Top 10 songs "NOT" to pick for your wedding song

Top 10 songs "NOT" to pick for your wedding song

Here are 10 songs to circumvent as you flip through your CD collection in search of the perfect wedding song. Not only are the following tunes cheesy, but they also share a common thread: They're grossly overused at weddings. And at the risk of sounding picky, some don't even relate to wedded bliss. Give these tunes their swan song:

10. "Every Breath You Take"

-- The Police

Nothing says "I love you" like a song about obsessive love. This is, in essence, the classic stalker theme. Just look at the lyrics, or even the title for that matter. But, hey, if you want to inform your guests that from this day forward your marriage will be a testament to intense scrutiny and infatuation, go right ahead. I'm not here to judge you .

9. "Against All Odds"

-- Phil Collins

Remember: When you pick this song, you're not telling your beautiful bride that you'd fight for her no matter what the obstacle. This song is about a guy who keeps reminiscing about the good times and can't believe his woman walked out on him. Hence, you won't come off as romantic; in fact, guests who know the lyrics will think you're an idiot.This is a classic example of how a title can be misleading. Even if it seems like a gooey love song, it is anything but. And twirling your bride around the dance floor to it won't make you seem very bright.

8. "Without You"

-- Mariah Carey

It's one thing to pick out a song that demonstrates your devotion and quite another to pick one that painfully reiterates how you can't breathe without her in your life. Originally Harry Nilsson's hit, this song was made popular by Air Supply and again by none other than shrilly-voiced Mariah Carey. This tune reeks of desperation. Opt for a song that celebrates life and love, and not the loss of such things.

7. "This I Promise You"

-- 'N Sync

Although it requires little explanation, 'N Sync's tearjerker begs the question: Do you really want a bubblegum boy band past its prime kicking off the night's festivities? Even if this was the song playing at the precise moment you locked eyes for the first time, avoid the novelty ballad and opt for a classic with a longer shelf life.

6. "Wicked Game"

-- Chris Isaak

It's easy to get wrapped up in Isaak's steamy and seductive ode to a woman who has infiltrated his heart. And I'm willing to overlook the fact that it's really about a man's mixed feelings. But in the end, the song caters to emotions that are far too X-rated for a PG party. Don't despair, though. This makes for a great lovemaking song once you kick off the honeymoon.

5. Back At One

  - Brian McKnight

McKnight's signature song does offer an original R&B vibe that appeals to a more contemporary crowd. But listen closely and you'll realize that what you're getting is, in actuality, nothing more than a tacky list of reasons why your woman is so special. Chances are you've already expressed those same sentiments in countless cards and poems; there's no need to have someone number them off on the dance floor as well.

4. You Are So Beautiful

  - Joe Cocker

While you wife to be may be as beautiful as they come, why in the world would you want to have a man who sounds like he's having a conniption serenade her? Add to that the fact that the song moves along too slowly -- even for an intimate wedding dance -- and you've got yourself a song that no one should be playing at their reception.

3. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

  - Bryan Adams

On paper, this Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves track has all the must-haves of a classic wedding anthem, as the poignant lyrics and emotional, albeit powerful chords come together in one harmonious masterpiece. Any couple could make this ballad their own...

..And just about every couple has. Although things seem to have cooled off, there was a time when you couldn't escape this runaway hit. If only it had been given some time to rest, perhaps the greatest wedding song of all time wouldn't have turned into such a cringe-inducing annoyance.

2. I Will Always Love You

  - Whitney Houston

No one can belt out a tune like Whitney Houston, and she would be a great addition to anyone's wedding track list. But as much as I hate to burst your and your woman's Bodyguard-loving bubble, this iconic tune has more to do with separation than union. After all, she does admit in the song's opening verse that she would "only be in the way" if she stuck around. So while I'm not denying that this is a killer track, it may be better-suited for couples going through an amicable divorce than those tying the knot.

1. My Heart Will Go On

  - Celine Dion

Where does one begin? This Oscar-winning theme song from Titanic will likely go down in history as the most misused love song of all time.

Picking up where Whitney left off, Celine sings her heart out about a couple forever separated (you know how this story ends), but due to the film's immense popularity -- and the fact that it is a love song, after all -- couples were somehow tempted to turn the song's bittersweet message into an all-out love fest. The result? Millions of couples dancing to a song chosen more for its origins than for what it's really about.

The airwaves are inundated with great love songs, so stop settling for one that doesn't even apply. Well, at least listen to the lyrics before making your choice.

Honorable mention

Unchained Melody

  - The Righteous Brothers

This is one of those classics that never goes out of style. The distinct vocals and unforgettable melody can immediately set the stage for heightened romance. Too bad the song became synonymous with 1990's Ghost; if you opt to dance to this, you'll veer the attention away from you and your lovely bride and fill the guests' heads with visions of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore engaging in an erotic pottery session.

song yet to be sung

Even though your sole criterion when picking out a song is that it should be special to the two of you, keep in mind that the more original and relevant a song is, the more spectacular your night, and memories, will be.