Should I Be Worried

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

Ausumm

Gold Plated Productions
Oct 21, 2008
12,207
15,518
60
Bethlehem PA
Okay, so my first gig since the sh*t hit the fan is Saturday, September 26th at a venue which has inside/outside seating.
It's a 50th Birthday party, so it shouldn't need a LOT of new music.
Problem is, I haven't added ANY new music since February.
I got a new car in March, and it has lousy FM reception,
so I haven't even listened to Top 40 radio for 6 months or so!

I plan to hit the Billboard Hot 100 list to check out the new titles....
but I don't know if that will help.
I can look at the list for hours,
but I honestly don't know what is worthy to play at a party....
and what is just "popular" with the kiddies at the moment.
Are there any real dance-inspiring gems in the Top 40 that would be a must have?
I would hate to get a request for an Uptown Funk type song
and not have it with me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
I heard WAP was real popular at 50th Birthday parties .. :)

For that age group, I'd go more with AT40 or BDS Top 40 as a guide for more current stuff. There really isn't a current Uptown Funk though ...

 

Attachments

  • American Top 40 Chart With Ryan Seacrest 09-06-2020 to 09-12-2020 (Week 37).pdf
    150.4 KB · Views: 2
  • USA Today Airplay Charts 09-06-2020 to 09-12-2020 (Week 37).pdf
    2.4 MB · Views: 3
I've been a Top Hits USA member for numerous years. In addition to other music websites that do weekly music lists, I would recommend the following: see link below. attachment is not current, but you may be able to see some current tune listings.
I'm going to try and attach another listing (9/11/2020): Top Hits, USA - DJ Chart Music Video Service When open, choose Air Play Charts (left side of page).
 

Attachments

  • Top Hits, USA - DJ Chart Music Chart - 8-7-2020.pdf
    78.1 KB · Views: 2
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
It’s a 50th Birthday Party if you are anywhere close to that age pick what you like off the list and get that. I am 60 but even in my 50’s what I listened to wasn’t really driven by the newest stuff out.
But I hear you about not updating since March. A couple of weeks ago I found out the same thing. My musicvideos & karaoke libraries hadn’t been update since January. I was like WTH, I could have swore I did but, nope. I really don’t listen to FM anymore, mainly iHeartRadio and music off a stick. Now my market is college aged so I had my son provide me with a list to work off. 80% of the list I didn’t have or never heard of. I don’t DJ college parties anymore but I do need current music for Bingo & Karaoke but I can be selective on what is used/played.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm and ittigger
You bring up an interesting situation. Many people listen to the radio while commuting and this is where they are exposed to new music. However, few are commuting like they used to. Perhaps, your guests will be just as ignorant of the new music as you are. Of course in the 50+ age group, few like most of the new music being produced anyhow.

The popularity of new hit music is frequently reinforced by the reactions when played in bars and clubs. With most of these shut down, that reinforcement is no longer there. Your upcoming party may be the first time anyone has gathered in a long time. You probably don't have worry about anyone requesting that hit song that is played in all the clubs.
 
You might want to look at the country charts in many areas the 50+ crowd are turning to country with so little decent music coming out
 
I've found that many of the 60+ generation do listen to country. Did a 55+ Dinner Party this year (March) and several requests for country (new and old). I believe the "new" one was "You Had Me From Hello" - Kenny Chesney. Although that was charting in 1999. Request for "Wagon Wheel" - Old Crow Medicine Show. You just never know. I'd wager that you may get requests for a few line dances: Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide, etc. You may have 60+ guests at the 50th B-Day Party. Maybe some of the younger generation (children, grandchildren). I do like "Circles" - Post Malone, "Memories" - Maroon 5, and "Lady (hear me tonight)" - Modjo. Another favorite of mine, "Drive" - The Cars.
 
Last edited:
Someone 50 years old would usually identify with the music of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Chances they’d like the current cRap of today are slim. Maybe country, but that’s questionable as well. Most people do NOT continue to listen to the most current music from decade to decade. Us DJ’s are not normal people.😂
 
You do not need ANY NEW MUSIC. It is all junk, and nobody will request that garbage at a 50th birthday party.

Uptown Funk, 24K Magic...That is literally about the newest stuff you will need. MAYBE you will need Old Town Road if there are some kids there. I have had many adults in their 40s dance to that at weddings...50+ is kinda iffy on that one.


Maybe The Git Up by Blanco Brown, but that is a real long shot. I had 1 request for it this year, played it, and nobody including the lady who requested it knew how to do the dance so I mixed out of it pretty quickly into something else. Seems that song was a 2019 fad.

2020 is complete garbage, and 2019/2018 is pretty much garbage outside of the songs I mentioned. If you had a younger crowd I would say Cardi B hits, and The MIddle by Maren Morris are solid songs to play. Lizzo would also be solid. ...Maybe you would get a request for Drake or Post Malone...but that is not happening at a 50th birthday party.
 
Disagree with DJ Ricky...I'd say there will be several New songs that may get requested by some of the younger relatives in attendance. Who knows what the age-distribution will be for this party which would be a good question to ask the Client.
 
Disagree with DJ Ricky...I'd say there will be several New songs that may get requested by some of the younger relatives in attendance. Who knows what the age-distribution will be for this party which would be a good question to ask the Client.

Agreed. At the very least, have "Dynamite" by BTS, "Savage Love" by Jawsh 365 Feat. Jason Derulo, "Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd, "Higher Love" by Kygo & Whitney Houston and "Don't Stop Now" by Dua Lipa. All are decent danceable songs released in the last 18 months and won't offend the "older" (50s-age) crowd if they're requested by the younger people.

Forget "Uptown Funk" unless somebody requests it. It's been a DJ's crutch for the past 6 years and it's not going to get people excited like it used to. If your go-to song to get people up and dancing is still "Uptown Funk", it's a tell-tale sign that you haven't done anything to improve your DJ skills in the past 8 months. I'm embarrassed for DJs when I read posts like Ricky's... "Uptown Funk, 24K Magic...That is literally about the newest stuff you will need.".

There is SO much music out there and everybody's got access to it. If the newest stuff you have is legit four years old, don't blame the crowd for not dancing.
 
You do not need ANY NEW MUSIC. It is all junk, and nobody will request that garbage at a 50th birthday party.

Uptown Funk, 24K Magic...That is literally about the newest stuff you will need. MAYBE you will need Old Town Road if there are some kids there. I have had many adults in their 40s dance to that at weddings...50+ is kinda iffy on that one.


Maybe The Git Up by Blanco Brown, but that is a real long shot. I had 1 request for it this year, played it, and nobody including the lady who requested it knew how to do the dance so I mixed out of it pretty quickly into something else. Seems that song was a 2019 fad.

2020 is complete garbage, and 2019/2018 is pretty much garbage outside of the songs I mentioned. If you had a younger crowd I would say Cardi B hits, and The MIddle by Maren Morris are solid songs to play. Lizzo would also be solid. ...Maybe you would get a request for Drake or Post Malone...but that is not happening at a 50th birthday party.
So from 2018 to now, the ONLY songs that are not junk are Uptown Funk, 24K Magic and possibly Old Town Road (for the kids)?

:dontknow:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
Other songs in the past few years include:
Dance Monkey - Tones and I
Señorita - Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello
Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber
 
Other songs in the past few years include:
Dance Monkey - Tones and I
Señorita - Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello
Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber

Despacito works well, but for roughly a year now I have only been playing it by request. It's dance floor euphoria was fading quickly tail end of last summer...imo.

The other 2 songs I have never ever played at an event.