Prom playlist?

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
19,237
17,323
59
Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I have a Prom to do this next Friday and I'm a bit nervous over what's current. Does anybody have a list they'd mind sharing? I already asked the sponsor for a list from the kid but haven't heard back from them yet. Man, I'm afraid I've gotten a bit too old to do these things..................
 
Yep, you've aged yourself out. Been there done that as well. I hired a younger DJ who was current with that age-group. I provided the equipment and all he brought was his digital mixer and his music. I fielded requests. I think I paid him $100 for a Halloween party.
 
I really don't think I'm going to accept any more proms after this one. Of course, my son reminded me yesterday that this is the same thing I said 3 years ago.

Adopt my policy let the young'uns play them. My Daughter does the younger stuff for me now I just watch :)
 
The tough thing with proms right now is that some schools are going viral on a single Soundcloud rapper that doesn't ever chart anywhere else. Or maybe it's not Soundcloud anymore, it's TikTok or Twitch. It's hard to keep up even if you're reading charts.

I think Spotify is becoming more relevant than Billboard, so I would start here: https://spotifycharts.com/regional/us/daily/latest
 
if you're trying to play what the kids listen to in their free time, like ross and chris said... its pretty much all tik tok and spotify nowadays. There's two issues with this... as ross said, a lot of these songs are obscure to the mainstream market, and I often find there are no clean versions, and the other part... especially from tik tok, is that only a 20-30 second portion of it is actually popular, and the rest of the song is useless, so quick mixing is a must.
 
Rick,

Not a playlist but a list of top hits from tiktok & Spotify (sorted by title).

MANY IF NOT MOST ARE NOT SAFE FOR SCHOOLS IN THEIR UNEDITED/NON-RADIO VERSIONS.

ARTIST (Subjective term no doubt)TITLE
Yung Bae w Wiz Khalifa, bbno$, MAXBad Boy
Conkarah, Shaggy, DJ Fle (Minisiren Remix)Banana
Marshmello, HalseyBe Kind
The WeekndBlinding Lights
Lil MoseyBlueberry Faygo
Ninski, MaellaBonnie x Clyde
Tyga, Curtis RoachBored In The House
Doja CatBoss Bitch
Dua LipaBreak My Heart
Topic, A7SBreaking Me
Jack StauberButtercup
Kina, Adriana ProenzaCan We Kiss Forever?
Megan Thee StallionCaptain Hook
Mark Mendy, Conan MacCarbon
Tones And IDance Monkey
Powfu, beabadoobeedeath bed (coffee for your head)
Dua LipaDon't Start Now
Moguai, Cheat CodesHold On
Andy GrammerHoney, I'm Good
K CAMPLottery (Renegade)
DeJ LoafNo Fear
Dj Purpberry, Don Toliver (Chopped & Screwed)No Idea
DrakeNonstop
JACKBOYS, Travis Scott, Young ThugOUT WEST
StaySolidRockyParty Girl
Melanie MartinezPlay Date
Lady Gaga, Ariana GrandeRain On Me
Young Thug, FutureRelationship
DaBaby, Roddy RicchROCKSTAR
Doja CatSay So
RICCI, ZALESilence
DripReportSkechers
YNW MellySuicidal
SurfacesSunday Best
THE SCOTTS, Travis Scott, Kid CudiTHE SCOTTS
DrakeToosie Slide
Tony IgyVicetone,
King CriticalWhy Is Everything Chrome (Lean Swag Rock Wit It)
KRYPTO9095, D3MstreetWoah
 
Andy Grammer - Honey I'm Good was released 6 years ago .. strange it pops up on Spotify/TikTok as a top hit ...
 
Andy Grammer - Honey I'm Good was released 6 years ago .. strange it pops up on Spotify/TikTok as a top hit ...

A few months ago I had a group of very young people ask for Rockstar by Nickleback and Cold As Ice by Foreigner both from viral TikTox videos. My Neck My Back made a comeback because of TikTok also but like Taso said it's necessary to know the cue points and mix quick
 
Andy Grammer - Honey I'm Good was released 6 years ago .. strange it pops up on Spotify/TikTok as a top hit ...
Songs that are popular on tik tok aren’t necessarily new... they make videos w a play on song lyrics... for example hips don’t lie briefly was popular on there for 2 weeks because girls were doing a certain routine to it. No rhyme or reason as to what will be popular at any given moment
 
Thanks for the list, Rox. I gotta get to listening and make out my cheat sheet. It's incredibly difficult for an old geezer to keep up with and nail a list that kids are going to love. I did find out today that we don't start until 8p. Should make for a fairly short night.
 
Thanks for the list, Rox. I gotta get to listening and make out my cheat sheet. It's incredibly difficult for an old geezer to keep up with and nail a list that kids are going to love. I did find out today that we don't start until 8p. Should make for a fairly short night.
You are very welcome.

If you ever want to bring in some "Big Easy" talent to handle your younger crowds, I'm available to travel.

P.S. Don't listen to the "songs" on that list as it's mostly shit you gonna hate...LOL. But it ain't our prom, right?!
 
Thanks for the list, Rox. I gotta get to listening and make out my cheat sheet. It's incredibly difficult for an old geezer to keep up with and nail a list that kids are going to love. I did find out today that we don't start until 8p. Should make for a fairly short night.
Not trying to be negative... but the key isn't to listen to them, it's to learn which part of the songs are essential. For example... out west... big song... but the only known part is the first verse aka the chorus. The rest is useless.
 
. For example... out west... big song... but the only known part is the first verse aka the chorus. The rest is useless.
Actually, I listened to it .. the WHOLE song is useless .. :)
 
These songs suck, and almost all of that music is stupid. :) 👎 THey can listen to that crap on their devices at home any time they want. ...This is a party...Needs Party music!

I would play Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Danza Kuduro, ...some Usher...Then top of it off with Rick Astley Never Gonna Give you up :cheers:

Iggy, Calvin Harris, Pitbull, Ne-yo, Rihanna, Chain Smokers, Martin Garrix, Marshmellow if they are into EDM at all. Maybe some Cardi B, DJ Snake. Show them some good stuff to dance to. Not this garbage that nobody will remember 3 months from now!

Throw them some line dances...you know they want it!

Is My Boo by ghost town DJs still a thing???? :scratchhead: 🤔
 
I've been at this long enough that each time I do a prom or high school ANP - there's at least one parent there to remind me that I also did their prom. That's like 30+ years!

What I learned from that and bar mitzvah's or other events is that what kids request versus what they respond to are completely different. Young people are first and foremost FOLLOWERS. That's important because, in addition to following social media, TV, movies, Hollywood, advertising, and each other - they will follow ANYONE who appears to confident, in charge, and at least moderately COOL. (Note that age [within reason] is not on the list.)

As DJs, if we know we don't fit that description, the thing to do is front our show with someone who does. That means getting an emcee who can relate to kids and get them to follow along with his moves. What kids want is to be part of something cool and if you can provide that - then the music won't be such a big deal.

If we can't provide that - then we need to be an incredibly responsive, approachable, damn good DJ to produce a winning event. If we don't have the songs they keep asking for then we better be willing and able to play it from their own devices and do it seamlessly. That means having the skills and ability to mix, cue, screen, and converse all at the same time. We also need to be on the mic encouraging requests, making the worthwhile shout outs, and doing all the things that make it a "show" and not just another "playlist."

I can't over-emphasize the power of requests. THIS alone is how you make up for not being an expert on current music because there's nothing more valuable or insightful than people at the event telling you exactly what they want to hear. That being said, you need to be good at reading people - knowing who the trend setters in the group are, and whose a wallflower. Understand who's honestly committed to a request and who's just arrogantly eclectic. Engage with both, but how handle them differently. The wallflower wants to be cool too, so you have to validate them while admitting you probably won't be walking very far down that path. The important thing is not to alienate anyone solely on their music not 'fitting' with your groove. It's not cool and it snowballs very quickly because word travels very fast in a room full of young people.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dunlopj
I would play Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Danza Kuduro, ...some Usher...Then top of it off with Rick Astley Never Gonna Give you up :cheers:

Iggy, Calvin Harris, Pitbull, Ne-yo, Rihanna, Chain Smokers, Martin Garrix, ...

Throw them some line dances...you know they want it!

Who needs Covid 19...
DJ Ricky B has been in lock down since 2005. :)