The Best “First Dance” Songs by Decade (1960-2000)

Picking a “first dance” isn’t always easy. While some couples have one song they claim as their own, others rely on popularity to decide what they will dance to on one of the most important days of their lives. In every decade, there is one song that pops up time and time again at weddings. Below, find the best “first dance” songs from every decade, the ’60s to the ’00s.

Videos by American Songwriter

1960s – “The Way You Look Tonight” (Frank Sinatra)

We’re starting our list with one of the premier love songs of the 1960s: Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight.” Though this song was released several decades before the ’60s, Sinatra’s version is king, keeping this standard in rotation even today. Many people have taken their first turn around the dance floor as a married couple with this ballad backing them up. It’s a timeless kind of love song that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

1970s – “Wonderful Tonight” (Eric Clapton)

Despite his infamous sticky relationships, Eric Clapton has earned one of the most enduring love songs of all time, “Wonderful Tonight.” A simple song about appreciating your partner’s beauty, this Clapton track has been chosen as many people’s ‘first dance’ song. It’s a simple sentiment that lives in almost every relationship at one point or another. Because of this, it never fails to warm the hearts of friends and family looking on as newlyweds take a turn on the floor.

1980s – “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (Stevie Wonder)

Stevie Wonder is a frequent pick for weddings. Many of his songs have become standards in that world. One of the most picked (and best) Wonder songs for a wedding is “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” Representing the ’80s, this first dance song has a jovial spirit to it that only Wonder seems to be able to muster. While most “first dance” songs are mushy and slow, this song has a swing to it that reflects the joy of the day.

1990s – “You’re Still the One” (Shania Twain)

Country fans have used Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” as their “first dance” song for decades. Tailor-made for the occasion, Twain’s lyrics tell the story of an enduring romance. While many songs focus on fleeting, new love, Twain focuses on the feelings that last. There is no better sentiment for your wedding day than the one in this country classic.

2000s – “Bless the Broken Road” (Rascal Flatts)

We’re rounding out our list with the 2000s. In this decade, it was Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road” that reigned supreme. Even today, this track remains a staple at weddings. Most of us have to go through a journey before finding the one. This country trio recognizes that hard road and the payoff once we’re on the other side of it.

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)