After providing thousands of songs for weddings, we have come to terms with one unfortunate truth: Just because you put a song on your must play list, doesn't always mean that your guests are going to dance to it.
In fact, its a surprise for us when reception guests dance to every single song that a bride and groom pick for dancing. Friends and family come in all ages, cultures and tastes so it can be a challenging for newlyweds to get everybody on the same vibe. But there are undeniable jams that transcend all genres and culture, just add some of these to your playlist to get even the stiffest receptions to moving and grooving.
#15 Play That Funky Music
When the gigs are slow and the audiences are thinning out, there's always one last play a band can do before they hang it up: making a song about selling out. The Ohio band Wild Cherry frontman Rob Parissi did just that. His band mates had their backs against the wall finding it hard to find gigs doing rock covers in 1970’s Philly. Then one night after a heckler shouted, “Are you white boys going to play some funky music?” Rob then thought he might give the funk fever audiences what they wanted and the rock drenched “Play That Funky Music” was born. Whether it was the gravel in Rob's voice or the chuck berry like guitar solo, the song took the band from number 1 on the billboard charts to your favorite uncle's hearts. Just watch how his eyes light up once that bass line starts up at your reception.
#14 Party In The USA - Miley Cyrus
When Jessie J wrote Party In The USA, she didn't even record it. Why? "I remember thinking this song is amazing, but I don't know if it's me 110 percent, you know?" She said in an interview. With Jessie being originally from the U.K, one could say her feelings are valid. The song was written from her point of view of recently moving from overseas to Los Angeles when the songs producer, Dr Luke, showed the song to Miley Cyrus. The writers worked the lyrics to reflect it from Miley's experience from moving to LA from Nashville. Miley had never heard a Jay Z song by 2009 as a lyric claimed and she did not think the anthem reflect her musicality since it was not edgy enough. She surely didn't ever imagine it would be one of the few singles in history to reach Diamond status. But we all can agree that the song is 'an all-american song' that anybody from generation Z, american or not, can't help but sing along to.
#13 Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Any other songwriter would be stomped if he was asked to make a love ballad that would be adopted as an universal chant for sports teams. But Neil Diamond did it accidentally. When he released “Sweet Caroline” in 1969 he was just trying to write another lovely dovely song for his then-wife, who wasn’t even named Caroline. Realizing he needed a 3 syllable name to fill the hook, he used Caroline, a name taken from President John F Kennedy’s daughter (link). The result became a true testament to the notion that you never know where a song will go once it is released in the world. Because who would have predicted that this ballad would be the ultimate drunk sing along for Groomsmen over half a century later. The more drinks flowing the more thunderous that “BUM BUM BUM” seems to get. So make sure to play this song at the tail end of a reception.
#12 Shout - Isley Brothers
Ronald Isley once said Church groups wrote to radio stations to ask them to stop playing Shout by Isley Brothers. Ironically, there might not be another song that has injected the spirit and energy of black gospel music in weddings for over 65 years. This is due to its worship like call backs “shout” or “hey hey heeey”, that always gets crowds shouting back. Trust us, do not be surprised if you see someone being picked up a paraded around a reception as if they caught the Holy Ghost when we drop this one.
Check out our DJ SIR Reals mash up of “Shout” and The Killers “Mr Brightside” below:
#11 Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Few songs become hits, and even fewer hits become a cultural phenomenon. Long before the Tik Tok era, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk took over the winter of 2014 to inspire youtube remakes from embarrassing uncles across the globe. It’s intros “Dohs” before “COME ON!” works like hypnosis the way it draws crowds to a dance floor. But what would you expect from a song that took over a 100 takes from pop's golden child to finish? The wedding classic is a classic example of music refinement. It’s production started as a simple jam session over Mars house but would go through many different variations and mixes across 6 stressful studio sessions. Ronson even passed out from having to play the guitar part over 80 times to get it just right. There were even times where the production crew didn't think the song would be completed. But as Mars would quote Trinidad James in the song’s hook: DONT BELIEVE ME? JUST WATCH! Because this anthem has been ingrained in the Wedding turn up ever since.
Check out DJ SIR Reals funky mash up of Uptown Funk with a Bollywood classic by Shankar Mahadevan.
Check out the top 20 -16 here and check back in November for #10 - #6 of the Top 20 Dance Songs For Weddings in Dallas/Ft Worth! But if you can't wait, click below to ask us directly for all 25 or if you need a DJ for your special day.
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