Music for the just play upbeat music during dinner and cocktail hour...and

[soundmasterdj]

What do you play when you are given the direction to just play upbeat music during dinner and throw in some alternative music as well

[nextgen1]

For me, that might mean a little more current stuff. I have been known to play Jack Johnson, Adele, John Mayer. Even older would work but a little more fast paced. I think they just want to keep it lively with out a bunch of slow romantic songs, though quicker romantic songs might work as well. Hell I would probably have "White Wedding" in there also, but this is just me. I get props all the time because of the dinner, cocktail music. For alternative, the fray, cold play groups in that vein might work. I have learned that in Cali if your music is to much in the vein of slower stuff. People are unmoved, I even try to through in some side "B" dance type stuff towards the end of dinner. Just to get people thinking of moving their feet and wanting to dance.

[djtunes]

Clumsy, Fergie
Your Love, Nicki Minaj
The way you look tonight, Frank Sinatra
L.O.V.E., Nat King Cole
River Of Dreams, Billy Joel
Just a gigolo, David Lee Roth
Forever And For Always, Shania Twain
Forever And Ever, Amen, Randy Travis
How Forever Feels, Kenny Chesney
Drift Away, Uncle Kracker version
Big Yellow Taxi, Counting Crows
Good Vibrations, Beach Boys
Volcano, Jimmy Buffett
You Make Loving Fun, Fleetwood Mac
Spirit In The Sky, Norman Greenbaum
Just The Way You Are, Bruno Mars
No Letting Go, Wayne Wonder
Say Hey (I Love You), Michael Franti & Spearhead
Price Tag, Jessie J
Heaven, Los Lonely Boys
This Love, Maroon 5
The Remedy (I Don't Worry), Jason Mraz
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen
Somebody That I Used To Know, Gotye
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), Harry Belafonte
Could You Be Loved, Bob Marley
Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, Kenny Chesney
(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You, UB40
Baby I Love Your Way, Big Mountain

There... that should get you through dinner.

[djtunes]

Don't forget: Our Song, Taylor Swift
I Do, Colbie Caillat
Better Together, Jack Johnson
Stuck Like Glue, Sugarland

[djtunes]

American Pie

[JTizzle]

I always try to throw in a few upbeat tunes - especially towards the end of dinner, to get the mood picked up.
I know there is some cheese in this list, but sometimes the cheese works!

Better Together - Jack Johnson
For Once In My Life - Buble
Love Will keep us Together - Captain and Tenille
More Today Than Yesterday - Spiral Staircase
Rhythm of Love - Plain White Ts
Sweet Caroline
My Girl
Hey Good Lookin' - Buffet and Friends
Hooked On a Feeling - BJ Thomas
We Belong Together - Mariah Carey

[soundmasterdj]

Thanks, worked great!

[DJ Jonny T]

I would have them name a few specific tunes and then build a playlist from that. Personally not a big fan of jumping all over the place but if necessary, I will but group songs together . . . so 15 mins of pop rock, 15 mins of country, 15 mins of alternative . . . etc., etc.

[Mark Evans]

All Night Long - Lionel Ritchie
Rock With You - MJ
Sunrise - Simply Red
On Broadway - George Benson
Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge

[jodi]

follows is a real request-list I had for a wedding I did last summer.....

You'll see some indie-rock and little used oldie stuff here

By the way - yes - it was a "bit" of a challenge, but SO perfect for them, and such a great party, and once they saw I took them and their personalities seriously, i was able to mix in some good old fashioned "familiar" songs when dancing started (and lasted an hour and a half past originally scheduled end time) It was all good




music ideas
OLDIES ~ for cocktails and dancing

More Today Than Yesterday Sprial Staircase
One Fine Day Chiffons
For Once in My Life Stevie Wonder
It’s Not Unusual Tom Jones
Chantilly Lace Big Bopper
Wouldn’t It Be Nice Beach Boys
Love Me Do The Beatles
She Loves You The Beatles
All My Lovin’ The Beatles
And I Love Her The Beatles
That’ll Be The Day Buddy Holly
The Wanderer Dion
This Magic Moment Drifters
Runaway Del Shannon
Come Go With Me Del Vikings
In The Midnight Hour Wilson Pickett
Ain’t No Woman … Four Tops
Ain’t That a Shame Fats Domino
Love & Happiness Al Green
Lovely Day Bill Withers
What a Fool Believes Doobie Bros
Save the Last Dance For Me Drifters
Burnin’ Love Elvis Presley
Wipe Out Surfaris

SLOW SONGS/MID-TEMPO ~ for dinner and dancing

Air on A G-String Bach
It Had To Be You Billie Holiday
Sunrise Norah Jones
Turn Me on Norah Jones
Come Rain Come Shine Ray Charles
All the Way Harry Connick Jr
That Old Black Magic Rosemary Clooney
Stardust Nat King Cole
I’d Rather Be With You (new mix) Joshua Radin
Today Joshua Radin
Closer Joshua Radin
She Will Be Loved Maroon 5
Upside Down Jack Johnson
Angel Jack Johnson
Careless Whisper Wham
Layla Eric Clapton

ROCK/OTHER ~ cocktails, dinner, dancing or anytime

Yellow Ledbetter Pearl Jam
Just Breathe Pearl Jam
Wishlist Pearl Jam
PDA Interpool
Feel The Pain Dinosaur Jr
That’s What You Get Paramore
Thirty Three Smashing Pumpkins
Landslide Smashing Pumpkins
1979 Smashing Pumpkins
Disarm Smashing Pumpkins
Dashboard Modest Mouse
12:51:00 The Strokes
Last Night The Strokes
Hard to Explain The Strokes
Red Light The Strokes
You Only Live Once The Stokes
Here Comes Your Man The Pixies
Rusholme Ruffians The Smiths
Hard to Concentrate Red Hot Chili ..
So Wathcha Want Beastie Boys
Where The Streets Have No Names U2
One U2
Pachebel Meets U2 John Schmidt
Rock and Roll Eric Hutchinson
Till Kingdom Come Coldplay
Shiver Coldplay
(If You’re Wondering If I Want you To) Weezer
Island in The Sun Weezer
The Girl Got Hot Weezer
Liztomania Phoenix
Lasso Phoenix
Lazy Eye Silversun Pickups
Well Thought Out Twinkles Silversun Pickups
Animal Neon Trees
Time To Pretend MGMT
Kids MGMT
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt 1 Flaming Lips
Do You Realize Flaming Lips
M79 Vampire Weekend
Holiday Vampire Weekend
Come on Get Higher Matt Nathanson
Wedding Dress Matt Nathanson