I am jealous! This year so far I am being left in the dust! Nobody wants to pick an argument with me ymore anbwaaaahhhhhhh! 
Weddings What are your "cross generational" songs?
- Thread starter mikemerlin
- Start date
No, I said "I find that that there are songs that all generations like" and then asked the question "What songs do you find that work for all ages?" This is clearly a question about songs that work at events for people of all ages. You sir are just splitting a** hairs! IN regards to your second comment. Agreed
Okay, so I'll shave my a$$ and stand by my original reply. "All music is cross generational". Your sarcastic "good luck with that" is simply your opinion as this is mine.
What worked at one party isn't guaranteed to work at the next. A fair amount of both skill and luck are involved. There is no way any of us can know for sure what will (or won't) work. All suggestions are arbitrary so my answer is as valid as any.When posting, be ready to hear differing perspectives.
This verifies part of my point. You see an argument. I see a difference of opinion and interpretation.I am jealous! This year so far I am being left in the dust! Nobody wants to pick an argument with me bwaaaahhhhhhh!
Besides, you wouldn't show up.
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Hank, there's not a magical elixir when it comes to a song (s) but there are songs that get all age groups up at most events. As DJ's who do events saying every song is "cross generational" is a fun philosophical argument. As a practical matter applying that philosophy at an event would go over like a squeaky fart in church.
Are there? You can no more prove that than I.
Every single song suggested in this thread so far has been an A-typical DJ standard. So what's being proven? I could list a bunch of stuff that's worked at my events, but I picked them on the fly without science, reference or the idea that I will use them again. When the mood strikes, go for it. Maybe the majority of DJs are too afraid to break the mold? We've all got 12,000 plus songs. Don't be afraid to use them.
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I get that there are no two events alike and what works at some events won't work at others but the reason for this thread was to find those songs in our experience that have worked regardless of age. To say that every song has the same potential to get people up dancing at any event is simply untrue.
That's like saying any song on the radio has the same potential to attract the same amount of listeners. There are songs that test well and those that don't. Same in our business. There is a reason there are typical A-list standards. They work.
You could easily test this by playing one of these typical A-list standards and one of your break the mold songs and see which works better. You would scientifically and by the numbers be proven wrong
That's like saying any song on the radio has the same potential to attract the same amount of listeners. There are songs that test well and those that don't. Same in our business. There is a reason there are typical A-list standards. They work.
You could easily test this by playing one of these typical A-list standards and one of your break the mold songs and see which works better. You would scientifically and by the numbers be proven wrong
I have some rap songs that will pull every teenager to the floor and everyone over 60 off of it .. and 'Stardust' will have the opposite effect. Not every song is cross-generational. Top 10 hits tend to be cross-generational because everyone has at least heard most of them at some point, or they are good enough to stand the test of time. That's not saying something Hank pulls out of the nether regions won't work. Good songs are good songs.
One thing I've noticed. Most all suggestions have been older songs that appeal to younger people. What about more current/modern music that appeals to older folks? That's what I look for when compiling a dinner set list.
Here's some artists that I recommend:
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
John Mayer
Amos Lee
Imelda May
Caro Emerald
Rumer
Eli 'Paperboy' Reed
Raphfael Saadiq
Adele
Alison Krauss
Amy Winehouse
Paloma Faith
Duffy
April Smith
Bruno Mars
Ben Harper
Lily Allen
Michael Buble
Harry Connick Jr
Nikki & Rich
Dionne Bromfield
Madeleine Peyroux
Ray Lamontagne
Marc Broussard
Here's some artists that I recommend:
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
John Mayer
Amos Lee
Imelda May
Caro Emerald
Rumer
Eli 'Paperboy' Reed
Raphfael Saadiq
Adele
Alison Krauss
Amy Winehouse
Paloma Faith
Duffy
April Smith
Bruno Mars
Ben Harper
Lily Allen
Michael Buble
Harry Connick Jr
Nikki & Rich
Dionne Bromfield
Madeleine Peyroux
Ray Lamontagne
Marc Broussard
"September" by EWF
"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Smooth" by Santana
"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Smooth" by Santana
Yes! A generation-crosser for me as well.
It kinda replaced Hot In Herre in my neck of the woods.
which replaced Gonna Make You Sweat by C&C Music Factory
before that, it was Love Shack
which replaced Jump -or- I'm So Excited by the Pointer Sisters.
These were always new songs (at the time) that worked for the older crowd as well.
I agree that MANY older songs (like Shout) can easily appeal to multiple generations,
but that's just because they have been heard by more people over a longer period of time.
Generally that's not true. Much of the 40plus age bracket are more geared up for past decades rather than todays music.In fact i constantly hear some older bride & grooms saying they dont like virtually anything in the present charts, bar a couple of tracks maybe. Appart from "I gotta feelin" there hasn't really been anything to appeal to an "all age range" from the recent music. Cross generational music that works for me is mostly older catalogue like "Brown eyed girl", "December 63 [Oh what a night - remix], Blame it on the boogie ETC