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I’m not a huge fan of Eva Longoria, so when there was a big flurry surrounding her marriage to Tony Parker, I could have cared less. That is, until Ryan Seacrest talked about their first dance song. As you know I’ve been focused (okay, obsessed) with first dance songs, and hearing what this “famous” couple would dance to intrigued me.
Well, they danced to “The Book of Love”, not the Doo Wop version our parents know and love, but the Magnetic Fields’ cover by Peter Gabriel. It’s sung very deeply, and is really just a piano and a voice. Quite touching. I liked the melody of it and decided to look it up. Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to find the Peter Gabriel version on iTunes, but I did manage to find the Magnetic Fields version, a version by Steve Goldberg, one by Mark Kibble (his last name is “Kibble” ha ha ha ha), and a slightly different version by Now It’s Overhead.
It’s a pretty short song, almost three minutes. The lyrics are pretty sweet, if you ignore the “damn”.
The lyrics:
The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It’s full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing
But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything
The book of love has music in it
In fact that’s where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb
But I
I love it when you sing to me
And you
You can sing me anything
The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It’s full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we’re all too young to know
But I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
You ought to give me wedding rings
What do you think?
This is our song, too! I hope the Longoria/Parker wedding won’t make it THE wedding song of the year…
Where can I listen to this?
I *LOVE* this song! I heard it on the “Shall We Dance” sound track (the remake with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon), which I naturally now own. 
I played it for my fellow the other day and we’re considering it for our first song, too.
I think it’s perfect! And it’s so beautiful.
Nancy, I heard a snippet on itunes, perhaps you could look for the “Shall we dance” soundtrack online? I had to buy it from Itunes, though.
I have a friend that just got married…Her (now) husband recorded this song, and she walked down the aisle to him singing….
btw…you can fine whole videos of different recordings on YouTube…
I love love love Magnetic Fields. And 69 Love Songs is such a great album(s). I think this song is extremely sweet, and a good length and tempo for a first dance. I must admit I much prefer the Magnetic Fields version to Peter Gabriel, but that is probably just me.
(Our song is actually (Crazy For You But) Not That Crazy. Which may be a bit difficult to dance to, but oh well…)
Oh my gosh! When I read that I started jumping in my chair! That’s our song - before we even started dating, we went to “Shall We Dance” and it became “our movie” - so when it was time to choose a song, it was just natural! My brother was the one who informed us that Magnetic Fields were the original artists of it - and I love the 69 Love Songs albums, too!
I had no idea that they danced to that for their wedding, and I have to second Lou - I really hope it doesn’t become “trendy” - I like being a little different!
It’s a gorgeous song, and you should totally use it if you like it…:-)
Wow - i have been searching high and low for a song to set our wedding video overview too and i think i have found it - thank you!
You’re kidding me - that’s our wedding song. I didn’t know anyone else knew it!
I love this song! It is one of our frontrunners for a first dance song! I, too, hope that the Longoria/Parker wedding doesn’t ruin it for me. Grr. The last think I need is one of my favorite songs splashed all over the pages of US Weekly as a new trend!
I love this song and was shocked that they danced to it. Much more shocking was that they did it to the Magnetic Fields version. Very cool!
what a beautiful song! i have love love loved it for years! our bridal procession was going to walk down the aisle to this sung by a bluegrass duo… how odd that i feel the need to reconsider now that a famous person has chosen it.
NO! That’s OUR first dance song too!!! Arg…and here I thought it was going to be original and special. Love the song though…so beautiful! And i totally agree with everyone who is talking about reconsidering now that’s she’s used it…
It’s OUR song too! I loved it the first time I heard it and just had to buy the Shall We Dance cd. Im thinking first dance or processional. And I thought not many knew about this song. Im also thinking of an instrumental only version…
I don’t care, I love it anyway.
There is a truly beautiful acoustic version on youtube I’m planning to use for my wedding. Look up doggettbm the book of love. It’s just a boy singing accompanied by a guitar; but it really moved me.
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Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA Engagement Date: March 31, 2006 Wedding Date: November 3, 2007 Venue: Radisson Hotel About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
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