Dinner Music

Does anyone have a list of dinner music... Im looking for one that works for about everything... I found one on here, but its only "old" people music... Looking for one for all ages...
Anything would help
Thanks

..."old" people music...

Tread lightly...I resemble that remark! :sqlaugh::sqwink:

What about asking your clients what they'd like to hear during dinner? It works for me!

Im just making a base list to go from... I had one, but lost it... The gig is this Friday I need it for, its for charity, so im not making anything on it... but Im trying to be prepared...
Sorry about the "old" comment... Just turned 20 and some stuff deffinalty is old to me...

Tread lightly...I resemble that remark! :sqlaugh::sqwink:


What she said!


Check your local easy listening or classic station for title ideas. Go very light on bass and volume- it's just for background...

Im just making a base list to go from... I had one, but lost it... The gig is this Friday I need it for, its for charity, so im not making anything on it... but Im trying to be prepared...
Sorry about the "old" comment... Just turned 20 and some stuff deffinalty is old to me...

Old People music :sqconfused: 20:sqconfused: What kind of gig is it whipper snapper and speak up so us old people can hear. :sqwink:

At twenty Usher is old to you... (just Playin)

Usher? Who's that? One of those rap guys?? :D

I need to be schooled on dinner music too. Typically, I play standards and artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. But I have had guests tell me, "Why are you playing that?! We're not 60!" I apprenticed w/ 4 DJs before getting into the biz and this is what I trained on.

So I changed it up and started playing smooth jazz, etc. Was told the same thing at a recent company dinner. So I added into my planner a section where they can choose the kind of music they want for their cocktail/dinner hour.

Honestly, I didn't think it mattered all that much since it was just low background music, but I guess it does.

Besides what the client might specifically request, do any of you play a perponderance of Adult Contemporary? You know...the current music that has not beat and you can't dance to it?

--W

King Tubby & Yabby U

Well, us old folks do like those crooners and the Rat Pack (he'll figure it out).

But there's always the new crooners like Harry Connick, Jr., Michael Bubble, and Rod Stewart. Yes, I'll say it again, Rod Stewart. I never thought I'd be putting him in that category but since his Great American Songbook series came out, Rod Stewart is a crooner.

I have a play list call toe tappers. I'll post it later.

I was asked to play "Michael Buble, Ella Fitzgerald and things like that" during dinner by a 16 year old (it was her sweet 16) and brides and grooms often ask for this type of thing also (Buble, Sinatra, and stuff that has similar sound).

Just goes to show you not everyone thinks that music is too old.

My suggestion would be to play this type of stuff but try to throw in a VARIETY of styles, artists, and genres that FEEL similar (groovy background music) to try and keep it fresh.

Mix in a few favorites that work great for dinner music but might not be played at other times like Drift Away (Dobie Gray or Uncle Kracker), Brown Eyed Girl, maybe some Maroon 5 or U2. This way you keep the mellow feeling but you defy people to say it's all stuffy oldies.

I just found the toe tapper list. This actually came from another DJ.

Bobby Day - Rockin' Robin
Neil Diamond - Forever In Blue Jeans
Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Simon & Garfunkel - Cecillia
Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered
Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
The Temptations - My Girl - Motown
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Come See About Me
Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman
Paul Simon - Kodachrome
The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Dion - Runaround Sue - 60's
Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away
Jack Johnson - Bubble Toes
Dobie Gray - Drift Away - 70's
Barenaked Ladies - If I Had A Million Dollars

You can also play the karaoke versions of popular songs, or the instrumentals, does little to distract those that want to talk, but also keeps those that have nothing to say occupied trying to think what song it is your playing. Jazz is good also, but try and get the jazz versions of songs that are again, popular now, this jazz set works great
http://www.hiddenbeach.com/
Unwrapped - The Ultimate Box Set
Officially titled Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped The Ultimate Box Set, the multi-disc compilation features re-sequenced and re-mastered songs from all four previously released Unwrapped CDs (Vols. 1 - 4), broken down into “old school” and “new school” themes, as well as bonus tracks and music videos culled from the life of the project.

Among the more than 50 songs included in the Box Set are jazzy takes on such Hip Hop standards as Notorious BIG's “One More Chance,” 50 Cent's “In Da Club,” Outkast's “The Way You Move,” Eminem's “Lose Yourself,” Slick Rick's “Children's Story,” The Roots' “I Got You,” Common's “The Light,” Tupac's “I Get Around,” Busta Rhymes' “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” Nelly's “Hot In Here,” A Tribe Called Quest's “Electric Relaxation,” and the Terror Squad's “Lean Back,” among many, many more.

[QUOTE=dj-tapout;136808]You can also play the karaoke versions of popular songs, or the instrumentals, does little to distract those that want to talk, but also keeps those that have nothing to say occupied trying to think what song it is your playing. [QUOTE]


Man, I gotta love this guy. I thought I was the only one doing it.....:sqcool:

Mix up the genres don't be afraid to step outside your normal staple of music that you would play.

Find songs that span the ages, don't stay in one era...keep it constantly mixed up (trust me this works.)

Make sure you use songs for the most part that are "recognizeable," dont play a bunch of obscure songs. If you play any obscure music, put it between two really familiar songs.

Don't use too many "slow" songs. It's not a funeral. :)

Don't use "speed metal," or music that has harsh sounds to it (screaming vocals, etc.)

Don't use songs that you will later repeat for dance music.

I'll use artists such as:

Neville Brothers
Jack Johnson
Dean Martin
Mills Brothers
Frank Sinatra
Firefall
Paul Simon
Gloria Estefan
Chris Ledoux
Clint Black
Ella Fitzgerald
Early Beatles
Michael Buble
Rod Stewart
Johnny Rivers
Marvin Gaye
Chicago
Peter Cetera
Brian Setzer
Big Kahuna and the Kopa Cats
Ella Fitzgerald
Fleetwood Mac
Aretha Franklin
Temptations
Four Tops
Supremes
(Motown, yeah!)


etc. etc. etc.

I just stay away from the really modern songs as most of them are so freaking "bass heavy" and are really not good for background music.

Good suggestions. Will implement them as I can.

Mr. K, you can bet I'm going to look up Yabby U and King Tubby! I'm not familiar w/ them, but I've been known to play a good Reggae tune during cocktail and dinner hour. Only thing is, when they break out the ganja, it slows the evening way down!

I play most of what the other guys suggested here also but I also try to add in things that you don't usually hear on radio anymore

A few I use that I didn't notice here

Isn't she lovley and Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

Norah Jones stuff

Puttin On The Ritz - Taco

Think of it like playing elevator music. Its to be heard but not noticed

I play most of what the other guys suggested here also but I also try to add in things that you don't usually hear on radio anymore

A few I use that I didn't notice here

Isn't she lovley and Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

Norah Jones stuff

Puttin On The Ritz - Taco

Think of it like playing elevator music. Its to be heard but not noticed


Excellent point, Mr. Romard! :thumbsup:

Puttin On The Ritz - Taco


You mean you don't play that during the dance?!

Whatchutalkinbout??!!

:icon_rr: