(Alphabetical order)
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
From floor-filler to floor-killer. I was bummed when this stopped working because it’s one of my faves, but many of my couples put this at the top their DO NOT PLAY lists.
Crazy In Love – Beyonce
Noooo!!!! Not only is this a great song, it’s maybe the BEST song of the 00s. Most Beyonce tunes do not drive folks to the dance floor at weddings, believe it.
EDM – Pretty much anything.
Awesome for clubbing…NEVER works at weddings. After years of trying to make “techno” fit, I now politely pass on couples who insist on a playlist heavy with deadmau5, Clean Bandit, Bassnectar… A wedding reception will never be a club. Go to the club after your wedding reception!
Game of Thrones – (Showtunes in general)
Theme weddings- Yes! But, cocktails/dinner is the time for music based on your favorite show or theme. When it’s time to get down, you will be let down if you expect a dance frenzy to “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman.
God’s Plan/Drake
More of an issue in 2018 when Drake owned half the Billboard Hot 100, and most of my couples requested his radio hits, like God’s Plan; a swell song that never incited droves of people to the floor. Listen…it’s too slow!
Hang On Sloopy – McCoys
Uh-oh! A sacrilege to dis this in Columbus, OH, where I live. Sloopy is either a home run or an epic fail. I stay away from the Ohio State Buckeye’s adopted classic unless the bride & groom insist on having it played.
I Like It – Cardi B
Cardi B the new princess of hip-hop and a giant talent. There are nights I Like It has been a peak moment, but they have been rare. Truth is, tunes like this put maybe a dozen 20-something females on the floor while everyone else heads for the bar or their seat.
Pour Some Sugar – Def Leppard
A popular request by over-40 guests still eager to party it up (whooo!!!) in the final hour of open dancing. The opening riff usually gets a big cheer and a few stripper moves on the dance floor, then guests realize, wow this song is slowww…and I’m not even a stripper…time to go outside for a smoke.
Spotify Top 50
Nope. Your wedding reception is not the place for expletive-loaded joints from Travis Scott, Juice WRLD, blackbear and DaBaby. That’s for your after-hours, hotel room, Bose speaker playlist.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
See Pour Some Sugar (above.) Skynyrd is righteous. The opening notes get a whoop (and maybe a few dudes playing air-guitar), then suddenly your dance floor is clear enough to land a jet liner on.
That was fun! In ten minutes, I could come up with another Top 10 floor-killer list, easy!
As always, when you book me to be your DJ, YOU ARE MY BOSS. I will offer my input and experience, but I will always work with you to make sure YOUR favorite songs are on the playlist for your wedding day!
