Enjoy the October 2023 edition of “Behind the Wedding Music,” a resource to help build wedding playlists for DJs.
Each month we will highlight new songs and include a line of song lyrics, a description of the song’s emotional profile, and a few fun facts — designed to help you advise a wedding couple if they’re looking for something fresh in their playlist.
A few newly released wedding songs from September 2023:
Magical
Ed Sheeran
September 29, 2023
The most romantic song on Sheeran’s new album ‘Autumn Variations’.
Notable Lyrics: “Eyes locked, like, did you feel that too? / World stops, just us / Here under dots in the darkness / Of the blue, out of the blue / Is this how it feels to be in love? / This is magical”
Fun Facts: In September, Sheeran crashed a wedding in Las Vegas and played “Magical”. He even signed the couple’s marriage certificate as a witness at the Little White Chapel. Ed Sheeran canceled a concert in Las Vegas after leaving fans in excessive heat for hours trying to get into Allegiant Stadium for his concert. He rescheduled for October 28th.
Better Place
*NSYNC & Justin Timberlake
September 29, 2023
The first dance tune from *NSYNC in over 20 years!
Notable Lyrics: “Just let me take you to a better place / I’m gonna make you kiss the sky tonight / Yeah, if you let me show the way”
Fun Facts: The song was written for the upcoming animated movie Trolls Band Together due November 17, which will star Justin Timberlake. The song followed a highly anticipated reunion at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
Better Off (Alone, Pt. III)
Alan Walker, Dash Berlin, Vikkstar
September 28, 2023
An EDM anthem to get everyone pumped up.
Notable Lyrics: “This could be a good night for good times / And you look like a good time / We’re dancing to dancing in the moonlight / Now I want you bad, can you make me feel better?”
Fun Facts: The song is a remake of the 1999 trance hit “Better Off Alone” by Alice Deejay. The original became a hit reaching number 2 in Canada, number 27 in the U.S., and number 2 in the UK. It went on to sell over 600,000 copies in the UK and become one of the country’s best-selling singles of 1999.
Real Love
Martin Garrix, Lloyiso
September 22, 2023
A dance-pop love song made for celebrating your marriage.
Notable Lyrics: “I’m only human, but I feel like / This could be some real, real love, real, real love”
Fun Facts: Lloyiso is a South African singer, songwriter and producer with a soulful pop sound. He released his debut EP ‘Seasons’ earlier this year. Martin Garrix currently has a residency in Caesar’s Palace’s Omnia Nightclub in Las Vegas.
Evergreen
Teddy Swims
September 15, 2023
A pop love that will pull at your heartstrings.
Notable Lyrics: “I have walls up that nobody sees / But you crash through me like an evergreen / Cross your heart, promise you’ll never leave”
Fun Facts: Swims is currently on his 2023 tour. However, one of the upcoming stops includes a free concert in Las Vegas at Fremont Street Experience’s Downtown Rocks concert series. The song is featured on Swims’ new album ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy’.
Bops Goin Brazy
Tyga
September 15, 2023
A Hip Hop jam exploding on social media.
Notable Lyrics: “I got the opps goin’ crazy (Got the opps goin’ crazy, crazy) / Glock on me, baby (Baby, baby, baby, baby) / I got the bops goin’ brazy”
Fun Facts: The song samples “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. Tyga’s dating history includes Blac Chyna, Kylie Jenner, and Avril Lavigne. In case you were wondering, brazy is slang for crazy.
For The Both of Us
Dan + Shay
September 8, 2023
The song describes a father and daughter dance at a wedding reception.
Notable Lyrics: “I’ll ask her the question if you give your blessin’ / When she takes my hand, you can trust / I’ll love her enough for the both of us”
Fun Facts: The song describes a groom addressing his future father-in-law as he promises to treat his daughter well. The song was dropped as part of their newly released album ‘Bigger Houses’ on September 15.
Summertime Friends
The Chainsmokers
September 8, 2023
Even though the song was released at the end of Summer, it has club summer vibes.
Notable Lyrics: “I know what your summertime friends have to say about me / But you always want to see me again / This should be the last time you’re gonna leave without me / The last time you call me a friend”
Fun Facts: The track was influenced by band member Drew Taggart’s romantic relationship with model Marianne Fonseca. The Chainsmokers are in the midst of their Las Vegas XS Nightclub residency at the Wynn.
Keep Going Up
Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake
September 1, 2023
A fun dance track that could set the mood for fun as guests arrive at the reception.
Notable Lyrics: “I’ve been adding commas on my new statements / Yeah, I’ve been on new energy it’s contagious / I could try to hide it, but can’t contain it / This life keeps going up, and I can’t explain it”
Fun Facts: This is not the first time Furtado and Timbaland worked together. You may remember the mega-hit “Promiscuous”. All three worked together on the 2007 track “Give It to Me” on Timbaland’s second studio album ‘Shock Value’. The song was played for ESPN’s Week 1 Monday Night Football promotional spot featuring the New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers.
Sunshine (My Girl)
Wuki
September 1, 2023
It’s a fun party song remix of an R&B classic.
Notable Lyrics: “I guess you’d say / What can make me feel this way? / My girl, my girl, my girl / Talkin’ ’bout my girl”
Fun Facts: The song samples “My Girl” by The Temptations. Kris Barman, known professionally as Wuki, is an American musician, record producer, and DJ. He was a member of the electronic rock band Innerpartysystem from 2007 to 2011. Wuki has 105k followers on SoundCloud.
Las Vegas-based Matthew Campbell is the founder of My Wedding Songs.