You can’t beat a good boogie on the dance floor and if there is ever a time you want a dance floor to be jammers, it’s your wedding. Which is why song choice is so important! Just because you’re partial to a bit of Dolly doesn’t mean the rest of your guests will appreciate it. Which is why a DJ is on hand to apply his or her expertise and keep an eye on the dance floor to see what tunes are working best for that particular crowd.
Over the years, songs have come and gone but there are certain tunes that stand the test of time and the minute you hear them, you flock to the dance floor in droves. From Black Eye’s Pea’s party anthem ‘I Gotta Feeling’ to Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’, here’s some top party song choices from those in-the-know as well as some solid advice when it comes to choosing your party playlist…
Gary from Mad Hatter Music Entertainment – View Profile (www.madhattermusicentertainment.com)
1. Shout – Lulu and The Lovers: This song can get even the most stubborn of people onto the dance floor.
2. Gangnam Style – PSY: I’m not sure how much life this song has left in it but for now it still fills the floor. Not everyone likes listening to it but they sure do like dancing to it!
3. Jump Around – House Of Pain: This is an old school hip hop tune that appeals more to men but everyone really loves to jump around!
4. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas: This song kind of sums up the vibe that every one wants for a wedding. Tonight’s gonna be a good night! Great way to set the tone for the night.
5. Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner: There is always a group of girls at every wedding that know the dance routine to this song. Before you know it, everyone is at it!
6. Single Ladies – Beyonce: It wouldn’t be a wedding without some Beyonce and this song naturally draws out the single ladies. Again, before too long, everyone is doing the dance moves.
7. You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry: If you have seen Pulp Fiction, you more than likely know the dance routine. Floor filler!
8. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO: Another song with a dance routine. Usually the younger folk teaching the older guests how it’s done. Great to watch from the DJ’s perspective.
9. Grease Megamix – Grease Megamix: Most woman will enjoy dancing to this song and there is usually a few that will demand this song before the end of the night. There are usually a few men in the audience that don’t look too impressed but they always get involved before the tune is over!
10. Pulp – Common People: This is an indie anthem. If indie is what the couple are after, their guests will flock to the floor for this song.
Garvan from Star DJs – View Profile (www.stardjs.ie)
Every wedding is different and no two weddings are the same. That’s why as a professional DJ you have to read the floor every three minutes to decide which of the 10,000 songs in your head you will play next. Pick the wrong song and you risk losing the floor. Pick the right song and it brings the atmosphere up another level. At the end of the day as a DJ, one fifth or sometimes as much as one third of a couple’s day is in your hands, so I want to make their day special and create memories for them that last a lifetime. It’s not even about just what songs you play, but how you mix them, chop them and most importantly at what exact moment do you play them! As a DJ you can never play the songs you personally like, but the songs that work the floor. Some of the biggest party songs over recent years in no particular order include:
1. Thunderstruck – AC/DC
2. Hey Ya! – Outkast
3. I’ve Gotta feeling – The Black Eyes Peas
4. Footloose – Kenny Loggins
5. Do You Love Me – The Contours
6. Twist & Shout – The Beatles
7. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
8. Mr Brightside – The Killers
9. Single Ladies – Beyonce
10. The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna be (500 miles)
Some of the big current songs right now include Calvin Harris – Summer, Pitbull feat ke$ha – Timber, Pharrell Willams – Happy and John Legend – All of Me (either as a slow dance or the Tiesto mix for dancing later in the evening).
Darragh from Digital DJs – View Profile (www.digitaldjs.ie)
Darragh shares his 5 top tips when it comes to choosing your wedding playlist:
1. At the moment songs such as Pharrell – Happy and Robin Thicke’s infectious blurred lines have become incorporated to the wedding anthem hall of fame and will more often than not duly oblige and pack any dance floor. A noticeable trend in recent years is newer music being selected over the traditional wedding oldies – songs like ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, ‘I’m a Believer’, ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Rock around the Clock’ etc are no longer having the same appeal. Crowds have moved on. 80s and 90s have become the new 60s and 70’s. The Beatles, Chubby Checker and Abba have been replaced with Backstreet Boys, Haddaway, Vanilla Ice and Tiffany for the “oldies set”.
2. One of the most important things for any couple to think about when picking out a list of songs is taking into account your guests and what will appeal to them (and get then on the dance floor). Avoid picking large quantities of songs because you personally like them. They may not be suitable for dancing hence killing any atmosphere in seconds!
3. It is imperative that you let your DJ know what you like and dislike. There are so many different styles and genres, Dance, Hip Hop, Chart, Indie, Alternative, Rock, Jazz etc. Picking a top 10 for an alternative crowd may include songs from The Smiths, Happy Mondays, Stones Roses. A top 10 Hip Hop and R’N’B set might comprise of Notorious BIG, Coolio, Beyonce etc. Try and cater for a range of different tastes and use your DJ’s knowledge (remember he or she is the expert and you are hiring them for their experience in this area).
4. Ask them for feedback on your playlist if you have created one. Try not to be overly prescriptive on the music, steer clear of dictating the music for the night or even the song order that they are to be played in (yes it does happen). Giving the DJ a comprehensive list can also help them choose what they think is most suitable on the night. Bear in mind, the DJ will have no idea how the crowd will respond to your requests until on the night where the crowd can be gauged…
5. Lastly and most important of all, as the bride/ groom, make sure you both get up and dance as much as possible! It seems to go without saying but I can assure you this will be the single biggest factor contributing to the success of the night and numbers up dancing on the floor.
Image via Bash Please
