The Modern Day Elvis Has Passed
| By Chris Garrow ~ June 29th, 2009 ~ Wedding Music | Comments Off |
So you’ve given your DJ a list of songs, inclusive of your choice Michael Jackson tunes… now what? Have you thought about whether it would be appropriate to play Michael Jackson at your wedding, only days after his sudden death? I have. I actually thought about it long and hard. Michael Jackson’s music, any DJ will tell you, has been part of the “must haves” in any serious library. Motown, R&B, Pop, Rock… his music spans many genres and has been the soundtrack for many periods of peoples’ lives.
What should you do now? Would it be morbid to play his music, disrespectful? Not in the least bit. Remember, he was an artist and would want it no other way. He wrote and performed his music for people to enjoy. By playing the songs, you would be honoring his career, not disrespecting it.
I have had the opportunity during this past weekend, just days after his death, to play some Michael Jackson songs at two separate weddings. Without a doubt, no questions asked, the first MJ song played at each wedding was the highlight of the dancing. It received the biggest and best response from the guests. MJ has always been a staple in my repertoire, but playing his music now has a new meaning to me and likely to guests at a wedding.
From this experience, I have grown as an entertainer in an unexpected way. I have gained a new respect for the Elvis fans of the world. Until this past weekend, when I played these MJ songs, I have never been a huge fan of Elvis. As a matter of fact, I didn’t like his music much at. I would often avoid playing it at weddings because I thought it was hard to dance to and not moving enough. I do think my approach with Elvis will now change, knowing that the generations of people that were shocked by his death will appreciate a good Elvis song to rock out to. Now, I just to find those perfect Elvis selections that will work well on the dance floor. Any Ideas?
