What are your go-to first 3-5 songs for the dance?

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awdj

DJ Extraordinaire
Jan 4, 2007
668
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Curious to see how everyone else handles the first few songs to get a wedding dance started. After the first dances, etc. -- the first "open floor" songs. I've kind of used everything over the years, from solid oldies to current hits.

So -- what are your first open-floor songs for weddings?
 
Line dancing goes over well for me in Akron ,Cincy & Columbus area as floor openers.
Reception two weeks ago was on a farm setting and line dances were more popular than most & mixed through out the evening .
4:00 prelude / 11:00 pm stop time per venue. Yes, long day .
Going to have to print play list so as to see what songs followed.
 
99% of weddings:

Slow song first. Either "At Last" by Etta James, or a shortened version of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.
Then... I Want You Back - Jackson 5, and Respect - Aretha Franklin

After that, either
Fireball - Pitbull feat. John Ryan or Just Dance - Lady Gaga

If I play Fireball, the next song will likely be either Cake By The Ocean - DNCE, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson, or the Cha Cha Slide.

If I play Just Dance, the next song will very likely be Dynamite - Taio Cruz

From there, I can go pretty much anywhere.
 
Runaround Sue by Leif Garrett is almost always first followed by Chattahoochie, Bop, Man I Feel Like A Woman, I Gotta Feeling and sometimes Hurt So Good
 
So for the majority of my couples the first dance set will have some combination of don’t stop the party, give me everything, danza kuduro, timber, I love it iconapop.

if there’s an older element that needs to be incorporated with the above (up to the couple) it’s September, don’t stop till you get enough, let’s groove, you should be dancing.

I often start dance sets with a slow song though.., that song is chosen by the couple 99% of the time.
 
My most favorite technique is to invite all the guests onto the dance floor for a photo around the couple. It makes a great photo and you just got the ENTIRE crowd on the floor. After the photo, you open up with something upbeat with cross generational appeal.

Obviously, you have to coordinate with the photographer(s) well in advance (as in days, not hours) so they are ready with a ladder and wide angle lens. Coordinate with the caterer too. This is a good time for them to deliver food or collect plates depending when you do it.
 
So for the majority of my couples the first dance set will have some combination of don’t stop the party, give me everything, danza kuduro, timber, I love it iconapop.

if there’s an older element that needs to be incorporated with the above (up to the couple) it’s September, don’t stop till you get enough, let’s groove, you should be dancing.

I often start dance sets with a slow song though.., that song is chosen by the couple 99% of the time.

I'd love to see one of your recent playlists if you have the time to post it
 
I'd love to see one of your recent playlists if you have the time to post it
Here's from my most recent wedding I posted on 9.18. This was one of the best parties in a while. The energy just unreal.

MUSIC AS GUESTS ENTER TO SET TONE
Jubel
Changes (Extended)
Colours (Mark Di Meo Remix)
Natural High (Extended Mix)

Happy (from "Despicable Me 2") PARENTS ENTRANCE
Love Tonight (David Guetta Remix) (Original Mix) BRIDAL ENTRANCE
More Than You Know (Ummet Ozcan Remix) (Clean) COUPLE ENTRANCE
When I Fall In Love FIRST DANCE
Pws - Ena Tragoudi Yia Tin Kori Mou (FATHER DAUGHTER)
My Mother'S Eyes MOTHER SON DANCE

TRADITIONAL GREEK LINE DANCE SET (15 min)

Efi Thodi - Orea Pou Einai I Nifi
NA SE HERETE I MANA SOU
Gerakina, Po Po Po Maria
KOKORAS
Tria Paidia Voliotika, To Papaki
Gerakina, Po Po Po Maria

SECOND DANCE SET AFTER TOASTS (25 MIN)
Suavemente (Merengue)
Rompecintura merengue
El Cepillo (merengue)
La Vida Es Una Carnaval (Salsa)
Cali Pachanguero (SALSA)
Vivir Mi Vida
Get Down Tonight
Stayin Alive
You Should Be Dancing
September (Clean) Marc Eazy Video Edit (Hu Redrum)
Dont Stop The Party (Clean)
Timber
Zumba

DINNER
Love And Marriage
Witchcraft (Remastered Original Version)
Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
Everything
Everybody Loves Somebody
You Make Me Feel So Young
The Way You Look Tonight
L-O-V-E
Sway
Can't Help Falling In Love (Clean)
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Sugar (Clean)
Summer Wind

DANCE FLOOR OPEN: 1.5 HRS LONG
If I Ain't Got You - SLOW SONG
I Dont Wanna Miss a Thing - SLOW SONG
Give Me Everything
Danza Kuduro (Original)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I Will Survive (Classic Dance Remix) - Gloria Gaynor [128 Bpm] Clean
I Love It (Clean)
Don't Start Now (Clean)
My Head & My Heart (Clean)
Bend Ova [128 - 103] - Clean
Yeah (Clean)
Get Low (clean version)
Gasolina (Remix)
Hips Don't Lie
RITMO (Bad Boys For Life) (Clean)
Levitating (Clean)
Jenny From The Block
Dancing Queen
Livin' la Vida Loca
I Need To Know
Despacito (Remix)
La Gozadera (feat. Marc Anthony)
Mi Gente (Clean)
One Dance (Clean)
No Scrubs (Clean)
Oops!...I Did It Again
Low (Clean)
Calabria 2007
Pitbull Ft Lil John - The Anthem
Conga Shake (Dj Steve1der Remix) (Dj Rukus Intro Edit) (Clean)
Friday (Dopamine Re-Edit) (Clean Extended)
Where Dem Girls At (Clean)
Die Young Again
HVME - GOOSEBUMPS
Thot Sh*t (R-You House Remix) (Clean Extended)
Truth Hurts (CID Remix) (Clean Extended)
Head & Heart (Clean Extended)
Higher Love (PeteDown Club Mix) (Clean)
Calling (Original Instrumental Mix)
Clarity (Radio Mix)
Reload (Original Mix)
Mr. Brightside (Mister Gray Rock The Place Edit) (Clean Extended)
Angelo Venuto - Sweet Caroline
Everybody Booyah (Backstreet Boys & Showtek Banger)
Losing It (Clean Extended)
Save The World (Alesso Remix)
Open Wide (Original Radio Mix) (Super Clean)
Piano Man LAST SONG CHOSEN BY COUPLE
 
Thanks for taking the time to post your play list Taso . A lot of the list is Greek to me.:laugh:
always interesting seeing what works for others & learning something new that my work for me.
interesting how songs come back around and are popular again.
also like checking out the remixes that you use .
 
Last edited:
Here's from my most recent wedding I posted on 9.18. This was one of the best parties in a while. The energy just unreal.

MUSIC AS GUESTS ENTER TO SET TONE
Jubel
Changes (Extended)
Colours (Mark Di Meo Remix)
Natural High (Extended Mix)

Happy (from "Despicable Me 2") PARENTS ENTRANCE
Love Tonight (David Guetta Remix) (Original Mix) BRIDAL ENTRANCE
More Than You Know (Ummet Ozcan Remix) (Clean) COUPLE ENTRANCE
When I Fall In Love FIRST DANCE
Pws - Ena Tragoudi Yia Tin Kori Mou (FATHER DAUGHTER)
My Mother'S Eyes MOTHER SON DANCE

TRADITIONAL GREEK LINE DANCE SET (15 min)

Efi Thodi - Orea Pou Einai I Nifi
NA SE HERETE I MANA SOU
Gerakina, Po Po Po Maria
KOKORAS
Tria Paidia Voliotika, To Papaki
Gerakina, Po Po Po Maria

SECOND DANCE SET AFTER TOASTS (25 MIN)
Suavemente (Merengue)
Rompecintura merengue
El Cepillo (merengue)
La Vida Es Una Carnaval (Salsa)
Cali Pachanguero (SALSA)
Vivir Mi Vida
Get Down Tonight
Stayin Alive
You Should Be Dancing
September (Clean) Marc Eazy Video Edit (Hu Redrum)
Dont Stop The Party (Clean)
Timber
Zumba

DINNER
Love And Marriage
Witchcraft (Remastered Original Version)
Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
Everything
Everybody Loves Somebody
You Make Me Feel So Young
The Way You Look Tonight
L-O-V-E
Sway
Can't Help Falling In Love (Clean)
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Sugar (Clean)
Summer Wind

DANCE FLOOR OPEN: 1.5 HRS LONG
If I Ain't Got You - SLOW SONG
I Dont Wanna Miss a Thing - SLOW SONG
Give Me Everything
Danza Kuduro (Original)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I Will Survive (Classic Dance Remix) - Gloria Gaynor [128 Bpm] Clean
I Love It (Clean)
Don't Start Now (Clean)
My Head & My Heart (Clean)
Bend Ova [128 - 103] - Clean
Yeah (Clean)
Get Low (clean version)
Gasolina (Remix)
Hips Don't Lie
RITMO (Bad Boys For Life) (Clean)
Levitating (Clean)
Jenny From The Block
Dancing Queen
Livin' la Vida Loca
I Need To Know
Despacito (Remix)
La Gozadera (feat. Marc Anthony)
Mi Gente (Clean)
One Dance (Clean)
No Scrubs (Clean)
Oops!...I Did It Again
Low (Clean)
Calabria 2007
Pitbull Ft Lil John - The Anthem
Conga Shake (Dj Steve1der Remix) (Dj Rukus Intro Edit) (Clean)
Friday (Dopamine Re-Edit) (Clean Extended)
Where Dem Girls At (Clean)
Die Young Again
HVME - GOOSEBUMPS
Thot Sh*t (R-You House Remix) (Clean Extended)
Truth Hurts (CID Remix) (Clean Extended)
Head & Heart (Clean Extended)
Higher Love (PeteDown Club Mix) (Clean)
Calling (Original Instrumental Mix)
Clarity (Radio Mix)
Reload (Original Mix)
Mr. Brightside (Mister Gray Rock The Place Edit) (Clean Extended)
Angelo Venuto - Sweet Caroline
Everybody Booyah (Backstreet Boys & Showtek Banger)
Losing It (Clean Extended)
Save The World (Alesso Remix)
Open Wide (Original Radio Mix) (Super Clean)
Piano Man LAST SONG CHOSEN BY COUPLE

Thanks Taso. How old were the couple?
 
Nice job Taso. How many of the Latin songs were chosen by the Bride? Interesting selection. I love Merengue and Salsa.
 
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Nice job Taso. How many of the Latin songs were chosen by the Bride? Interesting selection. I love Merengue and Salsa.
Since it was such a small segment of the night I’d say half of the songs chosen were by them. I added a couple more since it was working well. I always say, if I’m gonna play a small amount of something, I’d rather it be the family favorites than generic ones
 
I 'm thinking slow dance to start the set as part of the formalities . Anniversary , all couples , all married couples what ever the bride what's .
Fill the floor with a couple of belly rubbers than kick it!
b-Sharp noted a couple of nice choices.
 
I usually start slow,
unless dinner is REAAAAL LOOOONG,
or there are a lot of special dances before open dancing.
Patsy Cline - Crazy is usually in the first slow set.
I like to let the older crowd know that there will be plenty of THEIR music in the evening
 
I usually start slow,
unless dinner is REAAAAL LOOOONG,
or there are a lot of special dances before open dancing.
Patsy Cline - Crazy is usually in the first slow set.
I like to let the older crowd know that there will be plenty of THEIR music in the evening
See that’s the interesting thing… YOU seemed to have made the decision of what the older guests should feel and to let them know that older music will be played. I believe that’s for the couple/client to dictate. I always ask do they want to incorporate older music throughout the night… 90% say just early on have some sprinkled in… the rest will want a good amount mixed throughout the night and every year I get 1 or 2 that don’t want anything before the 90’s and to keep it relatively current all night.
 
every year I get 1 or 2 that don’t want anything before the 90’s and to keep it relatively current all night.

I ask the questions too and it's a rarity I ever hear that I can probably count on one hand the times in the last dozen years with a couple of fingers to spare. Maybe it's a difference in our ages or guests ages or maybe a difference in markets maybe your area is a lot hipper. I quite often hear just do what you do and keep the guests happy. Most weddings I could play the MB200 and they would be estatic
 
I ask the questions too and it's a rarity I ever hear that I can probably count on one hand the times in the last dozen years with a couple of fingers to spare. Maybe it's a difference in our ages or guests ages or maybe a difference in markets maybe your area is a lot hipper. I quite often hear just do what you do and keep the guests happy. Most weddings I could play the MB200 and they would be estatic
1 or 2 out of 40 weddings a year is relatively low. And when I talk about playing older music for the older guests you can see the faces on some of my couples (my meetings are through video) and they practically cringe knowing that they might need to play that older music. My exact question is “do you want to incorporate any older music from 70’s or 80’s for the older guests at your wedding”? They know they should, but they really don’t want to. Not all couples, but a decent amount have that reaction. Don’t forget I have clients paying a lot of money because they are seeking a particular atmosphere… last thing they want is older music that doesn’t fit that vibe. Wait till you see my playlists from this past weekends events.