Tag Archives: elegant wedding

100 Top Songs From Films For Professional DJs

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Sunday I have an event where the couple being honored for their 50th wedding anniversary happen to appreciate film and Broadway songs.  While creating the playlist I thought it might be interesting to see what the American Film Industry (AFI) determined to be the 100 years and 100 songs. As a professional NJ & NY DJ, it is important for me to be informed of all genres of music. In other areas of the country, a professional DJ does not have to be as mindful as we do here in the NJ & NY region.  Our diversity is our strength and motivates any good professional DJ to learn and stay current on various forms of music, show tunes are o exception.

# SONG MOVIE YEAR
1 Over the Rainbow
PERFORMER Judy Garland
MUSIC/LYRICS Harold Arlen/E. Y. Harburg		 WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939
2 As Time Goes By
PERFORMER Dooley Wilson
MUSIC/LYRICS Herman Hupfeld		 CASABLANCA 1942
3 Singin’ in the Rain
PERFORMER Gene Kelly
MUSIC/LYRICS Nacio Herb Brown/Arthur Freed		 SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN 1952
4 Moon River
PERFORMER Audrey Hepburn
MUSIC/LYRICS Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer		 BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S 1961
5 White Christmas
PERFORMER Bing Crosby
MUSIC/LYRICS Irving Berlin		 HOLIDAY INN 1942
6 Mrs. Robinson
PERFORMERS Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel
MUSIC/LYRICS Paul Simon		 GRADUATE, THE 1967
7 When You Wish Upon A Star
PERFORMER Cliff Edwards
MUSIC/LYRICS Leigh Harline/Ned Washington		 PINOCCHIO 1940
8 Way We Were, The
PERFORMER Barbra Streisand
MUSIC/LYRICS Marvin Hamlisch/Alan and Marilyn Bergman		 THE WAY WE WERE 1973
9 Stayin’ Alive
PERFORMER The Bee Gees
MUSIC/LYRICS Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb		 SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 1977
10 Sound of Music, The
PERFORMER Julie Andrews
MUSIC/LYRICS Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II		 SOUND OF MUSIC, THE 1965
11 Man That Got Away, The
PERFORMER Judy Garland MUSIC/LYRICS Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin		 STAR IS BORN, A 1954
12 Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend
PERFORMER Marilyn Monroe
MUSIC/LYRICS Jule Styne/Leo Robin		 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES 1953
13 People
PERFORMER Barbra Streisand
MUSIC/LYRICS Jule Styne/Bob Merrill		 FUNNY GIRL 1968
14 My Heart Will Go On
PERFORMER Céline Dion
MUSIC/LYRICS James Horner/Will Jennings		 TITANIC 1997
15 Cheek to Cheek
PERFORMERS Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
MUSIC/LYRICS Irving Berlin		 TOP HAT 1935
16 Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born)
PERFORMER Barbra Streisand
MUSIC/LYRICS Barbra Streisand/Paul Williams		 STAR IS BORN, A 1976
17 I Could Have Danced All Night
PERFORMER Audrey Hepburn (voiced by Marni Nixon)
MUSIC/LYRICS Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner		 MY FAIR LADY 1964
18 Cabaret
PERFORMER Liza Minnelli
MUSIC/LYRICS John Kander/Fred Ebb		 CABARET 1972
19 Some Day My Prince Will Come
PERFORMER Adriana Caselotti
MUSIC/LYRICS Frank Churchill/Larry Morey		 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS 1937
20 Somewhere
PERFORMERS Natalie Wood (voiced by Marni Nixon), Richard Beymer (voiced by Jimmy Bryant)
MUSIC/LYRICS Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim		 WEST SIDE STORY 1961
21 Jailhouse Rock
PERFORMER Elvis Presley
MUSIC/LYRICS Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller		 JAILHOUSE ROCK 1957
22 Everybody’s Talkin’
PERFORMER Harry Nilsson
MUSIC/LYRICS Fred Neil		 MIDNIGHT COWBOY 1969
23 Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head
PERFORMER B. J. Thomas
MUSIC/LYRICS Burt Bacharach/Hal David		 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969
24 Ol’ Man River
PERFORMER Paul Robeson
MUSIC/LYRICS Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II		 SHOW BOAT 1936
25 High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin)
PERFORMER Tex Ritter
MUSIC/LYRICS Dimitri Tiomkin/Ned Washington		 HIGH NOON 1952
26 Trolley Song, The
PERFORMER Judy Garland
MUSIC/LYRICS Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane		 MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS 1944
27 Unchained Melody
PERFORMER The Righteous Brothers
MUSIC/LYRICS Alex North, Hy Zaret		 GHOST 1990
28 Some Enchanted Evening
PERFORMER Rossano Brazzi (voiced by Giorgio Tozzi)
MUSIC/LYRICS Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II		 SOUTH PACIFIC 1958
29 Born To Be Wild
PERFORMER Steppenwolf
MUSIC/LYRICS Mars Bonfire		 EASY RIDER 1969
30

My mother was a Judy Garland fan, so she being on top does not surprise me. Having Easy Rider at #29 makes me smile, as does The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” comeback in 1990.

 

What songs did you think needed to be on the list and what does not belong?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Motown Fifty-One Years Later and Still Rockin’: A DJ’s Musical Journey

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As a professional full-time DJ, I rarely perform at a NJ or NY wedding or event these days that does not at some point include music from Motown Records. For me this is not a problem since I have loved The Motown Sound since I listened on my little red Panasonic battery-operated portable radio as a kid.  It did not matter to me if it was The Supremes, The Jackson 5 or Stevie Wonder; I was always a Motown fan and still am today as a professional full-time DJ.

 

What does surprise me as a professional DJ, is who listens to Motown today. It would not catch me off-guard if it were just the folks who listen to modern R&B and Soul or even Hip Hop. That makes sense to me as a professional DJ. I could even make the connection if it was individuals who enjoy Classic Rock since they both kind of ‘grew-up’ together. What makes me stare with astonishment is when a punk-rocker or staunch Country fan requests Motown.

 

I wonder what music from our current generation will be the stuff that in twenty years is played to give ‘the old people’ something to dance and relate to at parties and weddings for professional DJs? Will it be Usher and Beyonce? Or Train and Maroon 5? What about Pitbull and Enrique Igleisius? Who are the stars of today that will be the dance classics of future professional DJs?

 

Until then we have Motown. It is fun, soulful, danceable and a bridge from the past to the present and maybe even the future.  This Saturday’s wedding will again have Motown as a primary genre to mix in with the other genres they appreciate like Punk, Rock, Oldies and Classic Soul.   I feel fortunate as a professional DJ  that I am hired by such interesting and creative couples for weddings and planners for parties. I know it is easier to just play the top hits all the time without any imagination or creativity but I get psyched at the alternative and unique choices that people choose for their weddings and special events and am grateful I can participate and contribute, especially when I can cue-up some Motown classics like “Superstition”,  “Let’s Get It On” or  “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher”.

 

Which are your Motown favorites?

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

This Weeks Billboard Top 200 Albums Featuring Pink Floyd? A Curious DJ

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As a professional full-time DJ, I like to scan the Billboard Charts weekly to keep up on what is new, fading and different trends. Today I was viewing the Billboard Top 200 Album Charts and saw something that had me tilting my head in confusion; Pink Floyd has FOUR albums in the current Top 200! What?

 

The professional DJ wonders, “Can that really be true?”

 

It turns out it is true. For reasons I do not understand, Pink Floyd albums are still selling at a very high rate. Not that I think their albums are not worthy of sales, but all the albums that are on the charts are over twenty-five years old! The highest is Dark Side Of The Moon, which remained on the charts for 741 weeks from 1973-1988 consecutively; the longest in history, but that was almost thirty years ago. I actually had both an 8-track and vinyl version of the album but again, that was twenty-eight years ago.

 

Also charting this week in order of appearance on the charts are The Wall, Wish You Were Here and Animals. It is peculiar to see Pink Floyd albums surrounded by Maroon 5, LMFAO, Blake Shelton and Taylor swift, again, not judging any of the artists, just peculiar. It certainly demonstrates how different the American music industry is today. Any genre from Pop, Dance, R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, Country even Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra can produce a strong-selling album and professional DJs will play them at Weddings and events.   The Singles Chart has always allowed for diversity since it is just a song and not an entire album. By the way, Adele currently has two albums in the top ten, 21 and 19, with “Someone Like You” #1 on The Top 100 Singles, her second #1 following the success of “Rolling in The Deep”.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A DJ Has A Night To Play

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There is something really fun about having a night without a playlist.  As a professional full-time DJ, I rarely get to choose the music I play. I am extremely committed to making sure the folks that hire me as a professional DJ get what they want and not pick music for myself at a gig. Last Saturday night at the Barefoot Boogie I had the music all to myself!  We usually try to schedule more than one DJ at each event to add diversity in style and musical choices.  This particular night I was the only DJ on the schedule and took full advantage of the opportunity.

 

I can’t say it was my most fluid segues but we had fun and there was plenty of great tunes for moving and dancing.  We started the night with some mellow, lush music for letting the dancers get loose and grounded to the music and environment.  It was not long till we had it cranked-up to full volume and the energy was very high. I was mindful of bringing the energy and tempo down to provide space for catching breath and get even deeper into their process.

 

As usual, we had a great time and nobody wanted to leave at the end of the night. I still am smiling that I got to play Acoustic Jazz, New Age, Pop, Top 40, R&B, New Wave, Punk, Rock, Old Soul and Hip Hop all in the same night while visiting Cuba, Africa, India, Turkey, Mexico, Japan and Spain along the way. A fun ride for all!

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Saturday Night Live Started Today 1975! A DJ Looks Back

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“On this day 36 years ago, SNL broadcast its first episode ever!! In hindsight it’s easy to see that that first show, which was hosted by George Carlin, with music by Janis Ian and Billy Preston, a performance by Andy Kaufman and a cast that included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner, was the start of something special.” From The Saturday Night Live Website

 

It is amazing to think that there was a time before SNL. I remember in high school when at parties we would all gather around the TV to watch the latest episode. They were all new back then, so there were no repeats.

 

I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the great musicians that have performed on SNL. Of course there are so many this will only be a very small sample.

 

Here is the full list on Rate Your Music from A-Z.

 

 

Adele, Aerosmith, Akon, Adam Ant and Marc Anthony are some listed under “A”.

 

Terrence Trent Darby, Death Cab For Cutie, Miles Davis, Dixie Chicks and Bob Dylan under ”D”.

 

Janet Jackson, Joe Jackson, Mick Jagger, Jamiroquai, Jan’s Addiction and Jewel under “J”.

 

Billy Idol, India.Arie, Chris Isaak and Janis Ian (who performed on the first show!)  from “I”.

 

Sade, Scissor Sisters, Gil Scot-Heron,  Seal, Tupac Shakur and Taylor Swift from the letter “S”.

 

Faith No More, Bryan Ferry, Aretha Franklin and Nelly Furtado from the “F” list.

 

U2, UB40, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Usher from the land of “U”.

 

Willie Nelson, Nirvana, No Doubt and Gary Numan from the “N” category.

 

 

This is just a small sample that is not totally random (if you can figure out my rhyme and reason).

 

Thirty-six years of artists risking embarrassment and screw-ups performing live into tvland on a major network. When this ‘experiment’ first started, it was considered very cutting-edge, controversial and completely alternative, especially from NBC. I still remember the controversy stirred by Sinead O’Connor on SL, which was originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night.  So many years and performers. A professional full-time DJ pays homage to a group of very talented writers, actors and musicians.

 

 

What was your favorite SNL musical performance?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Mystical Michael at Barefoot Boogie Saturday Night 10/8!

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I am even more excited than I was last night!

 

Along with being a professional full-time DJ & MC, I am also the volunteer Coordinator of Teachers & DJs at The Barefoot Boogie NYC.  It is my responsibility to recruit, schedule and sometimes train our teachers and DJs for our semi-monthly events.  The venue we create these evens is Insight Meditation Center, originally had a special event scheduled for this Saturday Night, 10/8. We shifted our schedule to accommodate. It turns out they had to cancel the event and we had some conversation and decided we would scramble together and put a dance event together for tomorrow night.  I offered to DJ since I have not had the opportunity to DJ there since before the wedding season was in full swing. I miss it.

 

I now get to DJ at an outdoor wedding in the afternoon and Barefoot Boogie at night.  Besides seeing friends and being in an environment I enjoy, DJing at The Barefoot Boogie allows me to get extremely creative in musical selections.  I will start the night with some slow, lush music to support dancers in getting warmed-up and stretched.  After I see folks are ready, I will slowly raise the energy, tempo and volume till we are at full force.  The Boogie is an environment that diversity and creativity are considered gifts for dancers and movers.  Throughout the night I will try to mix in some music from many decades, genres and cultures from around the globe.

 

Should be a great day between the wedding and the boogie!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The DJ Preps For A Backyard Wedding

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Last night I was on the phone with The Bride and Groom whom are getting married on Saturday. They are having their Ceremony at a local park and then the Reception in the backyard of their home.  It will only be the second backyard wedding I will do this Wedding season. The other was in a soggy, muddy yard but we still had a great time. I have no doubt this one will be fun as well.

 

I continue to enjoy the diversity of music that couples are wanting at their weddings as a professional DJ. This one will feature some Soft Rock, Classic Rock, Motown, Nat King Cole, 80’s and a few Pop songs. Only a few years ago a professional DJ would never have dreamed of getting to play The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Marvin Gaye, Cake, Cyndi Lauper and Nat King Cole at the same wedding. I am fortunate that most of the couples I work with as a professional DJ are not cookie-cutter follow whatever are popular types. They ask me if it is OK to add obscure or unusual songs and artists to their playlists. I always say, “Yes” but remind them that they have to consider their guests and how it will work for them too.

 

I am grateful I get to offer three decades of experience as a a professional Wedding DJ. It is their decisions but I make sure they know what might happen and what typically is successful and what is not. This is where an experienced, professional DJ can support you in putting together a fun, successful event. We can also let you know during the event if the music selected is not working and guide planners and couples in a direction that may be more effective.

 

Like any professional, as a DJ I like to perform well at my craft. What time has taught me is that it is more than that. We do not get a ‘redo’ if your wedding or event does not have the right energy and music to be extraordinary. There is no second chance to make it amazing.  We have one shot and I take that very seriously even if it looks like I am just relaxing and having fun. I do not want to go home knowing I did not do my part in facilitating an wedding or event that people are full of smiles and memories. It is part professional and part ego. Together they keep me on my toes so I am ready for every event no matter what. I performed as DJ at a wedding before and after the week I moved my home. Both weddings were fabulous and I expect nothing less from myself. That is why I offer the guarantee that I do. I know my craft and have enough successful experience as a professional DJ to support the skills and talent with confidence and preparedness.

 

Saturday is less than two days from now! Can’t wait to plug-in and turn-up the volume!

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Upgrading My MacBook For DJ Services

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I knew it was time for a new internal hard drive when I noticed that I was about to run out of space for adding new tunes to my computer.  As a professional DJ, continuing to build and expand our music library is essential to success with our customers, especially here in the NJ & NY region.

 

I visited The Apple Store last week for advice and recommendations on which hard drive to purchase and determined that the Samsung 1TB drive would be the best option for me.  Even though I do a Time Machine back up of my whole system weekly and once more ten minutes before removing the old one, I was nervous, very nervous about the wedding I have this Saturday. What if something went wrong and I did not have use of my MacBook? What if somehow it erased or lost my entire music library; all 35,000+ songs?

Well, fortunately nothing bad happened. I installed it properly and transferred all the data successfully.  There have been some collections I have wanted to strengthen and build larger and now I have the opportunity to do so!  I can’t wait to work on filling up the whole 1TB – a fun and ambitious challenge. But hey, this is what professional DJs get excited about.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The DJ Wears Out The Wedding Partiers!

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Last night was a really fun wedding. They all seem to be fun these days. It was nice that for the second Saturday in a row, the weather called for rain all day and the ceremony was outdoors on the beach, this time right next to Barnegat Lighthouse at Barnegat Light, NJ, but we had no rain and even some glimpses of sunshine.  The Bride looked like a walking magazine cover as she made the long walk from the top of the hill, down to the beach finally reaching her fiancé amongst family and friends.  We provided nice acoustic music in the background as the guests waited her arrival dressed in a multitude of colors with deep blue, lavender and black being the predominant choices.  The Groomsmen were in beige suits with white sneaker-like footwear for the beach. Most women were in bare feet with their beautiful dresses.

 

 

After the ceremony, we had to make our way back towards the bridge off Long Beach Island to a great venue,The Stateroom in Ship Bottom, NJ. We had to rush to make sure we had our gear set-up for both The Cocktail Hour downstairs and The Reception upstairs. It took some hustling but we were able to be ready in time for the guests as they arrived to enjoy the music.  Who knew we were in for such a fun night?

 

It was almost comical how quickly we got the party rolling in full force as soon as dinner was done.  I checked with The Bride to make sure she was ready for us to turn-up the volume and get things started. She answered with a resounding, “Yes! We are freezing and need to get moving!” A professional DJ’s words of ignition.

 

We transitioned with Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill’s version of “Turn The Lights Down Low” followed by “Stand By Me” covered by 4 The Cause. We sensed it would be the prefect segues to dance music but they were already making their way onto the floor midway through the second song. By the time we raised the volume for Pitbull, there was no letting up on the dance floor till the caterers asked me to quit three hours later!  At one point, all of the 150 or so guests were on the dance floor for a half-hour straight except for about ten people. It was that kind of night. Professional Wedding DJs smile broadly at these kinds of weddings.

 

As is with most weddings that I participate in, at the end of the night when The Bride runs up to thank and hug me. Breaking down and loading my gear are done with me floating on air from the experience.

 

To top it off, as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot, an old dear friend called and we had an inspiring conversation on my ride back North up The Garden State Parkway.  How much better can it get for a NJ Professional Wedding DJ?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Wedding DJ With An Air Force Groom

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Last week I had the opportunity to provide music and professional Wedding DJ/MC services for a young couple. The Groom, a nice young man, is home from the Air Force.  The wedding was booked when he was deployed in The Middle East with The Bride making all the initial plans. I met with the two of them last month to complete all the final arrangements and help them prepare for their wedding.

 

The reception was held at The Inn at Millrace Pond in Hope, NJ. It is a stunning environment that takes excellent care and attention to keeping it so beautiful. Here is the spot where the reception took place:

 

They have really nice, supportive family and friends and everybody had a good time!

 

 

How can you not have fun and be happy here?

 

 

Somehow the ninety degree heat did not seem to be a problem for anyone.

 

 

They asked me to close with Michael Buble’s  version of “Save The Last Dance For Me”. She enjoys a lot of the Brat Pack music and it seemed to fit well with vibe of the day.

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ