Top 5 songs to get people to dance

Lennytoons

Senior Member
I'm working with a new band now and we're going to be playing a couple of gigs soon. What are your top five songs to get people up to dance? I'm curious to see what you guys think. Thanks in advance.
 
Depends on where you are playing and the crowd.

For example, playing a top 40 song in a country bar might not get them to get up and dance, but "Boot Scootin' Boogie" might. However, playing "Boot Scootin' Boogie" in a different environment might get you some odd looks as well.
 
Girls are more keen to dance than guys are.

If you want people to dance, play songs that get girls to dance.

Girls like to dance. Guys like girls.
 
Are you a rock band?

White Zombie - Thunder Kiss '65

The Cult - Fire Woman

Motley Crue - Dr Feelgood

Foghat - Slow Ride (best of luck to your singer)
 
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Brown Eyed Girl
Mustang Sally
Summer of ‘69
Talk Dirty to Me
Mony Mony

None of these are a lot of fun to play after 3 or 4 thousand times, but they usually got dancers moving in my experience...
 
All of these are in our current set list. We play funk & Motown covers.

24k Magic - Bruno Mars
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Shout - Isley Brothers
Lady Marmalade - Labelle
September - Earth Wind & Fire
Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner version
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Valerie - Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Thinking Out Loud/Let's Get It On mashup - Ed Sheeran & Marvin Gaye (slow songs fill the floor too).
 
unfortunately... Strokin' by Clarence Carter still gets a lot of people up onto the floor. Maybe I should start going to classier joints.
 
Anything with a cowbell.
What? You don't believe me? Hit the cowbell at 100 beats per minute. Don't play anything else. No other instruments, only cowbell. Watch the butts start moving.

Also if you play these two songs correctly (slow heavy groove) they should dance: Lady In Red and How Bout Us.


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All of these are in our current set list. We play funk & Motown covers.

24k Magic - Bruno Mars
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Shout - Isley Brothers
Lady Marmalade - Labelle
September - Earth Wind & Fire
Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner version
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Valerie - Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Thinking Out Loud/Let's Get It On mashup - Ed Sheeran & Marvin Gaye (slow songs fill the floor too).

Looks familiar that list :), sounds like most of my Saturday nights in the summer!

I'll add:

When the crowd is heavily refreshed..............
Walking on Sunshine
Can't Hurry Love
Mr Brightside
Sex on Fire/Use Somebody
Angels
Don't Look Back In Anger
I'm A Believer
Sweet Caroline
500 Miles
Teenage Dirtbag
Happy
Baggy Trousers
 
All of these are in our current set list. We play funk & Motown covers.

24k Magic - Bruno Mars
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Shout - Isley Brothers
Lady Marmalade - Labelle
September - Earth Wind & Fire
Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner version
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Valerie - Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Thinking Out Loud/Let's Get It On mashup - Ed Sheeran & Marvin Gaye (slow songs fill the floor too).

I thought I posted this, haha!

I'll add:
Shut Up And Dance
Tennessee Whiskey (does slow dancing count?)
Boogie Shoes
American Girl
Call Me All
This Is How We Do It
Semi Charmed Life
No Diggity
Kiss
 
These work for us.

Dirt on my Boots
Come Together
Superstition
Cover of the Rolling Stone
(Keep on) Rockin' Me
 
Play That Funky Music
Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy
Sweet Home Alabama (seriously)
Fat Bottomed Girls
Dirty Deeds
Once Bitten Twice Shy
 
Songs that always work for us-

Lido Shuffle
Play that funky music
American Girl
You Wreck Me
Jailbreak
Rebel Yell
Stuck in the middle
Ride captain ride
Little Willy
 
Stars
Holdin' Back The Years
Reminiscing
Baby Come Back
Steal Away
Lido Shuffle
Playin' Your Game
Just The Two of Us
I Want You Back
 
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