The couple that asked us to do their wedding in June swing dance. A lot of their friends do as well and the bride told me she will get me a list of some of their favorites. They are all in their early 20's. I know a little bit (very little) of big band like In the Mood and a few other popular ones. I love this because the older crowd will be happy too. My problem is coming up with something that can go next to it without killing the floor. It seems on it's own but when I do a search of songs in my library, I can come up with some that may be okay but they are older. Maybe I'm just hokey going towards more disco or stuff like Born to Be Alive to go back into something else but there has to be newer stuff out there. Is there any decent hip hop that I could mix in? I'm drawing a blank and could use a couple of ideas to fly with. I'm normally pretty good about what to play next sort of thing but the big band is throwing me off and I know they will want it from time to time through the night. Thanks for any help.
Weddings Big band
- Thread starter cjmrsdj
- Start date
Older big band or swing is the Dorseys, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Glenn Milller, Bennie Goodman, Duke Ellington etc.
Newer big band swing is the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Christina Aguilera's Candyman is a recent one. Will Smith has some great hip hop tracks that go well with this genre. Southside Johnny will work too. You can mix the old with the new without sweeping the dance floor.
Some rhumbas and cha-chas would do. The Mavericks and Sam Cooke have some very good dance turns.
Hello Dolly and Roll Out the Barrel are poplar singalongs with this age group.
Hope it helps.
Newer big band swing is the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Christina Aguilera's Candyman is a recent one. Will Smith has some great hip hop tracks that go well with this genre. Southside Johnny will work too. You can mix the old with the new without sweeping the dance floor.
Some rhumbas and cha-chas would do. The Mavericks and Sam Cooke have some very good dance turns.
Hello Dolly and Roll Out the Barrel are poplar singalongs with this age group.
Hope it helps.
Tons of cool up-to-date swing type stuff...
Atomic Fireballs
Pussycat Dolls
Buster Poindexter
Brian Setzer
etc...
Plus, lots of country swing
Atomic Fireballs
Pussycat Dolls
Buster Poindexter
Brian Setzer
etc...
Plus, lots of country swing
There are some Jazz that can crossover to Big Band such as John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Then there is Frank Sinatra. Look up Larry Elgart for a Big Band Medley the album is titled "Hooked On Swing"
One that I got a great response from ,with a swing group was.
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing).
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing).
Some good artists from the 20's through the 50's to get include, but aren't limited to these. This is a mix of Big Band and Popular Jazz Standards from the same era.
That's a great list!
Sorry, I'm too lazy to pare mine down to the greatest hits, but they're all in there!
G
Guest
Guest
don't forget
that most big band "swingers" are very upbeat and fast
after a few fast ones
you could always transition with a few slow ones.
young AND old may appreciate a "rest" in between.
after a few slow songs
you can switch gears and go anywhere you like.
that most big band "swingers" are very upbeat and fast
after a few fast ones
you could always transition with a few slow ones.
young AND old may appreciate a "rest" in between.
after a few slow songs
you can switch gears and go anywhere you like.
As far as music that can go along with that great old swing and big band music, listen to a few songs like Runaround Sue, The Wanderer, Roll Over Beethoven, Who Put The Bomp and others from the 50's, early 60's. They're faster BPM, up beat, fun and very danceable. Puttin On the Ritz is one you should check out too. Good luck on this party, it's going to be a lot of fun. Get some video for us if you can.
You may wish to cut back the tempo slider for the faster tunes.
I used to DJ for Bluegrass dancers back in the day. Anyone who's old enough to remember Uncle Pen is too old to keep pace with it now. It's definately uptempo.
Shirl and I did a birthday party sometime back for a lady in her 70s. Most of the guests were in that age group. Let's face it, many folks in their 70s can't git up and cut the rug like they did 50 years ago. So we eased back on the tempo and slowed the beat. No difference in pitch ~ it was the same songs they knew. They just weren't struggling to keep pace with it.
Worked pretty well, too.
I used to DJ for Bluegrass dancers back in the day. Anyone who's old enough to remember Uncle Pen is too old to keep pace with it now. It's definately uptempo.
Shirl and I did a birthday party sometime back for a lady in her 70s. Most of the guests were in that age group. Let's face it, many folks in their 70s can't git up and cut the rug like they did 50 years ago. So we eased back on the tempo and slowed the beat. No difference in pitch ~ it was the same songs they knew. They just weren't struggling to keep pace with it.
Worked pretty well, too.
I love Who Put the Bomp! lol I listened to a lot of 50's and 60's growing up.
Thanks. I will get some pictures and try for some video and post it if I can.