Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

[apple_pathways]

First, I should announce that there's roughly four hours left to offer a prompt for Spring Into Sherlock over a sherlockmas. You don't have to plan on taking part in the fest to prompt, and I'd be extra-special-excited to see any of you offer up a suggestion!

Now, down to business: we are throwing a retirement party for my father next weekend. My mother has asked me to handle "the music". She seems to think that people are going to want to dance. I...don't know how I feel about this.

So I turn to you, my dear flist, for help: suggest some music I can play. Keep in mind: the crowd will be composed of an odd mixture of family, my father's co-workers, and friends of my parents, my brother, and myself. (Also keep in mind: though I love them, my friends have No Shame and will not be afraid to Get Freaky in a brightly-lit American Legion Hall filled with pizza, beer, and old people.)

I need songs for: dancing, mingling, and General Party Atmosphere. My mom likes Beyonce; my dad is a fan of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Jazz. My brother listens to hardcore rap. I am going to get drunk off my ass and pretend the entire evening isn't happening.

Suggestions?

Comments

I have nerdy taste in music. :P

[middlegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, and for the interval act last year (when everybody starts tallying the votes) was a very dance-y song called "Glow". I don't really do songs like this, but this one's pretty fun. Here's the video:



(The track is kind of hard to find in the States, so let me know if you like it and I'll send you the mp3.)

Other than that, my iTunes is full of 80s and 90s pop, so all I can suggest is something of the Police/Ace of Base variety.

[ladybracknell.livejournal.com]

Whenever I'm DJing to a mixed crowd, I do something like this - for a party I'd take 40 mins-and hour to play warm up stuff, which would be most of these artists but not their big hits. Then to switch into get your ass on the dance floor mode, I'd do something like:

1. Stevie Wonder, Superstition
2. Jackson 5, Want You Back
3. Contours, Do You Love Me?

...from where you go into a mini Motown set mixed up with the Beyonce-type pop.

Then:

1. Gloria Jones, Tainted Love
2. Jackie Wilson, Higher and Higher
3. Kinks, You Really Got Me

...from where you can go into Stones, Who, Beatles etc

Then

1. Prince, Kiss
2. Wild Cherry, Play That Funky Music
3. Chuck Berry, Never Can Tell

...from where you can go Hendrix or anything with a heavier guitar sound. The rap poses a bit of a problem, but you could easily work in House of Pain or Tone Loc or something with a more pop rap feel like Snoop here.

The trick I find is to keep things moving and play no more than 15-20 mins of any one kind of sound :D.

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

Your descriptions of your family never fail to amuse me. In a good way. Just thought you'd like to know.

I am crap with music so will leave it to the experts.