During the golden era of swing, the craze of ballroom dance engulfed people’s minds. For those who are not aware, ballroom dance is a form of partnered dance performed by a couple, in a close dance position. While salsa, waltz, and tango are some of the popular forms of this dance style, the swing is the root and one of the traditional styles of ballroom dance. There were times when people would cherish and dance to the rhythms of swing music only on ballroom music radio station in the USA. Although we have come a long way from the twentieth century, ballroom dance to classic swing music is still popular in our times. If your wedding is around the corner, you can prepare a list of favorite swing songs and dance your heart out at your ballroom wedding. So, do you want to know the top tracks to add to your list? Keep reading and find our recommendations.
Sing, Sing, Sing, (Benny Goodman) – The track was originally composed and written by Louis
Prima, but Benny Goodman took its popularity to another level with his
rendition. With Benny Goodman on clarinet, Gene Krupa on drums, Chris Griffin
on trumpets, and Hymie Schertzer on saxophone, the original recording lasted
for only three minutes. But the recording of this song at Carnegie Hall
performance lasted for more than 12 minutes. You can play any version you like
on your special day! All in all, get ready to have a gala time dancing to this
tune.
Begin the Beguine (Artie Shaw) – Even though beguine is a dance form originating in the
Caribbean, the term is inextricably linked with the legacy of swing music of
the USA. Arranged by Jerry Gray, Begin the Beguine was initially performed in
ballrooms by The Artie Shaw Orchestra. Having noticed the overwhelming response
from the audience, Artie Shaw took the right decision of recording it for RCA
Bluebird. Right from the solos to the ensembles and arrangement, all mesh
perfectly well in this musical arrangement.
The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Andrew Sisters) – Do you often dedicate this romantic track to your
partner by sending a song request to the programmes on the big
band radio? There is no better romantic song than this one for your
ballroom-themed wedding dance. Soothing vocals, meaningful lyrics, and
goosebump-inducing tune can make everyone’s heart skip a beat. And if you are
looking for a dance number, you can also go for Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the
same band and enjoy energetic dance moves with your partner. The choice is
yours!
Take the A Train (Duke Ellington) – If you asked anyone to name a jazz standard, they would
utter the name of this song without any hesitations. Such is the popularity of
this song! Written and composed by the very talented Billy Strayhorn, this tune
became the signature tune of Duke Ellington’s band. Joya Sherrill and Ray Nance
were the two female vocalists who often performed with the Ellington band and
enhanced the appeal of this jazz track. So, why don’t you play this song and
create the right atmosphere at your wedding? We bet you’ll have a great time,
dancing away to swing rhythms.
In the Mood (Glenn Miller) – Want to set the right mood for your ballroom wedding?
Originally recorded by Joe Garland, Miller reworked the music arrangement and
gave the overall composition a new twist. This track promises you to get in the
mood for the wedding, romance, and much more… Although the track was originally
composed by Wingy Manone, it found tremendous success and recognition with
Glenn Miller’s rendition. In fact, the recording was so phenomenal that it was
inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Final Thoughts - So, here you have the top swing songs for ballroom dance. Hope you are impressed with our list. Also, if you want your daily dose of swing music, you can turn on the radio yesteryear that brings you a bouquet of old classic swing songs.
