Classic Rock Songs We Love for a Father-Daughter Dance

Redefine you and Dad's dance floor moment with one of these jams.

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Published on September 26, 2018

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When it comes to wedding reception dances, the father-daughter spin is one of the most anticipated moments of the evening. All eyes will be on you and your dad when it's time for your debut, which means that choosing a song that sets the tone-and signifies you and your father's relationship-is a must. If he raised you on a healthy dose of classic rock, you might want to trade a ballad for something more upbeat. To help you both on your search, we tapped the editors at Apple Music for their input. Ahead, their advice for choosing some father-daughter dance-ready rock 'n roll-and a few recommended jams that sum up the moment.

Dig into you and your dad's best moments.

"An advantage of choosing a rock hit as the father-daughter dance song is a shared connection," says Apple. "These are often songs the father grew up listening to and then played for his daughter while she was growing up, creating context and special memories." To land on a song that says it all, dig into your favorite-moments-with-Dad archive-the songs that you two air-guitared to in the living room or the tunes you belted out in the car are likely winners.

Don't worry about choosing a hit your guests know.

If it's a classic rock song, there's a good chance that a majority of your friends and family will know it-which means you can leave concerns about recognizability at the door. "Rock is very universal and relatable," the editors say of the genre. "Of course, a more familiar song will always lead to connections with the guests, but the day is about you. Choose the song that makes sense for you."

Still unsure? Lean towards the classic rockers.

"There are plenty of traditional songs from the greats like Billy Joel or Tom Petty and many others that are perfect for this," the Apple pros say. "And if you are daring and love Nirvana, feel free to turn that up and have a father-daughter mosh pit!"

Consider choreography.

While there are several classic rock ballads that make sense for slow dancing, don't let a tune's tempo limit your choices. If an epic, upbeat song feels right, consider enlisting some help from the pros to help you and Dad do the jam justice. "A choreographed dance to a more upbeat song could be a nice unexpected surprise and really get the crowd going!" conclude the editors.