Top 5 Overplayed Parent Dance Songs

Are you trying to come up with a song to dance to with your parents? Or are you a parent trying to find the right song for you and your child? With such a special moment like the parent dances, the last thing you want is to be unoriginal or boring. With over 15 years in the wedding DJ industry we've seen quite a few father/daughter and mother/son dances, and some of the songs we hear truly do get old. If you want to stand out and really create a moment, here are a few songs we recommend you stay away from.

Songs to stay away from

We're not saying these are bad songs by any means, and often these songs have special meaning between the parent and their child, so if you like these songs, please go for it. All we're saying is that there are so many good songs out there — why choose one that everyone uses?

• Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
• My Wish – Rascal Flatts
• What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
• Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
• I Loved Her First – Heartland

Songs to possibly consider

Now, you can't just give a list of songs not to use without also offering a list of good songs we think would work instead. These are ones we think fit perfectly with this moment and are rarely used or often forgotten about for it.

• You'll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
• Isn't She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
• Lean On Me – Bill Withers
• A Song For Mama – Boyz II Men
• The Perfect Fan – Backstreet Boys

Ways to make your parent dance unique

This is a big moment, but also something that happens at almost every wedding, so it's hard to think of ways to stand out. We've been doing this a while and have seen quite a few parent dances — one thing we love to see are joint parent dances, then inviting other family members to join in. It's a fun surprise and a great way to incorporate everyone in your new family. Another idea is to ask your DJ to make a custom mix that starts slow and transitions into something fun. Or try a song mashup with a coordinated dance — that one always gets the crowd excited and can be very memorable. One final tip: keep the parent dances short. Songs are normally around 3 minutes, but if you can do the dance in half that time, it helps keep the night flowing and the moment won't feel drawn out.

And finally...

The parent dances have the opportunity to be something memorable and fun. If you choose a song that's overdone or something people have heard time and time again, it can get brushed off as unimportant. So take the time to really think about the song you're choosing. Have this conversation with your parents or child, maybe put on some music together and find the right one. This is a very special moment, and it's a fantastic chance to make something that's genuinely yours.