There are many wedding-worthy Jewish songs that make for a memorable opening. Here are some band leaders’ favorite picks
Wherever the wedding is being held, the music that accompanies the new couple as they make their grand entrance generates a unique level of excitement. As the crowd gets the arches and confetti ready, feet are tapping to the accelerating tempo of the intro, the five-minute prelude to “Od Yishama” and the first dance (often a showcase for the prowess of the band as well). It’s often carefully selected by the young couple and will set the tone for the dance, and the night, ahead.
While sections of popular secular riffs with a big-band sound are often incorporated into these intros, there are many classic and contemporary wedding-worthy Jewish songs that make for a memorable opening. Here are some band leaders’ favorite picks.
The most popular Jewish intro request for the chassan and kallah that I still get is Shwekey’s “Shehecheyanu,” from his every-song-a-hit very first Shomati album — “Baruch atah Hashem, Elokeinu melech ha’olam shehechayaaaanu…” Another one that used to be very popular, although you don’t hear it much nowadays, is the intro to Yochi Briskman’s Project Relax, Volume III. When the couple don’t have any strong opinions, my own personal favorite is to bring in chassan and kallah into the hall with MBD’s “Ein Od Milvado.”
There was one which really took us by surprise, the oldie “Aibeshter,” a English ballad from Tzlil V’Zemer (“Aibeshter, oh Aibeshter, won’t You help us realize the miracles that You do…”). We used that intro a couple times and then it actually became popular. Some couples request that I play the intro to the Belz “Adir Hu,” a dynamic intro arranged by Mona Rosenblum, and it always comes out great.
Create a free account to keep reading.
