Operating playback equipment isn’t hard. The challenge a DJ faces lies in picking the right music, of course. From what I understand, general familiarity is key - as is keeping the overall pace up and making content-appropriate selections.

This last weekend, in and among a list of mostly conventional wedding reception material, I had the freedom to play a few lesser-known songs (my sister, always open to new music, was the bride). For either the curious or the already acquainted, I present them here.

Lisa Hannigan - “Be My Husband”

Bobby Bare Jr. - “Sister Golden Hair”

Yma Sumac - “Gopher”

Regina Spektor - “Real Love”

Madeleine Peyroux - “Dance Me To The End Of Love”

Again, these were only the possibly unfamiliar songs used. Maybe the best song of the night, in retrospect, was the excellent request made by my brother - “Meet Me In Montana” by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond, which followed Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s “Islands In The Stream”. These worked so well, probably, because early/mid-80’s country was emotionally significant for us young adults (who were kids then), and our parents (who were young adults then).

Of course, that’s why I always feel like I’m “getting away with something” when I play music that’s not listed in the American Songbook’s table of contents. Since emotional significance is the goal, playing obscure (however great) songs will never work as well as the old favorites. You’ll notice that the above listed “obscure” songs are all covers of either popular songs or folk tunes. (There’s that word again.)

Side Note: I had the restraint to only play one song by Tom Waits that night - “Better Off Without A Wife”, after I had made a sweeping, unsuccessful dive across the dance floor for the garter toss. Maybe next time.