Song By Song Guide to Wedding Bells in the Key of J, Part 2

(Over the next 12 days the blog will spotlight one song each day from Wedding Bells in the Key of J.)

Why did I include an arrangement of this song?

You may be one of the millions who instantly recognize this song but don’t necessarily know the title or artist. Truly Madly Deeply came out in 1997 and was an instant hit, landing at #1 barely a monthly after its release. It remains a staple at weddings, gatherings and on radio for its elegant pronouncements of affection.

Also, a good friend of mine said this is the most romantic song ever, and I’d certainly agree that it belongs in the discussion.

How did I compose the arrangement?

This song was among the most difficult to fit within a piano arrangement because I had to fill in a lot of spots where the vocals and accompaniment don’t have anything going on. The chorus is probably the most recognizable part – “I want to stand with you on a mountain” – but I felt like I had to take the verses somewhere they don’t normally go. So there are a lot of hidden melody lines that take the song’s simple beat and spread it out.

Any interesting facts about the song?

This song took by far the longest to record. Just a guess, but it probably took upwards of 30 takes to get it right. Consequently, it was the last one to get on the album and I considered leaving it off so the project wouldn’t be delayed.