What Would You Play if Doing an 80's Gig?

[prince4u]

Ok I've been out of the DeeJaying loop for quite a long time (Kids took over). I did most of my deejaying in the 80's and little bit of 90's. I always kept my equipment just for fun.

I have come across an opportunity to do an 80's gig at my church. I think what they want is mostly the popular stuff from the 80's like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince etc.... and to keep them dancing. My question is what would most of you play in a gig like that? What songs have aged the best from the 80's? I would normally pick songs that were mixable so I can get in to it, but what are your thoughts?

[Disco Funk]

It depends on what kind of crowd you want to please. Just people who would rather listen to Top 40? Would they be open to other types of music from the 80s like rap, early house, go go, freestyle (like Stevie B), slightly hard rock like Van Halen's Jump or ZZ Top. It's all over the place.

Check out the various mixes on youtube of 80s songs. They might give you some ideas.

Here are a couple of tunes I am a sucker for, and they have good grooves and beats.





Disco Funk

[Videoskooter]

I would definitely play this (no matter what crowd )

And 2 slow down, 4 the ladies (no matter what crowd )

And good Disco Wave like TRANS-X and stuff like that

[prince4u]

I think it's more one the pop dance side and rock would be ok. I can get in to some rock mixing as well.

WOW!! 777-9311 one of my favorite tracks but not for this gig.

[discokicks]

If I were playing an '80s gig to a mainstream crowd, I'd probably be playing music from early to mid-80s mostly because it seems to represent what most people think of when you say the '80s:

Go-Gos, Men At Work, Police, B-52s for sure, Human League, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls

For a more savvy dance crowd, I'd throw extended mixes of these on....

Blue Monday - New Order
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Venus - Bananarama
Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Situation - Yaz
Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
You Spin Me 'Round - Dead or Alive

[prince4u]

If I were playing an '80s gig to a mainstream crowd, I'd probably be playing music from early to mid-80s mostly because it seems to represent what most people think of when you say the '80s:

True and most of the late 80's (at least to me) seems forgotten. And that's what I'm looking for are songs that have aged well. This shouldn't be a tough crowd they just want to relive the 80's just like I do which is why I agreed to do it.

I would definitely do extended versions when I can and also do some 80's stuff that was remixed in the 90's or 2K as long as they kept true to the original. Keep the ideas coming guys.

[Videoskooter]

I would go with Discokicks: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, King, UB 40, Prince's "Kiss" (played at EVERY 80's party here!) and certainly don't forget the SAW posse:

[prince4u]

I would go with Discokicks: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, King, UB 40, Prince's "Kiss" (played at EVERY 80's party here!) and certainly don't forget the SAW posse:

Oh yes SAW I would do 1 or 2 of them but that's all I would be able to take. Gotta love Kylie though.

Don't worry Video I'm already thinking of opening up with Prince 1999. I still think he was the 80's. What he accomplished in the 80's I don't think anyone will ever be able to do that and he gets snubbed for it as well. I will get Kiss in there to.

I have a 45min 80's medley that I made back in 1989. Starts off at 98bpm and ends at 115bpm probably for the end or maybe the beginning as their coming in. I won't play all of it just background.

[drlove]

some of my faves:

Don't You Want Me (Human League)
Major Tom (Peter Schilling)
A Different Story (Peter Schilling)
Do You Wanna Hold Me (Bow Wow Wow)
You Spin Me Round (Dead Or Alive)
I Want To Be Your Property (Blue Mercedes)
Cross My Heart (Eighth Wonder)

[kdavid13]

These scream 80's to me.

The Cult She sells sanctuary
Yello I love you / Vicious games / Oh yeah
Anything Box Living in oblivion
Split Enz I got you
Tears For Fears Change
Grace Jones Slave to the rhythm
A Flock Of Seagulls I ran
Bronski Beat Smalltown boy
Pete Wylie Sinful
Psychedelic Furs Heartbeat
Art Of Noise Beatbox
Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy Kiss me
Yaz Situation
Soft Cell Tainted Love/Where did our love go
Gary Numan Cars
OMD If you leave
Real Life Send me an angel

[SandraDee]

Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy Kiss me

That track always reminds me of college parties....ah memories.

[DJRAZ]

I would stick to the more familiar tunes from that time period.
Madonna Cuts
M.J. Cuts
Dirty Dancin/Flashdance Soundtracks (Or any soundtracks from that time period)
A block of new wave (Human League, Flock Of Seagulls,Clash,Billy Idol, The Romanatics etc.)
New Order - Bizzare Love Triangle
Depeche Mode - Strangelove
Erasure - A little Respect
Maybe a little Freestyle (Cover Girls/TKA/Information Society/Expose'

[Salsoul1975]

WHERE IS MY MAN-Eartha Kitt
CRASH GOES LOVE-Loleatta Holloway
IN MY HOUSE-Mary Jane Girls
I LIKE YOU-Phyllis Nelson
OBJECT OF MY DESIRE-Starpoint
ANOTHER MAN-Barbara Mason
I'M NOT GONNA LET-Colonel Abrams
BREAKIN'...THERE'S NO STOPPIN' US-Ollie and Jerry
FASCINATED-Company B
POINT OF NO RETURN-Exposé
IF YOU SHOULD EVER BE LONELY-Val Young
GIVE ME TONIGHT-Shannon
AIN'T NOTHING GOING ON BUT THE RENT-Gwen Guthrie
OPEN YOUR HEART (12")-Madonna
SILENT MORNING-Noel
LOVE LETTER-Giggles
SHOW ME-Cover Girls
DREAMIN' OF LOVE-Stevie B
DREAMIN'-Will To Power
I CAN'T WAIT-Nu Shooz
FOR TONIGHT-Nancy Martinez
INFATUATION-Upfront
SEDUCTION-Val Young
LOVE COME DOWN-Evelyn King
JUMP TO IT-Aretha Franklin
FORGET ME NOTS-Patrice Rushen
SHAKE IT UP TONIGHT-Cheryl Lynn
CALL ME-Skyy

...and many more that I can't think of right now.

[drh]

Some sure shots of the 80's people still love to dance to

Money's too tight too mention/Simply Red

Upside Down/ Diana Ross

Ain't nobody/Chaka Khan

I feel for you/Chaka Khan

Don't leave me this way/Communards

Sussudio/Phil Collins

Let's groove/Earth Wind & Fire


Never gonna give you up/Rick Astley

The night you murdered love/ABC

Breakout/Swingout Sister

Word up/Cameo


Relax/Frankie goes to Hollywood

Though i don't like all of those songs, i guess they'd move the crowd:icon_razz:

[JussiK]

The 80's had a very strong visual look to it which also came across in the music - tropical colours, wide shoulders and lots of po-mo (post modern) elements in everything. Whenever I feel the Spirit of 1985 coming on I program lots Kraftwerk (Numbers, Radio Activity etc), many Kid Creole & Coconuts songs (dancing At Les bains Douches, In The Jungle), "Marcia Baila" by Lea Rita Mitsouko, a seque of French lambada&Antillais tracks like the quaranteed-to-get-em-dancing "Maldon" by Zouk Machine, some quality hi-nrg of course like "Earthquake" by the Flirtations, Serge Gainsbourg naturally (Love On The Beat), DAF and other dark industrial robot sounds form Germany, and during the peak hour, Grace Jones tunes like "Nightclubbing" or "Party Girl". No party can do without Grace. Prince's "Mountains" works, as does "A Love Supreme" by Will Downing and Dina Carroll's "Ain't No Man". Then, some Deconstruction stuff from the GB and a Matt Bianco song, or some Basia tune for the hipsters in the house. Speaking of which, Darryl Pandy's "Love Can't Turn Around" still sounds pretty good. "Promised Land" by Joe Smooth should go well with that. "The Message" or "White Lines", Grandmaster Flash fits in, as does Marc Almond's "Desperate Hours" or some Boy George. Must not forget The Pet Shop Boys. I myself would never touch any Michael Jackson, George Michael or Madonna, too obvious and too boring. - Finish the gig with italo and Divine and you'll walk away like a man.

[SandraDee]

Dina Carroll's "Ain't No Man".

That's from the 90s!

[JussiK]

Thank god I never did an offical 80's night, who knows what might have been played under the impression it was from that period. Wait.. I DID do a thing like that once, a series of nights called "Crockett&Tubbs". We spinned things like "19" and "I Just Can't Wait" by Mandy. But that's all in the past now.

[discophil]

If you want to play a GREAT forgotten tune that will have them stop dead in their tracks and smile, muttering, "Holy cow...I forgot all about that song! It was great!" then play:

[discopsycho]

Stuff I remember dancing to at (straight) parties and clubs while in college during the early to mid 80's are:

Adam Ant-Goody Two Shoes
Go Go's
Human League-(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Thompson Twins
Spandau Ballet-True
OXO-Whirly Girl
Dazz Band-Let It Whip
Rick James-Super Freak
Vanity 6-Nasty Girl
U2
Police
Evelyn King-I'm In Love
Pretenders-Back on the Chain Gang
Tom Tom Club-Genius of Love
?-Everybody's Living for the Weekend
Billy Squier-Everybody Wants You
Timex Social Club-Rumors
Jody Watley-Looking For a New Love
Scritti Politti
Love and Rockets-Ball of Confusion

Some may not be appropriate for a church crowd, however.

[prince4u]

Thanks for your thoughts people. I guess it also depends on what area you grew up. I grew up in the Tri-State area, N. Jersey to be exact. I will be doing the gig in S. Jersey more of a Philly crowd. Back in the early 80's I was mixing the following.

1. Planet Patrol - Anything by them
2. Liquid Liquid - Cavern
3. Junior - Mama Used to Say
4. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Take you Home, Can you feel the beat
5. Yaz - Situation, Don't go, State Farm
6. Doug E. Fresh - La di da di, The Show
7. Kraftwerk - Anything by them
8. Rocker's Revenge - The harder they come
9. Freeez - IOU, Pop goes my love
10. New Order - Confusion
11. Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love, Pleasure of Love
12. Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop
13. George Kranz - Din Da Da
14. Chas Jankel - Glad to Know you
15. Prince - Anything by him
16. D-Train - You're the one for me, Keep on, Music

I think you get the idea. At that time we had the top pop hits charting.

1. Hall & Oates
2. Joan Jett
3. J Geils Band
4. Men at Work
5. Sheena Easton
6. Kim Carnes
7. Kool & the Gang
8. Rick Springfield
9. Culture Club
10. Wham

Etc........

And what about those songs that were on the borderline of 1979/1980. Especially the one's that sounded disco.

Diana Ross - Upside Down
Spinners - Working my way back to you
Michael Jackson - Rock with you
Blondie - Call me
Lipps Inc - Funkytown

Will the crowd remember these as 1980?

And what about songs that recharted in the 80's thanks to soundtracks like.

1. Contours - Do you love me? Original release date 1962
2. Ben E. King - Stand by me - Original release date 1961
3. The Beatles - Twist and Shout - Original release date - 1963

And Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons - Oh What a Night - Original release date 1975 received a 1988 remix by Ben Liebrand and 6 years later in 1994 that version re appeared in the Billboard top 100. But this remix did get a lot of airplay in the clubs in 88 & 89.

It will make for an interesting night. More of your thoughts are appreciated. Oh and yes Breakfast Club - Right on Track is one of my favorites and surely not frogotten by me but I know what you mean when other people hear it.

[discokicks]

Thanks for your thoughts people. I guess it also depends on what area you grew up. I grew up in the Tri-State area, N. Jersey to be exact. I will be doing the gig in S. Jersey more of a Philly crowd.

**********************
Will the crowd remember these as 1980?

**********************

It will make for an interesting night. More of your thoughts are appreciated.

It should be a great night for reminiscing and dancing to familiar music. My thoughts as a dj focus on what kind of crowd will be pulled in to this party.

If it's in a nightclub setting, then pulling out those familiar, well-worn 12" singles is the way to go. In this environment, those on the dancefloor will be waiting for Planet Rock and Let The Music Play....but even in a club, the majority of the crowd will be younger so their familiarity of '80s club music is a lot different than yours (speaking from sad experience here).

But if this is an '80s theme charity event or company function in a rented room, the main intent here is to create memories and pull in those who were in their teens and twenties in the 80s. Those people are now in their late 30s and into their 50s :icon_eek: ....and they're a different animal now than they were back then.

With marriages, kids, careers, home buying, money worries, divorces, health issues, disappointments, loss and all those other things that make being an adult so much fun, the average person's focus on music becomes almost non-existant...one of those sad realities that us music-lovin' djs have a hard time accepting. This crowd will be looking for the familiar top 40 hits.

[FranceJoliFan]

I have come across an opportunity to do an 80's gig at my church. what would most of you play in a gig like that?

Depends on the church. Maybe some Debby Boone. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister. A little Juice Newton when you want to get things rockin'. And be sure to play something mellow for the chaperones.

: )

Actually, all the suggestions people listed sound great. Especially the New Wave choices. Those are fun to dance to. Just don't play Head by Prince.

[remicks]

Thanks for your thoughts people. I guess it also depends on what area you grew up. I grew up in the Tri-State area, N. Jersey to be exact. I will be doing the gig in S. Jersey more of a Philly crowd.

Hmmmm ........ let's see....... recommendations for a
a gig in Jersey featuring dance stuff from the eighties :icon_confused: :icon_confused: :icon_confused:




Nope.

Can't think of a one !!! :icon_razz:



*****

[prince4u]

Just don't play Head by Prince.

I'll play "Sister" by Prince instead. The next track on the CD. :icon_mrgreen:

[DyscoSouljah]

I would play only 70's music... :icon_cool: