70's, 80's then work your way up. How old are you exactly? 40 and up is quite old to DJ for a crowd. But you gotta start somewhere. Thing of what's played at weddings like... Play That funky music, brick house, kool & the gang, Michael Jackson, billy ocean, temptations etc.

Think* wedding party music. Tone Loc, Rick James etc. stuff they will know and sing a long too and you'll never fail. Keep them interested in the music👍🏼

Anything by George Benson, Kool and the Gang, Luther Vandros.. always works for me...

40 years ago was just 1977; that means some of these folks were in their 20's (aka prime clubbing age) in the 90's. That should open up a whole plethora of possible tunes depending on the crowd demographic; that'll decide whether you end up playing Missy Elliot or N-Sync... or both.

90's era everything goes pretty hard at most weddings I've played in the past few years.

I was born in 83 and I'm turning 34 this year lol but I agree 90's pretty much works with any crowds even 50 and up.

I was talking about the people he's playing for, not the djs in this thread. Lol

I am 40 and agree with this completely, some 80's but mostly 90's and early 2000's is wwhat we like.

Thanks for your input, I'll try and play a variety of music from different era.

Just cos we're 40 doesn't mean we're dead :P

90's hip-hop and R&B always goes down a treat :D

Sure, I've been to 40s and above party and those folks danced to rap, hip hop, blues etc. I was just trying to get different ideas on what to play. What's the approximate fast songs to play at a dance before slow songs? Do I play ten fast songs for example? I'm a newbie at this. Thanks.

40 is the new 20 olschool djs

If it's a 40th birthday party, play 90's & upwards.
James brown & barry white etc... is more in line with a 60th.

Thanks for your input.

real simple but effective tip:

work in blocks or 3 songs, same genra, same era, find your own way to group songs that relate to each other. this will give each group a chance to get out and dance to their favorite era of music. watch the crowd and you will figure it out.

worry about playing the "right" music more than mixing, dropping songs on beat or letting a song end and starting another from the top is OK.

Great tips, Thank you.

Here's a start for 90's Hip hop and Rnb:

1. No Diggity - BLACKstreet feat. Dr. Dre
2. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) - En Vogue
3. The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
4. Real Love - Mary J. Blige
5. Hold On - En Vogue
6. This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
7. Creep - TLC
8. You Make Me Wanna... - Usher
9. No, No, No Part II - Destiny's Child feat. Wyclef Jean
10. No Scrubs - TLC
11. Poison - Bell Biv Devoe
12. Are You That Somebody? - Aaliyah
13. Gett Off - Prince & The New Power Generation
14. I Love Your Smile - Shanice
15. I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) - Hi-Five
16. Freak Like Me - Adina Howard
17. Remember the Time - Michael Jackson
18. Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg - TLC
19. Motownphilly - Boyz II Men
20. Pony - Ginuwine
21. Just Kickin' It - X-Scape
22. Candy Rain - Soul for Real
23. Too Close - Next
24. Back and Forth - Aaliyah
25. Don't Walk Away - Jade
26. Fantasy - Mariah Carey
27. Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) - Monica
28. Baby - Brandy
29. If I Had No Loot - Tony! Toni! Tone!
30. I'm So Into You - SWV
31. Dream Lover - Mariah Carey
32. Power of Love/Love Power - Luther Vandross
33. Unpretty - TLC
34. It Never Rains (In Southern California) - Tony! Toni! Tone!
35. The First Night - Monica
36. I'm Every Woman - Whitney Houston
37. Free Your Mind - En Vogue
38. U Know What's Up - Donell Jones
39. Tell Me - Groove Theory
40. Hey Mr. D.J. - Zhane
41. I Wanna Be Down - Brandy
42. Live and Learn - Joe Public
43. Touch Me, Tease Me - Case feat. Foxxy Brown
44. Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child
45. Honey - Mariah Carey
46. I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston
47. Let the Beat Hit 'Em - Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam
48. Giving You the Benefit - Pebbles
49. Girls Nite Out - Tyler Collins
50. She's Playing Hard to Get - Hi-Five
51. Hit Me Off - New Edition
52. Cream - Prince & The New Power Generation
53. Anything (remix) - SWV
54. Sittin' Up in My Room - Brandy
55. Let's Ride - Montell Jordan
56. Only You (remix) - 112 feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Ma$e
57. You're the One - SWV
58. Scream - Michael & Janet Jackson
59. The Best Things in Life Are Free - Janet Jackson & Luther Vandross
60. Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison
61. Thong Song - Sisqo
62. Romantic - Karyn White
63. Don't Wanna Fall in Love - Jane Child
64. Where My Girls At? - 702
65. Baby-Baby-Baby - TLC
66. Feels Good - Tony! Toni! Tone!
67. Do Me! - Bell Biv Devoe
68. I Wanna Love You - Jade
69. Humpin' Around - Bobby Brown
70. So You Like What You See? - Samuelle
71. Exclusivity - Damian Dame
72. This is for the Lover in You - Babyface
73. Groove Thang - Zhane
74. Together Again - Janet Jackson
75. Stay - Eternal
76. All 4 Love - Color Me Badd
77. Do Me Right - Guy
78. If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah
79. My Love is Your Love - Whitney Houston
80. If - Janet Jackson
81. You Remind Me - Mary J. Blige
82. Got 'Til It's Gone - Janet Jackson
83. Emotions - Mariah Carey
84. Lies - En Vogue
85. Get It On...Tonite - Montell Jordan
86. Jumpin' Jumpin' - Destiny's Child
87. How Deep is Your Love? - Dru Hill
88. Can't You See? - Total feat. Notorious B.I.G.
89. Heartbreaker - Mariah Carey
90. Dream on Dreamer - Brand New Heavies
91. Never Gonna Let You Go - Tina Moore
92. Don't Wanna Change the World - Phyllis Hyman
93. Caught Out There - Kelis
94. What About Your Friends? - TLC
95. I Belong to You - Toni Braxton
96. Thieves in the Temple - Prince
97. Why You Gettin' Funky on Me? - Today
98. I Don't Wanna Fight - Tina Turner
99. Running Back to You - Vanessa Williams
100. Don't Be Afraid - Aaron Hall

This is almost a full night! Great list!

Sony311 and Robb Royale thanks for your time and help. I really appreaciated the list. I have a huge playlist of really great music to chose from . Thanks again.

Yep, I am a 50 something year old DJ - some of that stuff at the beginning of your original post is too old for ME!

James Brown, Stylistics, (some) O'jays, Barry White, Intruders, Aretha Franklin are songs that their parents probably listened to but maybe would be ok for dinner memories or as a one off here and there?

But like others have said - 90's music is your target area with maybe some mid to late 80's to hit their jr high and high school memories.

Maybe stuff like Prince and the Time, Eric B and Rakim, and don't forget Planet Rock, Kraftwerk, to bridge to some of that old school bass - Drop the Bass, Magic mike, Sir mix a lot, MC ADE, Tag Team - Whoop etc.

Stuff like may make a good UPTEMPO set for a minute to offset a whole night of 90's R&B around that 90-100 BPM tempo

Great list of hip-hop / rap music there but don't forget that the 90s was especially good for crossover house music with the likes of Ce Ce Peniston, Robin S, Sandy B, Kym Sims, Strike, Tori Amos, Double 99, K-Klass, The Bucketheads, Livin Joy, Corona, Whigfield, M-People, Mariah Carey, Alison Limerick, C&C Music Factory, Crystal Waters etc

When do you guys normally play slow songs?

at a snail Rally lol usually at the end of the night when everyones hammered and ready to go home

Ok, Thanks.

listen to this man. he knows what hes talking about.

not necessary to listen to this man because if you are a experienced DJ then you know every gig is different there is no number one hit to go to, your number one hit to go to may work at one gig and you play the next gig and they might not know what that number one hit is every gig is different, thats my word of advice

Whoah pal. Way to put words in my mouth. All I said was listen to this man. That's all. I didn't say that is th only way.

Of course every gig is different

Be careful though....If they're rock heads you'll have a different playlist for that bunch.

I did a 50th Birthday part last weekend all they wanted was new Top 40. The client specifically said not too much old school. The floor was packed most of the night and big songs were Calvin Harris - Feels and of course Despacito. Just because they are an older crowd it doesn't mean they only want old music.

mid-life crisis...LOL!. kidding

Haha. Hey I'm not even close to 50 and yes you are probably right.

I would not play half of this list!

I play it all on repeat :)

lol so would I nothin but the classics

This section in particular is 🔥

A lot of these I would play during social hour or even dinner. But not for the dance floor

That list would keep the floor PACKED all night long!

Some slow depressing country songs🔥

Maybe even some freestyle...Stevie B., Lisa Lisa, Debbie Deb, Johnny O, Expose

If you don't mind seeing some old booties clap...Dis-n-Dat, Quad City, 2-live, 69 Boyz, and some Ghost Town. LOL!

thats it im doing a video mix :)

D Jay Cee, Rob Royale and Sony311 this is a very fine list of dance songs. I appreciated the time you guys took to put this list together. Thanks.