Last night’s wedding, at the beautiful outdoor space atop the hill at Kenwood’s Kunde Family Winery, was one of the most fun I’ve done in awhile in terms of the positive energy and uninhibited dancing on the part of the guests. Normally I submit a night’s playlist for your perusal and leave it at that, but this time around I’m going to do a bit of retroactive “live” blogging, or at least what I would have blogged live had I been live blogging the event.
The switch from background music to official dancing music was heralded by the pie cutting moment. As is so often the case lately, the traditional wedding cake was replaced by pies. For that moment, the bride requested the following two songs back to back:
Love You – Syd Barrett
Bike – Pink Floyd
Pies cut, it was now time to dance. The bride and groom didn’t want to do a first dance, instead opting to kick things off with a fun and upbeat song from the ’60s Bollywood film Gumnaam. It was an inspired choice, as it brought nearly all the guests onto the dance floor.
Jaan Pehechaan Ho – Mohammed Rafi
Knowing that a break in the action was coming soon, I played a slower song that I knew to be among the bride’s favorites:
Ride a White Horse – Goldfrapp
Crack!! Candy everywhere! Meanwhile, a large percentage of the guests were already dancing to Goldfrapp, so I kept the vibe going:
Blind – Hercules and Love Affair
Get Innocuous! – LCD Soundsystem
Wildcat – Ratatat
Over & Over – Hot Chip
At this point I heard one dancer shout to his friend “I love Hot Chip! They’re my favorite band!” You’re welcome, buddy.
Move Your Feet – Junior Senior
The dancing is pretty energetic now. I don’t think very many guests have recognized a single song I’ve played to this point, and yet all of them, young, old, and very old, are not only dancing, but dancing wildly. Let’s give them a respite:
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
They loved it. Let’s pick the tempo back up:
Young Folks – Peter Bjorn and John
Chick Habit – April March
Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
I just fielded a request, which I will play next:
Girls – Beastie Boys
The dancers loved it. Let’s use that ’80s classic to bridge into some more indie ’80s music:
Lips Like Sugar – Echo & The Bunnymen
They love it.
Blue Monday – New Order
A guest just said to me I’m the best DJ she’s ever heard at a wedding.
Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
The dancing is wild again. It’s crazy how locked into a groove the dance floor is right now.
You Spin Me ‘Round (Like a Record) – Dead Or Alive
Two guys have started break dance fighting. I’m barely exaggerating here. One of them is on the floor, spinning on his back.
Panic – The Smiths
Another guest has just told me he thinks I’m doing a great job, but he used much more colorful language to make his point.
She’s All I Need – The Asteroid #4
The bride and groom are now in the center of the dancing with everyone slowed down and rotating around them.
Major Tom (Coming Home) – Peter Schilling
There are about three separate group hugs going on as everyone is singing along to the final chorus of Major Tom.
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol
One of the breakdance fighters is now climbing the tree over the dance floor… this could end badly. Oh good, his friends have pulled him down.
Take On Me – a-ha
The bride just told me my set is “perfect.” 🙂
Deceptacon – Le Tigre
The 7-person photographer, videographer, photo booth team has just conga lined out onto the dance floor and are all singing along with Le Tigre and dancing with the ecstatic bride.
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
Kids – MGMT
Just had another request. It’s coming up next:
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
As expected, pandemonium on the dance floor.
Flashdance…What A Feeling – Irene Cara
Laid – James
We Are Young [feat. Janelle Monáe] – Fun.
The older guests have made a circle and are dancing the hora to Fun. I’ve seen a lot at weddings, but I’ve never seen that before.
I Want You Back – The Jackson Five
As wild as the dancing has been to this point, it just went up a notch. Everyone is losing it.
How You Like Me Now? – The Heavy
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
The singing along from the guests to the end of Simple Minds was almost as loud, at least to me behind the speakers, as was the song. I’m almost out of time here, so I need to start bringing these guys down.
Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Boys Town Gang
The photo/video group have formed their own dance party off to the side of the dance floor, and I joined them for this one. Even the DJ is allowed to have a little fun, right? Oh, and here comes the bride! She’s joined us, and we’ve all done a sort of group hug and cheer thing. Amazing.
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
Nearly seven minutes of women launching themselves into the air in the general direction of men who are supposed to catch them, a few men launching onto other men, and even one man launching himself onto a female guest, nearly all of which ended up with people piled up on the dance floor. Only one guy is able to reliably catch the women jumping his way.
These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
The shuttle buses are here. Time to go home. One last track:
Twistin’ the Night Away – Sam Cooke
And we’re done. What a night it was!