Can the violinist play songs with explicit lyrics?
Yes. A violin plays the melody, not the words, so the song you love can play in front of your grandparents without anyone blushing.
Yes. Because the violin carries the melody instead of a singer, songs with explicit lyrics are fine at a wedding. As Jared puts it, “nobody knows except the ones who know the lyrics.” If a song isn't on the list yet, 3 custom songs are included, then $25 each.
Why it works on violin
Jared explains it this way: “the nice thing about having violin as opposed to a singer is, like, I can play any song... and nobody needs to know that there are bad words.”
Every song is played over a full-band backing track, so the groove, the beat and the hook are all there. What's missing is the vocal. Guests hear a few notes, recognize the song, and smile. Grandma hears a catchy melody.
- Your song, your call. If a song means something to the two of you, the lyrics don't have to rule it out.
- Works for every part of the day. Cocktail hour and the dance floor are where these songs usually land, but the choice is yours.
- The ones who know, know. Friends who know every word may grin. That's often part of the fun.
What's already on the list
The Extreme Strings song list has hundreds of songs, including hip-hop and pop tracks you might think twice about playing with the vocals at a family event: Drake's Headlines and Best I Ever Had, Kanye West's All of the Lights, Post Malone's Go Flex and Beyoncé's CUFF IT sit next to Bach and Pachelbel.
Asking for a song that isn't listed
You can request songs in your BookLive client portal. Each request goes into Jared's review queue, and most are approved. 3 custom songs are included with every booking, then $25 each. Song picks are due about two weeks before the wedding.
Guests sing along anyway
★★★★★“What I like most about Extreme Strings is that the performance is so engaging, but being instrumental, you just find yourself singing and dancing along...realizing you know all of the songs even though there isn't a vocalist on stage.”
★★★★★“I had them play before and during the ceremony and it was FANTASTIC. I received so many compliments on the music...it set the tone perfect - especially with the violin version of many modern pop songs that were recognizable yet sounded divine.”
★★★★★“Amazing job! Everyone loved it and the music choices and genres were PERFECT!”
Explicit song questions
Will our older guests notice the lyrics?
Usually not. Without a singer, only guests who already know the words will think of them.
Can you play a song with explicit lyrics during the ceremony?
Yes, if that's what you want. You choose the songs for every part of the day.
What if our song isn't on your list?
Request it in your BookLive client portal. 3 custom songs are included, then $25 each.
Do you need the clean version of a song?
No. The violin plays the melody, so there are no words to clean up.