This is the first in a five-part series, DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix (Slow Jams) . Each mix will represent a different tempo or rhythm of romance, love and sensuality expressed through music. Of course, the mixes are not all inclusive. I could really make this into a twenty-part series without even scratching the surface.
The motivation was to provide those who are searching for music to use for alternative or non-traditional settings or couples to dance and move to. I have enough Brides and Grooms, as well as other couples that are not getting or already married that ask for recommendations for this kind of music. After completing the mixes, I will add a blog post including a larger list that has been compiled of songs that may be helpful to those looking for an alternative professional DJ playlist of romantic, love, sensual and sexy songs.
If you would like me to burn you a CD copy of the mix, I invite you to write and send me your address and I will mail it to you for free!
The second mix in the DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix series. The Traditional Romance Mix (Lush Jams) includes songs that are a little too fast for Slow Jams but not really uptempo. They typically are lush and deep with textured sounds. These are not songs typically thought of or associated with romance, which is one of the reasons the DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix (Lush Jams) was so much fun to create.
DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix (Lush Jams)
Non-Traditional Romance Mix. Lush Jams - DJ Mystical Michael
I enjoyed the opportunity to mix in some covers of classic tunes like Madonna’s “Borderline”, Elton John’s “Sacrifice” and Ravel’s “Bolero”. It is fun playing with such textured grooves and beats together to weave an eclectic and diverse musical landscape.
As is the case with all the professional DJ mixes I have been posting online, if you would like me to burn you a CD copy, just send me an email with the information and I will get it right out to you.
I am finding no matter how hard I try, I always seem to have songs that would work perfectly that just don’t fit or make it on these mixes. This time it was the next in the DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix Series, Rock Jams.
I do not get to play as much Rock Music as I used to and grasp at the opportunity when presented. While compiling the list of DJ Non-Traditional Romantic Mix songs over the last few weeks, it stared at me that there were enough Rock songs to make a mix of just Rock Romance! Of course, like I shared above, the amount of songs that I marked for this mix and what could comfortably fit in a mix below 100MB just didn’t work. No worries, I had fun and I think those of you Rockers out there will have something to enjoy! There may be a DJ Non-Traditional Romance Mix Rock Jams Part II at some point including more female voices than this mix, which only has one female lead vocalist.
The fourth mix in The Non-Traditional Romance Mix series. I had so much fun creating this one. I was able to add songs from several genre including R&B, Soul, Jazz, Folk and Blues. This particular mix also had music including decades from 1940’s to today.
I enjoy working with this project for couples that are looking for non-traditional songs for weddings, parties and events. As a professional DJ, we are always looking for opportunities to support others enjoyment of music and celebrations, especially when romance and love are involved. If you would like a CD copy, I invite you to send me an email and I will mail you one for free.
The fifth in the five-part series titled Non-Traditional Romance Mixes, Fire Jams. This is the mix that has more uptempo tunes with a focus on dancing to fast songs. This whole series has been a lot of fun for me. As a professional DJ that performs at many Weddings, Parties and Events who enjoy music that is not always as popular to what mainstream music is based, it is helpful to produce music for these kinds of Brides, Grooms and Event Planners.
I enjoyed mixing romantic and sensual music from Italy, France, Romania, India, Mexico, Brazil, England and of course, the U.S.A, just to name a few cultures included. I invite you to take a listen and get up and move to the jams.
Born, Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, ‘Seal’ is a British singer and song-writer of Nigerian and Brazilian descent. He has several international hits and won 4 Grammys and an MTV Music Award, including Seal Love’s Divine. Seal’s big break happened after returning from an Asian tour of Japan, Thailand and India while sleeping on a friend’s couch in London trying to determine if he had the talent to make it in the music industry.
Seal Love’s Divine Music Video
The Seal Love’s Divine official music video was directed by Sanji and marks the first occasion that Ukrainian model and actress Olga Kurylenko appears in an acting role. Seal Love’s Divine captures the challenges and joy of love and all that comes with the commitment to love from the lyrics, video and vocal performance. Seal is a professional Wedding DJ’s dream since his soulful tunes are great for Weddings and all romantic occasions in such a sweet, yet not cheesy way.
Seal Love’s Divine Lyrics
Then the rainstorm came, over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my, belief you see
And realized my mistake
But time threw a prayer, to me
And all around me became still
I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name
Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes
‘Cause I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name
Oh I, don’t bend (don’t bend), don’t break (don’t break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won’t forsake
‘Cause love can help me know my name
Well I try to say there’s nothing wrong
But inside I felt me lying all along
But the message here was plain to see
Believe me
‘Cause I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name
Oh I, don’t bend (don’t bend), don’t break (don’t break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won’t forsake
‘Cause love can help me know my name
I gratefully continue to receive calls from Brides and Grooms requesting their professional Wedding DJ to play Rock Music at the Cocktail Hour and Reception of their Wedding. This makes me happy since Rock Music is not as popular today among younger people as it was before the rise of Hip Hop, Rap and R&B. Of course, just like Hip Hop and Rap, the professional Wedding DJ needs to be mindful of not playing music that is too hyped-up or loud during the Cocktail Hour of Weddings and make sure those who are elderly or want to enjoy conversation and relaxation during the Cocktail Hour, are not overpowered by the music. This is what I created the DJ Soft Rock Cocktail Hour Mix for.
It is hard for me as an ‘old school’ professional DJ to make mixes that cut songs short and segue to songs that maybe do not belong together in order to include enough tunes to offer Brides and Grooms a large enough sample of what we can play at their Cocktail Hour or Reception in a mix like this. I even struggle when doing this with Dance mixes but when it comes to Rock, I struggle greater due to the nature of Rock Music and the integrity of the lyrical content and musicians talent. I guess we all have to make some concessions as professional Wedding DJs to serve our Brides and Grooms best and help them decide what music they want at their weddings.
DJ Soft Rock Cocktail Hour Mix
Soft Rock Cocktail Hour Mix - DJ Mystical Michael
This same mix would also work well as a sample for a Birthday, Anniversary or Reunion Party for those whom would like Rock Music played during Dinner at their event too!
What a powerful scene and song! I enjoy both the Faith Hill and the Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester Give In To Me version. Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester Give In To Me did an excellent job with this song in the movie; Country Strong. Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester Give In To Me is hot and sultry, hard to not get ‘distracted’ with music like this.
Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester Give In To Me Music Video
A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter (Hedlund) who sparks with a fallen star (Paltrow). Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester). IMDB
I really enjoy music from varied cultures and places throughout the world, one of the reasons I appreciate travel as much as I do. However, I find the term, ‘World Music’ annoying and condescending. It speaks to The American mindset that there is the American way and everybody else is one big category called ‘other’. In India alone, there are enough musical genre to make this an obsolete term. The same is true for the continents of Africa, South America and Asia. It is sad to me that we glop them all together as one genre, ‘World Music’. Unfortunately, it is some of my favorite sources of music and I do not have a better name for the DJ World Music Party Mix.
DJ World Music Party Mix
mp3j track= “World-Music-Party-Mix.mp3”]
I am a true fan of music from many places globally, some I have had the opportunity to visit, others I hope to make it there someday soon. This particular mix of music includes music from India, The Middle East, Bulgaria, Northwest Africa, Japan, Latin America, Jamaica and other great sources of music. Let me know what you think of the DJ World Music Party Mix!
Here is what Wikipedia has to say about World Music:
“World music is a musical category encompassing many different styles of music from around the world, including traditional music, quasi-traditional music, and music where more than one cultural tradition intermingle. World music’s inclusive nature and elasticity as a musical category pose obstacles to a universal definition, but its ethic of interest in the culturally exotic is encapsulated in fRoots magazine’s description of the genre as “local music from out there”. The term originated in the late 20th century as a marketing category and academic classification for non-Western traditional music. Globalization has facilitated the expansion of world music’s audiences and scope. It has grown to include hybrid sub-genres such as world fusion, global fusion, ethnic fusion and worldbeat.”
I think Peter Gabriel The Book of Love is an amazing song! It blew me away the first time I heard it and still gives me chills all these years later!
Peter Gabriel has been one of my favorite artists since I was a teenager listening to Genesis and my appreciation grew with every solo album he released. It is rare to find artists who can write lyrics and music the way he can that have spanned such a wide spectrum of musical styles and intentions. Strange to think he was a hard-core Progressive Rock writer and performer with Genesis and experimented with rhythms from around the world as a solo artist. Later, he composed the soundtrack to the film The Last Temptation of Christ titled Passion, one of the albums that inspires me the greatest past and present. “It Is Accomplished” feels like an entire soundtrack in one song! Then came Peter Gabriel The Book of Love.
He has written songs of freedom and advocacy like “Biko” that some say was the impetus for Live Aid., as well as featured in The Amnesty International Tour. I remember being overcome with emotion when watching the ending live in TV with the whole crowd totally engaged as each band member left the stage.
His sense of textures and rhythms continue to move me and as a dancer and someone who experiments with movement, find his work incredibly easy to facilitate lyrical and textural dance creativity.
I chose this You Tube of Peter Gabriel The Book of Love for its creative use of love and romance without losing the lush feeling that Gabriel captures in this song. For me, the lyrics in Greek, which I cannot read, somehow added to the effect.
As a special treat if you have never heard the song “Solsbury Hill” before. He wrote this about the leap of faith to leave the band Genesis and fly on his own.
