Choosing a first dance song is easy for some, a nightmare for others. Some couples have a song that they love (a song that brings them back to that very first date or lyrics that just make them think of their partner) and if it has a degree of dance-ability, are pretty much sorted. Others are inspired by a romantic chart hit that’s popular in the midst of their planning. For others, it’s not quite that simple. They’ve songs they like a lot but when it comes down to it; they can’t quite pinpoint one they want for a moment like this.
Timeless classics are a good place to start if you’re stumped, as there are lots of them that are perfect first dance material – from the lyrics and the melody to the nice relaxed tempo; they’re made for this romantic style of dance. The likes of Al Green, Etta James and Frank Sinatra are all great contenders or if you’re after something a little more modern, Ed Sheeran, Kodaline and Ellie Goulding have some brilliant hits. But the first dance doesn’t have to be a slow affair, more and more couples are opting for upbeat numbers to really show off their moves and have some fun from Jason Mraz and Bruno Mars to Rihanna. Whatever style of song you’re after, you’ll find inspiration here. From oldies to summer hits and up tempo tunes to slower numbers, we’ve rounded up 50 popular first dance songs...
1. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
2. Better – Tom Baxter
3. All of Me – John Legend
4. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
5. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
6. Diamonds – Rihanna
7. Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
8. Sugar, Honey, Honey – The Archies
9. Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
10. Let’s Stay Together – Al Greene
11. Your Song – Elton John/Ellie Goulding
12. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
13. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
14. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
15. You’re My Best Friend – Queen
16. The Voyage – Christy Moore
17. Marry You – Bruno Mars
18. At Last – Etta James
19. Ho Hey – The Lumineers
20. Happy Together – The Turtles
21. One Day Like This – Elbow
22. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
23. Wonderwall – Oasis
24. You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates
25. Book of Love – Peter Gabriel
26. Better Together – Jack Johnson
27. Come To Me – Goo Goo Dolls
28. The One – Kodaline
29. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
30. Greatest Day – Take That
31. Heaven – Bryan Adams
32. L.O.V.E – Nat King Cole
33. Close to Me – The Cure
34. Everything – Michael Bublé
35. Never Seen Anything Quite Like You Tonight – The Script
36. Stand by Me – Ben E. King
37. Crazy Love – Van Morrison
38. It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jnr
39.You Do Something To Me – Paul Weller
40. Perfect Day – Lou Reed
41. How Sweet It is (To Be Loved by You) – James Taylor
42. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
43. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
44. Wild Horses – Rolling Stones
45. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
46. Baby I Love You – The Ramones
47. You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
48. This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads
49. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
50. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star