Last week, my friend was compiling a list of wedding songs
for her daughter’s upcoming nuptials in November. She said that her Gen Z
daughter’s list horrified her, but her daughter assured her that the hip-hop
songs were merely for the wedding reception’s dance list. Somehow, the daughter
and the fiancée both agreed that they wanted to please their titos and titas, as
well as their parents, who would be footing the bill for the reception. So,
they asked their Baby Boomer parents to send their song requests.
That prompted our group to throw out several suggestions.
Spanning three generations, our choices range from schmaltzy to “kilig” (a
Tagalog term referring to feelings of elation caused by a romantic experience).
We spent our lunch hour singing snippets of songs, from classics and
oldies to Motown and a whole discography of sappy love songs that can rival
Delilah’s.
I told the group, “Please restrain yourself to show your
age in your choice of songs.”
My friend Sharon said, “Hey, I am paying half of the
expenses, so why can’t I choose the songs “And I Love You So” (Perry Como), “I
Have You” (Carpenters), “When I Fall in Love” (Nat King Cole)?”
I scoffed, “I love those songs too, although they’re
before my time, but you don’t want your audience to get bored, right?”
We all agreed to limit the songs to those from at least the past
two decades. It was safe to assume that the Silent/Traditionalist
generation would have gone home by then.
Fun fact: Do you know that the song “Pretty Little Baby” by
Connie Francis became a viral hit 63 years later on TikTok? So, if a contemporary
artist revived an Oldie, it should be considered for this playlist, right?
Here’s our list:
“IKAW” - Yeng Constantino
The song “Ikaw” was a gift of love from Filipino
singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino to her husband on their wedding day in 2014.
The complex melody and the Tagalog lyrics were a poignant declaration of an
enduring love. Singer Yohan Hwang sang the Korean-language version for a
Filipino adaptation of a Korean drama show.
“You are the love that I waited for…You are the love that
was given to me by the heavens.”
“Ikaw” won the Song of the Year in 2014 and has remained a
favorite OPM (Original Pilipino Music) love song to this day. I love it so much
that I have featured it three times before in my other blog posts.
This is a perfect wedding song, a ballad written by Ed
Sheeran to his future wife. His collaboration with Andrea Bocelli was a perfect
symphony of pop and opera. I was transfixed as Andrea’s voice soared high, "Tesoro,
sei perfetta stasera".
“ALL OF ME” - John Legend
"All of Me" is a piano ballad that John Legend
dedicated and sang to his wife, Chrissy Teigen, at their wedding. When a man croons
that he loves your curves and all your edges, and all your perfect
imperfections, that you are his end and his beginning, then what are you waiting for? This
will be a legendary song, no pun intended.
“TWO WORDS”- Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga was recently inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a historic milestone for a Filipino artist. The Tony and Olivier award-winning singer and actress paved the way for international acclaim for musical artists from the Philippines. She was Kim in Miss Saigon, Eponine and Fantine in Les Misérables, and the voice of Disney princess Jasmine and Mulan.
It was her song, “Two Words,” that she sang at her wedding,
which made her husband, Rob Chien, cry. Stunning
rendition from the Broadway Diva.
"HE KNOWS"- Almira Lat Trinidad
Almira Lat (now Trinidad) made a grand entrance on her
wedding to Joshua as she sang her song “He Knows” during her bridal walk. The
song was composed by Lolito Go, for which she provided additional words. Almira
was the grand winner of the "Kantahang Pinoy 2025" singing
competition. The song quickly gained popularity on various social media
platforms. The groom cried, as did the guests and the YouTube video reactors. I
must admit I brushed a tear or two, even on several listens.
"TWO LESS LONELY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD"- KZ Tandingan
KZ Tandingan magically reimagined the Air Supply version of the Howard Greenfield and Ken Hirsch song "Two Less Lonely People In The World." This soft rock classic was the soundtrack of "Kita Kita (I
See You)". It is a heart-warming reminder that someday it will be alright,
and there will be two less lonely people amidst a world of heartaches and
sadness. There is hope.
“NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE FOR YOU” - Music Travel Love ft. Bugoy Drilon
Love is patient. Love is enduring. I love
the heartfelt acoustic rendition of Music Travel Love with the smooth-voiced
Filipino artist Bugoy Drilon. The George Benson version was popular in the
Philippines in the mid-1980s. Bob and Clint Moffatt are identical twins known
for their pop-rock music and panoramic views, which have been featured in films
worldwide.
“I WILL BE HERE”- Steven Curtis Chapman
“Tomorrow morning when you wake up and the future is
unclear, I will be here. As sure as seasons are made for change, our lifetimes
are made for years, so I will be here ”.
This is a solemn promise. This is an Oldie but a goodie, written by
Steven Curtis Chapman for his then-bride of five years, Mary Beth. After his
parents’ unexpected divorce, he saw the panic and fear in his wife’s eyes, so
he wrote the song to reassure his wife that he would be there at her side, no
matter what.
This quintessential love song from the multi-Grammy award
winner has been sung at many weddings and anniversaries.
“LUCKY”- Lee Suhyun & Henry Lau
In the Begin Again TV show, Lee Suhyun and Henry Lau joined
the busking group that toured and performed in Europe and South Korea. I
enjoyed their duet version of the original song by Jason Mraz and Colbie
Caillat. The harmonies and chemistry between Henry and Suhyun had me coming
back for more. The audience was mesmerized and engaged; I would have loved to
be there in the crowd.
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