"Rachel Getting Married" (Dir. Jonathan Demme, 2008)
Song "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young (Sung by Tunde Adebimpe)
Song "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young (Sung by Tunde Adebimpe)
There are many songs by Neil Young that have been performed at weddings over the decades.
"Unknown Legend", from the 1992 Neil Young album Harvest Moon is a frequent wedding song. Here the song "Unknown Legend" is sung by Tunde Adebimpe in the Jonathan Demme film "Rachel Getting Married" released in 2008. For the wedding scene, actor Adebimpe skips the vows and sings directly to his new wife (played by Anne Hathaway) an a cappella version of Young’s “Unknown Legend”. Also, Tunde Adebimpe is the lead singer of the band "TV on the Radio."
More on the film "Rachel Getting Married" (Director: Jonathan Demme, 2008) and Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - "Rachel Getting Married". (Also, more on Jonathan Demme and Neil Young.)
"Harvest Moon" - Neil Young, MTV Unplugged - 1993
Another perpetually popularly appropriate wedding song by Neil Young is "Harvest Moon" from the 1992 album.
For us here at Thrashers Wheat will always hold a special place. Many may recall in 2008 when a couple in love requested "Harvest Moon" in concert while Neil Young performed in Brisbane, Australia. And by some extremely wonderfully little miracle, Neil Young performed "Harvest Moon" that night and it brought a tear of joy for many around the world.
Or the time A Wish for "Harvest Moon" is Granted for Liza at the 2009 concert in Köln, Germany.
Here are the 3 Harvest Moon stories:
- Steve and Danielle in Brisbane, Australia
- Liza in Germany
- Gavin in Dublin, Ireland
Other favorite Neil Young Love/Wedding songs, in no particular order:
- Love In Mind (TFA)
- Already One (Comes a Time)
- Cinnamon Girl
- I Believe In You
- Like A Hurricane
- Such a Woman
- Look Out for My Love
- Will to Love
- Pardon My Heart
- Motion Pictures
- Razor Love
- She`s a Healer
- Transformer Man
- Change Your Mind
Then -- of course -- there are those perennially Inappropriate Wedding Songs by Neil Young ...
Feel free to drop a comment below on your favorite Neil Young Love/Wedding song -- if you'd like.
I’d go with Such A Woman.
ReplyDeleteBut then I am a man.
Good suggestion Syscrusher. Definitely some of the suggestions have that male/female split.
ReplyDeleteAnd we must admit that wee had a tender moment re-watching the wedding scene in Demme's "Rachel Getting Married". Man, what a loss. Certainly Jonathan would have been there for N & D's big day.
There was no one else who understand better Neil's music and putting it to film than Jonathan.
Just a note the song was sung to Rosemarie DeWitt not Anne Hathaway.
DeleteWhen I got married,my wife and I used "Harvest moon" as our wedding song. We loved it then and still love that song now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil!
Rich B.
I like the idea, but most of these songs are about lost or longing for love. Sound more like songs for divorce to me. Neil already cast doubt on using his songs for weddings:
ReplyDeleteMy songs are all so long
And my words are all so sad
Most of us grew up with Neil's music and I for one can't distance myself from the songs that over the years have meant so much to him. I read he doesn't care what people think, well we all know that Neil 'follows the muse' whatever that means. I'm no critic of his lifestyle that's down to him but his music is inextricably linked to all the songs we all grew up listening to and from his music we formed opinions about the man. We will never know the truth behind the divorce and really we don't need to know. Personally his music will never be the same to me, but I can still listen to the early records 68-79 and love them because the songs are so good. His most recent releases are disposable for me. I'm sure lots TWERS love them but come on Storytone?
ReplyDeleteI wish Mr & Mrs Young all the very best - we all have opinions and to quote Nash 'It'll Never Be The Same'.
Let me be clear. My mention of "divorce songs" was for a generic couple, and I had no intention to refer to Neil and Pegi. (Or Neil and Susan for that matter). Seemed like a funny idea at the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree that for most pop/rock/blues/et al we should separate the singer from the song. Some times the songs/lps "meaning" is fairly obvious (eg: TTN). On the other hand, some are songs whose interpretation/representation/inspiration is rather unclear (eg: Ride My Llama). To me, the greatness of his songs are because they always based on authentic (rather than contrived) feelings, which we may or may not understand. He is real as the day is long.
When I Hold You in my Arms
ReplyDeleteBringin Down Dinner
ReplyDeleteLittle Wing
ReplyDeleteWhen You Dance
ReplyDeleteSweet Joni
ReplyDeleteWelfare Mothers
ReplyDeleteStupid Girl
Should fall in there somewhere...lol.
Over and Over !!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete$@(;:/#^ up?
ReplyDeleteOut of Control
ReplyDeleteThe bride in this film is played by Rosemarie DeWitt. Anne Hathaway plays the bride’s sister.
ReplyDeleteThe bride in this film is played by Rosemarie DeWitt. Anne Hathaway plays the bride’s sister.
ReplyDelete