Author David Levithan (The Lover's Dictionary; Every Day) and Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman combine insightful prose with artful lyrics in Songs for Other People's Weddings.
"If you ever need a stranger/ To sing at your wedding/ A last-minute choice, then I am your man/ I know every song, you name it." J's song, "If You Ever Need a Stranger (to Sing at Your Wedding)," sums up his singular career. J creates a personalized song for every couple for their wedding, and his lyrics aim to capture what makes each relationship special. His songs highlight a charming, striking, or sometimes peculiar aspect of the love and people J encounters. Songs for Other People's Weddings highlights all different types and forms of love as J sings for couples of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
While thinking, writing, or singing about love every day, J wants the most to figure out his own love life. J and his girlfriend V have shared witty banter and maintained a steady relationship for two years. But V's sudden move to New York for work adds distance, tension, and uncertainty to their relationship. With every day that passes without V, J tries to understand what love really is and how to navigate the obstacles separating him and V. Songs for Other People's Weddings is a celebration of love, but it doesn't fail to recognize the bittersweet, messy, and heartbreaking moments that come with it. Levithan's story and Lekman's songs join in beautiful harmony to describe, question, and dissect love. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer