This Country Crossover Makes a Tender Tune
for Your First Dance
By Aaron Wulff
In 1999 Lonestar rocketed to #1 on the country chart with their smash hit “Amazed,” then topped the Hot 100 in 2000. The song scores high with wedding couples thanks to its popularity on both the pop and country charts as well as its lyrics about feeling overwhelmed with wonder in a loving loving relationship.
If I were lazy, I could’ve just titled this one “Lonestar’s ‘Amazed’ is an Amazing Wedding Dance Song!” But we’re better than that.
This is another song with a genuine backstory and meaning to the words. When Chris Lindsey was writing the song with his co-writer Aimee Mayo, they were falling in love. “That’s the exact feeling I had for her,” Chris said of his now-wife. Aimee said, “our feelings for each other just started coming out as we were writing.”
Lonestar’s Richie McDonald agrees. He was quoted as saying, “you can tell that the inspiration came from some honest hearts. It’s changed our lives and our careers. And it’s incredible to see the way it’s touching everybody out there. It’s changed a lot of people’s lives.”
Isn’t that “amazing?” (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself)
Ok, so maybe the song’s not perfect. With lyrics like “I wanna spend the rest of my life, with you by my side, forever and ever,” it feels like they phoned a few verses in.
And if country’s not your thing, the song has numerous covers if you want a different style. Check out the versions by Boyz II Men, Bonnie Tyler, Duncan James, Fady Maalouf, Ben Mills, and Shane Filan to keep your options open.
I’ve had a lot of couples use this song for their dance, and my only beef is the tempo. At 140 bpm it’s on the faster side, which can create a rushed feeling for couples. Is it a deal-breaker? Absolutely not. Keep your steps small and/or consider editing the song to slow down the tempo a couple of clicks so you can relax.
The song’s arrangement features a steady beat, distinct instrumentation, and doesn’t throw you and curveballs in the middle of the song. “Amazed” comes in at 4 minutes, which will feel long for your guests. Consider an early fade or cutting a verse if you’re doing choreography. More drastic if you’ll just be swaying.
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