Tag Archives: Rhode Island Wedding DJ

The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody

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This evening I met with a couple that hired me as their Wedding DJ. They asked me if I thought The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody from Ghost would be good for their First Dance Song. I smiled since it is their wedding and they need to choose a First Dance Song that means something to them. I am always welcome to offer my professional Wedding DJ experience, but their wedding. Of course, it is one of the great love songs in my opinion but that is just my opinion.

 

I have not seen the movie in years and wanted to revisit the scene from the movie where this was played. I looked at several You Tube videos and liked this footage the best. I had forgotten she was a potter. One of my closest friends is a potter and the intensity of the wheel and the clay from my limited experience with throwing pots held me and made me think of her and the movie. It is a given that it is a love scene with depth and heat.

Beautiful New Jersey Asian Wedding with Rhode Island Wedding DJ playing The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody

“Unchained Melody” is a 1955 song with music written by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.

 

In 1955, North used the music as a theme for the prison film Unchained, hence the name. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.

 

It was the July 1965 version by The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody that became a jukebox standard for the late 20th century, regaining massive popularity when used in the 1990 blockbuster film Ghost. It will also be featured as a musical number in the upcoming Ghost The Musical.

Artists that have covered The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody

Supremes, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presely, Moodly Blues, Heart, U2, Sarah McLachlan, Cyndi Lauper, Smashing Pumpkins, Clay Aiken, Joni Mitchell and LeeAn Rimes to mention a few.

The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody Music Video from Ghost

As a professional Wedding DJ, The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody is part of many weddings and I appreciate its continued popularity.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Boyz II Men A Song For Mama

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Very few musical artists can take over the Billboard Charts and demonstrate talent like on Boyz II Men A Song For Mama. Often we as consumers have to choose between the two.  It was amazing watching these young men truly grow up before our eyes while producing some great jams. Professional DJs utilize Boyz II Men A Song For Mama in many events and weddings.

 

I remember the first time I heard Boyz II Men A Song For Mama, I was like “Wow!”. This was how I felt about my mother in words and emotion.  I missed her when I was living in The Midwest. On her birthday and Mother’s Day, I would play Boyz II Men A Song For Mama to feel closer to her when the phone wasn’t enough. I still miss her.

Dancing Woman at Beach Sunset Boyz II Men A Song For Mama

Boyz II Men A Song For Mama  Music Video

Boyz II Men A Song For Mama  Lyrics

You taught me everything
Everything you’ve given me
I’ll always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life, yeahThere isn’t anything
Or anyone that I could be
And it just wouldn’t feel right
If I didn’t have you by my sideYou were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were gray
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me

And no one else can be
What you have been to me you will always be
You will always be the girl
In my life for all times

Mama, Mama you know I love you
Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like tears from the stars
Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul
Yes it is, yes it is, oh, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is oh

You’re always there for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did

And you took up for me
When everyone was downin’ me

You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me and say to me
I can face anything

And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You’ll always be, you will always be
The girl in my life, ooh oh

Mama, Mama you know I love you
Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like tears from the stars
Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul

Never gonna go a day without you
Fills me up just thinkin’ about you
I’ll never go a day
Without my mama

Mama, Mama you know I love you
Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like tears from the stars
Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul

Lovin’ you is like food to my soul, oh yeah
You are the food to my soul, yes you are

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Adele Turning Tables

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Adele is a such a powerful writer and vocalist, which is very evident on Adele Turning Tables. It is a nice change to see a pop singer succeed that looks like a regular person and not a stick figure or Photoshopped beauty. Unfortunately they decided to produce a ‘live’ video that has the pianist in two different shirts during the performance, not sure why they did that.

Adele Turning Tables Music Video Live at Albert Hall

It is rare that songs that top The Billboard Charts are produced with such quality like Adele Turning Tables. It lets me know there is still enough of us out there to know the difference and to provide hope to those wanting to share their musical gifts with us that they have a chance too.

 

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born in Tottenham, London, to a single teenage mother on 5 May 1988. She began singing at age four and asserts that she became obsessed with voices… Adele has cited the Spice Girls as a major influence in regard to her love and passion for music, stating that “they made me what I am today.”

 

According to the Official Charts Company in The U.K., Adele is the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since The Beatles in 1964.

Adele 21 Adele Turning Tables with Rhode Island DJ

“Turning Tables” received acclaim from music critics who praised Adele’s vocals and its production. The song reached the top-twenty of the singles charts in four countries, including Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. It also peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart and 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 digital downloads. “Turning Tables” was promoted with live performances across both sides of the Atlantic, including Late Night with David Letterman in America and The Jonathan Ross Show in the United Kingdom. American actress and singer Gwyneth Paltrow performed a cover of the single in the Glee episode “A Night of Neglect“.Wikipedia

At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, Adele won awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best female Pop Performance.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding

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The Bride’s Uncle approached me while I was setting-up my BOSE L1 Audio System up an hour before his niece’s Wedding.  He was one of three Uncles that helped raise her after her father died as a young child. Each man represented a different aspect of her life and she wanted to have a “Father’Daughter Dance” with each one. Together we selected songs that would accurately fit the meaning they had for her.  She was ecstatic with the songs and knew they were perfect. Uncle Jon and I were talking and he asked me if I had a CD player in my system for something for The Bridal Party. I do and I asked why he wanted to know?

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

“Well, me and the Bridal Party got together and rehearsed a Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance that is a surprise to Nikki and Jon. It is based on “Gangnam Style” but we did a voice over of their names and call it “Jon and Nikki Style”. It is really fun and The Bridal Party and I  put a lot of work into. If you can’t do it on CD, I have also put the file on a USB stick drive too.”

 

“Wow! That sounds like so much fun! We can do it either way but CD would be better. This is such a sweet thing for all of you to do and she will love it”

 

We proceeded to download the song and discuss the specifics including when and how we would pull it off without her knowing with the whole Bridal Party present later tonight night after dinner. When we both felt like our plan was set, we returned to our respective tasks to prepare for the Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception.

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

At around 8:30, we connected again to make sure everything was ready and he had communicated with all the Bridal Party and they were all present and prepared. We went over the visual cue I would give him so he can then offer the Bridal Party another cue. We both walked away from our conversation with big, silly grins on our faces.

 The Bridal Party Is Ready!

I could barely contain my excitement as I gave him the nod of my head and eye contact and cued the song. I pressed play and all twelve members of the Bridal Party came from all different directions meeting on the dance floor and to do their choreographed dance. It was fantastic and I had to hold back the tears of laughter and joy. What a beautiful gift to the Bride and Groom! Everybody had so much fun and the smiles and laughs filled the room. Jon and Nikki were the happiest. She came up to me with tears in her eyes  and a big hug and asked how I put this together with The Bridal Party. I explained that her Uncle was the man, not me. She didn’t believe me.

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Julianne & Wayne Wedding

Gallery

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This gallery contains 8 photos.

  DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

James and Sung Hee Wedding

Gallery

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This gallery contains 16 photos.

  DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

What Makes The Best Professional DJ?

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First of all, there is no such thing as ‘The Best Professional DJ’. There are many incredible DJs, some that are famous, some are in your local area right here in New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania. Since there is no one exact thing that makes one DJ better than another, we have to dig a little deeper before making any claims like ‘the Best Professional DJ’.

If the sports world has taught us anything, the best is not always the best. Michael Jordan did not win a title every year, neither did Wayne Gretzky or Tom Brady. First, we have to establish what makes the Best Professional DJ.

Can Crowd-Size Determine The Best Professional DJ?

Crowd-size – Some would say that the professional DJ that is most popular is the best, meaning, the DJ that draws the biggest crowds is the Best Professional DJ. That would be analogous to saying that Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga are the best musicians in the world, since they draw some of the largest audiences. We all know that is not true. They may be great at drawing young audiences but we can’t compare them to some of the great musicians of our time and would not even try.

Sweet Sixteen Party on The Dance Floor with DJ Mystical Michael

 Best Professional DJ Has Quality Remixes

Quality Remixes – It is also possible to use the quality of remixes that a professional DJ produces as a measuring stick for determining the Best Professional DJ. This at least has a technical quality to it and bears merit. An excellent remix of a great song is so much fun to dance and party to. Here is the question though, does a DJ that can produce great remixes in his or her bedroom translate into a DJ that can rock a crowd of all ages and diverse states and styles at your Party or Wedding? Do you want a DJ that can play two or three great remixes that will “Wow” the crowd and let the rest of the night fall dead?

 

Scratching – Same as Remixes. If the DJ can’t inspire a crowd, what good is a wild scratch or two throughout the night do for you and your guests? If you practice long enough in your bedroom anyone can scratch with the best of them, that does not make them the Best Professional DJ.

Best Professional DJ Playing Great Music with DJ Mystical Michael

Best Professional DJ Has The Best DJ Equipment

Best DJ Equipment – As a professional DJ that has also worked in recording studios and an avid audiophile, I understand the need for incredible sound. If you ever get a chance to listen to my BOSE L1 System, you will understand how much great, clear quality sound means to me. I might even be a bit of a fanatic when it comes to my BOSE L1 DJ equipment. But we all know that quality sound doe snot make the best DJ. The DJ still has to know how to rock the room and make sure all people of all styles, tastes and ages are having fun. If it was just about quality of DJ Sound equipment, trust me, I would be the Best Professional DJ or at least one of the best.

Best Professional DJ Equipment BOSE L1

Best Professional DJ Has DJ Insurance

DJ Insurance – DJ Insurance is like DJ Sound equipment, I have excellent DJ insurance that covers up to $1,000,000 but that it does not cover the quality of me reading and inspiring a crowd. DJ insurance is very important but it does not make me the Best Professional DJ, just maybe the smartest and most concerned for you and your Wedding, Party or Event.

 Best Professional DJ Has Great Music

Music – OK, now were getting somewhere! DJ Music is the main thing you hire a professional DJ for. If the DJ does not have a huge musical library that ranges from Top 40 to Oldies to Hip Hop to Rock to Dance to Motown to Disco to Country to House to R&B to World to Latin and the list keeps going, how is the DJ going to make sure everyone at your Wedding, Party or Event will be happy and bragging about it on FaceBook the next day?

Having a huge collection of one genre like Hip Hop or Rock or Latin is good if you are only going to invite people of one age, race, culture, style and taste to your Wedding or Party. If you want to make sure everyone is happy and having fun, the Best Professional DJ needs to have a musical library that covers all the genres to meet the needs of your diverse friends and family.

If a DJ has an excellent musical library of about 25,000 songs (mine is about 40,000), the DJ has enough songs to cover all your guests, but if 20,000 of those songs are just in one genre like House or Hip Hop, how are they going to make sure everyone is having a good time with only 5,000 songs to cover the rest of all fun music? I invite you to remember that you are not the only one listening and dancing to your DJ. Your tastes are very important but are not the only ones to consider when hiring your DJ or determining who is the Best Professional DJ.

DJ Music Library in iTunes with Best Professional Rhode Island DJ

Best Professional DJ Knows The Crowd

DJ Knowing The Crowd –  This is the skill and talent that I think most defines the Best Professional DJ, if there is such a thing.

A great professional DJ can look at a crowd and know in their gut what music needs to be played now, next and in twenty minutes. The DJ is surveying the room from end to end to see who is dancing and having fun and who isn’t. It is not enough to just scan the dance floor because the mark of a great DJ is making sure everyone is included and having fun. It is an istinct that cannot be taught or learned. The Best Professional DJs can just ‘feel’ what the crowd needs and seems to pull out the perfect song one after another. The Best Professional DJs know when to lower the tempo just a touch or more if needed, so you can catch your breath and be able to stay on the dance floor and not need to sit and rest. It is sometimes subtle but important in making sure to keep your party alive.

If you want to find the Best Professional DJ, look for the one that can get you, your friends, your parents and their friends and your Grandparents all on the dance floor and smiling, if smiling and dancing is what you want from your DJ. Find the DJ that somehow can inspire people from diverse backgrounds, races and cultures all to party together at the same time without missing a beat, no pun intended. Here in the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania area, we don’t all look the same or listen to the same music and the best DJs know how to handle this with ease and grace. The Best Professional DJs know from experience that staying at one tempo will burn the crowd out, especially if the DJ chooses fast tempos above 125 beats per minute. It is is a lot of fun when we are dancing to high tempo music but the Best Professional DJs know how to segue and mix it up so you can have fun all night!

Best Professional DJ at Fun Rhode Island Wedding

I am not sure I ended the debate of who is the Best Professional DJ or how to find one. At least I hope you now know what to look for when searching for a great DJ. And we didn’t even cover how well the DJ can use the mic to motivate a crowd or make announcements if you need them. Many DJs are good at spinning great tunes but when you turn the microphone on, they are completely dead and flat, or worse yet, they are cheesy and think they are what the Party is about and won’t shut-up!

 

Please choose your DJ wisely, your event is too important to you to not hire someone you think is the best for your Wedding, Party or Event. You don’t get to do again if the DJ sucks:)

Bride and Groom First Wedding Dance with Friends and Family with Best Professional DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

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

DJs Helping In Times Of Need

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When crisis situations hit, music and dance can be healing forces to restore order, peace and joy within a community. It is important that musicians and DJs offer their services to members of our communities to support recovery from crisis situations like Hurricane Sandy. As someone that had lost my power and had to be displaced for almost a week from New Jersey, I am glad to be able to get back home today and make myself available for any fundraisers or local events to bring us all to our normal selves as much as possible. Many people and families have had to endure much more challenging circumstances than mine and I want do my part as a professional DJ to support the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania area as we try to find our way back to life as it was before.

 DJs Need To Help!

With this in mind, I encourage all of the DJs and musicians in the New Jersey, New York and Philly area to pitch-in and help out when possible. Music, dance and celebration have been a way that humans have collectively utilized as a vehicle to find joy and fun during many very challenging times and we will do it again, since we know it works. Us professional DJs need to participate to whatever degree we can.

Volunteer DJs shares the power of Native American music

Kevin Kicking Woman overcame a life of abuse and now helps others through music as volunteer DJ for KBGA College radio at the University of Montana. And now he helps others through the power of music as a volunteer DJ at KBGA College Radio at the University of Montana where he has his own show called ‘Greeting the Sun’.

DJ Mystical Michael Live at Fundraiser in NYC and other DJs parties

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Where Do The DJ Photos of Weddings and Parties Come From?

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As the site of DJ Mystical Michael continues to grow and expand, (look for a new look soon!), we now have over 500 DJ Photos on our site! Of those 500 DJ photos captured of Weddings, Parties, Events, Fundraisers and Dancers, all but about 25 of them are from actual events that I am the professional DJ. It turns out that the professional DJ often has the best pulse of the Wedding or Party because we are providing the music, as well as good professional DJs coordinating the event and know exactly what and how is gong to happen next.

 Who Is The Photographer of The DJ Photos?

I am the ‘photographer’ at most of my events. It is in my contract with my Brides, Grooms and Party Planners that I will capture their amazing experiences and use them on my site for promotional purposes. I make sure in advance that the Brides and Grooms know this clearly because I do not want to upset anyone with my DJ Photos. I have had a few of my Brides and Grooms explicitly ask me not to take DJ photos at their Weddings. Of course, I have willingly agreed. Most Brides and Grooms are really excited to know that their special day of DJ Photos will be accessable for friends and family to view the next day after their Wedding. The same is true for my Party Planners that are not Brides and Grooms, they know I will use the DJ Photos on my site and give me permission to do so.

 

The truth is that I am just a mediocre ‘photographer’ at best. I do not think I am even qualify as a photographer, I just like to capture fun and special moments of Weddings, Parties and Events and share my DJ Photos with you. This way, you know in advance what your Wedding or Party will be like if you hire me to be your professional DJ. It gives you a bird’s eye view of Weddings and Parties with DJ Mystical Michael, not just what it looks like but also what I feel are the moments that you will appreciate. A professional photographer will do a MUCH better job and have significantly higher quality equipment than me. They take their gear as serious as I do with my MacBook and BOSE L1 system. They take their craft and finished product as serious as I do as a professional Wedding and Party DJ.

 

I just thought it was important to share with you where and how the DJ Photos you see on my site come from and that I have legal permission to do so. The other images are either purchased for specific uses or from Creative Commons through the public usage licensing. Last month I had a very angry, rightfully so, photographer write me about an image I had on my site. A gorgeous dancer full of beauty and colors that I loved! I explained that I found her image on Creative Commons and was using it legally. She had never heard of Creative Commons, so I sent her the link and info. I then apologized and removed the image. Apparently, somebody else who did not have rights or permission, posted her image on Creative Commons and offered full permission for public use! It has been since cleared-up but the artist has been hunting down all the illegal uses of her work all over the internet. She said most users were not as polite and respectful as me and some even refused to delete the images. This is so sad and disturbing to me. This is one of the ways the internet and its access are being abused.

Let me know if there are any specific DJ Photos on my site that you appreciate and like!

DJ Photos of Fun Wedding Party on The Dance Floor

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJs Weathering The Storm

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Last year when Hurricane Irene brought her force and might to New Jersey and surrounding states, I remember that panicked phone call from the Bride of the wedding for the approaching Saturday that Irene was supposed to wreak havoc. The venue in Hoboken had cancelled due to closing to prepare for the storm. She and her family are from London. She moved here a few years ago and met the man she was marrying soon after. Her family and friends from England all had already flown in and paid for the travels to be here with her. She wanted to somehow still get married on Saturday, even if that meant a smaller, simpler version with just those who were able to be there and celebrate with them and their Wedding DJ.

She wanted to still get married on Saturday, even if smaller, simpler version & DJ

Her mother took over the situation and spent over four hours on the phone calling venues throughout the New Jersey and New York City area. She finally found one that would do a simple, shortened Ceremony and Reception! It was the Hyatt in Newark New Jersey near the Newark International Airport. Next was the call to me to see if I would be willing to still be their Wedding DJ on Saturday in the storm. “Of course”, I said, Yes I would still DJ your wedding!” We immediately started planning her Wedding again with new twists and turns.

 

It was a littlie rough getting to the hotel on Saturday afternoon, I won’t lie. It wasn’t treacherous by any sense, but not gentle either. The staff at the hotel were very nervous and anxious about putting a Wedding together in two days complete with Officiant, Cake, Food, service staff and rooms. I had the Wedding DJ part covered, which they were very happy to know. They did a very solid job and if you didn’t know any better, might not have even noticed the flurry of activity happening all at once to prepare for their Wedding, while the Wedding DJ was setting up his BOSE DJ equipment.

 

Last night, a little more than a year later from Irene, Hurricane Sandy was even more devastating. We lost power around 1:20am last night and they say it will be 7-10 days before it is returned. I took a deep breath and acknowledged how grateful I am that I do not have any Weddings schedule for this weekend, because not sure how I would be able to make it work.

 

Then I thought about it a little longer and deeper and realized I could find a way to charge up my MacBook so it will run for several hours. I can also figure out how to charge up my mini portable PA system that lasts for 4-5 hours. I have an iPhone with djay software to play music as a back up of excellent music and fun at the Wedding if my MacBook battery doesn’t last long enough. It might not be the same as my outstanding BOSE L1 system but it would work and The Bride and Groom would have exceptional music and fun at their Wedding. As much as technology can make things more complicated, it can also help us meet needs in an emergency. As a music purist, it would drive me crazy playing through my small portable Pyle Pro system and not the BOSE but it would be fine and the Wedding would go on!

DJs and Dancers Weathering The Storm

Dancing Through The Storm with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ