I agree on some
- Thread starter Jeff Romard
- Start date
I think this list is silly.
while there is a few I wouldn't play unless requested, most I would
while there is a few I wouldn't play unless requested, most I would
With the exception of get low (which I only utilize one verse/chorus from), there is no song on there that I play routinely. The list is fairly accurate to what a typical wedding aged couple (25-35) would not care for or more realistically, feel are overplayed.
These are requested and played at nearly every Wedding I perform most of my clients realize this is them throwing a party for their guests and want everyone of every age to have a great time, I cannot count the number of times I’ve had 200 plus people singing Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs
There are lots of other songs that exist that work for crowds of all ages (mj, earth wind fire, dancing queen, whitney houston, madonna, dont stop believing etc). Also has to do with demographics... if you do younger weddings, 25-35 yr olds dont want all the same songs that were being played at their parents weddings (which now took place in the 80's and 90's). This is a request list from one of my most recent weddings (they broke it down by early vibes vs later vibes)
EARLY
LEVITATING
TIMBER
THE MACK – NEVADA
BYE BYE BYE
EVERYBODY BACKSTREET BOYS
WE FOUND LOVE
TIME OF OUR LIVES PITBULL
YOU BELONG W ME TAYLOR SWIFT
STYLE TAYLOR SWIFT
WILD ONE FLO RIDA
BABY ONE MORE TIME – BRITNEY SPEARS
HIPS DON’T LIE SHAKIRA
LATE
OCEAN AVE
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
SUGAR WE’RE GOING DOWN
DJ GOT US FALLING IN LOVE
HEY BABY PITBULL
GET IT ON THE FLOOR DMX
PARTY UP – DMX
HOT IN HERRE - NELLY
BOTTOMS UP TREY SONGZ
FREEK A LEEK PETEY PABLO
YEAH USHER
GET LOW LIL JON
LOSE CONTROL MISSY ELLIOT
POP THAT FRENCH MONTANA
ALL OF THE LIGHTS KANYE
WHATS LUV FAT JOE
LOW FLO RIDA
WOP J DASH
I LIKE IT CARDI B
NO HANDS
Here's the video recap:
You gi to a concert to hear the hits, same at a wedding, DJs care because they hear them every week wedding guests anticipate them
One of my favorite stories is when a song on the DNP list became THE tearjerker moment of the night. The requestor was a 7 year old kid. He accepted that it was on the DNP list but 20 min later the bride said its OK to play it. I hammed it up telling all the women that this shy handsome man was going to lead them in his special dance. They all gathered around him and the kid had a blast with all the men grabbing their cameras. Little did I know the kid had just been diagnosed with a degenerative disease that would probably kill him within 10 years.
After that incident, I advised couples to be a little flexible about their DNP list if one of the songs comes as a request from a special guest. You never know what moment it may create.
Of course, flexibility can have its down-sides too. I did a corporate Christmas party once where one employee had special needs. She kept requesting kids songs (e.g. Barney theme). I was told I could play one of her requests and I did. However, that emboldened her to come up every few minutes with another request. She was very sweet and it was hard turning down her additional event killing requests.
After that incident, I advised couples to be a little flexible about their DNP list if one of the songs comes as a request from a special guest. You never know what moment it may create.
Of course, flexibility can have its down-sides too. I did a corporate Christmas party once where one employee had special needs. She kept requesting kids songs (e.g. Barney theme). I was told I could play one of her requests and I did. However, that emboldened her to come up every few minutes with another request. She was very sweet and it was hard turning down her additional event killing requests.
I guess it depends on where you live and who you serve. I wouldn't take advice from the knot even if they were holding a gun to my head. 
In the days of Tik tok advising brides to do things their way (aka screw the older guests if that’s what they want), numerous negative reviews originating from djs deviating from the couples wishes, and couples wanting hype/social media worthy weddings (hence the rise in content creators being hired by couples)… I would really make sure I understand what the couples goals are. As someone who works with more high energy, on trend couples I can safely say this list is spot on… and not just for 2024 but likely since 2020.
Interactive line dance songs have been around since the 90's and I can tell you that many experts called those songs "cheesy" yet they are still requested at most weddings and events. It's up to the client if they want their DJ to take requests or not play any requests at all. Most people know very little about what songs work, that's why most clients come up with a do not play list. Regardless of how long they are, and I've seen some long ones, they might still miss a song that they don't like.
Most weddings? Respectfully, I can't recall the last time I got an actual request from the couple themselves for line/participation dances. In fact, I can confidently say that I've seen multiple brides shut down their guests at their wedding who came up to me requesting a line dance (guest would ask me to play one, I'd say I can't bc the couple didn't ask for those... they'd say they'll talk to the bride and that I'm wrong...they do, and the bride would literally say "absolutely not" and the guest is left looking like they made the biggest mistake in the world going up to the bride mentioning a line dance).
Regardless of what couples know, its how they're getting the information that's leading them to make decisions. So much of it is social media inspired, and they see other couples taking certain approaches and see the cool content and reactions and want that too. It's why it's so important to understand what they're trying to accomplish to help them best make it a reality.
2023 was full of trends that were social media inspired. I've said this before, but if you're not on tiktok and following the wedding scene there, you're missing out on some huge gems and also missing out on the mindset of couples.
My clients dictate what they want and the vibe that they want to create and sometimes they do allow me to take requests. my Latin American Wedding clients love interactive entertainment.
I think we have talked about this before Taso but you are in a different league than most of us I firmly believe you cater to clients that think differently about weddings than most of us do
I 100% agree with this what Taso is saying I have never heard from a single wedding client
I doubt that even the "Great Taso" can play whatever he wants at a wedding reception. He, like me, probably has some leeway, but I doubt that he chooses every song for his client's weddings. He's credible, but not so incredible to neglect his client's song choices. Taso is a wonderful person and I agree with most of what he says. I just don't like the use of social media as an excuse as to how things should be done. BTW, Tik Tok will probably be banned in about a year.
I was just gonna say that. Can't ever remember hearing of his van being broken into.
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I do NOT choose every song at my weddings. Maybe 1/10 weddings am I given no playlist. However EVERY wedding I do I have a very precise idea of the direction I'm going in and the framework to the night.
This all starts with the planning process. During my finalization one month before, when I get to the portion of the music for the event, I break it down in the following way:
Question: - How do you want the early part of the night to sound... do you want it comprised of songs for people of all ages that are very familiar... are you looking to go high energy right from the get go... are you looking for something very specific, etc.
Common Answer: We're ok with some older stuff, we just don't want too much of that stuff because that;s not the vibe we're looking for. If you want to sprinkle some in that's ok with us. (note: the word sprinkle is the one that most couples connect with because it confirms that it won't be an overwhleming amount).
Question: How do you want the later part of the night to sound... do you want a continuation of early on with old and new mixed in, a high energy club (vegas/miami) vibe, are you looking for a bar atmosphere with fun singalongs, are you seeking more of a reminiscing vibe with all your middle school/high school/college favorites and songs that you and your friend group connect well with.
Common Response: Rarely does a couple want a continuation of the earlier vibe. By then the overall consensus is they want a change in direction and vibe and one that is primarily geared to an avg age of under 40. Most nowadays want a blend of the throwback kind of vibe with all the 2000's hip hop/boy bands/punk rock/pop that were anthems from the time period, with some mixing in some edm from their college years (circa 2010-2015) (think david guetta, swedish house mafia, avicii, alesso). Some also tie in country somehwere in their response.
Additional Comment often made: The other common area of concern from couples is not having songs drag out as it kills the momentum and the energy on the dancefloor, as well as creates an opportunity for guests to escape the dancefloor.
From there couples will provide specific requests broken down in categories: "Early Vibes" and Late night vibes" to get further insight as to what they really appreciate and expected based on their answers to my previous questions. It's also where i get some great song requests I might have never guessed or known were appreciated by the couple.
Additional note: When couples say they're ok with older stuff early on, they want it to be songs that they connect with as well... not primarily geared to the older guests only. The most common requests include: jackson 5, night fever, september, i wanna dance with somebody, Michael Jackson, dancing queen/gimme gimme gimme, oh what a night. They don't wanna go too deep into the genres from the 70's and 80's. Some who appreciate a bar like atmosphere will often include Don't stop beleiving and Living on a Prayer, and once in a while you will see the rare Sweet Caroline request (especially if couple are Penn State Alumni).
Final Thoughts:
So overall you can see that when I do a wedding, I have lots of control as to the specific songs played and how I blend things and progress the energy in the room... however I do have a framework and a sense of what needs to be accomplished as outlined by the couple. My weddings may have similarities early on, as most dont want old music to set the tone for the direction the night is going in (it's purpose is to just keep older guests engaged longer before we phase that music out for the rest of the night)... but by the time the middle to later portion of the evening comes into play, the vibe really cranks up and it's all about the couple and their generation. While couples give me 25-40 song requests, I play over 100 songs for the dancing portion, but the majority of the songs I play and the songs requested, are songs that are geared towards the couple and their friends.
Hence why those songs on the list on the knot rarely see the light of day at my events.
If you follow me on youtube (www.youtube.come/djtaso) where I still post weekly recaps you will see a consistent theme... early vibes are more generic older and newer songs... later vibes are more couple specific.
It's weird to see many of you considering me to have couples that are exceptions to the norm, whereas I think my couples are seeking what most 25-35yr olds are seeking... just not all of them have the budget or do the research to find a dj to give them that. Will the songs on the knot's list work... yes... but is it what couples ACTUALLY want. If you spoke to them and really gave them options about the direction, you'd see they actually prefer the dj do things differently than what most "generic" weddings do.
Taso, I love seeing your perspective on things because it is relatively foreign to me these days. I grew up in the NYC metro area and then moved away after college. I have spent considerable time over the last 40 years doing business across the country. The NY area is VERY unique. It was hard for me to imagine how different the rest of the country was until I moved away. I don't doubt anything you say about your market nor do I doubt what the others say about theirs.
We are probably all guilty of building bubbles around our business. Once we've established a niche, we create referral business within that market . This means nearly everyone we speak with wants exactly what we do. If we look at the competition, we probably focus mostly on the ones that compete in our niche. It is easy to assume the whole world shares our experience and thus easy to forget that one geographic market can support many niches.
We are probably all guilty of building bubbles around our business. Once we've established a niche, we create referral business within that market . This means nearly everyone we speak with wants exactly what we do. If we look at the competition, we probably focus mostly on the ones that compete in our niche. It is easy to assume the whole world shares our experience and thus easy to forget that one geographic market can support many niches.
The thing is what I’m doing is not just in the NYC/NJ/Philly area. I’m fortunate that I have clientele everywhere. Over the period of 2023-2025 I’ll have been or be going to the following areas:
Winston Salem, NC (3x)
Fayetteville, NC (2x)
Norfolk, VA
Falls Church, Va
Danversport, MA
Lancaster, PA (2x)
Chicago, IL
Homewood, IL
Columbus, OH (I also did rocky river and Cleveland in recent years)
Jupiter, FL (this will be the 10th time going to Florida in 7yrs).
I don’t think the music aspect of things has anything to do with region (with exception of some niche aspects which again can be relayed via requests and discussion). Perhaps the production norms are unique in Jersey and the flow and overall attention to certain detail… but these are 25-35yr old couples we’re focusing on. I don’t think a 25yr old bride from Kansas listens to music that is vastly different than the music that a 25 yr old from Jersey listens to or has different desires for their dancefloor. The Kansas girl likely has gone to college and partied on spring break w teens from all over the country just as the Jersey girl has. Social media has really made the world smaller.
these are also couples willing to spend 3x what my normal rates are to book me. Why would they do that if that’s not the music they liked and wouldn’t get their guests dancing.
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