Dear friends of ProfessionalWeddingDJ (Wedding DJs for top-class weddings in Italy), what an incredibly intense and satisfying 2018 it was! We were filled with emotion and, of course, surrounded by fantastic music. Let’s take a look back together, highlighting the songs and artists that made 2018 so special, both on the global stage and at your unforgettable wedding celebrations.
Wedding songs of 2018
One of the most special moments during a wedding reception, and one we at ProfessionalWeddingDJ handle with great care, is the bride and groom’s entrance. Here are the most representative songs released in 2018, based on our experience with our clients’ weddings.
For the more adventurous couple, here’s an original idea: ‘High Hopes‘ by Panic! At The Disco. This radio hit, with its punchy rhythm and beautifully optimistic lyrics (‘Didn’t know how but I always had a feeling, I was gonna be that one in a million, Always had high, high hopes’), would be perfect for a bride and groom who love to stay current.
Bruno Mars’ Finesse has also proved to be a worthy trump card, thanks also to the featuring of Cardi B, another very successful artist this year. Remaining on the theme of great artists in hip hop and RnB, we can not fail to mention My feelings by the “absolute genius” Drake: along with God’s Plan, was one of the most popular songs of Scorpion, his new album (his fifth studio album). We were literally kidnapped by the beautiful vocal performance of Kehlani, singer and R&B artist, in Done for me with Charlie Puth.
Popular wedding songs 2018: first dance and cake cutting
For the slower and softer moments, we greatly appreciated and used the beautiful Breathin by Ariana Grande at our wedding parties. And what about Wild Love (James Bay)? The words “Let our hearts be the only sound” on a romantic melody “risk” becoming a classic for the Professional Wedding DJ during wedding parties, even over the next couple of years. The modern sound and romantic lyrics of Liam Payne & Rita Ora’s For You makes it a perfect song for cutting the cake. Another very romantic piece suitable for classic weddings is Beyond by Leon Bridges, an American singer who sips on the Soul, Rhythm, and blues of the fifties and sixties. Always on the theme of love but characterized by a fresh and cheerful rhythm, Don’t Make Me Wait by the couple Sting/Shaggy is also a great choice. Meanwhile on the Italian front, Annalisa gave us a beautiful charge of emotion, with her Il mondo prima di te.
Slow dance: Ariana Grande and Drake
Slow songs are essential in a wedding party to emphasize the romantic moments, and we have selected for you the beautiful Breathin by Ariana Grande, very popular in the UK. Moreover, it is still very played My feelings by Drake (we mentioned it in the post about the summer hits). And, since you enjoyed it last month, let’s go back to citing the so-called “false friends”, that is, the songs that apparently seem perfect for a romantic moment (like the first dance or the cake cutting), but paying attention to their meaning, you discover they are not. One of all: “Let you love me” by Rita Ora, in which the singer regrets having lost the opportunity to be with her love.
I should’ve stayed with you last night Instead of going out to find trouble That’s just trouble I think I run away sometimes Whenever I get too vulnerable That’s not your fault I wish that I could I let you love Say what’s the matter, what’s the matter with me?
Remembering the Queen of Soul
The Queen of gospel, soul and R & B music has passed away in 2018, after a life dedicated to music, since childhood (when he began to sing in the gospel choir of the Detroit church); Aretha’s talent has been so great: she, the first woman to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, winner of twenty-one Grammy awards and ranked first in the Rolling Stones “100 Greatest Singers” chart.
Over the years, she released many successes; some of which have also become classics for wedding parties, like (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (a first dance song really emotional, one of our favorite ever), I say a little prayer (often played for the aperitif) and Think (which she herself sang in the cult-movie The Blues Brothers), very popular for when it’s time to get the party started, and for the entrance of the couple.
Also to be mentioned is Chain of Fools, Baby i love you, the amazing Freeway of Love (1985), and the duets with great artists, including the Eurythmics (Sisters are doing for themselves) and George Michael (I knew you were waiting). His last performance was last fall, for a benefit concert in favor of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Wedding DJ in Italy: our recommendations for 2018 wedding reception songs – let’s dance
Moving on to what is supposedly the wildest part of any marriage celebration, we can’t help but bring back two very strong pieces, which are ideal for weddings and the newest couple: No roots by Alice Merton (Remix), which is at the top of Billboard’s “Adult Alternative”, and Jackie Chan by Tiesto, created in collaboration with Dzeko and the very talented rapper Post Malone. From the French DJ producers Bob Sinclar and David Guetta we have I Believe (Bob Sinclar) whose Inpetto Remix version we have greatly used, Flames (David Guetta with Sia), and Mad Love (David Guetta with Sean Paul). Coming from Calvin Harris and Sam Smith, Promises is one of the biggest hits of this 2018 season. Another very popular piece (thanks to the great success of the TV series “La casa di carta” for which it is the theme song) was My Life Is Going On by Burak Yeter and Cecilia Krull. Undoubtedly the best song of summer 2018 is One Kiss by Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa. It is worth remembering that DuaLipa, one of the biggest pop stars of the moment, also released the amazing Electricity this year, together with producer Silk City. Still on summer themes, La Vareda (Cada Vez) by Jude & Frank, and the 2018 version of a 2000 piece by Negrocan, are worth mentioning, as they are perfect for beach weddings (the new trend of wedding destinations). Some of the most “happy” songs of the year that dominated the dance floor of wedding parties were, of course, those with a decidedly Latin incline (for example, many of these songs were requested in a beautiful wedding ceremony, where the newlyweds and guests were from Miami): I Like It by Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin (number one on Billboard’s Hot 100), Dura by Daddy Yankee (listen also to an unusual collaboration between Janet Jackson and Daddy Yankee, with their Made For Now), Calypso by the creator of Despacito Luis Fonsi, and Sangria Wine by Pharrell Williams & Camila Cabello. And we end this playlist of 2018 hits with two songs that were very popular at our international weddings, especially for North European audiences: Rebel Yell (Klingandeft. Krishane) and Born to be yours (Kygo ft. Imagine Dragons).
From the 35th edition of the Video Music Awards to your wedding party?
The MTV Video Music Awards, the midsummer event that traditionally takes place in the New York Radio City Music Hall, is, also in the 2018 edition, an excellent opportunity to remember the latest music successes; the best of which will be propose by ProfessionalWeddingDJ (DJ for weddings in Italy), during your forthcoming destination wedding in our country.
Undoubtedly, womens are the rulers of this edition: the cuban Camila Cabelo took home two importants awards: artist of the year and video of the year, with Havana, in heavy rotation from last winter. Below, an acoustic version that we have proposed as a background music for the dinners of some wedding parties, and has been a great success (many guests have asked us who was the singer of this soft reinterpretation).
Also worthy of mention are the other singers who have been awarded: Ariana Grande, with No Tears Left to Cry (a remarkable proof of his vocal talents), elected best Pop video, and Nicki Minaj, with Chun-Li, best Hip Hop video. Attended to the event also Madonna: she performed on stage, at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, for the tribute to the Queen of the Soul Aretha Franklin, just passed away.
Another “superwoman” of the show, Jennifer Lopez won the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, and the best “featuring” prize, shared with the “colleagues” Cardi B and DJ Khaled, for the song Dinero. She also performed a truly immersive concert.
About JLo, we rember you that there are many songs of the portorican singer very appreciated for the wedding parties. An example: First Love (released in 2014); romantic, perfect for the cutting of the cake or, even better, for the first dance of the happy couple.
Returning to the present day, the Best Song of the year award went to Rockstar by Post Malone, who beat Ed Sheeran, in nomination with Perfect. The british singer, that hadn’t completely convinced the VMA jury, is at the top of our 2018 songs chart for the cut of the cake and the first dance of the spouses: Ed Sheeran, after Thinking Out Loud, confirms this “weddings specialization ” .
DANCE MUSIC FOR YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING IN OUR COUNTRY
Leaving, for the moment, romantics atmosphere, let’s go on with the dance music. The Best Dance Video was assigned to Avicii, with Lonely Together: the deserved homage to the producer who died a few months ago. One Kiss by Calvin Harris (with the vocals of the beautiful Dua Lipa) is officially the Song of Summer, in Italy too (and we love to propose it in our international events). This piece is really one of the most successfull of the season, also in our ProfessionalWeddingDJ wedding parties!
Finally, some words for the Best Latin Video category, which, over the years, has become more and more important: J Balvin (Mi Gente) won the challenge; the other nominees, very, very competitive, were Luis Fonsi (Échame La Culpa) and Daddy Yankee (Dura).
Sure to have given you some ideas for the songs that will be the protagonists of your wedding, we take this opportunity to thank you all, friends of ProfessionalWeddingDJ, for the attention and affection with which you follow us!
From 2018 Grammy Academy to your wedding: the winning songs
The 60th edition of the Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York has just ended. Protagonist of the event was Bruno Mars, with seven Grammy, which were added to the 11 of the previous editions. He won, in fact, in all the categories in which he received the nomination, included the two most prestigious: better song (That’s What I Like) and best album (24K Magic). We are proud of this, since Professionalweddingdj often proposes for classy wedding parties in Italy, Bruno Mars’s songs.
In the pop category, it was Ed Sheeran who won two golden gramophones: best pop performance with the song Shape Of You and best Pop Vocal Album, with Divide. While the award for Best rap song went to Kendrick Lamar with Humble. Luis Fonsi with his global hit Despacito, nominated among the five songs of the year, was left empty handed. Moving towards other musical genres (that we explore less frequently) here are the winners for the Best Rock Song: Foo Fighters with Run. Alessia Cara was the only woman to pick up a golden gramophone (best artist debutant). Nevertheless women were the stars of the kermesse: in particular Kesha (her album Rainbow was nominated in the Best Pop Vocal Album category) brought on the stage an emotional performance of her song “Praying” with the help of Camila Cabello and Cyndi Lauper. As regards dance music, Best Dance Recording went to LCD Soundsystem- Tonite (not very known in Italy, unlike Cola by CamelPhat & Elderbrook, which was among the nominations). While Kraftwerk (pioneer of electronic music, in the 70s) won the Best Dance / Electronic Album with 3-D The Catalog.
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From Harry & Meghan to the Ferragnez: 2018’s Wedding Highlights
2018 was packed with important events in the wedding industry: with the “most talked about” being undoubtedly the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan on May 19 at Windsor Castle. With regards to the music at the wedding, we remember in particular the choice for the first dance: the 80s song by Whitney Houston, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”.
“MILEY’S CHRISTMAS WEDDING” – Speaking of music, quite a number of famous singers said yes in 2018: in particular, we remember Miley Cyrus (“Inspired” and “Younger Now” are her last two singles, dating back to 2017) and Liam Hemsworth, who got married a few days ago (on December 23, at the height of Christmas) in Tennessee (their previously chosen fairytale location in Malibu was no longer viable, due to the recent terrible fires in California).
JUSTIN AND HAILEY – Justin Bieber (who had just finished his successful No Brainer Tour with DJ Khaled this summer; their most famous single – “Friends” was released in 2017) and model Hailey Baldwin were rather the stars of a secret wedding ceremony at a courthouse in New York (followed by a honeymoon in our country: another great destination for weddings is Italy!).
THE “FERRAGNEZ” PARTY – And how can we not mention that which sent tongues wagging in this part of our world? On September 1, in Sicily, in Noto, the “Ferragnez” (the influencer and designer Chiara Ferragni and the rapper Fedez) got married: we had discussed the party of the year in depth, which was inspired by the Coachella Style. It should be noted that the dress worn by the bride during the festivities was “embellished” with quotations from songs by Fedez. We wonder if anyone has had the courage to read them 🙂
VANESSA PARADIS and SAMUEL BENCHETRIT – Another 2018 wedding worth remembering is that of Vanessa Paradis (formerly in a relationship with American actor Johnny Depp, with whom she had two children) and Samuel Benchetrit; the wedding was celebrated in July in France, in Ars-en-Ré. It is also worth mentioning that he achieved stardom in 1987 with Joe’s taxis, which became a real international hit.
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