A Crazy Town Full of Neon Dreams

     Wednesday night marked the long-coming wedding between Nashville's Deacon and Rayna. As the two country superstars united in a 20-plus years coming marriage, they struggled to keep their privacy. As a cool publicity move, ABC created a page on The Knot in honor of the couple's wedding. The page was filled with photos of the couple (played by Connie Britton and Charles Esten) a link to their favorite songs, and information about the places in Nashville that meant the most to them. It's an odd sort of ploy, but the show ties so heavily into town tourism, I can see why they went this way. I happen to be on my way to Nashville this weeks o I will keep my eyes peeled for any juicy gossip!

Image from Pintrest

     The wedding itself was one for the record books. The groom almost ran away, the brides's kids put up a fight about coming, and her sister said something to the effect of "Are you sure you really want to do this?" But Rayna and Deacon said "I Do," while all of the guests struggled with the last-minute change in venues and imploding personal lives.  Avery Barkley (Jonathan Jackson) is still married to superstar Juliet Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) and he has reached his breaking point about lying to the press about where Juliet is (as she sought treatment on the show and in real life for post-partum depression.) Scarlett (Clare Bowen) attended her uncle's wedding solo and pal Gunnar (Sam Palladio) tried to set her up with a ton of weird guys, only proving that they really belong with each other if they could only admit it. Rayna's ex Luke is still losing all of his money and his miserable son Colt finally starts telling people that Juliet was trying to jump off a hotel roof when slimy record executive Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson) accidentally fell to his death. This whole situation is not going to end well, but maybe this will finally give bring wannabe Layla (Audrey Peeples) an exit. Also Chris Carmack's Will Lexington is still a gay country singer. He declined to attend the wedding to avoid the press asking him the same questions over and over... so really nothing has changed among these background characters. If something doesn't change up soon, the show's chances of renewal are slim.

Cheesy Wedding Songs

     Every once in a while, I go into a cleaning binge. I was fortunate enough on this pass to find a CD of wedding reception songs. I recently posted about my picks for wedding reception songs after dutifully attending many weddings last summer. Since it was recently valentine's day, I found a free CD that came with some romantic comedies (The Wedding Planner and  My Best Friend's Wedding) and thought I would share this playlist.  Please enjoy:

1. I Like it Like That (Conga Line?)

2. Brown Eyed Girl

3. Hot Hot Hot (Serious Conga Line???)

4. When I See You Smile

5. Mambo #5 (When has this last been played in public?)

6. Gonna Make You Sweat

7. Here Comes the Hotstepper (really??)

8. Keep on Loving You (Slow dance?)

10 Worst Wedding Songs (And 5 Must Plays)

I have been to four weddings in the last two months and I have begun to think of myself as an expert on crowd control. Do you want all the people you've invited to your expensive life-affirming party to dance? Then don't even think of playing these songs. These are seriously overplayed or way inappropriate for a wedding (in no particular order):

10. ANYTHING INVOLVING Marvin Gaye 
(It's a crazy tie between these two) Let's get it on  (which seems to be copyright restricted on Youtube)and Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth's Marvin Gaye song.

9. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge's classic hit is great for gathering up all of your sistas and conga lining with your new best friends on a cruise ship, but it's time to move on.

8. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
i really think GLEE changed this song for me for all eternity and I've now seen too many school choirs singing this song and thinking they were super hip, so I cannot take it seriously or truly enjoy Steve Perry's pleas. I added the GLEE clip here.
Sidenote: I saw a show choir perform when i was in a high school singing competition and we thought those kids were nuts.... ho knew it would become so popular?

7. Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) - Big & Rich  
Save it for the after party! Seriously, people I love B&R's classic as much as the next country gal, but this is just not the song that scream "Let's begin our lives together."

6. Sexy (And I Know It) - LMFAO
See reason listed above. Also please note this song is played all the time in Zumba classes.

5. Your Love - The Outfield
The first lyrics of this song are about stepping out on your lover while she's out of town. "Josie's on a vacation far away, come around and talk it over.... stay the night, but keep it under covers." Enough said.

4. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I.
This song first of all, lost Robin Thicke his wife... RIP Robaula.
My parent's generation says they like the catchy beat, but when we break down the lyrics (You Know You Want It), it gets very creepy.

3. ALL SONGS BY OR FEATURING T-PAIN and/or L'IL JOHN
Including, but not limited to, I'm on a Boat, Apple Bottom Jeans, Buy You a Drank, Get Low, and many other charming titles. This also covers all songs where L'il John yells "YEAH" or "OK" in the background of songs. Save it for da club!

2. The Time (with Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
This song ruins the perfectly classic Dirty Dancing theme for one thing. Secondly, the song keeps launching into hyper speed with the "dirty bit" portion (or as my friend yelled at a BEP concert, dirty feet).

1. Beastie Boys Songs
I saw these played at a wedding. It got weird. There was a mosh pit.

PLAY US!
5. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars
Let's be clear here, Bruno does most of the heavy lifting in this song. Just try to resist getting your funk on when you hear him chant "Don't Believe Me, Just watch!" before you attempt a moonwalk or worm across the floor.

4. Grease Megamix - Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta 
This may seem borderline corny but at a recent wedding, I heard the opening strains of "You're the One that I Want" and my friend dropped what we were doing and went running to the the dance floor. It works by bringing up nostalgia, funky dance, moves and true love into one incredible song mix, which will get any party moving.

3. Shout - The Isley Brothers
I've seen some couples that don't want to have any "dance" music, per se, at the wedding, but this is  pretty close to a movement-based dance without totally calling out the movements. Plus, everyone gets close to the floor and you get a hilarious photo of the room.

2. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 Feat. Christina Aguilera
This was the jam of late 2011. This song is a complete earworm and I cannot stay in a bad mood when I listen to it. Plus, Adam and Christina praise the Grandfather of Rock and Roll, the still early Mick Jagger.
Sidenote: I have seen my mom karate chopping along to the vocal slides while listening to this song.

1. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Not limited to wedding in New Jersey, this classic tale of Tommy and Tina trying to make a better life makes everyone pick up their air guitar.