Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Wedding DJ Playlist For 2013 Already? Reception Music With Dance Songs

I recently had a budding DJ approach me to ask me questions about how to set up wedding music playlists.  He said he would be going full blown into it next year so he was hoping I could put together a wedding playlist 2013.  I wish I could predict the future and know what songs will be popular next year and that would fit into any wedding dj playlist...but my crystal ball got shattered in a tragic lawn bowling accident and, alas, I am without precognition abilities.

Still, I was thrilled because I love helping out new DJ's or other DJ's who are interested in moving into the wedding market.  So I thought to myself, "How can I help this cat (he wasn't an actual cat, although he did frequently lap milk from a saucer) be prepared with some wedding playlists for 2013 and beyond?"

Then it hit me.  Yes, the saucer of milk.  He threw it at me.  Seriously, though, I realized I can help him and any other DJ's, engaged couples, normal people throwing parties, abnormal people of the feline persuasion having a party, and so on.  What I put together below is a wedding playlist that transcends through all years, future past, and especially present.

HOW?

What I made was a wedding dj setlist that any person can cut and paste their favorite songs and replace any that are on the list, as long as they keep those songs in the same genre.

For instance, you can remove any of the songs of today and put your song ideas into the slots that are made up of songs from any top 40 wedding playlist from any year.    Whether the songs come from a wedding playlist 2011 or a wedding playlist 2012, it doesn't really matter.  And if your building a 2014 wedding playlist, it will still work!

WHY?

Why does this work?  It's because, first and foremost, it follows the number one rule for the best wedding playlist and that is to play only three songs per genre in a row.  Also as you probably know, many wedding songs just last forever and ever.  They will never go away.  Sure, some have died (THANK GOD), such as the YMCA and the Chicken Dance (notice they are NOT on the list?), but most don't.

Currently, crowds are loving the 80's rock era, with Def Leppard, Guns & Roses, and the like, packing the dance floor.  Why is this?  I have no idea!  All I know is that the wedding music set list below reflects this current trend.  Suppose swing music starts to grow again in popularity.  Just swap out the rock for the swing and you'll be set.

Maybe you'll need to add a lot more from your 80s alternative playlist one day. If so, just swap out the genres and hit the hot music of your time.

Obviously, these are dance songs, not father daughter wedding songs or mother son wedding songs.  Those are usually played before the main dancing and will be taken care of during your wedding planning sessions with your DJ.

This List Sucks!

Yeah, I know.  All the cool disc jockey hipsters will tell you how LAME this list is and that they wouldn't be caught dead following this list.  What they don't understand is if they play their 60 minute techno/house/dubstep set, they will have an empty room within 20 minutes or so.

Now, any professional "wedding DJ" understands the genius of the list and knows that, at a wedding reception, it would kick some serious dance floor.

This is the best dj playlist for wedding dancing and crowd retention because it crosses most generations and doesn't linger on any particular area of wedding reception songs.

Adaptation

This specific list will work for a typical wedding crowd where more than half of the guests are the bride and groom's age and the others are more toward the parents ages.  It leans more toward the latest top 40 music, while still hitting the other genres.

So, will your parents have more guests in attendance than you?  No problem.  Cut a Top 40 set and add whatever your crowd will like.  Songs like Brown Eyed Girl, Down On The Corner, and Honky Tonk Woman might fit that bill.

"We love country!"  No problem.  Switch out a set or two with some two-stepping tunes!

"Like, OMG, dude, we love Duran Duran!" Cool.  Add some new wave in place of the weakest music for your group.

"Jess, Mon!  We be diggin' da Reggae!"  Den, drop da ragga beat in place of da rockin' sheet, mon!

Do you "dig it?"  Are you getting it?  I hope so.  But always, always, always keep those sets 3 to 4 songs so you don't chase away your other guests.

I Can Do It!

No, you can't.  Unless you are a professional DJ with wedding experience, you will probably run into many issues as you try to swap songs, change sets around, add other genres, let alone simply implementing the following set as is.  DJ's see and understand what I've done with the list.  They know why I grouped songs with similar BPM together, why I lead out from one set and into another with certain songs, and so on.  They know what to do if they start a Top 40 set and no one dances.  Do you?

My advice is, as always, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING DJ! Not just "a DJ" either.

Do you think the dj playlist below would work for your wedding?  Let me know!


ArtistTitleTimeGenre
TEMPTATIONSMY GIRL2:57oldies
ARETHA FRANKLINRESPECT2:27oldies
KC & THE SUNSHINE BANDBOOGIE SHOES2:52disco
EARTH, WIND & FIRELET'S GROOVE TONIGHT5:37disco
GAP BANDYOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME5:06disco
LMFAOPARTY ROCK ANTHEM4:23top 40
PITBULL F NE-YOGIVE ME EVERYTHING4:07top 40
BOB SINCLAR F BIG ALI & DOLLAR MANROCK THIS PARTY4:11top 40
AL GREENTIRED OF BEING ALONE2:48ballad
COMMODORESBRICK HOUSE3:41disco
WILD CHERRYPLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC4:53disco
KC & THE SUNSHINE BANDGET DOWN TONIGHT3:10disco
MICHAEL JACKSONDON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH6:04disco
AC DCYOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG3:30rock
LYNYRD SKYNYRDSWEET HOME ALABAMA4:39rock
BOB SEGEROLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL3:14rock
FLO-RIDAGOOD FEELING4:07top 40
DAVID GUETTA F KID CUDIMEMORIES3:34top 40
LMFAOSEXY AND I KNOW IT3:19top 40
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERSUNCHAINED MELODY3:38ballad
FRANK SINATRAWAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT3:23Swing
GLENN MILLERIN THE MOOD3:39Swing
BEATLESTWIST & SHOUT2:33oldies
ANIMAL HOUSE SOUNDTRACKSHOUT4:04oldies
KANYE WEST F T-PAINGOOD LIFE WARNING3:31top 40
CHRIS BROWN F LIL WAYNE & BUSTA...LOOK AT ME NOW3:47top 40
USHER F LUDACRIS & LIL JONYEAH4:15top 40
VIOLENT FEMMESBLISTER IN THE SUN2:2380’s
CUREJUST LIKE HEAVEN3:3280’s
DEPECHE MODEJUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH3:3180’s
Slow song of your choiceballad
CHRIS BROWNYEAH 3X4:03top 40
FLO RIDA F T PAINLOW WARNING3:53top 40
COBRA STARSHIP F SABIYOU MAKE ME FEEL3:34top 40
BRITNEY SPEARSTILL THE WORLD ENDS4:00top 40
GUNS N' ROSESSWEET CHILD O' MINE5:52rock
ROMANTICSWHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU2:56rock
PRINCEKISS3:46dance
MICHAEL JACKSONBILLIE JEAN4:57dance
MADONNAHOLIDAY4:00dance
JENNIFER LOPEZ F PITBULLON THE FLOOR3:53top 40
BLACK EYED PEASI GOTTA FEELING4:09top 40
TAIO CRUZ F TRAVIE MCCOYHIGHER3:43top 40
MAROON 5 F CHRISTINA AGUILERAMOVES LIKE JAGGER3:27top 40
JOURNEYDON'T STOP BELIEVIN'4:10ballad

8 comments:

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CD duplication said...

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made while writing this post. I am hoping for the best work of the same from you in future.

Cory White said...

Thank you so much for this list. I am getting married this weekend, and my fiance and I were unable to hire a DJ for our wedding, so I have struggled to come up with a playlist. I began searching and stumbled upon this, and it is perfect for us. We are looking so forward to jamming out with these tunes. Thank you so much for the great article, it is appreciated!

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