Joel & Tessi

For those of you at the wedding who received one of our CD’s for your drive from the ceremony to the reception, here are the artists and the reasons we chose these songs! (If you didn’t receive one but still want it, we have some left over we’d be willing to mail out!) We received several compliments on them - looks like y’all have good taste in music! Enjoy.

The track name links are to iTunes or Amazon.

1. These Are the Days by Jamie Cullum | This was just a fun song by a very talented, fairly new jazz artist from Australia. The title of the track and lyrics in the song are good for remembering the here and now. Joel suggested this artist to Tessi when they were emailing.

2. Wish I Could by Norah Jones | A favorite artist of both of ours, Joel bought this new album of Norah’s for Tessi on her birthday after it was released this past January. A great relaxing song.

3. White Daisy Passing by Rocky Votoloto | This was a song that Joel sent to Tessi that reinforced their already similar musical tastes. It was one of Tessi’s favorites.

4. Kathy’s Song by Eva Cassidy | Originally done by Simon and Garfunkle, Tessi suggested this song to Joel, who hadn’t heard much of Eva. Beautifully done.

5. Long Time Traveller by The Wailin’ Jennys | When Tessi came up to Tennessee with her family, Joel found this song on iTunes and they fell in love with it together in Tennessee. An incredible group, with harmonies reminiscent of Tessi and her sisters.

6. From the Bottom of My Heart by The Wallflowers | This was a song from The Wallflowers latest album that Joel sent to Tessi as kind of a test of her depth of heart. “Coming up from the depths, to the rays of the sun” are lyrics that Joel really identified with after God allowed him to experience the pain and healing of a broken heart. A song about a phoenix type of resurrection, with a promising and hopeful message.

7. Tomorrow Is A Long Time by Nickel Creek | Joel and Tessi both love Nickel Creek. To show how much he liked them, Joel sent photos of himself posing with the band at a concert in Cincinnati. Tessi then sent a reply with herself posing with the band at a concert in Texas! This song is about the wait, and the longing for “the one.”

8. I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind by Sonya Kitchell | Just a DANG good blues song that you can’t keep from swaying to! MMMMMM!!

9. So Are You To Me by Eastmountainsouth | This is a song by a group that hardly anyone has heard of. But Joel just so happened to find Eastmountainsouth in his musical perusings before meeting Tessi. Tessi and her family were big fans of the group already, and when they found out that Joel knew of and liked them, Tessi’s dad told her to “marry that man!” Joel absolutely fell head over heels for Tessi when she started playing and singing this song for him over the phone during their late night talks. Tessi also recorded this song during her visit to Indiana in the Summer of 2006. Click play below to hear it.

10. Moments with Oliver by Rachael Yamagata | For those with the heart and soul to experience it.

11. Gravity by John Mayer | Not sure if it gets better than this. John Mayer at his best from his latest album Continuum.

12. Prayer of St. Francis by Sarah Mclachlan | One of Joel’s favorite prayers, sung as a beautiful hymn

13. Slumber My Darling by Yo Yo Ma with Alison Krauss | Tessi sent this song to Joel as the background music of a presentation she made for him displaying photos of all her artwork, talking about the beauty of womanhood. Joel could barely bring himself to watch the presentation because she all of a sudden seemed too wonderfully perfect for him.

14. Tennessee by Mindy Smith | Tessi absolutely loves this song. She used to live in Tennessee for awhile, and says that the inflections of this song fits perfectly with the beauty and terrain of Tennessee. A hauntingly good song.

15. Let’s Go Dancing by Teitur | Another song that Joel sent to Tessi that quickly became one of their favorites.

16. At Last by Etta James | Was there every any question as to whether this song would be on here? Well, if there was, then it’s because we’re both in our mid-twenties and are just now finding each other.

17. Sweet Scented Figure by Scott Matthews | A nice funky, bluesy song that’s just fun to drive to.

18. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) by The Dixie Chicks | Tessi loves this song because she imagines herself singing this to her own little boy someday.

19. Morning Stars by KT Tunstall | This was the first song that Joel sent to Tessi. She loved it and sent a favorite song of hers back, and well, that’s how you’re listening to all these songs now.

20. You Don’t Know Me by Ray Charles | Because you just gotta have some Ray!

21. October by Rosie Thomas | Another song that Tessi sang to Joel that made his heart melt. Just beautiful. Click play below to hear Tessi sing this song.

22. One Moment More by Mindy Smith | Another Mindy Smith song that Tessi played and sang for Joel.

23. The Sweetest Gift by Sade | Calm, soothing. Winding down the album. Can any romantic CD be good without Sade?

24. Troparia, Tone 8 (Among the Saints) by Fr. Apostolos Hill | A durge sung in the festal eighth tone at funerals in the Orthodox Church. Four days after Joel moved to Texas, his Grandfather passed away and he had to fly back up to Indiana for the funeral. The Orthodox Church has wonderful resources for grieving the loss of a loved one, and this troparion helped tremendously.