Think of this as a Public Service Announcement. My sister-in-law and I decided to do a slideshow for my mom's birthday. Surprise, surprise; this was harder than it sounded. One of the trickiest parts was deciding on songs for everyone. Internet searches helped a little, but most of the songs that show up when you google music for slideshows end up being, well, lame-o. So just in case someone is looking for songs for their OWN fantastic slideshow, here is what we ended up using. Remember, our family is large, so we needed many songs. The siblings all chose their own songs, so there is a good variety. And yes, I did choose a couple of rather overused songs, but they worked, so deal with it.
Mom: Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)
Dad: Sing Sing Sing
Mom & Dad: Love and Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
Me & David: Mushaboom (Feist) and Life in Technicolor (Coldplay)
Eric & Christina: Better Together (Jack Johnson) and Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) (Three Little Birds got thrown in at 2:30 in the morning. I may change that later after talking to E&N)
Chad: Where is My Mind (Pixies)
Matt & Ananda: Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz) (This needed a little editing to make it family friendly)
Brent: Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield) Brent was also going to use Superfly (Curtis Mayfield) but I ran out of time to edit them together.
Kurt & Ashleigh: Time to Move On (Tom Petty) Loved this one. Also had to add something at 3 am to fill in for time, so I chose the Johnny Cash version of In My Life. I love that, but again, I may change it after talking to K&A.
Steven: North to Alaska (Boxcar Willie) Since Steve-o spent the last five months with sled dogs in Alaska, this fit beautifully, but I'm not sure it has Wide Appeal to the Masses. It made me laugh, though. Good choice, Steven.
Bri & Mike: Good Day Sunshine and Got to Get You into My Life (Beatles)
Chelsea: Fabulous (HSM2 Soundtrack) and I Always Get What I Want (Avril Lavigne)
Then came the grandkids. They got to choose their own songs. You will be able to tell that. Christina and I, as parents, had other ideas, but oh well...:
Joshua: Island in the Sun (Weezer)
Sophie: Walking on Sunshine (Aly & AJ)
Abby: Life's What You Make It (Hannah Montana)
Kate: Soak Up the Sun (I edited out the first verse...Kate doesn't have any Communist friends. As far as I know.)
Will: Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts)
Ezra: Upside Down (Jack Johnson)
Ben: Beautiful Boy (Ben Harper. It was hard to not use John Lennon, but the kids liked Ben Harper better.)
Then a few group pictures to Our House (Madness). My brother and I used to, um, well, um, make up dance routines to Our House. Sorry, E, to spill the beans. Don't you wish we'd videotaped our old dances for posterity? Well, I wish we had, because then I'd have some great blackmail material.
Here are some other songs that nearly made the cut:
My Favorite Things (Sound of Music)
Shiny Happy People (REM)
Material Girl (Madonna)
We're Going to be Friends (White Stripes) (I'm still going to use this one for a cousins outtakes section)
Send Me on My Way (Rusted Root)
Circle Game (Joni Mitchell, although I love Jim Harmon's version)
A Bushel and a Peck (Doris Day)
You Are My Sunshine (a not cheesy version (I know, amazing) from Elizabeth Mitchell)
Happy Together (Simple Plan)
All You Need is Love (Beatles)
L.O.V.E. (Nat King Cole)
Big House (Audio Adrenaline)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
These Are Days (10000 Maniacs)
When I'm 64 (Beatles)
Wonderful World, Beautiful People (Jimmy Cliff)
Be Kind to Your Parents (Michael Feinstein. That would have been funny.)
I've got more, people...but I'm going to stop. I need to clean my house.
P.S. If you need more ideas, click here.
10 comments:
WOW! I am never going to look for slide show music again, I'll just consult you! Thank you for the public service! Sounds like the show turned out great. You're probably glad its done.
I am working on a slideshow for my late mother in law. I am having a hard time finding music that I like out of the lists out there. And even tho we have over a 1000 cds in this house i am still left blank... Any Ideas?
Nicole, I'll work on it. Here are a couple of ideas:
The Beatles: In My Life or Yesterday
Sarah McLachlan: I Will Remember You
Keane: Bend and Break
Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Sorry. They're a little cliched, but I'll keep looking.
You could also use songs from when she was growing up/a teenager/getting married, or songs that fit her personality. Any info on any of that?
Thanks for the ideas! After I left you a message I decided to take a diff path like you mentioned. She was born in the 50’s and passed in May. I have a few buddy holly songs, the turtles, beach boys, beatles… Going for more of a happy life celebration instead of the somber feeling that I was trying before!
Her favorites were Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton but I just cant bring myself to making that work Not a country fan what can I say.
Again thanks for the help and the response!
Could not find a suitable section so I written here, how to become a moderator for your forum, that need for this?
I stumbled on your blog while searching for songs for my sister's graduation. My mind went completely blank while working on her sideshow and everything I could think of was WAY too cheesy (which is the exact opposite of my sister). Loved the selection of songs you put up. You were a real life saver! Thanks!
Hello! This post also brought me to your blog. My daughter turns one 09.09.10 and I'm looking for that last song for her slideshow. We have used "My Darling" by Wilco and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". I know the later is overplayed but perfect for her and her friends. So now we're down to the last song and I'm thinking about using Cat Steven's "If You Want Sing Out" because I'm a huge fan of Stevens. I can't wait to read more of your blog once I get the time. Being a SAHM sounded like it would be easy but I've never had a tougher job. But my boss is the cutest and I'd rather get paid in kisses and laughs than money.
What a life saver, really. My grandma passed recently and I "volunteered" to put ALL the photos together into a slide show, so everyone would have a copy. I left that day with about 200 photos. 2 weeks and many drawers and boxes later, I have closer to 1500 photos. Really, I needed the ideas. Thank you!
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