Enjoy the December 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 November 2023:
Lifeline
Alicia Keys
November 27, 2023
A slow song about being there for someone you care about deeply.
Notable Lyrics: “I can be the reason / That you don’t feel your demons / When you’re low, it don’t mean you’re alone / I’ll be by your side”
Fun Facts: The song is on the soundtrack for the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple”. Other artists on the soundtrack include Fantasia Barrino (American Idol winner), Usher, H.E.R., Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Missy Elliott, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Halle Bailey, Megan Thee Stallion, and others.
Us
Steve Aoki, Ernest
November 17, 2023
A combination of country and dance for a fun tune about being with the one you love.
Notable Lyrics: “And I got you, if you’ve got me / Girl, we don’t need us nothin’ else and nobody but / Just the two of us”
Fun Facts: The song is featured on Aoki’s 8th studio album “HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix”. The song was written by Ernest in the middle of Covid. He reached out to Aoki to put it out together. Aoki agreed to the collaboration as he is a fan of Ernest’s lyrics and vocal delivery on the track an agreed.
Body Moving
Eliza Rose, Calvin Harris
November 17, 2023
An EDM Dance track to keep bodies moving on the dance floor (pun intended).
Notable Lyrics: “The beams of the moon let the sun in (go in) / And your look of love keeps me runnin’ back / Runnin’ back, runnin’ back”
Fun Facts: Harris recently received a Grammy nomination in the Best Pop Dance Recording category for “Miracle” featuring Ellie Goulding. Rose had her biggest hit released this far in 2022 with “B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All)” with 283 million streams on Spotify.
Lovin On Me
Jack Harlow
November 10, 2023
A Hip Hop party song to set the mood for fun.
Notable Lyrics: “I don’t like no whips and chains / And you can’t tie me down / But you can whip your lovin’ on me, baby”
Fun Facts: Before its release, a snippet of the song went viral on TikTok. The song samples the 1995 R&B song “Whatever (Bass Solique)” by Cadillac Dale. “Lovin On Me” debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one the following week.
Never Change
BJ The Chicago Kid feat. Philip Bailey
November 10, 2023
Soulful vibes can create an atmosphere of love with this track.
Notable Lyrics: “Seasons change / Nothing remains the same / The only exemption is love / It just keeps growing insane”
Fun Facts: The song is featured on BJ The Chicago Kid’s new album titled ‘Gravy’ (which is slang for soul music). You may best know Bailey as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. However, his biggest solo hit was a duet with Phil Collins on the 1984 “Easy Lover” reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Strong Enough
Jonas Brothers, Bailey Zimmerman
November 10, 2023
A track with chill vibes for a background set.
Notable Lyrics: “Always say what I want when I’m faded / And I’m faded / Put it on, play our song ’til we break it / ‘Til we break it”
Fun Facts: The song is a twist of pop and country but is categorized as a pop song. Talk about a fun fact – Kelsea Ballerini was originally selected to be on the track but she revealed that she was replaced with Zimmerman. Ballerini did not reveal why she was cut.
Houdini
Dua Lipa
November 9, 2023
A disco vibe track to get people in the mood to dance.
Notable Lyrics: “Prove you got the right to please me / Everybody knows / Catch me or I go Houdini”
Fun Facts: The song will be featured on Lipa’s third studio album set to be released sometime in 2024. Lipa will have a role in the upcoming film “Argylle”, which is a Matthew Vaughn spy action movie expected in February 2024.
Oh My
Fireboy DML
November 7, 2023
A cheerful romantic Afrobeats song for wedding playlists.
Notable Lyrics: “You are my body, you are my soul / You are my better half, you are my whole / You are my comfort, you are my home / Oh my”
Fun Facts: Fireboy DML’s biggest hit so far is “Peru” with Ed Sheran which has more than 287 million streams on Spotify. In addition, Fireboy DML has amassed more than 8.6 million listeners on Spotify.
Life With You
Kelsey Hart
November 3, 2023
A beautiful first dance song for a slow dance.
Notable Lyrics: “Give you all of my heart, the moon, and the stars / ‘Til my time here on Earth is through / ‘Cause I just love, baby, I love doin’ life with you”
Fun Facts: “kelsey hart life with you” already has 49.9 million views on TikTok. The song is being shared on the platform as a first dance song at weddings.
That’s You
Lucky Daye
November 1, 2023
A song about a guy who releases he needs the one he loves to make his life complete.
Notable Lyrics: “I been numb, so numb / Spendin’ every dime to get everything I want / There’s only one thing missing in life / That’s you”
Fun Facts: The song was produced and co-written by the Silk Sonic production team of Bruno Mars and D’Mile. This song is the first release since Daye’s 2022 album ‘Candrdrip’. ‘Candrdrip’ was nominated for a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album.
Las Vegas-based Matthew Campbell is the founder of My Wedding Songs.