What song are you always a little too excited to hear? You know, the one you have to dance to whether or not (but especially when) you’re drunk? Here’s why I’m asking…
My sister phoned me earlier this week to tell me that she booked her wedding DJ. Naturally, I asked what kind of music she instructed him to play, since my maid of honor duties require that I keep the dance floor hoppin’, and I need to gauge how much effort this will be so that I can adjust the price of her gift accordingly. She hit me with her Don’t Play List first: any novelty song, save the "Hokey Pokey." She’s a Virginia Tech alum. I’m used to it. Not the reason for this post. The track topping her Must Play List is: Ricky Martin’s "She Bangs."
Yes, my sister thinks "She Bangs" is "the best dance song ever," and after I stopped laughing she suggested that I take a poll to find out how many others have requested it. She’s confident that "the fellow Ricky Martin worshippers will surface."
So, settle this Bierly sibling argument: Have you — or will you ever — request Ricky Martin’s "She Bangs"? Then admit your own embarrassing, all-occasion must-plays. I’ll just say this: No one wants to be standing between me and the dance floor when Kriss Kross’ "Jump" comes on. Or, God forbid, Tom Jones’ "Sex Bomb."
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“Love Shack” – B52’s. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Not only do I dance, but I shout out “Tin roof…rusted!” each and every time.
My friends and I liked the Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” in junior high. I’ve now danced to it at three of their weddings.
haha, i LOVE this posting! my songs are rick springfield’s “jessie’s girl-” my college roommate’s name was jessie, and even though she was a girl, we’d still scream and point at her every time rick sang jessie;
the outfield’s “your love-” i get really excited whenever i hear it, mainly because it’s my ringtone;
justin timberlake’s “sexyback-” it will always remind me of the best vacation in vegas with my best friends;
and unk’s “walk it out-” again, my roommate and i would blast this and dance to it. good times.
I gotta agree with your sister..just thinking about that song right now has me bouncing a little in my cubicle!! I’d also have to give props to Sheila E’s ‘Glamourous Life’-that song still makes me wanna dance as much as it did when I was 12
It is a tradition at my family weddings that “Footloose” be played. My three brothers and I line up on the dance floor and mimic dances from the movie, especially the foot shuffle.
Whoomp! There it is – and yes, my friend and I have an interpretive dance that includes ‘digging it’ at the appropriate times…
And, I would prefer Livin’ La Vida Loca but can handle She Bangs…
God this is embarassing but mine is Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”. What an anthem! Hey, Hey…
You used to have to move it quick outta my way when “I Will Survive” came on, but now I’ve grown up and gotten less bitter. These days it’s anything funky by Prince and “Dancing Queen.”
The most addictive: if you do not sing the second line in your head after reading this, you are not human:
“I LIKE BIG BUTTS”
If you’re talking in-private going crazy, then “Painted Black” by the Stones would have to be my number one. But I guess you’re talking about dance floor going crazy (and wedding appropriate, so Prince is out), so I’ll go with “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers.
Footloose, PYT and don’t stop till you get enough always get my family dancing. But for me, put on dancehall i.e. Sean Paul, Elephant Man and TOK and I will be in a trance. People just give me space on the dancefloor since it’s like I’m in another world. LOVES IT!!
Replace “Love Shack” with “Private Idaho.” Much better.
We Got The Beat! “Round and round and round, woooooo!”
It has to be Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From The Block”. There were times in 2002/2003 when I was utterly disappointed when I went to an event and the song wasn’t played. Although, now it’s starting to usurped on its throne by “Umbrella”.
How about Ricky Martin’s Shake your Bon-Bon? Bleeech! I can’t believe it, but I always have liked that song. For old school types, ‘Wild CHerry’s ‘Play That Funky Music’ and Carl Douglas ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ can’t be beat!
“Give it to you” by Jordan Knight (as a solo artist – NKOTB who?). Obviously, this song does not just pop up on its own very often, so I consider it my duty to request it at any and every opportunity.
I really can’t stand the basic wedding and celebration songs only because they are annoying. They are not as anonying as hearing Christmas music 24/7 starting the day after Thanksgiving up until the day after Christmas Day, but still.
As for songs that I’ll get excited to hear and I’m not sure why:
Pop Musik-M
My Sharona-THe Knack
Rock Me Gentley- Andy Kim (this song is now in a car commercial)
Absolute Beginners-The Jam
Pump It Up-Elvis Costello
Message of Love-Pretenders
Your Smiling Face-James Taylor
Lido Shuffel-Boz Scaggs
I have to say “I Get Around” by Tupac. I think it’s a great song. I got married in July, put this on my must play list and then proceeded to rap the whole song with the DJ’s mic on the dance floor at my reception. Talk about the most inappropriate wedding song ever! I can’t imagine anyone else has ever requested that song at a wedding.
If Spirit of the West’s “Home for a Rest” doesn’t get you on the floor, then you need to seek professional help! : )
Good vibration!! Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch!!
I can’t resist that song!!!
Ice Ice Baby. I have to sing along, no matter where I am. Word to your mother.
My Humps – BEP
“Ask yourself now can you forgive her? If she asked you to?” I have to sing it whenever I even try to say the title to the Pet Shop Boys’ wonderful “Can you forgive her?”
Way too many to name, but here are the top 5 that get me especially giddy:
Send Me An Angel–Real Life
Say It Right–Nelly Furtado
Sexyback–JT
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough–MJ
and our all time favorite college house party dance song…
All Night Long–Lionel Ritchie
You got to have “We are Family’ and YMCA.
The staples at weddings that always get me out of my seat are:
Groove is in the Heart – Deee-Lite
Pump Up the Jam – Technotronic
and sadly… Mony Mony – Billy Idol
rock rock rock rock rock-n-roll high school
For me it has to be The Safety Dance. Whoa that was weird, iTunes just started playing it as I’m typing this. It’s a little embarrassing how much I love this song. The beeping and spelling out SSSS AAAA FFFF EEEE TTTT YYYY are too great to truly explain.
As for She Bangs, I always have and always will hate that song with a passion.
Occasionally a DJ will break out the dance version of “Total Eclispe of the Heart” by Nikki French. I’ll then proceed scream, grab a friend and run to the dance floor. Also, a theory of mine is that if you play Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani, ALL the girls in the room will stop talking and immediately start singing. That eventually leads to dancing. Try it sometime. It’s a blast.
Rock Me Amadeus by whoever the hell that is.
& If I Only Knew by Tom Jones.