This evening I met with a couple that hired me as their Wedding DJ. They asked me if I thought The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody from Ghost would be good for their First Dance Song. I smiled since it is their wedding and they need to choose a First Dance Song that means something to them. I am always welcome to offer my professional Wedding DJ experience, but their wedding. Of course, it is one of the great love songs in my opinion but that is just my opinion.
I have not seen the movie in years and wanted to revisit the scene from the movie where this was played. I looked at several You Tube videos and liked this footage the best. I had forgotten she was a potter. One of my closest friends is a potter and the intensity of the wheel and the clay from my limited experience with throwing pots held me and made me think of her and the movie. It is a given that it is a love scene with depth and heat.
“Unchained Melody” is a 1955 song with music written by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.
In 1955, North used the music as a theme for the prison film Unchained, hence the name. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.
It was the July 1965 version by The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody that became a jukebox standard for the late 20th century, regaining massive popularity when used in the 1990 blockbuster film Ghost. It will also be featured as a musical number in the upcoming Ghost The Musical.
Artists that have covered The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody
Supremes, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presely, Moodly Blues, Heart, U2, Sarah McLachlan, Cyndi Lauper, Smashing Pumpkins, Clay Aiken, Joni Mitchell and LeeAn Rimes to mention a few.
The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody Music Video from Ghost
As a professional Wedding DJ, The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody is part of many weddings and I appreciate its continued popularity.