If music is the key, then talk to me!

Music is the key to the success of your event. Living through and being part of the very best decades music has had to offer as I have, is a tremendous advantage for a dj when planning the music for your party or event. Rarely would you have this peace of mind if you booked a younger, less experienced DJ.

I was lucky enough to have been born in the 60s and grew up with the sounds of Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond (Mum’s favourite) & Country & Western (Dad’s favourite) being played consistently around the house (although the last two don’t feature heavily in my playlists – unless of course you request them).

Just like everyone else, the highlight of the week was listening to the Top 40 on a Sunday and watching Top Of The Pops on a Thursday. Finding out what was the number one single in those days was quite an event that we all shared and talked about the next day at school. And recording the songs onto your reel-to-reel tape recorder or cassette without catching the DJ interrupting was a real work of art.

Then when I was a teenager, I was surrounded by the most diverse decade for music of them all, the 1970s. During this time you had Folk, Rock, Reggae, Ska, Bubblegum, Glam Rock, Disco, Alternative, Punk & Two Tone and the continuation of Motown. All very different genres and each leaving a lasting legacy in music history. Then along came the 80s and more groundbreaking genres including New Wave, New Romantics, Synth Pop & Stock Aitken & Waterman’s hit factory. The 90s bought us girl bands & boy bands, Indie Dance from Manchester, a new breed of R&B & Hip Hop as well as the emergence of House, Garage & Techno dance music. Any experienced DJ should play the most popular tracks from these genres, along with the popular hits of the 00s and today if they are to please the majority of their audience.

Accessing the mood and age of the crowd before you, and matching the music to your audience is the one key ingredient to keeping them entertained and dancing throughout the evening. And I believe having a very broad musical taste, as I do, and not forcing your personal choices on your audience, is also essential.

Many DJ’s refuse to step out of their comfort zone, and will not stray from the musical genres they are comfortable with and were brought up with. You will find younger DJ’s who haven’t lived through the musical decades I mentioned earlier, are lacking that knowledge of what songs and genres are popular, and just as importantly, what songs to follow them with to keep that dance floor busy and the music flowing. So if you want someone to play four hours of the latest dance and chart music then I’m definitely not the DJ for you. But if you want a variety of the very best music from the 50s right through to the present day then I feel I should be considered.

I welcome a list of songs and artists from you as it’s equally important for a DJ to know beforehand the kind of music and genres that are special to you and your guests. What’s the point of your DJ spending the first two hours of your precious event trying to guess what songs you and your crowd are going to enjoy when they can find out beforehand by simply asking you. There is no limit to the number you can submit (something some DJ’s impose on their clients). If you want me to play 4 hours of your carefully chosen music, then I am more than happy to do so. I will of course be on hand to advise you of any songs or artists on your list that might be a floor killer rather than a floor filler, and on the night I will keep the music and genres flowing.

Theme Nights

Why not create a theme for your party or event. Decorating the venue, fancy dress and music to match! Here are some ideas!

• SCHOOL DISCO
• ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
• 50’s
• 60’s
• 70’s
• 80’s
• 90’s
• ROCK
• SUMMER
• 60s R&B SOUL & MOTOWN
• OR YOU SUGGEST THE THEME FOR YOUR EVENT, AND I’LL PROVIDE THE MUSIC!

 

And if it’s only 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or 80s you are after, why not consider an authentic retro vinyl only roadshow, just like the old days!
Contact me here for more information:
www.retrogrooves.co.uk

 

Ideas for your Playlist

The music for your event can be as varied as you wish as outlined earlier. Here is just a small selection of artists who regularly get an airing at my events:

Abba, A-Ha, AC/DC, Adam & The Ants, Al Green, Alex Party, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Arrow, Arthur Conley, Average White Band, Avicii, B52s, Backstreet Boys, Beach Boys, The Beat, Beatles, Bee Gees, Bill Haley, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Blondie, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bon Jovi, Booker T. & The MGs, Bruno Marrs, Bryan Adams, Buddy Holly, C&C Music Factory, Candi Statton, Cee Lo Green, Chaka Khan, Chic, Cher, Chesney Hawkes, Christina Aguilera, Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry, Clean Bandit, Communards, Contours, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cure, Curtis Mayfield, Cyndi Lauper, Daft Punk, Dan Hartman, Danny & The Juniors, Dario G, Darude, Dave & Ansel Collins, Dave Clark Five, David Bowie, David Guetta, Deee-Lite, Depeche Mode, Desmond Dekker, Detroit Spinners, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Dire Straits, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, Drifters, Duran Duran, Dusty Springfield, Earth, Wind & Fire, Eddie Cochran, Edwin Starr, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley, Equals, Erasure, Etta James, Eurythmics, Fine Young Canibals, Five, Flo Rida, Foundations, Four Tops, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Frankie Valli & Four Seasons, Fratelllis, Free, Gill Scott Heron, Girls Aloud, Groove Armada, Haddaway, Hall & Oates, Happy Mondays, Harry J, Heatwave, Hot Chocolate, Human League, Ike & Tina Turner, INXS, Isley Brothers, Jackie Wilson, Jackson 5, Jam, James, James Brown, Jason Derulo, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jess Glynne, Joan Jett, Journey, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, KC & The Sunshine Band, Katrina & The Waves, Killers, Kings Of Leon, Kingsmen, Kinks, Knack, Kool & The Gang, Kylie, Lionel Richie, Lipps Inc, Little Eva, Little Richard, Livin’ Joy, LMFAO, Los Lobos, Lou Bega, Lulu, Luther Vandross, Madness, Madonna, Manfred Mann, Mark Ronson, Maroon 5, Martha & The Vandellas, Mavericks, McFadden & Whitehead, MC Hammer, Meghan Trainor, Mental As Anything, Michael Buble, Michael Jackson, Millie, Monkees, Mud, Nancy Sinatra, Odyssey, One Direction, Outkast, Otis Redding, Paolo Nutini, Patrice Rushen, Pet Shop Boys, Pharell Williams, Pioneers, Pointer Sisters, Pogues, Police, Queen, Proclaimers, Ray Charles, Real Thing, Reef, Ricky Martin, Rihanna, Robbie Williams, Robin S, Robin Thicke, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Rose Royce, Sam & Dave, Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, Sash, Saturdays, Scouting for Girls, Selector, Shalamar, Shania Twain, Simple Minds, Sister Sledge, SL2, Slade, Sly & Family Stone, Smokey Robinson, Soft Cell, Spandau Ballet, Specials, Spencer Davis Group, Spice Girls, Status Quo, Stevie Wonder, Suzi Quatro, Sweet, T.Rex, Take That, Taylor Swift, Temptations, Tina Turner, Toots & Maytals, Trammps, Troggs, UB40, Wham, Whispers, Whitney Houston, Who, Will I Am, Wilson Pickett, Yazz, ZZ Top

And not forgetting of course the songs and artists that can be requested on the night.

Check out my channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/humanjukebox45s

 

New Forest DJ Services – providing one of the very best selection of wedding disco songs in the South.

Please contact me here to find out availability, to receive a quote or to arrange an informal meeting at a venue of your choice. I very much look forward to supplying my services for your event.