The 10 Most Flawless First Dance Wedding Songs, and It's a Proven Fact.

Wedding reception first-dance songs are important. You're going to remember these moments for the rest of your life. And these songs, without debate, are the ten most flawless first-dance wedding songs, and it’s a proven fact. These songs stand the test of time. The are the ones you’ll want to listen to fifty years from now at your golden anniversary and dance to again. These are beautifully crafted love songs, and you have my word that any song from this list will be a great wedding reception first dance song for you. I tormented for hours and feel very passionately about these choices, so if you disagree with even the slightest order I placed the songs in, you are just plain wrong. That having been said, I welcome any and all comments and critiques of my list.

No, John Legend doesn’t belong here, neither does Michael Bubble or Jason Mraz. Ray LaMontagne got dang close. But you’ll have to take a Train back to before the 90s, because absolutely no artists from the 90s and beyond have written a good love song. There WAS this contemporary love song that was so eloquently written that I would’ve considered it the only modern love song worthy of a place on this list. But the songwriter’s character has come into question recently, so the song lost all of its glorious shimmer. I won’t say the name of the artist or the song but it would have been perfect for this list.

This is it. Don’t get scared now...

THE 10 MOST FLAWLESS FIRST DANCE SONGS EVER

NUMBER 10: WONDERFUL TONIGHT - Eric Clapton

As the story goes, Eric Clapton penned this while he was waiting for his girlfriend (future wife) to get ready for a night out at Paul and Linda McCartney’s ‘Buddy Holly Party’. It’s a beautiful lyrical sentiment, and not enough women are told how beautiful they really are. Paired with Clapton’s guitar work, it forms an unforgettable love song.

NUMBER 9: HOW SWEET IT IS - Marvin Gaye and Eddie Holland

When you find that someone that saves you from yourself, that’s when you write a song like “How Sweet It Is”. I've played it for many couples as their first dance song, and it's one of my favorite to play because it's not a slow ballad like many of the others.

NUMBER 8: LET’S STAY TOGETHER - Al Green, Al Jackson Jr., Willie Mitchell, Terry Manning

“Whether times are good, bad, happy or sad, let’s stay together” is a message all couples should hold in their hearts, and what better way than with a soulful masterpiece sung by Al Green.

NUMBER 7: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD - Bob Thiele, George David Weiss

The song itself is beautifully crafted, but without the voice and soul of Louis Armstrong, this song would not have made it into our musical canon as it has. Listen to the spoken intro in this version of “What a Wonderful World”! Louis Armstrong delivers deeply inspiring words that are relevant today as ever.

NUMBER 6: MY GIRL - Smokey Robinson, Ronald White

The internet has ruined me, because I think of Mag Earle every time I hear this classic chorus. Regardless, everyone loves “My Girl”. Fun fact: It was actually the first song I ever performed professionally. (First ‘secular’ song, that is) when my high school band played our own prom.

NUMBER 5: THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - Dorothy Fields, Gerome Kern

I was trying to concentrate and listen to each song with fresh ears as I was writing this, but the bad grammar in this video just cracks me up, so enjoy that. And there are countless recordings of this song, but there’s really only one.

NUMBER 4: STAND BY ME - Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

This song haunted me all last year and cemented its place in my heart. I bet it’s been a minute since you’ve listened to it.

NUMBER 3: AT LAST - Mack Gordon, Harry Warren

Etta’s opening glissando is all you need to get you into a sentimental mood. From bar one, you’re hooked, and you’re reminiscing about young love. This recording just has a magical touch. Oh, and for just this once, you have to just play the CD instead of letting a wedding band perform it. Etta’s recording and the energy in that vinyl is magical, and there’s no comparison to the original recording. Unless of course, it’s Etta herself singing it later in life, as in this video clip. “At Last” was written for the film Sun Valley Serenade in 1941, but the songwriters have Etta James to thank for making the song an experience.

NUMBER 2: SOMETHING - George Harrison

The opening one-bar guitar lick in The Beatles’ “Something” carries more emotion and grandeur than all the guitar work in “Wonderful Tonight”. The Beatles are some of the greatest songwriters of all time and this song beautifully describes that feeling of ‘love at first sight’.

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Before I announce the number one song, thank you for reading, and stay tuned for my upcoming short list: “The One and Only Daddy/Daughter Dance For the Rest of Time”, featuring the work of Stevie Wonder. Hint: The only question is how long you can dance during the harmonica solo at the end before you have to fade it out when your dad starts to be goofy in front of everybody.

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And now ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to announce the ultimate love songs and first-dance song ever:

NUMBER 1: CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE - Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George Weiss

Best love song ever written, hands down. (I can’t type anymore with my hands down)

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The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour", a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Peal Egide Martini

Honorable Mentions:

You are so beautiful

In a Sentimental Mood

Unchained melody - I originally had it on the list but kicked it off cause I don’t really understand the lyrics.

Thanks for reading, and let me know what love songs you’re passionate about! @me at @the_atom_ray