Tuesday Tunes: Etta James

This week I've had wedding plans on the brain (who knew that planning a wedding required making so many decisions?!), which has inspired today's Tuesday Tune. For some time now (long before I even had a boyfriend, much less a fiance), I have been sure of one detail (and, apparently, only one detail, as I'm quickly discovering now that I have to plan all the rest of the details) for my future wedding ceremony: At some point during the reception, my new husband and I will dance to Etta James's "At Last." If you're not familiar with her rendition of this classic song, get familiar. This singular song exemplifies everything that true love and faithful commitment are about, and for a girl who spent much of her adolescence and young adulthood pining for someone to love (and I do mean PINING), it is also profoundly appropriate.

I love the way that James delivers this song, in such a way that even if she were singing nonsense words, you would understand the intended meaning. The lyrics speak of the joy of found love, and the music shouts the sentiment with piercing strings and a willowy, flowing, ethereal sound. I can feel this song from beginning to end. I eagerly await the day I can share a newlywed moment with my true love as we're completely immersed in this song and embraced by each other. At last.