Classy Lounge Style 50th Birthday Music
To pick or not to pick your event music, that question comes up all the time. Many DJs do not allow their clients to pick any music at all, or maybe just a few tunes. Then there are those, like us at Total Entertainment Music, that allow you to have your day, your way...always.
My client RJ called a few weeks back and asked if I would work with someone who wanted to make their own playlist, and she complained that all the music she hears at recent events just seems to be the same. I said sure thing, I am happy to help you and I just happen to have that evening open as I had only booked an afternoon event and was free. I took the job!
She told me before we contracted, she was planning her 50th at the Casino Lodge in Saratoga, a very cool place, for about 60 people all around her age. (mine too!) She wanted specific tunes for the 7-9 pm cocktail and dinner period, and wanted to do a short welcome speech around 7:45 pm. Then she said at 9:00 pm I want you to turn it up and work off the second list I give you. No interaction needed, just let the music do the talking. (and great beat mixing too of course!). Once again, I accepted her terms. Then I got the list a week before the event....
7:00 - 9:00 pm Cocktail and Dinner List
This list was so awesome, I made to mixes of them to use at the event. Set list below is not the order of the music played.
Beautiful IBIZA Beach Lounge - Del Mar Chillout Mix
Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed (Rocco Raimundo Remix)
The State of the Union - Thievery Corportion
6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps
That Boy - Mofro
Breathe me - Mylo Remix - Sia
Khalghi Stomp - Transgender Underground
Devil Woman - Marcy Playground
Wicked Games - Anna Naklab
One Love in my Life Time - Diana Ross
Slowly - Max Sedgley
Muy Tranquilo - Street Bangers
Missing My Baby - G Love
Web of Deception - Thievery Corporation
Go slow - Amber Jolene
Feel Up - Grace Jones
I couldn’t love you more - Sade
Liberation Front - Theivery Corp
Atomic Bomb - William Onyeabor
Starshine - Honeyroot
No Rain - Blind Melon
Fenomenom – Pacific Memories
No right angles - Eighty Mile Beach
The Hop - Radio Citizen
Fade into You – Mazzy Star
Prayer In C – Lily Wood
As tears go by - Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful
Hang on to your love - Sade
Two Sons in the Sky - Davi
What I Got - Sublime
Who Will stop the rain - Creedence
The Gift of Freedom - Charles Webster House
Finally Moving - Pretty Lights
Wish I knew you -The Revivalists
Save Me - Dave Matthews
Here's the two cocktail/dinner mixes I made, and I mixed in a few loose songs from her list in between to cover the time. The first mix had more vocals in it, and covered more of the cocktail period before her welcome toast. The second was used primarily for dinner and had less vocals but helped set the tone for the party to follow.
9:00-11:00 pm Dance Party Set
Here I used primarily dance remixes, club versions and extended version to seamlessly flow the dancing. They danced non-stop for 2 hours straight! Songs listed below not played in this order.
Lets Dance - David Bowie
Rapture - Blondie
Crazy In Love Beyonce and Jay Z
Jack White - Corporation
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Make It Happen - Badboe
Brick – Dazz
Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke
Sho Nuff – Fatboy Slim
Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground
Miss You - Rolling Stones
When You're Dancing - Cassian
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
If everybody looked the same Groove Armada
Proud Mary – Tina and Ike
Feet don’t fail me now - Need to Breathe
Rocksteady - Aretha Franklin
Lady Marmalade - Christine Aguilera Lil Kim
All summer long - Kid Rock
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Le Freak - Chic
Take Over Control - Afrojack
Groove is in the Heart - Deee-lite
Finally Moving - Pretty Lights
Starry Eyed Surprise - Paul Oakenfold
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
Best Girl - Mercury
Avicii - Levels
Billy Jean & Thriller - Michael Jackson
We are Family - Sister Sledge
Shout -Isley Brothers
Vogue - Madonna
Respect - Aretha
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
American Girl - Tom Petty
Final song of the night from her list, You know how we do it - Ice Cube. I got a huge round of applause which was very cool, but I credited RJ for picking the music. Many guests said they had not heard that style of mixing in many years at events. Having a good DJ that not only knows the music but also knows how to program it is the key to a good celebration and flow.
Congrats RJ and thanks so much for having me spin your birthday party! ~DJ Mark :-)
