A romantic song can capture a moment forever, refreshing a memory and dampening eyes with its first notes.

Some songs are personal, with special meaning for a particular couple, while others are popular with lovers the world over.

Disc jockeys are charged with the task of finding that perfect song on a regular basis at weddings, engagement parties and high school dances, among other events. It is a task they take seriously.

What makes romance?

“People's tastes vary wildly as to what they consider romantic. There are some songs that span generations, and others are very specific,” said DJ Tom Menchyk of Meridian.

“It seems like the lyrics essentially have to be right for a song to convey emotion and love. But you have to sing it well, and the melody has to be right.”

Robert Pfeifer of Slippery Rock, also known the past 12 years as DJ Pifemaster, said personal meaning is what truly makes a song romantic.

“There's not any one thing that makes a good love song. What's more important is what song has meaning to that (couple),” he said.

Sometimes that romance isn't even found in a love song.

“I had one couple that used the theme song from Popeye (as the first dance at their wedding). It's such a wide variety,” said Eric Pint of Bruin, who operates as DJ AFX.

Each DJ said the situation can affect the impact of a song as well.

Wedding receptions have different phases, from introductions and the couple's first dance to the father-of-the-bride's dance with his daughter and the guests' dance with the newlyweds, commonly called the “dollar dance.”

“A DJ is constantly monitoring and adjusting,” said Menchyk, using a term from his school teaching days.

Pint echoed that thought.

“A lot of times, you are responding to the crowd. I try to keep the wedding very fast paced and upbeat. It's supposed to be a party,” he said.

Pfeifer said switching genres of music on the fly can make or break a reception performance, and location must be taken into account.

“There are a tremendous amount of country songs that are popular, in addition to mainstream love songs. It depends on where you are. As you get closer to Pittsburgh, you hear a lot more jazzy or modern artists. As you get farther north of Butler, you tend to hear more country. It's definitely geographic,” he said.

‘At Last' will last

Most — if not all — newlyweds-to-be obsess over what song will play during their first dance as husband and wife, and the late Etta James' rendition of “At Last” is the go-to choice for many newlyweds.

Menchyk said, “Certainly, the lyrics contribute to it. James' rendition is about perfect, though. She recorded it when she was very young in the 1960s. It carries great power with lots of people.

“A lot of times, people want to request songs by artists that they know, so you get Elvis' ‘Can't Help Falling in Love' quite a bit. That seems to be one people like to request.”

Pint, who has been a DJ for about 20 years, cited “Amazed” by Lone Star and “When a Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge as timeless classics in his rotation.

“They're tried and true songs that everybody wants to hear at a wedding.” he said.

Pfeifer said “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers and “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton top his request list.

“It doesn't matter whether the wedding is in East Brady or Pittsburgh. Those songs will pack the dance floor every time,” he said.

“But, popular first dance songs change all the time.”

Menchyk, too, said a “flavor-of-the-week” love song finds its way into newlyweds' first dance just as often as classics.

Of course, that doesn't mean songs currently popular don't have staying power.

“You never know. I'm always surprised at songs that last,” Pint said.

He cited Train's “Marry Me” as one such tune by virtue both of its content and title.

While party songs like the ‘Macarena,' ‘YMCA' and the ‘Hokeypokey' may make some guests cringe, the lovey ‘Cupid Shuffle,' is often requested and can create romance by bringing people together.

“There's just something about a line dance. I think it's because everybody is doing the same thing, so nobody feels weird,” Pint said.