December 31st, 1999! Do you remember where you were? Maybe the question should be “do you remember what you were thinking?” The END OF THE WORLD as we know it. No, not the song by REM, but literally worried that all the myths and rumors were going to come true. Then, without missing a beat, you partied like a rock star, and woke up, just like everyone else, somewhere around 1PM on 01.01.2000. The clock was still ticking, the electric was still surging, the phone was still ringing, and the TV was still broadcasting. And then this happened…. The BOOM of music that invaded the year 2000!

So what is music? What does the word “music” mean to you? Is it how you relate the world to yourself? Is it a way of expressing who you are as an individual? Is it a source of inspiration to get you through the day, a class, work, a car ride?? Is it a drug? But a good drug. :-) What really is “music?”

To me, music is everything. Every song has a story!!! Some lyrics are good, some lyrics are bad, some lyrics are happy, some lyrics are sad. And then there are those songs where the lyrics make absolutely make no sense, but we sing them out anyway. Ya know, the songs where the lyrics rhyme, and sound catchy, but really have no substance or sustainability. *** I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch, Chinese food makes me sick. *** LFO – Summergirls … fun song, but I still don’t get it. :-)

The year 2000 brought us some incredible and outstanding anthems! Staples that will forever be blasted through sound systems across the globe. In no particular order check out some of my favorites from the turn of the century. From Faith Hill, to J-Lo, here’s my list of top nine favorite songs from the year many of us thought we’d never get to see. Hey, guess all the experts were wrong after all.

"I Knew I Loved You" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, released as the second single from their second studio album, Affirmation. The song went straight to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's second number one in the United States after "Truly Madly Deeply". After its third week at number one, the single was knocked off by Mariah Carey's "Thank God I Found You" featuring Joe and 98 Degrees. It later returned to the top again the following week for its fourth and final week at the top.

"Amazed" is a song written by Marv Green, Aimee Mayo, and Chris Lindsey. The first version of the song was recorded by the American country music group Lonestar, whose version was released in March 1999 as the second single from their 1999 album Lonely Grill. Lonestar's version is their longest-lasting Number One single and biggest hit, spending eight weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart. A remix later reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts as well. Since the release of the original, the song has been covered by Bonnie Tyler, Duncan James, and Fady Maalouf, all of whom have released their respective versions as singles. Ben Mills, Boyz II Menand Shane Filan have included covers in their respective albums.

"Thong Song" is a song recorded by American R&B artist Sisqó. It was released on January 4, 2000 as the second single from Sisqó's 1999 solo debut LP Unleash the Dragon. "Thong Song" garnered 4 Grammy nominations and numerous other awards as well. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, Sisqó's second highest-peaking, and the biggest hit in the United States.It was a major success worldwide as well, reaching the top ten throughout European charts, including number one in Sweden and Norway, and number three in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Denmark. The song also topped the charts in New Zealand.

"Back at One" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Brian McKnight, taken from his fifth studio album of the same name. "Back at One" made its first chart appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100 eventually peaking at number two. The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and was nominated for R&B video of the year in the Music Video Production Association Awards

"You Sang to Me" is a 2000 hit song by Marc Anthony, and was released as the third single of his first English language album Marc Anthony. The song was written and produced by Marc Anthony and Cory Rooney, and like the previous English single from Marc Anthony also a Spanish version was recorded, but wasn't included on the first edition of the album. Both versions of the track were very successful in the United States. The English version peaked at even higher than "I Need to Know", climbing to number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100, kept off from the top slot by "Maria Maria" by Santana featuring The Product G&B. It also spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboardadult contemporary chart. The Spanish version ("Muy Dentro de Mi") hit No. 1 on the Hot Latin Tracks chart for 3 consecutive weeks. According to Anthony, he wrote this song for his then-friend Jennifer Lopez, whom he married soon after. This version was nominated for a Lo Nuestro Award for Pop Song of the Year, losing to "A Puro Dolor" by Son by Four.

"Let's Get Married" is the title of a number one song by American four piece R&B group Jagged Edge, from their album J.E. Heartbreak. It spent three weeks at the top of the US R&B chart in 2000 and reached #11 on the US pop chart. The song is a slow, love ballad about a man's desire to get married to his girl. The remix features DJ Run of Run-D.M.C. and samples "It's Like That" by Run-D.M.C. The remix was directed by Bryan Barber. The group performed the single at the kayfabe wedding of Theodore Long and Kristal Marshall on the September 21, 2007, episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown.

"The Real Slim Shady" is a hip hop song written by Eminem, Dr. Dre and Tommy Coster for Eminem's third studio album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). It was released as the lead single a week before the album's release. The song was later released in 2005 on Eminem's greatest hits album Curtain Call: The Hits. "The Real Slim Shady" was Eminem's first song to reach number one in the United Kingdom and it also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him his biggest hit up to that point. The song was the 11th best selling of 2000 in the United Kingdom. It won multiple awards, including MTV Video Music Awards for Best Video and Best Male Video, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 80 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". The song was featured in 21 Jump Street during the opening of the film. It was listed at number 396 on NMEs 500 greatest songs of all time.

"Party Up (Up in Here)" is a song by American hip hop recording artist DMX, released as the second single from his third album ...And Then There Was X (1999) and is his highest charting and most successful single ever. There are three versions of the song: an explicit/album version; a censored album version, and a radio/video edit version. The song was voted number 56 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '00s.

"The Next Episode" is a single by American rapper Dr. Dre, released on July 4, 2000 as the third single from his second studio album, The Chronic 2001, which was released in 1999. The track features Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg, the last being uncredited. The song is often mistakenly titled "Smoke Weed Everyday" on video-sharing sites such as YouTube, as Nate Dogg says the phrase at the end of the track. The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Who I Am with You" is a song written by Marv Green, Paul Jenkins and Jason Sellers and recorded by American country music artist Chris Young. It was released in January 2014 as the second single from his fourth studio album.

"Shout" is an influential popular song, originally recorded by The Isley Brothers. Released in 1959, it was written by the brothers themselves as a call-and-response answer to Jackie Wilson's seminal "Lonely Teardrops" which they interpreted after performing that song during a club date. Otis Day and the Knights was originally created as a fictional band to perform in the movie National Lampoon's Animal House. They are best known for their version of "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong". Both songs were sung by Lloyd Williams, and lip synched by Dewayne Jessie in the film. The name of the band performing it in the film was Otis Day and The Knights. "Shout" was written by the Isley Brothers. Otis Day was played by DeWayne Jessie, brother of Young Jessie of The Coasters. Robert Cray was one of the members of the band, seen playing bass in the movie.

Who and what are Mummers?To define them simply, Mummers are costumed entertainers welcoming in the New Year. Some of the earliest mummers date back to early Egypt, pagan Rome and Greece, England, Germany, and France.  Historically, Mummery has influenced customs and perpetuated many interesting traditions. Every nation had its festivals at one time or another, each marked by parades and displays of fanciful costumes.  All of these cultures passed along their traditions from generation to generation, and eventually these traditions were brought to America by immigrants. 

The Philadelphia TraditionThe tradition of Philadelphia Mummery started in the late 17th century as a continuation of the Old World customs of ushering in the New Year. Mummery in America is as unique to Philadelphia as Mardi Gras is to New Orleans. For example, the Swedes were Philadelphia's first settlers. When they came to Tinicum, just outside of Philadelphia, they brought their custom of visiting friends on "Second Day Christmas", December 26. Later they extended their period of celebration to include New Year's Day, and welcomed the New Year with masquerades and parades of noisy revelers. Most people carried firearms for protection in those early days of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and it did not take long before pistols and muskets joined with bells and noisemakers to create the sound of a New Year. Those who "shot in" the New Year became New Year's Shooters, and thus the name much later evolved to officially become the New Year's Shooters and Mummers Association. Groups would travel from house to house, sing songs, and perform dances -- all to be rewarded with food and drink.

By the 1870's, what had been an uncoordinated group of neighborhood celebrations turned into an area-wide parade with two main groups of participants: Fancy Dress and Comic clubs.  The City of Philadelphia finally sponsored and organized the first official Mummers Parade on January 1, 1901.

Philadelphia Mummers of TodayThe Philadelphia Mummers of today total over 10,000 marchers.  The parade is still held on New Year's Day, with four distinct divisions: Comic, Fancy, Fancy Brigade and String Band. Comic division clubs lampoon modern day local and national political and social themes. The Fancy division clubs wear large, ornate costumes, carrying back pieces and performing with floats and props.  The Fancy Brigade division clubs also wear large, ornate costumes, and perform intricate dances and drills with elaborate props.    
The String Band division clubs not only wear elaborate costumes like the Fancy and Fancy Brigade divisions, but also drill and perform playing musical instruments. One of the first String Band clubs was Trilby, who first paraded in 1902 and is still in existence today.  Parade rules do not permit the use of brass instruments in a String Band; the instrumentation is exclusively saxophones, banjos, accordions, violins, bass violins, and percussion instruments. Mummers String Bands are known, not only for the unique sound, but also for their elaborate costumes. Brilliant materials, glitter, sequins and feathers are all combined to make the showy costumes. Traditionally, band members, wives and friends made the costumes. Today, professional designers and costumers are utilized. In Philadelphia, the cost of costuming an average 64-piece band is between $30,000 and $80,000, with the captain's costume costing as high as $10,000. There are eighteen String Band organizations in existence today. Every year, each String Band selects an annual theme, and debuts their new music and costumes in the Philadelphia New Year's Day parade.  The marching leader of the band or Captain makes their elaborate debut doing the "2 Street Strut".  

People from the "City of Brotherly Love" know the excitement of a Mummers performance, but the Mummers also preserve that sense of nostalgia and tradition. Commitment to the community has always been one of the basic principles of Mummers clubs, especially String Band clubs. It is from the entire Delaware Valley community where musicians and helpers (called Marshals) are recruited and trained. It is also from this community where the clubs derive the funds used for the costumes and operations of their clubhouses. It is to this community the String Bands return the gratitude expressed by making each New Year's Day theme performance more exciting than the last.

Hovering just north of City Hall, the infamous 'Love Park' and the amenities of Center City, Philadelphia, Vie was introduced to the public in the fall of 2011 and is already the most desired and sought after venue in the city.  Inspired by the elegance of French Provençal design, Cescaphe Event Group's exquisitely detailed fourth venue fuses the romance of the Cescaphe Ballroom, the regal tradition of the Atrium at Curtis Center, and the modern décor of Tendenza.  Every facet, from the imported Italian mosaic to the soft lounge seating and custom built lights and staging, has been designed to impress your guests.  Upon arrival, guests are greeted by chef-attended interactive stations, three full service bars, a towering champagne display, and a customized ice sculpture atop a boundless stretch of seafood and hors d'oeuvres.  As the Bride and Groom find sanctuary in the beautifully appointed private bridal suite, guests move into the magnificent main reception room, complete with a forty-foot long, floor-to-ceiling bar and white porcelain French chandeliers.  The adjoining private, open-air courtyard, which has become the pride of Cescaphe Event Group and one of the most talked about additions to the city's landscape, stays candlelit throughout the evening for your guests to enjoy.

Simple or lavish, traditional or unconventional, large or small, your day at Normandy Farm will be spectacular. Our first-class, professional staff will see to it that this important day in your life is nothing less then, well, historic. Dance under magnificent cathedral ceilings. Take a moonlight stroll on our beautifully manicured grounds. Wander through our secluded outdoor terraces. Relax with an after-dinner cordial in a quiet silo alcove. Dine on sumptuous cuisine prepared under the watchful eye of our renowned culinary team. Celebrate with up to 400 of your guests in an elegant country setting so unique it will surely be an experience of a lifetime.

It’s amazing what you can find searching the internet. From Canada to Mexico, through the United Kingdom, across Russia, down to Africa, over to Japan and China, and back over the good old USA, check out some of these great tales, as told by real people reminiscing about actual events. #Bloggers



What was the thing (or things) that stick out for you? What made the wedding so memorable?

Yavemar: What makes a wedding stick out for me is when it incorporates the couple's hobbies, interests, and just who they are. The best weddings I've been to were obviously low budget, but incorporated the (rather quirky) personalities of the couple just perfectly. For instance, the bride had just gotten her degree in chemistry, so the centerpieces used chemistry glassware instead of vases for the flowers (which were all hand crocheted by her!). I still have the bouquet and centerpiece I got from that wedding - seeing those has really helped remind me that it's ok to do things differently!

Book-1love: Good food. It's usually the most expensive part of the wedding, but I think people should try to save money on other things and get the best food within their budget. I don't have an opinion on nice center pieces or how much the wedding dress costs, but I always remember which weddings had good or bad food.

Gimmepuppies: Good food, drink, and music, and it being something that felt like it represented the couple in question. Pretty much every fun wedding I've been to had that in common, even if they were wildly different otherwise, from 'traditional' Midwest wedding, to a pagan ceremony by a lake with a marquee reception and a local band, to a center city wedding and reception in a dance hall with music from a DJ. The worst wedding I went to, it clearly felt like the bride and groom had just sort of shown up, most of the guests seemed to be the parents' guests, and it felt more like a social platform for the bride's parents rather than for the bride and groom (her father spent over half of his speech actually talking about and praising his wife, rather than the newlyweds).

QuibbleCopter: We put so much effort into our wedding, so many little details that my, now, wife did (she's a wedding florist/venue decorator so had a reputation to live up to...), and there were lots of lovely comments about everything we did... But apparently the thing that was the most favorite, and nearly everyone commented on it was - the Photo Booth... so like the booth you go into to get your passport with, but it had a big seat, a green screen and a ton of props... We also had our wedding book there for people to put pictures in, so they could sign next to their picture (which is useful as I didn't know many people there :-). It was loved by so many though, there was a bigger queue for that than there was at the bar... One down side to it though, was as the alcohol flowed, the pictures got a bit more risky... so there are a few pictures of bums and... Other things... which makes me laugh a lot every time I read our album. I'd whole heartedly recommend using these at your wedding though... The second best thing apparently was giving everyone a little plant (as the party favor) which were all grown from a plant my grandma gave my mum in the 70s (was a nice little way of including a family member who couldn't be there)... 3rd best was the sweetie/candy table :-)!

Mango4Mouse: Weddings I've liked are ones where the couple isn't up on some podium at the reception but is instead mingling and actually hanging out with the guests. Other thing that make it awesome is when they have a great DJ churning out good song after good song and keeping the party going. Also like it when the wedding is less than 100 people. Makes for a much more intimate affair (and so wish I could have). And finally, knowing the couple really well which means it's a giant party with great friends.

Dcnerdlet: Weirdly enough, the best one I ever went to was in a blizzard (2010 Snowpocalypse for all my DC brides!). The bride and groom were lucky to hold the ceremony, the reception involved us four wheeling to the groom's parents after stopping at Safeway and buying the last cases of PBR and (ugh) Beast. Why did it rock? Because in the end, we all laughed about it, gathered around the fireplace and just told stories. The only people crazy enough to make it were the ones super close to the couple, so it made for a good night. Plus, I will never forget watching the bride and groom dance barefoot in his parent's living room, the bride breaking down in very happy, relieved tears. You could feel the love and happy in the room, and that's all I really want at my wedding.

Mandaface: The atmosphere. The only person I knew there was my bf and yet it was the most fun I've had at a wedding. It was a Brazilian wedding and the bride was a dancer so they had lots of dancing and props (boas, funny glasses, party blowers, confetti, etc). Everyone, old and young was on the dance-floor all night dancing to this festive South American music. So much fun!

Queenpersephone: I think the best weddings have a personal connection with as many of the vendors as possible. I love hearing how the couple personally knew the photographer, the musicians, the cake decorator, officiant, etc. Although this can go terribly wrong if you just hire a bunch of amateurs. If you know professionals in your network, though, you can get great deals and a more personal experience.

Mamasaidknockyouout: In general, the most memorable weddings for me are the ones that really fit/represented the couple. These weddings have been from black tie to totally casual... but they fit the couple getting married. The food, music, liquor, all that... sometimes I remember, sometimes it's all a blur. But if the wedding represents the people getting married, I remember that forever :)

Kitten_Mittens: Late night snacks! I've been to several weddings where they've brought out some great food around 9-10pm to keep the party fueled. I've seen it be as simple as an ice cream sundae, s'mores, or cereal bar, or as elaborate as fresh pizzas out of a wood fired oven or the arrival of a favorite food truck serving up lobster mac 'n cheese, korean tacos, and sliders. Since much of the "older" crowd has probably left by now, you don't have to plan to feed the entire guest count. This probably goes without saying, but great (and well timed food), is unforgettable!

Moongoddesshadow: I think it was a combination of a lot of things. The food was excellent (and served family style for each table, so you could choose your portions), the drinks weren't watered down, the DJ was good (except for the fact that he only played three or four slow songs the whole night), and the bride and groom were having fun. I think the liquor helped them loosen up, but seeing the bride and groom actually enjoying themselves, taking silly pictures in the photobooth and dancing like crazy on the dance floor, really helped set the mood.

Killercacti: The music, because it got people dancing! Weddings in which the couple use it as a chance to expose their friends and family to their favorite music usually do not involve much dancing. My sister's wedding DJ played a bunch of big hits, and a bunch of merengue (about half of the attendees were Hispanic and knew how to boogie down), it was awesome.

Crimdusk: In this Order

1. The Music
2. The Open Bar
3. The Participation of the Attendees
4. Transportation to the Hotel afterwards
5. The Size of the Dance Floor
6. The Food
7. Everything else the Bride Stressed about

If you want your wedding to be a hit, have good music, invite fun people, and keep the booze flowing.