Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

This past weekend I attended the Austin City Limits Music Festival and fortuitously stumbled upon this rad, granola band, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes. What a fun, pepped up performance they gave! You might have heard them previously in an NFL commercial.

Their song Home totally brings out my inner hippie, and while I don't think it would particularly fit for our first dance song, there are plenty of alternate music opportunities surrounding the wedding that just might have a place for it: baby slideshow, video background music, iPod reception music, etc.

Such a feel-good tune! Who wouldn't want to hear this played on their happy day? Enjoy:

Love by John Lennon

Perhaps the recent storms have spawned my melancholic choice in music today? Such a serious song selection, but beautiful all the same. I also adore the accompanying music video. And who ever went wrong with John Lennon?

The Book of Love performed by Nataly Dawn

I first heard this song on the stunning Magnetic Fields album 69 Love Songs (recently released on vinyl... did I mention I have a birthday coming up?). While the deeply distinct voice of Stephin Merritt could never be replaced, I was delighted to come across this cover performance by Nataly Dawn, a sweet pixie girl from L.A. in possession of a certain powerful, raw innocence to her voice. Nataly manages to extract a new sort of sweetness and girlishness from the somewhat stoic lyrics, something never quite achieved in the original male recording.

Listening to her voice (and watching her cute, quirky performance in this video) makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. When was the last time you curled up with The Book of Love?

Always Love by Nada Surf

Check out my love anthem for the week! Clay turned me on to Nada Surf some years back, and since then I haven't been able to get enough of the voice of Matthew Caws. So comforting. It's like a warm hug. (For real.) We've even flown up to New York a couple times to see the Brooklyn natives live and in person. Worth every penny.

While not a top contender for the first dance song, I wouldn't be surprised if this one made an appearance at some point during the evening. It has such great lyrics and a fun, upbeat melody. And I love the music video, too; broadcast the message of love!

I Will by The Beatles

This song just makes me feel good. Light, sweet, playful. And who doesn't love The Beatles? I've been listening to The White Album lately (one of the best Beatles' albums ever, next to Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper), and I realized I'd totally forgotten about "I Will."

Sorely underrated love song. Definitely another contender for our first dance at the wedding. Have a listen:

First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

Such a sweet song. I love Conor Oberst, and Bright Eyes, and so of course I've considered this song for our first dance. It certainly mirrors how I felt on December 19, 2009, the day after Clay proposed, when I woke up to a sparkly diamond, my handsome fiance, and an exciting future ahead of me.

Your dose of sweetness for the week. Enjoy: