Twenty years ago, maintaining an international relationship often meant expensive phone calls, carefully timed emails, and long periods with little contact. Now two people living thousands of miles apart can exchange messages throughout the day, share photos from ordinary moments, and speak face to face from their phones.
eLyrics illustration: a quiet afternoon with music and someone to listen alongside.
A conversation about a singer can begin in a fan discussion, a language exchange or a dating website. Country-specific dating pages, including those for ukrainian brides, are another route to an introduction. Then comes the less straightforward business of getting to know a person.
John and Yoko put their relationship on record
Artists were making relationships part of their work long before there were shared playlists. John Lennon and Yoko Ono met in London in late 1966, while Ono was preparing an exhibition. Their wedding took place in Gibraltar on 20 March 1969. That same year they released Wedding Album, an experimental record with two long tracks, “John & Yoko” and “Amsterdam.” On the first, they call out each other's names over recordings of their heartbeats. The second includes material from their Amsterdam bed-in for peace.
The album's packaging went beyond a conventional sleeve. It included wedding photographs, drawings, a copy of their marriage certificate and a picture of wedding cake. Lennon's official album archive quotes him looking back in 1980: “Our wedding was public, so we're sharing our diaries and our feelings with the world.” It was a wedding record in a much more literal sense than a compilation of first-dance songs.
The Beatles' “The Ballad of John and Yoko” told another version of the events. Despite the band's name on the single, the recording was made by Lennon and Paul McCartney. Lennon played lead and acoustic guitars; McCartney played bass, drums and piano. They completed the track in one day at Abbey Road. The promotional film combined outtakes from Let It Be with private footage filmed in Amsterdam, London, Paris and Vienna. Released on 30 May 1969, the single turned the wedding story into something listeners could take home.
One love song, three different recordings
Ed Sheeran released ÷ on 3 March 2017, with “Perfect” among its tracks. “Perfect Duet” with Beyoncé followed on 30 November; “Perfect Symphony” with Andrea Bocelli arrived on 15 December. The familiar title now belongs to several recordings. Couples choosing music for a visit or a wedding have a choice to make:
| Recording | Performers | Release |
|---|---|---|
| “Perfect” | Ed Sheeran | 3 March 2017, on ÷ |
| “Perfect Duet” | Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé | 30 November 2017, single |
| “Perfect Symphony” | Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli | 15 December 2017, single |
“Perfect Symphony” is listed as classical crossover in Apple Music's catalogue. Its credits in Apple Music Classical include Matthew Sheeran among the producers, Rachel Roberts on viola, and Ben Russell and Leon Bosch on double bass. Bocelli's official career archive also records the collaboration in December 2017.
Include the less romantic favourites
You don't have to reserve the exchange for grand declarations. A few everyday choices give a partner abroad something of your life between calls. Try swapping:
- A childhood favourite, with the name of whoever used to play it.
- The track currently getting repeated on the way to work.
- A concert memory, including the disappointing ones.
- An artist you'd like the other person to try.
When the lyrics mean different things
A link to “Perfect” leaves an unanswered question: did you mean the romantic story, or did you just like the tune? Include a sentence about the choice. After an argument, particularly, there is no reason to make somebody search the chorus for an apology.
Our article on how lyrics change what we hear in a song discusses listening again once the words come into focus. Do that second listen together. One of you may have missed a verse that changes the mood considerably.
A translation leaves room for questions
The English and Italian in “Perfect Symphony” offer a useful reminder to check the words. If you need a translation, read it together. Leave time for the person who speaks the language to explain anything the translated line hasn't quite captured.
A partner from Ukraine might send a Ukrainian-language recording or an English-language favourite. Ask what their family played. No artist represents everybody's taste, and no passport explains somebody's expectations about marriage, family visits or daily messages.
Choosing music for a wedding together
Keep the songs from calls, visits and journeys in a shared list, even if the collection sounds untidy. If marriage becomes a practical plan, those memories give you material to work with. Alex Warren's “Ordinary” is another option; our reading of its everyday-love theme explores its romantic imagery.
Agree on the versions and the family requests
A popular recommendation needn't displace something meaningful to you both. This is also the moment to talk about requests from relatives, particularly if two families expect different music. For the final list:
- Each suggest a few songs, with the memories behind them.
- Check the complete lyrics and choose the exact recordings.
- Find a place for family requests where they fit the celebration.
- Give the DJ or musicians the versions and timings, well before the day.
Before making wedding plans, the relationship needs time away from the screen. Shared tastes don't establish a stranger's identity. The FTC's romance-scam guidance warns about online love interests who ask for money. Discuss costs and accommodation for a first visit, meet in public and keep access to your own transport and documents. Include time for a quiet meal as well as the concert.
