Play-list (part 4): Party Time!

During dance time it is important that your DJ have latitude to play varied styles and content based upon requests and also the DJ’s instinct and response to crowd reaction.  If a particular song or music style is not working with your guests, the DJ’s role is to sense and react accordingly to the mood of the crowd. The last thing any DJ wants to see is the actual dance floor itself – it’s always better populated!

Also consider creating a “no-play” list of those songs you really don’t care for. Your DJ should always be willing to work with such a list but you should also advise under what circumstances, if at all, a song on this list may or may not be played.  For example, sometimes a “no-play” list contains songs such as the Electric Slide or the Chicken Dance but often, such songs can become overwhelming requests upon the DJ by your guests. So, potential exceptions from the “no-play” list are circumstantial aspects to consider and advise your DJ on during preliminary discussions.

In the end, if you are insistent about not wanting a particular song, your DJ should indicate readiness to advise requesting guests accordingly.

Soundtrack For Today:  djChrisPickett.com

You can download a song list from my website which demonstrates the diversity of my library.  The list is  a general representation as I have so much more & what I don’t have, I can usually find!

Dr. Who?

Mr. Theordore R. Geisel was once caught drinking alcohol with fellow college students during the period of time in the early 20th century known as Prohibition, which constitutionally forbade alcohol consumption in the U.S. (and was eventually repealed in 1933.)

As a result and in order to stay in school, college officials ordered that he cease all his extracurricular activities, which included writing for a campus humor magazine.  To sidestep this mandate, he began signing the name “Seuss” to his submissions and the rest, they say, is Seuss-story.

The late, great Dr. Seuss continues to make an impact on kids today as witnessed by this past weekend’s performance by the Quincy Drama Club’s production of Seussical The Musical.

To sum up the all-Seuss plot: Horton heard a Who and didn’t know what to do when the people that he knew would not believe he heard a Who.  I can’t tell you much more beyond that except the who-le thing’s told by The Cat In The Hat.

Olivia Herman was the Who that brought me there too. Following the grand finale, she and the cast zoomed their way through the audience to the back-stage corridor and the pride felt in their collective shriek of excitement as they ran down that hallway could not help but rub off on any Who who heard them.

This was a very well-rehearsed and superbly choreographed production by 60 + students (and faculty) of all grade levels at Quincy Public Schools. To everyone involved both young and both old & both near and both far, a tip of my hat to how lucky you are!

Soundtrack For Today:  Think Of Seuss!

And keep abuzz for Gertrude McFuzz - Emily Hajjar is going to be a star.

Play-List (part 3): Party Time!

A wedding reception is one of the few life events where you invite friends and relatives whose musical tastes span across many generations. Everyone knows hundreds of songs so your entertainment choice should have the ability to provide you and your guests with a large selection of the original hits that they remember.

A wedding reception is also a fluid event – especially during dance time, which typically lasts up to 3 hours during a 5-hour reception. The mood of a crowd and what motivates them to dance are beyond any one blueprint. So, as far as how many selections to choose, remember this: “so many songs, so little time.”

What that means is there’s so much good music that you’ll want to hear but it’s nearly impossible to play them all! Still, I suggest that you choose more songs than necessary and bullet the must-plays. Doing so paints a good picture of where you want to go musically to help create the perfect Soundtrack To Your Wedding Day! 

Soundtrack For Today: djChrisPickett.com

There's A Spot In My Heart...

It's St. Paddy's Day!  Celebration of this some-places holiday has evolved since its inception in pre-1600s Ireland but it is always punctuated by the Irish songs we’ve come to know & love. And by alcohol.  Which helps with the singing.

Throughout the years you have to figure that at least one of those now traditional Irish songs would have made it to the top o’ the charts and sure and begorrah, one did:  Mother Machree by Will Oakland was #1 in the U.S. on this date 99 years ago in 1911.

Oakland’s high-tenor voice was discovered by Thomas Edison in 1908.  He soon became a very successful recording artist for both Edison and Victor (early mfr. of records and players) as well as the top-billed member of the equally successful barber shop group The Heidelberg Quintet.

The song’s composer, Cleveland-born Ernest R. Ball, collaborated with lyricist Chauncey Olcott and wrote the ballad in 1910.  Two years later, Ball composed another Irish standard that would go on to live in infamy – When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

Soundtrack For Today: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  

Play-List (part 2): Wedding Reception Cocktail Hour & Dinner

Cocktail hour tends to be the one part of the day you both miss because of photographs but you should still use this time and also dinner hour to be very specific in music style and selection.  This can set an underlying tone for the day that usually originates from your own collection of favorite artists.

For dinner, music tends to be more subdued in volume level to allow for conversation but still loud enough for those who just can’t wait to get on the dance floor!

If your DJ has a wide variety of music along with years of experience, then accommodation of your desires should not be a problem and your DJ should be willing to work with you to meet your goals.  (That sounds like me!)

Soundtrack For Today:  djChrisPickett.com

Oh, What A Night

late December back in '63...

If you recognize this lyric, you'll know it's from a song called December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) by The Four Seasons.

It remains a popular dance floor favorite that reached #1 on the charts on this date in 1976.  The original title was December 5, 1933 and it's lyric spoke about the repeal of (U.S.) alcohol prohibition on that date but was changed to the lyric we know now at the behest of lead singer Frankie Valli and the group's then lyricist Judy Parker (wife of keyboard player & song composer Bob Gaudio.)

In a rarity, Valli shared lead vocals on this tune with the group's drummer Gerry Polci and bassist Don Ciccone.  A remixed version was released & re-charted in 1994 and with the combined number of weeks each release spent on the charts totaling 54, December 1963 is the longest charting single in the history of Billboard's Hot 100.

Soundtrack For Today:  68 'RKO  (What a very special time for me!)

Play-List (part 1): Wedding Ceremony

From your introduction to your final dance, music virtually permeates your entire wedding day.

For your ceremony, classical music is a popular favorite that creates a formal, almost majestic feel but there are also instrumental versions of today’s popular songs played by string quartets, harpists, bagpipes and orchestras that are appropriate wherever you see fit.  Original versions of pop hits are also en vogue and are often used for either the processional or recessional theme.

Whether traditional or customized, when you hire me to provide music for your ceremony, I not only can provide a discreet sound system complete with microphone for your officiate, but I also help you to create the perfect soundtrack of the music that you want for your ceremony. 

Soundtrack For Today:  djChrisPickett.com

'March' Forward

Time may march forward but we can still take a walk down memory lane:

#1 On This Date

Today:

• 2010 Imma Be The Black Eyed Peas

(Time finally ran out for Ke$ha’s 9-week reign at the top with TiK ToK)

Y2Ks:

• 2009 Right Round  - Flo Rida
• 2008 Low - Flo Rida f/ T-Pain
• 2007 What Goes Around ... Comes Around - Justin Timberlake
• 2006 Check On It  - Beyoncé f/ Slim Thug
• 2005 Candy Shop  - 50 Cent f/ Olivia
• 2004 Yeah! - Usher f/ Ludacris & Lil Jon
• 2003 In Da Club - 50 Cent
• 2002 Always On Time - Ja Rule f/ Ashanti
• 2001 Stutter - Joe f/ Mystikal
• 2000 Amazed - Lonestar

 1990s

• 1999 Angel Of Mine -  Monica
• 1998 My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
• 1997 Wannabe - Spice Girls
• 1996 One Sweet Day - Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
• 1995 Take A Bow - Madonna
• 1994 The Power Of Love -  Celine Dion
• 1993 A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme) - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
• 1992 To Be With You - Mr. Big
• 1991 All The Man That I Need - Whitney Houston
• 1990 Escapade - Janet Jackson

 1980s

• 1989 Lost In Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson
• 1988 Father Figure - George Michael
• 1987 Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
• 1986 Kyrie - Mr. Mister
• 1985 Careless Whisper - Wham!
• 1984 Jump - Van Halen
• 1983 Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
• 1982 Centerfold - J. Geils Band
• 1981 I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
• 1980 Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

 1970s

• 1979 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
• 1978 (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
• 1977 Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
• 1976 Love Machine - The Miracles
• 1975 Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
• 1974 Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks
• 1973 Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
• 1972 Without You -  Nilsson
• 1971 One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
• 1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

1960s

• 1969 Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone
• 1968 Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
• 1967 Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones
• 1966 The Ballad Of The Green Berets -  SSgt. Barry Sadler
• 1965 My Girl - The Temptations
• 1964 I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
• 1963 Walk Like A Man - The Four Seasons
• 1962 Duke Of Earl - Gene Chandler
• 1961 Pony Time - Chubby Checker
• 1960 Theme From 'A Summer Place' - Percy Faith

 1950s

• 1959 Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
• 1958 Don't / I Beg of You - Elvis Presley
• 1957 Young Love - Tab Hunter
• 1956 Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
• 1955 Sincerely - The McGuire Sisters
• 1954 Secret Love - Doris Day
• 1953 Till I Waltz Again With You - Teresa Brewer
• 1952 Cry - Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads
• 1951 If - Perry Como
• 1950 Chattanoogie Shoeshine Boy - Red Foley

 1940s

• 1949 A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight
• 1948 I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover - Art Mooney
• 1947 Managua, Nicaragua - Freddy Martin
• 1946 Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief - Betty Hutton
• 1945 Rum and Coca-Cola - The Andrews Sisters
• 1944 Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) -  Jimmy Dorsey
• 1943 I've Heard That Song Before - Harry James
• 1942 Moonlight Cocktail - Glenn Miller
• 1941 Frenesi - Artie Shaw
• 1940 In the Mood - Glenn Miller 

Soundtrack For Today:  iPod on shuffle

For my Tuesday friends, the highlighted selections are the answers from today’s game.