Picking the perfect wedding song: A bride and groom's playlist

Picking the perfect wedding song: The newlyweds’ playlist

By Randall Roberts

June 29, 2013 10:18 AM PT

Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic

In Saturday’s Times, I published an account of my recent wedding, and the struggles and successes of choosing the perfect music for the occasion -- especially as a music critic. The essay mentioned any number of songs that my wife Jenny and I included, and others that were featured on a mix CD we gave to our guests.

I’ve made a Spotify mix of the songs that landed on the mix, and included it below. Yes, the list of songs that we could have included is boundless, and on any given day the mix would have featured other selections. (And, yes, I’m aware that “Blues Jumped a Rabbit” isn’t really a love song.)

TIMELINE: Summer’s must see concerts

Tom Waits – “Johnsburg, Illinois”
The Magnetic Fields – “The Book Of Love”
Van Morrison – “Sweet Thing”
Rhye – “Open”
The Rolling Stones – “Wild Horses [Alternate-Take/Version 2]”
Tom Petty – “Wildflowers”
Ike & Tina Turner – “River Deep - Mountain High”
The Kinks – “This Is Where I Belong”
The Crystals – “Then He Kissed Me”
Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers – “Someone I Care About”
Shudder To Think – “Diamonds, Sparks & All”
The Wandering – “The Blues Jumped a Rabbit”
Gidon Kremer & Keith Jarrett - “Fratres” [Arvo Part]
Daft Punk – “Instant Crush”
Hot Chip – “Always Been Your Love”
Frank Ocean – “Strawberry Swing”
David Byrne – “She Only Sleeps”
The Beatles – “I Will”
Elvis Presley – “Blue Moon”
Sade – “The Sweetest Gift”