Party Starters

*** What songs work best to kick-start a legendary party? Here are some of our favourites ->

We are are often asked what songs work best to kick off a great dance party.

It really is a fantastic questions, as leading with a strong song start creates momentum for the entire dance, breaking the ice and helping bring additional people to the dance floor who might otherwise be too shy to get up without a critical mass of people already dancing.

The right song also sets the tone for the entire evening. It helps define what sort of party it is going to be, reflecting the taste of the people you would like to hit the dance floor. Regardless of what genre you choose, the important thing is that this is a strong song that will get those guests excited!

There are many ways to get this right, which is why we wanted to devote this week's blog to exploring some of our favourite party-starting songs, helping you find the right mood to ignite your dance floor.

DISCO CLASSICS

These songs are amazing at starting a party on a universal vibe with fun bright disco energy. They remain relevant thanks to movies like Mamma Mia, Sing and Trolls that have introduced these songs to younger generations to sing along with the same excitement as the older ones who heard it when it was first on the radio. These are also versatile as they are the perfect speed to mix into 2010s dance songs like Danza Kuduro, Fireball or Timber once the party is started.

Gimme Gimme Gimme - Abba

September - Earth Wind & Fire

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson

You Should Be Dancing - The Bee Gees

Rasputin - Boney M

Disco Inferno - The Trampps

Celebration - Kool & The Gang

Rock With You - Michael Jackson

Night Fever - The Bee Gees

Dancing Queen - Abba

RETRO DANCE

Big Shiny Pop, Dance and R&B hits from the 80s are always a great bet. These are also songs that remain relevant decades later and are just so fun to dance to in a big group. Each of these is crafted with happy 80s sounds that are just dripping with optimism and excitement. By the time your group gets to the chorus, they will be singing these songs at the top of their lungs, vibing off all of the nostalgic 80s energy. These are also a fantastic speed for mixing into modern songs after like Flowers, Dance The Night or Cruel Summer, which are also amazing for singing along to.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston

The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson

1999 - Prince

Holiday - Madonna

Footloose - Kenny Loggins

Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves

I'm So Excited - The Pointer Sisters

Don't You Want Me - Human League

All Night Long - Lionel Richie

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

ROCK PARTY

For any couples who love rock, why waste time getting to the good stuff? Start your party off with an electrically-charged rock favourite that will ignite your dance as if it were a concert. All of these songs have been proven to pack a dance floor and inspire shouting, stomping, devil horns and air guitars. These song are great at welcoming guests of all ages and flexible to mix between decades after getting everyone on the dance floor, mixing well between decades as, all egos aside, The Beatles and Oasis really do make sense to play back to back.

Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

Don't Stop Believing - Journey

500 Miles - The Proclaimers

You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard

Sweet Child O Mine - Guns N Roses

Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen

All The Small Things - Blink-182

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

MOTOWN & FUNK

This is a classy and timeless way to kick-off a dance party. Motown burst through the radio waves in the 60s not because they had the permission, but because it was so damned good that the radio gatekeepers couldn't hold the power of R&B back any longer. These songs are filled with passion and joy and energy that will inspire some of the most memorable dance moves of the evening. Also amazing at inspiring all generations and mixes well with upbeat contemporary hits like Taylor Swift's Shake It Off, Outkast's Hey Ya and Cee-lo Green's Forget You.

Shout - Isley Brothers

Can't Help Myself - The Four Tops

Do You Love Me - The Contours

Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley

Signed Sealed Delivered - Stevie Wonder

Can't Hurry Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes

Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations

Dance To The Music - Sly & The Family Stone

Aint No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye

Get Up Offa That Thang - James Brown

TOP 40 DANCE HITS

This is the boldest way to jump into your dance party, and is fantastic if your group is charged up and ready to go. Do note that this is also the most dangerous way to start, as these songs don't always resonate with older generations, who sometimes need a bit more warming up before they are ready for these. But if you happen to have a young group who are simply excited to hit the dance floor and let it all loose, these are our favourites from the last 15 years from radio hits to EDM standards.

Give Me Everything - Neo ft. Pitbull

Wake Me Up - Avicii

Timber - Kesha ft. Pitbull

Fireball - Pitbull ft. John Ryan

We Found Love - Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna

Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

Dance The Night - Dua Lipa

Danza Kuduro - Don Omar

Flowers - Miley Cyrus

Stereo Love - Edward Maya ft. Viga Jigulina

IN SUMMARY

Getting the party started on the right note helps you, the party organizer, breathe a huge sigh of relief as everyone is dancing and happy, the party is great, and you are now free to relax and go enjoy it yourself!

These songs truly have been tested by us hundreds if not a thousand times before, and give you the best chance of hitting the party hot right out of the gate.

Feel free to try a few of these tonight or this weekend at home on your own own stereo to see what inspires you the most. Toasting to you and your own making your dance parties awesome 🥂