"Do you want to hear disco at your event?" we often ask our potential clients.
Just hearing the question makes many clients we meet with cringe. They're thinking, of course, of the most tired or embarrassing disco, like "Y.M.C.A." or "Play That Funky Music" and don't like to think of their events having to feature such predictable music.
Now, we also often also meet with clients who are comfortable with mainstream disco being played at their event, but we understand that there's those who wish to stay away from it. However, because in our years of DJ-ing events we've seen how disco works as one of the greatest musical icebreakers around - its crisp studio production, easy-to-dance-to beats, and iconic songs are very effective at getting all kinds of guests to get up and dance - we'd like to both defend it a bit and offer some suggestions as to ways to include it in your event but yet also steer you clear of Boogie Clicheland.
Despite much mainstream disco being overplayed, some of it still works magic. There are anthems like "Stayin' Alive" that, despite it being played more than McDonalds has served customers, continues to pack the dancefloor and up the energy at most corporate events or weddings - it's a song that somehow puts all ages of people in a fun mood, from those in their 60s to those in their 20s. But some of the disco that we find works best are not purely disco songs, but are of other genres that have a disco feel mixed in, like Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," or hits from Michael Jackson's disco-influenced classic album "Off the Wall," and even the synthpop of the first Madonna album and New Order's enduring New Order 12" single "Blue Monday."
Another way to lead into disco is to include more current songs that hearken back to it - from Daft Punk's late '90s club anthem "One More Time" to many of the more hip songs of the last few years, such as tunes by the Scissor Sisters and last summer's pop-punky "Shut Up and Let Me Go" by the Ting Tings. These newer songs all have a disco influence in their beats, synths, guitar riffs,and sometimes even vocals. Of course, there are some for whom no evidence will change their opinion of disco as beginning and ending with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and therefore to them the genre will always be cheesy and undesireable. But hopefully some will consider these aforementioned songs as a way to not think of disco as perpetually uncool, or at least as a way to be more open to including disco in your event if you know the guests will want it.
Finally, instead of listing off familiar disco classics to play at your event that most of us know already, here's a few disco songs that we think are accessible and great but aren't at all played out. The first, Firefly's "Love (Is Gonna be On Your Side)" is one you've likely never heard but has an excellent groove and euphoric chorus; BBQ Band's sexy jam "On the Beat," might be recognizeable; and the synthy, tropical-feeling "Give It Up" by KC's (yes, that KC) you've defintely heard, but likely not in a long time, and we think you'll be glad you finally are again.
Have a listen to all three:
