How To Dance with Your Mom: 4 Songs for a Mother/ Son Dance

Awhile back, we spoke about three songs you needed to avoid when choosing a song to dance to with your Mom or Dad at your wedding. And we got inundated with people asking us for suggestions for other songs in their place. This week, we will focus on mother & son dances. Our first bit of advice is: don’t be afraid to be a little silly for the sake of a great moment. Is there a special song you and your mom share? For instance, we had a groom dance with his Mom to the song “You Are My Sunshine” because it was his favorite song as a little kid. Mom cried AND laughed, and so did the crowd. Maximum Son Level Achieved.
Remember too that your mother son dance doesn’t have to be a sappy ballad. The dance can and should be fun! Perhaps pick something from one of your Mom’s favorite artists. Mom is a big Elvis fan? Go for a swinging song like Jailhouse Rock or Don’t Be Cruel. Finally, as we mentioned in the last blog on this topic, you want may be to toss this decision to your Mom. There are a couple of reasons you shouldn’t do that. First of all, your Mom will more than likely pick something horrible. Something happens to moms at weddings that makes them love terrible music. And secondly, if this is your moment to share a moment with your Mom, don’t make her think you don’t care about it by blowing it off. The best way to handle it is to pick two or three songs you think will work, and then take them to your Mom and tell her why you chose each of them. Then let her make the final pick. This lets her know that you care and keeps her from forcing you to dance to a song from a Lifetime TV movie.
Here are 4 songs we’ve heard used in the last year that you may want to give a listen to. These songs had just enough sappiness to them to work, and they weren’t overdone.
1. Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog- You should know first off that this is a waltz, so if you can pull it off, that is really cool. Secondly, we told you before that “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong was a good song, but bad choice for a Mom-Dance because it’s over done. This song is a great alternative AND it evokes memories of childhood. Good stuff for a mother/ son moment.
2. In My Life by The Beatles- Lyrically and musically, this song is a masterpiece. It’s also relatively short, always a good quality in a song when you’re on display in front of everyone you know. At first listen, this might seem like it would be hard to dance to, but really it isn’t. You won’t exactly be slow dancing, but it will still work, and the sentiment of the song makes it a total win.
3. Close To You by The Carpenters- Before you think we’ve lost our ever-loving minds, think about this one. This is one of those cheesy seventies pop songs that everyone secretly loves. It’s silly, it’s fun, the lyrics fit and you and your Mom will laugh your way through a great dance.
4. Little Wonders by Rob Thomas- this often over-looked tearjerker is lyrically the most appropriate song on our list. We’ve only seen this used once, but it was a total show stopper, and it reminds you (and hopefully your guests) that life is really a collection of little moments that we should try to hang onto. Pick this tune and your Mom/ Son dance will become one of them.
As any bride & groom will tell you, it all goes by so fast. The groom’s dance with his Mom, with a little care and work, can become one of the moments at a wedding that people will talk about for a long time to come.
If you need help finding a great song for you and your Mom to dance to, shoot us a message at whatsnexttheband@gmail.com. Our band performs all over the Mid-Atlantic, and we’ve been voted best Band in Baltimore by Baltimore magazine for the last 3 years in a row. What’s Next specializes in turning your wedding reception into a party that you will remember for a lifetime!