Category Archives: DJ Blog

Top 50 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

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The following are the Top 50 Most Requested Cake Cutting Songs for 2011 as compiled by DJ Intelligence. Cake Cutting is a fun and honored tradition at most Western Weddings.

Wedding Cake Cutting Songs with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

The wedding cake is often a multi-tiered layer cake that is elaborately decorated with white frosting. Some couples have a smaller display cake, which is supplemented by sheet cake.

The groom’s cake is a tradition observed mainly in the southern United States. In the Colonial and Victorian eras, the white-iced bride’s cake was considered “too light” for male tastes, and a second cake choice—usually a dark, liquor-soaked fruitcake—was also offered. Today, chocolate is popular, although the groom’s cake may be in any flavor and is usually shaped or decorated as something significant to the groom, such as a favorite hobby or sport.

If a full meal is served, the wedding cake is usually served after the meal. Otherwise, the cake may be served as soon as the family has received all of the guests.

Commonly, the couple ceremonially cut the first piece of the cake, and in a nod to an ancient Roman wedding rite, may feed a bite to one another and perhaps sip a glass of wine or other drink with linked arms. Then the cake is served to the guests. Like being asked to pour tea at a formal tea party, being asked to serve the cake is generally considered an honor

Wedding Cake Cutting Songs with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Top 50 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

  1. Archies – Sugar, Sugar
  2. James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
  3. Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me
  4. U2 – Sweetest Thing
  5. Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
  6. Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – Lucky
  7. Jack Johnson – Better Together
  8. Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
  9. Beatles – When I’m Sixty-Four
  10. Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E
  11. Plain White T’s – 1,2,3,4 (I Love You)
  12. Average White Band – Cut The Cake
  13. Queen – You’re My Best Friend
  14. Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
  15. Frank Sinatra – Love And Marriage
  16. Cake – Love You Madly
  17. Unkle Kracker – Smile
  18. Natalie Cole – This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
  19. Beatles – All You Need Is Love
  20. Dean Martin – That’s Amore
  21. Iz – Over The Rainbow
  22. Michael Buble – How Sweet It Is
  23. Michael Buble – Everything
  24. Ingrid Michaelson – The Way I Am
  25. Turtles – Happy Together
  26. Sarah McLaughlin – Ice Cream
  27. Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe
  28. Etta James – At Last
  29. Christina Aguilera – Candyman
  30. Big & Rich – Lost In This Moment
  31. Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup
  32. Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
  33. Ray Lamontagne – You Are The Best Thing
  34. Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
  35. Louis Armstrong – (What A) Wonderful World
  36. Harry Connick, Jr. – Recipe For Love
  37. Lonestar – Amazed
  38. Bob Marley – Is This Love?
  39. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
  40. Tim McGraw – My Best Friend
  41. Taylor Swift – Today Was A Fairytale
  42. K-Ci & Jojo – All My Life
  43. Taylor Swift – Love Story
  44. U2 – Beautiful Day
  45. Kelly Clarkson – A Moment Like This
  46. Harry Connick, Jr. – It Had To Be You
  47. Adam Sandler – Grow Old With You
  48. Aerosmith – I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
  49. Dave Matthews Band – You And Me
  50. Dixie Cups – Chapel Of Love

Top 50 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

I noticed that The Beatles “In My Life” is not on the list for 2011 Cake Cutting Songs, but I am pretty sure it was for 2012. It is a beautiful song and becoming very popular again as a Cake Cutting Song. It is always interesting to me as a professional Wedding DJ when old songs get a second life, years later for what seems out of the blue.

Wedding Cake Cutting Song for Bride and Groom with DJ Mystical Michael

Here are other blog posts that may be helpful to you Top 50 DJ Wedding Last Dance Songs, Popular Garter Toss Songs, Wedding DJ Father-Daughter Dance Songs, DJ Wedding Mother-Son Dance Songs, Popular Bridal Party Introduction Songs for Wedding DJs and Popular Bouquet Toss Songs.

What is your favorite Wedding Cake Cutting Song?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

 

Dance School With A Mission

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Tonight I had the opportunity to enjoy a dance performance by The Everett Company Stage School in Providence, Rhode Island, A Hip Hop Holiday. It was fun seeing local youth dance with such passion, commitment and purpose.  Unfortunately, the media often portrays Hip Hop Culture as something bad and violent. Those who know better, are aware of the historical roots of Hip Hop as a Social Movement.

Fun Dance Party with Rhode Island DJ

“By 1989, hip-hop had long since graduated from its humble, thrilling origins as innovative party music in the Bronx in the late 1970s. Hip-hop had become a movement, a collective platform for African-American youth to voice frustration and inspiration alike. It had spread through inner cities and as far as suburbia, but was still seen as a sort of underground and lacked the big pop stars and cash flow of genres like R&B or rock.” (Dead Prez)

For me, it was a means of those who needed a voice to find one and speak their minds through music, verse and poetry.  It was possibly the next wave of social movement after the Sixties.

Dance Saved My Life

Time, money and the record industry have shifted a significant majority of the popular mainstream Hip Hop artists message and style to meet the needs of White, suburban culture. Hip Hop often does not resemble the sound and voice of its humble beginnings as social movement for change.

 

Fortunately, there are many excellent dance schools like Everett that are keeping it alive and sharing it with youth of all shapes, colors and sizes. The dancers echo the deep commitment of their Creative Director, Sokeo Ros

 

 

It was a pleasure to support such a valuable piece of dance, education and culture for talented youth!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Paul McCartney at 12.12.12 Rocks This DJ

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It was such a treat to see Sir Paul McCartney onstage at the 12.12.12 Benefit Concert for Hurricane Sandy! Of course, the whole line-up was great to see from Bruce Springsteen to The Who, Roger Waters and The Rolling Stones to Kanye West and Alicia Keys and Bill Joel.  Most of the performers looked old, well, because they are old. I am not sure why I give a pass to Paul McCartney and not as much the rest of the Classic Rockers who made the trip from near and far to support us here in the New Jersey, New York and Long Island area hit by Hurricane Sandy. There is something about Paul McCartney that is different, I felt it as a kid and still do today. Paul McCartney has that ‘thing’ that few people posses to the degree he does. It also might have something to do with this past Saturday Night being the memorial of John Lennon’s death, which hit me harder this year than most.

 

Paul McCartney’s set began with “Helter Skelter” that somehow seemed very appropriate. “Let Me Roll It” and “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”. It was fun to hear this song played with such energy! The video is below.

Paul McCartney Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five Music Video

Paul McCartney  invited Diana Krall onstage for “My Valentine”. There was also a heartfelt dedication to the victims of Sandy and rendition of “Blackbird”.  Members of the band Nirvana joined Paul McCartney for a song. Paul McCartney then played “I’ve Got A Feeling” and “Live and Let Die”.

Fifty-one years ago Paul McCartney & The Beatles signed with Brian Epstein!

Paul McCartney and Beatles Icon with Rhode Island Rock DJ

I enjoyed many of the performers but Paul McCartney’s set moved me the most. I also was inspired by Bill Joel’s “Miami 2017” and Kanye West’s “Golddigger”. The only negative perspective I would add is that Alicia Keys was the sole female musical performer. She did a great job but would have liked to had more female musicians represented. It was a great night for an excellent cause. Any professional DJ would be thrilled to support this benefit if they live in the area or anywhere.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Garter Toss, Still OK at Weddings?

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I remember in my twenties, how the Garter Toss and subsequent putting the Garter onto the woman who caught the Bouquet Toss was such a fun and exciting moment at Weddings. As young guys, anything that involved competition, better yet, competition for a single woman, was totally a blast. Half the fun was laughing at each other while diving for a little garter from the leg of the woman a friend had just married added to the goofiness of the event. I doubt very much any of us knew the tradition behind the Bouquet Toss and Garter Toss.

 

It used to be believed that the woman who caught the Bouquet Toss at Weddings would be the next single woman to get married. BUT, did you know the same was true of the man who caught the Garter Toss as well? It’s true, the man who caught the Garter Toss was also believed to be the next single man to marry. I am sure that if we knew this tradition back then, none of us would have put in as much effort to catch the Garter Toss. Another Garter Toss tradition includes the Garter being raffled off after being removed from the Bride to help offset the financial burdens that the young couple would now endure. This is instead of having the Garter Toss placed on another woman. Of course today, couples get married older and often are financially solid already at the time of their wedding.

Fun Bouquet Toss at Wedding before Garter Toss with DJ Mystical Michael

Is the Garter Toss & placement on leg of the woman who catching the Bouquet still OK?

Let’s take a closer look at The Garter Toss based on experience as a professional Wedding DJ in the New Jersey, New York and Philly area and some social shifts that may have made the Garter Toss a little behind the times. I am not going to explore issues related to how this may or may not devalue women, that is a different topic than what is being reviewed in this piece.

Groom Takes Garter Off Bride At Wedding before Garter Toss with DJ Mystical Michael

When men and women were typcially only single till their early to mid-twenties, the man and woman that would be the participants in the man placing the Garter  Toss on the woman’s leg would be of similar age and ‘readiness’ to get married next. It was fun, playful, sexy and represented a set of values at the time. Today, we have many men that are single due to divorce and lifestyle choices in middle age. This creates a unique situation when the female that catches the Bouquet is possibly in her late teens or early twenties and the man who will be putting his hands and the Garter Toss up her leg in middle age. It can feel and be somewhat yucky, and maybe even creepy to watch.

 A Possible Solution To The Garter Toss Problem

As a professional Wedding DJ, I have a found a solution to those Brides and Grooms that still want to have the option of the Garter Toss being placed on the woman. If this kind of situation occurs, we have a predetermined, non-verbal hand signal that we give to each other to acknowledge and agree if it is good to go ahead or not, depending on how things worked out. I know this sounds funny but it works!

Beautiful Woman on Dance Floor at Wedding with DJ Mystical Michael before Garter Toss

I have experienced this a few times and the Bride and Groom were both so grateful we had come up with a plan in advance, to save everyone. This is especially true for the young woman, and an uncomfortable situation. In fact, I had a wedding this past Spring that the man and woman that caught the Bouquet Toss ad Garter Toss were a couple that just broke up recently and both were at the wedding with other dates! We all laughed later on after the Reception but at that moment, it was such a relief to have a system already in place.

 

Each Bride and Groom must make your own decision whether to include the Garter Toss and/or Garter Placement but I invite you to create a system you and your Wedding DJ agree on, in case something goes in a direction that you do not want at your wedding.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Has A Great Time

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Saturday Night was the 30th Anniversary of Barefoot Boogie at Insight Meditation Center in NYC! It was such a fun night with an incredible energy and feeling of celebration. As the Coordinator of DJs and Teachers for our twice monthly dance events, it was extra special for me personally. When I returned to The USA almost three years ago after living in South Korea and traveling Asia, I discovered Barefoot Boogie as a means for dance and building community here in the New Jersey and New York area, after being away from this region for fifteen years. The Barefoot Boogie has been an essential piece of my life and was a driving force in me returning to being a professional DJ full-time again. I am so grateful for that cold, snowy January Night when I first walked in the doors to the Insight Center and heard the flowing music in the background. I felt home for the first time since landing on American soil.

 

We danced, sang, moved and grooved to fun music and special events we had planned. We did this really fun dance that the DJ played a short clip of a song form each of the thirty years and the person who was wearing the bib-like shirt that we made with the year corresponding to the song, did a brief solo dance and then gave way to the next dancer and subsequent year. We had two children present who also picked a year to dance solo.

 Barefoot Boogie celebrates 30 Years with Three DJs

I was the DJ for the last set and played some really open and expansive music, since the two earlier DJs played mostly popular old and new songs. I felt like I needed to offer another alternative to balance things out, since we are a very diverse and alternative community of freestyle dancers. This is one of the more unusual songs I played for the first time at a gig Saturday Night. Music likes this is not something I typically get to play at Weddings, Parties and Events and the Barefoot Boogie is a great place for me to experiment as a professional DJ.

What do you think of this tune for dancing or listening?

Creative DJ at Barefoot Boogie NYC

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ For Seniors Christmas Party

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Sometimes a professional DJ must play music that does not thrill them. It is true. We do not talk about it openly as to not make people feel like they might be hiring a good DJ that is not having fun. This is not the truth. A good professional DJ will have fun regardless of the music, since we are inspired by the people and the music, sometimes the former more than the latter.  Yesterday was one of those events for me at a Seniors Christmas Party.

 Last Minute DJ For Seniors Christmas Party

I was asked by a DJ associate to fill in for him for a last minute Seniors Christmas Party in Raritan, NJ. He had a death in the family and needed somebody to help-out and I was available. The pay was way below what I am used to receiving but wanted to help him and the Senior Center, so I accepted the gig. The music was not what I find inspiration in typically, outside of some good classic Christmas tunes. The first dance songs they wanted were “The Hokey Pokey” followed by “The Chicken Dance”, twice. We were able to move to some great Oldies and Motown stuff but there were many similar to those songs they wanted to dance to at their daytime Christmas Party.

 

Everybody had fun and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. I had all their requests except one, “Dominik The Italian Christmas Donkey Song”, which I have acquired since. It always feels good to be able to honor requests from folks from the generations before me, since they have such a diverse and expanded library of songs they enjoy. This requires a really high quality and quantity library of music to succeed at a Seniors Christmas Party.

Fun Seniors Dancing with DJ Mystical Michael for Christmas Party

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

John Lennon Life, Death and Influence on A DJ

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John Lennon, born John Winston Lennon and murdered outside his apartment in New York City on December 8th, 1980. John Lennon was and still is one of my heroes, possibly the only one at the time of his murder. His music, lyrics, message and lifestyle inspired me to be a better person and professional DJ.

 

I had the opportunity to view some of John Lennon artwork at an exhibit in Bloomington, Indiana in 1995. The beautiful simplicity had an effect on me and I recall reflecting on how simple he was, which seemed contradictory to what many might view him. John Lennon was a controversial man who pissed-off almost as many people as he inspired. His views on peace and religion caused major ripples throughout American and Western culture at the time, and possibly to a lesser degree today.

John Lennon Imagine

I remember the night he was murdered. I was working as the Resident DJ at a large New Jersey club called The Final Exam. It was somewhat busy for a Monday Night but enough people to have fun and a filled dance floor. I was cueing a record, when one of the Bouncers came running up, out of breath, “Michael, John Lennon was just shot and killed!” I dropped the record to the floor and began to weep. After the song playing ended, I announced over the PA system the news and played “Imagine” even though it was a dance night and not Rock Music. The next day, the radio station I was Program Director collectively decided to play twenty-four hours straight of John Lennon music in all its forms. For the year that followed, I played “Watching The Wheels” as my closing song live and on radio.

John Lennon Watching The Wheels

When I lived in South Korea, where I was an English Teacher, one of the school’s Teachers, who was a friend of mine, decided to use The Beatles, “Let It Be” as a song that her class would sing at the school talent show. She was disappointed at how they were not getting enthusiastic about the performance during their rehearsals. She asked if I would talk to them and explain the song and its significance. I shared with them about Vietnam, Beatlemania, peace, love and the anti-violent messages of the song. I further explained how it impacted people around the world and is considered, along with “Imagine”, to be one of the most famous community-building songs of peace and love for millions then and now. They got it and their performance the following week was powerful.

John Lennon  & Plastic Ono Band Let it Be

It was thirty-two years ago December 8th since his death. He is still one of the most influential people in my life that I have never met personally. He packed so much into his forty years with us; his music changed the music industry and supported a peace movement, along with other social movements at the time. The messages are still with us.

John Lennon give Peace A Chance

http://youtu.be/RkZC7sqImaM

John Lennon & The Beatles Icon

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Jay-Z Turns 43 Today!

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Generally, when I focus a spotlight on an artist, they are someone that has had a successful musical career over several decades but Jay-Z is a unique talent and deserves special attention. Born Shawn Corey Carter, Jay-Z is one of the most popular Rappers in the world. He has brilliantly expanded his financial interests into fashion, record producing, sports, real estate and sports bars. He was raised in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, NY and struggled in school and with the law. His father left him and his siblings, and in 1982, he shot his brother in the shoulder for stealing his jewelry. His mother has spoken about Sean banging beats on the kitchen table as a kid late night and keeping his brothers awake.

 

Jay-Z has been known for his support of President Barack Obama, global water shortages, same sex marriage, Hurricane Katrina and young voter turn-out. He has been criticized along with his wife Beyonce Knowles, for not being more politically active at times, most notably by Harry Belefonte who said they, “have turned their back on social responsibility”.

 Jay-Z has Collected Fourteen Grammy Awards

Jay-Z has collected fourteen Grammy Awards, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard Top 200 with eleven,  four number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Many consider him one, if the not the greatest Rapper of all time. He is a favorite by any professional DJ who specializes with music from R&B, Hip Hop, Rap and Pop.

“Shawn Corey Knowles-Carter(né Carter; born December 4, 1969),[2] better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter’s net worth at nearly $500 million.” Wikipedia

Party on Wedding Dance Floor with DJ Mystical Michael Jay-Z

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJ and Trivia Host

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I am fortunate to have the opportunity to utilize my skills and talents in many facets these days. It used to be a good DJ either worked in clubs or Weddings, Parties and Events and that was it. Today, a good professional DJ can spread our wings and perform as Trivia Hosts, MCs, Lounges, Bars and anywhere someone with a good voice on the microphone, a diverse and exceptional musical collection and knowledge and skills to work a crowd can be hired and provide entertainment.

triv·i·a [triv-ee-uh] plural noun – matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities. Trivia Host

My current schedule includes two nights as Trivia Hosting on Tuesday Nights at O’Reilly’s Pub in Newton, NJ and Wednesday Nights at Applebees in Hackettstown, NJ. I will be adding back the third night at Applebees in Hillsborough after the Holidays again. I was skeptical at first about being a Trivia Host but have grown to love the wok and have so much fun. I had no idea that I could turn such a simple act of asking questions into a great way to party and have a good time with friends or family in a positive setting! Of course, on weekends I am performing at what I do best; MC and DJ at Weddings, Parties and Events, which I always look forward to.

Triv·i·a[triv-ee-uh] noun (in Roman religion) Hecate: so called because she was the goddess of the crossroads.

Fun DJ and Trivia Host DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Jimi Hendrix Would Be 70 Today

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I remember the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”, I was like “WOW!” and my admiration and appreciation for his work was born. Jimi Hendrix was born November 27, 1942, making him seventy if he was alive in body today. I wonder sometimes how the current generation view him as an artist and icon, now that such great time has passed and his musical styles are not really reflected in Pop Music anymore. In the late 60’s, he fit right in although a complete pioneer and inovator. As a professional working DJ, I get to see his influence in the requests that still pour in for his music in places and events that do not seem like Hendrix-type environments. One of the venues that I am a Trivia Host on Wednesday Nights is The Applebees in Hackettestown, NJ. On a consistent basis some of the regular participants in the games will ask me to play Jimi Hendrix. What surprises me is that they are mostly people under age thirty and young professionals!

When the power of Love overcomes the love of power, the world will know Peace

Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix Quotes with DJ Mystical Michael

The legacy of Jimi Hendrix is hard to calibrate due to his involvement with drugs and alcohol and subsequent death from the abuse. His music lives on boldy in the influence of many young guitarists and musicians seeking inspiration from an artist who created and lived a life his own way, with few or no social restrains or concessions. He was a passionate human rights activist including environmental, race and social class as issues that he contributed his time and music.

Jimi Hendrix icon with DJ Mystical Michael

Hendrix received his main break when Paul McCartney had suggested him to The Monterey Pop Festival. He accepted the invitation and the media could not write enough positive praise of his musicianship and on-stage presence. This was followed by two solid albums that were adorned with critical and popular enthusiasm and he was on his way as an international success. Interestingly, he was first achieving popularity in Europe before the United States. It is possible that his performance at the Woodstock Music Festival was his signature moment as an artist. Today, his performance of the of aforementioned “Star Spangled Banner” often is the singular song that viewers of the film about the festival hold in their memory as what ‘The Sixties were about’.

Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.
Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix quotes music doesn't lie with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ