THE ALL-TIME BEST SLOW-DANCE SONG (AND A GIVEAWAY)–by Cheryl Pierson

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Hi everyone! This is something that intrigued me the other day and I wondered what you all thought about it, too. I was on Facebook and saw this question: WHAT IS THE VERY BEST SLOW DANCE SONG?

Y’all know that got my little mind to wondering…and WANDERING! I had to scroll through many of the answers just to see what people thought—but not before I answered with my pick. The very best slow dance song (and in my opinion ONE of the very best songs ever recorded) is Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. I am careful to always say “by the Righteous Brothers” because this song had a lonnnnng history of covers and remakes before the Righteous Brothers ever made their version of it. And theirs is the best.

But what did other people think was the best? There were so many opinions—and some were songs I had not ever heard of that became popular in the 90’s and 2000’s. By the same token, I’m sure there were plenty of songs that were popular in long years gone by that I haven’t ever heard, either.

 

Since many of us write historical romance, this also made me realize that songs of those old days in history (back in the 1800’s) might not be as meaningful to us now as they were to folks then—maybe they even seem childish and simple, not a song that would speak of love to your partner as we would think of today.

HERE’S THE LINK TO UNCHAINED MELODY–JUST A GORGEOUS SONG!

https://youtu.be/IYj2hex99gY

Some of the others that people listed as the “very best slow dance song” were:

At Last by Etta James

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

In the Still of the Night

I Only Have Eyes for You

Only You by the Platters

Earth Angel

These are just a few! The thread was full of songs, too many to list here. My hubby and I never had a “special” song. In our early years, we had our own band and played mainly country rock and easy listenin’ music, so I heard (and sang) an lot of different songs, but Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers was always my favorite song (and that was one we never performed, because who can top the Righteous Brothers?)

Order your copy of LOVE UNDER FIRE today!

 

What is YOUR favorite slow dance song? I’m giving away two digital copies of LOVE UNDER FIRE today, so be sure to comment! (This did make me wonder what my characters, Johnny and Krissy, might have wanted to slow dance to way back in 1899!)  

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A native Oklahoman, I've been influenced by the west all my life. I love to write short stories and novels in the historical western and western romance genres, as well as contemporary romantic suspense! Check my Amazon author page to see my work: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
I live in Oklahoma City with my husband of 40 years. I love to hear from readers and other authors--you can contact me here: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
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43 thoughts on “THE ALL-TIME BEST SLOW-DANCE SONG (AND A GIVEAWAY)–by Cheryl Pierson”

    • I really do love Scott Joplin. When “The Entertainer” became popular again back in the 70’s, I learned to play that on the piano–not nearly as well as Scott Joplin! It was fun to play though!

  3. I agree with you. Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers is one of my top picks of all times, and it’s also great to slow dance to.

    • Yes! There are truly so many picks for “the best” slow dance song–I love hearing people’s opinions on things like this and the stories that go with them. Glad you stopped by today, Janice!

  4. Hey Cheryl! So many slow dancing songs! And I love those listed. And I also love Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. But, I’m going to choose Still by The Commodores. I had it played on piano at our wedding over 43 years ago. It just happened to be popular at the time. I still love it. And I STILL love my husband. Heh.

    I’ve read all the Pink Pistol Sisterhood books! And enjoyed them. I won’t need a copy. Thanks for the post today!

    • Tracy, I love Wonderful Tonight, too. One of the best. And STILL! I had forgotten that one. The Commodores were so good–so many great songs, but that is one of my favorites. Sounds like it was perfect for your wedding, too!

      So glad you read the series and enjoyed it! We all had so much fun with that series!

    • Ahhhhh, yes. “Lady, I’m your knight in shining armor, and I love you…” There is just nothing more romantic than that! I loved Kenny Rogers’ voice so much. Thank goodness we live in an age where we have recordings to listen to!

  6. Good morning Cheryl. I love blogs like this, where we have to think and post our favs.
    Empty Glass by Gary Stewart and Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson are 2 that come to mind.
    Thanks for a fun blog.

    • Hi Tonya! Now you have stumped me and that is hard to do. I don’t know Empty Glass! I will go over to youtube here in a minute and listen to it. That’s one reason I love to post these kinds of blogs–I learn something from commenters EVERY SINGLE TIME! I love Always On My Mind.

      Have a great day and thanks for giving me something new to check out!

  7. Oh, I agree with you about the Righteous Brothers!! Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis comes to mind.

    • Trudy, I thought Forever and Ever, Amen was such a DIFFERENT song when I heard it! It still is! All these years later. That’s one that is hard to beat, because of Randy’s voice, the way he sings it, and of course, the words and music that fit together so great.

    • There is a link on Youtube–I should have posted that but I have trouble making links from Youtube work in the blog sometimes–anyhow, it is kind of a short documentary on the history of that song and all the people who made it before the Righteous Brothers did it. It had been around a while, and the difference with the their version and all the others is just unbelievable. That’s a true example of a certain song being for one certain person to perform.

  9. Loven the Righteous Brother but my fav is
    Time in a Bottle by Jim Crose This was our wedding song and his brothers just didn’t get it.

    If I could save time in a bottle
    The first thing that I’d like to do
    Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away
    Just to spend them with you

    To this day when this song comes on we stop and look at each other. My husband is so amazing that when he is gone on a long trip he will send me clips of songs through text just to cheer me up.

    • OHHHHH, YES!!!! Jim Croce…I was such a huge fan. Did you know his son is now on tour performing those songs of his dad’s? He sounds amazingly like him. He was here in Oklahoma a few weeks ago, but by the time I heard about it the tickets were GONE. That was one of my very favorite songs — I think everyone loved that song–he always wrote such unusual, poignant lyrics and the music was fabulous! That is so neat that your hubby sends you clips of songs like that! Very thoughtful and loving!

    • Oh, wow, a blast from the past–I loved them! I even got my hair cut like hers back in the day when my hubby and I were performing together in our band. They had so many good songs! But Love Will Keep Us Together is the one I always think of first when I think of them.

    • The Dance…I can’t hear that song without tearing up. It’s so beautiful for so many reasons. That’s one of those songs that a person writes once in a lifetime. Very hard to top, if even POSSIBLE.

  12. I agree with you on Unchained Melody its one of my favorites. I also love Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind. My Special Angel by Bobbie Vinton is another one.

  13. Good morning, I love Neon Moon. Yes I agree, Unchained Melody is a Beautiful song. Have a Great day.

    • I love Neon Moon, too. So plaintive, so wistful. I would love to just make a play list of all these songs people are mentioning and listen to it! You have a great day, too, Alicia!

  14. For the time period, Bicycle Built for Two would be my pick! Unchained Melody is also pretty! I love classical music, so Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty waltz would be my pick for a favorite slow dance!

    • Ami, you are so right about Bicycle Built for Two! I always think of I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair, too, for that time period. I love classical music, too–so many beautiful masterpieces in that genre, and I do love the Sleeping Beauty waltz. How can we ever pick “just one” out of all the beautiful music in this world? LOL

  15. There were tons of them in my era which was the late 50’s and thru the 60’s. I was not fond of the Beatles so I just continued to listen to my favorites. “Only You” was also very high on my list but “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous brothers cannot be beat. Their voices so complimented each other. I wept buckets while listening and singing along. Boo hoo hoo.
    I can remember being 13 with a sister who was 2 years my senior. She was allowed to do many more things that I and I felt so left out. I would listen to the radio and cry my eyes out over the injustice. these lovely songs were very helpful in bring on the tears.

    • I just recalled another song which deeply touched my heart. It is not typically a love song as it speaks of the loss of a great love. It is “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro. It became popular in the mid 60’s, around the time my mother passed away. This one is very meaningful to me and, again, brought me a abundance of tears. She lost her life at the age of 41, much too early, and tragically.

      • Judy, my mother loved that song, too–“Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro. I cannot hear that song without thinking of her and how she loved it. I was not a big Beatles fan, either. I recognize and appreciate what they DID for music, but I don’t like to listen to THEIR music, if that makes sense. LOL I was born in 1957, and I had two older sisters, 10 and 12 when I was born. There was just SO MUCH great music during that time and on forward! No better time to be alive and young than during that era. I’m so glad you stopped by today and commented. A lot of people don’t remember that song, “Honey”, but like you, it always makes me think of my mom. I’m so sorry you lost your mother at such a young age. That had to be so very hard. Hugs, my friend.

  16. I love all the songs mentioned. I would like to add Stand by Me by Mickey Gilley performed on the Urban Cowboy movie.

    • Oh, yes, Megan. That is such a great one! Like so many others, it has truly stood the test of time. I was thinking later after I read back over this, I should have also mentioned When A Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge.

  19. I always loved Lady In Red by Chris DeBurgh. He also has So Beautiful.
    Another big slow dance hit when I was in HS was Color My World by Chicago.

  20. When we were married, we danced to Lady In Red by Chris DeBurgh. While I was dating my husband, we were walking on the boardwalk by Maumee River. A gentleman was fishing and listening to the radio. Lady in Red was playing. My now husband took me in his arms and started dancing with me on the boardwalk. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.

  21. Late as usual. We don’t slow dance, not because we disapprove, but because we can’t seem to make it work. Only once, at our daughter’s wedding, did it work – for one dance. Never could get going for any others. I will admit it is probably my tendency to keep trying to lead that messes us up. Ot is too bad because I love to dance.
    I agree with your choice of song, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers.

    • Patricia, I’m so glad you stopped by, late or not. Actually, I am planning on “early bed” tonight as I’m not feeling all that great so announced winners sooner than usual. BUT, I’m so glad to hear what everyone else has to say about the best slow dance song ever, so I say, keep those comments rollin’ in! LOL

      Hubby is NOT a dancer. Never was. I am not a GOOD dancer, despite years of dance lessons as a kid. LOL So it’s okay. Really, in the very few times we ever have danced together we just stood out there on the floor and hung onto each other and moved a few steps this way and that, and it seemed everyone else was doing about the same thing.

      At least you had that ONE DANCE. That was an important one! LOL

      Hugs, my friend. I’m so glad you stopped by!

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