I’ve been a DJ for a long time. Like, a really long time; more than 30 years long time. So when I say I experienced a “first” for me as a DJ last night, that means something. Last night, for the first time, I DJ’ed to an empty room while hundreds of people around the country watched and listened to me. Now, I’ve done radio before, so this wasn’t my first time playing to a remote audience, but this was the first time I DJ’ed for dancers who weren’t there. Welcome to the world of COVID-19 and social distancing.
On Wednesday, I let it be known that on Friday night I would be playing a set in my home, and streaming it through Twitch, a streaming service popular with gamers, but one that I’ve used before to broadcast performances. I expected maybe a dozen or so of my friends would tune in to watch and listen, but within a day of sharing the event on Facebook and Twitter, more than 300 people around the US and Canada had RSVPed, the majority of whom I didn’t know. I must have tapped into something, because it seems the entire world was ready for someone to do this. I won’t be at all surprised if other DJs start doing something similar.
It was incredibly weird, and difficult, to DJ to no one, yet know that maybe 200-300 people were watching, listening, and dancing, all in their own homes. When I DJ, I base everything off of the crowd’s response to my music. Some DJs, primarily club DJs, go into a performance with their set pre-planned, and practiced, or even prerecorded, and simply press play. Not me. I look at my audience, and even talk with some of them, before starting, and choose my first song based on my best sense of what they want to hear. Then I observe. I choose the next song based on how they react to the first one, and then next one based on the next reaction. I never know until a song is playing what is coming next, and it all comes to me from the energy and activity of the dancers. When do I speed things up? Do I stick with the same genre? Is it time to cool it down? Are they ready for a slow song, or should I go with a slow but energetic track? All of that comes from you, my audience, and last night there was no you, only me.
Truth be told, I have no idea how I did. I heard nothing but positive feedback and praise from people tuned in, but it’s hard to know what people really think, and as I couldn’t see anyone, I don’t know who danced, or how often. It’s not like anyone was going to say “you were terrible!” even if they thought it.
In any event, it was a thing, and it happened. And since I played nearly all vinyl, I had to note track by track what I played (as opposed to when I use Serato, which gives me a saved playlist after the fact). So here you go, my playlist of songs that I basically pulled out of my, well, you know, to entertain a continent of quarantined dancers.
Speed of Life – David Bowie
Jeepster – T. Rex
Heartbeat – Wham
Girl From Mars – Ash
Eric B. is President – Eric B. & Rakim
Pamplemousse – Hurricane Party
Time to Pretend – MGMT
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
I Want You Back – The Jackson Five
One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Barbie Dolls – Pizzicato Five
The Sign – Ace of Base
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
December 1963 (Oh What a Night) – The 4 Seasons
The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C.
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Big Mouth Strikes Again – The Smiths
Major Tom – Peter Schilling
Transmission – Joy Division
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Honey Bop – Wanda Jackson
One Cup of Coffee and a Cigarette – Glen Glenn
Somebody Told Me – The Killers
Valentine – Delays
Magic – The Cars
Like a Virgin – Madonna
Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Brass Monkey [Cameron Paul Remix] – Beastie Boys
Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
Girls & Boys – Blur
Over & Over – Hot Chip
Move Your Feet – Junior Senior
Kids – MGMT
Baby Shark – Pinkfong
Dancing with Myself – Billy Idol
Take On Me – a-ha
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
We Got the Beat – The Go-Go’s
Mickey – Toni Basil
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
Faith – George Michael
Red, Red Wine – UB40
Xanadu [feat. Olivia Newton-John] – Electric Light Orchestra
Heroes – David Bowie
Babies – Pulp
Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Garbage Truck – Sex Bob-Omb
Venus in Furs – Velvet Underground
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
It’s the End of the World as We Know It – R.E.M.
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany
Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Blue Monday – New Order
Girls on Film – Duran Duran
Suedehead – Morrissey
Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo
007 (Shanty Town) – Desmond Dekker
Phoenix City – Rolando Al and The Soul Brothers
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Copacabana (At The Copa) – Barry Manilow
Just a Friend – Biz Markie
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
Can I Kick It? – A Tribe Called Quest
Tame – Pixies
Deceptacon – Le Tigre
Holiday Road – Lindsey Buckingham
Alright – Supergrass
Digital – Joy Division
Starman – David Bowie
Hurdy Gurdy Man – Donovan
Vitamin C – Can
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Time of the Preacher – Willie Nelson
Pour Man – Lee Hazlewood
More Than a Feeling – Boston
Lovefool – The Cardigans
Disco 2000 – Pulp
Staying Out for the Summer – Dodgy
Atomic – Sleeper
Parklife – Blur
The Load-Out/ Stay – Jackson Browne
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison