
“how lucky we are” by meiko. its adorable.
I sing, I swim by Seabear is adorable!
“northern lights” by page france
“I’ll keep the bad things from you” by the damnwells
& “collide” by pilate