Matt talks about the best songs to play for the selfie dance during your wedding reception. Hear some song lyrics that go with selfie dance songs too!

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Podcast Transcript

Welcome to episode 74, of the Wedding Songs Podcast. I am Matt Campbell. And today I’m gonna be talking about the wedding selfie dance. Now, if you haven’t heard of this yet, I’m going to backtrack a little bit back to the eighties and nineties when the dollar dance and the money dance were really popular. What happened was guests got in the line to dance with the wedding couple. So the bride and the groom, or the groom-groom, bride-bride, whomever the wedding couple was, and then they paid to dance with the wedding couple. Now this money was used towards the honeymoon. It was used for starting their new life together as a married couple. Eventually, the dollar dance and the money dance became a little bit taboo because you’re inviting all of these people to your wedding, why would I ask for more money from them? So some of the terminologies have changed in recent years where the dance became the honeymoon dance.

Now the honeymoon dance is this philosophy, okay? Pay money to the bride and groom or the wedding couple to dance with them. So that way they would have some extra cash for their honeymoon, which is kind of the same philosophy as the dollar dance. Now, going off of that, a new trend that started is called the selfie dance, where guests are kind of doing the same thing. They are getting in line – they’re paying to get their selfie with the wedding couple. I’m gonna take that one step further. Maybe you don’t have to pay to get your selfie with them because this is a great option for guests to get their actual picture with the wedding couple. You have to remember Gen Z’s grew up with a phone in their hand and so their life is on their phone. So just capturing that moment, capturing that selfie is a great moment that they can treasure forever.

Kind of like those photo booth pictures that are being carried through social media and also through pictures that they create at their wedding. So speaking of the selfie dance, I thought I would put together a list of 20 good songs to play while the wedding couple is doing the selfie dance, as we could say, or just getting selfies with their wedding guests. So I’m gonna give you this list in chronological order with the newest ones first. And the first one I have on the list is “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown, released in 2022. So the lyrics go – I got friends in high places on these small-town roads, cuz around here it’s all about the people you know. I thought that that really captures the friends, taking your selfie with them.

Another song that’s in the folk-rock genre is “Family” by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, released in 2021 with the lyrics – family, sons and daughters, family-like a photograph, family baptized in the water, family put me on the map. So this song was actually featured in the Tyson food family commercial that had a lot of airplay on TV. Fitting the theme of getting your picture taken, next up is “Polaroid” by Keith Urban, released in 2020 with the lyrics – I didn’t have a clue that someday I’d be something more than just a boy and a Polaroid with you. So if you’re having a photo booth with Polaroid pictures, this really fits that theme. Next up capturing the memories of those pictures is “Memories” by Maroon 5 in 2019 with the lyrics – toast to the ones here today, toast to the ones that we lost on the way. So it’s kind of a tribute to the people that aren’t able to make your wedding day.

If you want to have well wishes for everybody in attendance, then “Have It All” by Jason Mraz, released in 2018 with the lyrics – You don’t need money you got a free pass, here’s to the fact that I’ll be sad without you, I want you to have it all. Next up remembering the good old days with your family and old friends is “Good Old Days” by Macklemore featuring Kesha in 2017 with the lyrics – Couldn’t wait to get older. Couldn’t wait to be someone. Now that I’m here, wishing I was still young. Those good old days. Next up is a selfie-themed song “(Selfie) The Internet Is Forever” by Brad Paisley in 2017 with the lyrics – let’s all sing together. The internet is forever. Come on. You oughta know better. The internet is forever. Basically saying, you know what? You better make sure that you’re taking pictures and putting them on the internet that your mother would be proud of, as they say because the internet is forever and you can use these pictures against you if you’re not.

A fun mid-tempo pop song is “Feels” by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katie Perry, and big Sean in 2017 with the lyrics – don’t be afraid to catch feels, ride, drop top and chase thrills. So you’re really getting the feels, getting all of your pictures with everybody in attendance. If you’re the wedding couple and you want to think like you’re on top of the world, then “Unstoppable” by Sia in 2016 with the lyrics – I’m so powerful. I don’t need batteries to play. I’m so confident. Yeah, I’m unstoppable today. If you want to choose a song, that’s cherishing the memories then “Slow Down” by Nicole Norman, released in 2015. This is a Christian song with lyrics – I am your biggest fan. I hope you know I am, but do you think you can somehow slow down.

Next up going off of the picture theme we have “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran in 2015 with the lyrics – loving can heal, loving can mend your soul. And it’s the only thing that I know. Along the EDM genre is “Selfie” by The Chain Smokers in 2014 with the lyrics – I only got 10 likes in the last five minutes. Do you think I should take it down? Let me take another selfie. So it’s kind of playing on the everybody wants a selfie picture back in 2014 and plays on that at your wedding as well. In 2012 for hip-hop fans “Cameras” by Whiz Khalifa with the lyrics – Now you got a new place. You drive a new car, you smile for the cameras, and like like you’re a superstar. So you gotta love this song for the meaning of it and getting your selfie taken with the wedding couple. If you’re looking for a powerful song that will give you motivation and that you’ve made it is “Hall of Fame” by The Script featuring Will.I.Am in 2012 with the lyrics – cuz there’s gonna be a day when you’re standing in the hall of fame and the world’s gonna know your name.

Another song going off of the pictures being taken is “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga in 2008 with the lyrics – cuz you know that baby I’m, I’m your biggest fan. I know you until you love me, paparazzi. In 2006, Rascal Flatts released “Life Is A Highway”. This is a reminder of the Cars movie when Speed McQueen is getting his picture taken for winning the race because you’re getting your picture taken with all your family and your friends. In the R&B genre in 2001 is “Family Affair” by Mary J. Blige with the lyrics – Come on, baby. Just party with me, let loose, and set your body free. Leave your situation at the door. So when you step inside, jump on the floor, Just for rock fans, the picture theme with “Take A Picture” by Filter in 1999 with the lyrics – Could you wanna take my picture cuz I won’t remember.

Another rock song released in 1983 is “Photograph” by Def Leppard with the lyrics – I don’t need your photograph. All I’ve got is a photograph, I want to touch you. In 1972, for folk fans, is “Photographs and Memories” by Jim Croce with the lyrics – photographs and memories, all the love you gave to me somehow, it just can’t be true. That’s all I’ve got left of you.

So if you have a selfie song that should be on the list, please gimme a shout-out through our website, MyWeddingSongs.com. And while you’re there, make sure you sign up for a newsletter where you’ll get all of the new songs each month that are being released that are perfect for not only your wedding but also for a date night or just a romantic evening. Thanks for listening and have a great day.

Thank you for listening to the Wedding Songs Podcast, never miss a future episode. Subscribe today to our podcast. Follow us on Facebook at MyWeddingSongs.com and send us a message about the playlist you would like covered.

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