100+ Unique & Emotional Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Songs: The Complete List (2020)
At what point during the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony do the tissues come out (emotional tears, not sad tears)?
Believe it or not – it’s often during the Bar/Bat Mitzvah candle lighting ceremony.
But for that to happen – you need:
- A touching Bar/Bat Mitzvah candle lighting speech.
- Emotional & persona Bar & Bat Mitzvah candle lighting songs!
Believe me – you don’t want Justin Bieber playing when you invite your grandma to light a candle (just saying…).
You want a song that:
- They like (or at least don’t hate)
- Matches the personality of the person
- Is appropriate for the occasion (I don’t care how much you like Busta Rhymes. It ain’t gonna happen!)
Well, lucky for you – I’ve gathered the most popular candle lighting ceremony songs all into one place – so you don’t have to spend hours scouring the web trying to assemble a song list.
Remember: These are just recommendations… if you know what songs Grandma likes, what song makes auntie Bracha laugh (or cry), or what boy-band your cousin Rachel was addicted to as a teenager (Nick from Backstreet Boys! I Love You!) – choose them!
Table of Contents
Tips for Choosing the Best Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Songs
Imagine being called to light a candle, with an awful Justin Bieber song playing in the background…
Now that person has to walk up on stage embarrassed in front of everyone.
“I think I’ll stay in my seat, thank you very much.”
It might not seem like a big deal. But trust me – such a small thing can ruin your guest’s entire evening (even though your intentions were good).
How do you avoid that trap?
Here are a few tips that’ll help you avoid awkward situations when you choose your Bar/Bat Mitzvah candle lighting songs:
1. Dedicate a song to each personRemember the Rocky movies? Every time Rocky entered the ring, his special theme song was playing to “pump him up” before the big match.
Same thing here: if the person you’re inviting to light a candle has a favorite song – play it.
That’s a small gesture that goes a long way (just hope they don’t punch you in the face if you play the Rocky theme song) for someone you love.
Besides, odds are they went above and beyond to get you a meaningful Bar Mitzvah gift (or Bat Mitzvah gift). The least you can do is dedicate a meaningful song to them.
2. Don’t choose inappropriate songs
I don’t care how much you love Justin Bieber… If you’re inviting Grandma Betsy to light a candle, tell Justin to wait in the hall and choose a more appropriate song (let alone if it’s a memory candle)
3. Choose a style and stay consistent
One second you play a Dance song, then you change to classical music, then you move to Hip Hop…
Ugh…
You might as well hand your guests a bunch of aspirins instead of Bar/Bat Mitzvah favors.
It gave me a headache just writing this…
It’s OK to switch it up a bit, but don’t overdo it otherwise you’ll have a bunch of old folks nagging in the bathroom.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Song Suggestions & Ideas
Unless you’re a Hollywood celebrity who decided to throw a belated Bar/Bat Mitzvah party on your 45th birthday – odds are you’ll light 12-13 candles in your candle lighting ceremony.
That’s 12-13 candles you get to dedicate to your family, friends and loved ones.
Now. Let’s take a standard candle lighting order like this one:
- A memorial candle to honor the deceased
- Grandparents
- Aunts & Uncles
- Cousins
- Older family relatives
- Younger family relatives
- People who came from a distance
- Older family friends
- Younger family friends
- The Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s friends
- Parents
- Siblings
- Special guest/s of honor
That means you need 12-13 songs. Easy-peasy!
Now, for fun part: choosing a song for each person on that list!
Memorial Candle Songs
Keep in Mind: If your relative has recently passed away, you may want to skip the song altogether…
| Memory – Barbra Streisand |
| I Will Remember You – Sarah MacLachlan |
| My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion |
| Unforgettable – Natalie & Nat Cole |
| I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston |
| Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole |
| You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins |
| Angel of Mine – Monica |
| Memories – Elvis Presley |
| One Sweet Day – Boys II Men & Mariah Carey |
| Somewhere Out There – James Ingram |
| Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton |
| Together Again – Janet Jackson |
| See You Again – Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth |
Songs for Grandparents
Songs for Relatives (Aunts & Uncles, Cousins…)
Songs for Friends (and Family Friends)
Songs for Parents
Songs for Kids (or Young Spirits)
| Go Go Power Rangers – Power Rangers Theme |
| I Love You – Barney Theme |
| Sesame Street Theme |
| Hakuna Matata – Lion King Soundtrack |
| Under the Sea – Little Mermaid |
| The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens |
| Sponge Bob Theme |
| Dora The Explorer Theme |
| Be Our Guest – Beauty & the Beast Soundtrack |
| Let It Go – Frozen Soundtrack |
Songs for Siblings
Song for Guests of Honor
| Another One Bites the Dust– Queen |
| Birthday– Beatles |
| How Sweet It Is – James Taylor |
| Hero – Enrique Iglesias |
| Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion |
| Celebration– Kool & the Gang |
| Here Comes the Hot stepper– Ini Kamoze |
| I Feel Good– James Brown (or the fast version) |
| Save the Best for Last– Vanessa Williams |
| Simply The Best– Tina Turner |
| Still the One– Orleans |
| Feel So Close – Calvin Harris |
| Waiting for Tonight– Jennifer Lopez |
| We’re Having a Party– Rod Stewart |
| Through The Years – Kenny Rogers |
| How Sweet It Is – James Taylor |
| What A Wonderful World – Louie Armstrong |
Conclusion
Choose wisely, my young Padawan…
But let me remind you again – while all these Bar/Bat Mitzvah candle lighting songs are great, nothing beats your own personal choices.
You know your family & friends better than the MTV Latest hits… so choose the songs that fit you and your Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Mazel Tov!
