So your throwing an adult cocktail party and need some good background music to set the ambiance? Of course you could open the Yacht Rock station on your Pandora app, and no one could justifiably complain, but let’s take it to another level.
A good cocktail party playlist should be eclectic, smooth, stormy, haunting, cool, and sexy. It should have touches of modern and nostalgia. Most importantly, it’s all about you. You’ve invited them to your house… NOW invite them into your SOUL.
If you take the time to make a personal playlist, you can spend the whole night quietly absorbing your guests’ subtle emotive reactions to each of your choices. Here are some of my cocktail party favorites:
Lisa Bonet covers Peter Frampton’s Baby, I love your way
If your going to have a blog about song lists, you gotta have something from the movie, High Fidelity:
“I always hated this song.”
“Yeah.”
“But now I kind of like it.”
“Yeah.”
Megan Draper (Jessica Paré) sings Zou Bisou Bisou
Get your Mad Man on. If you could have someone live perform it, even better!
Sonic Youth covers Superstar
Works even better if you can show the video and the band members in full cocktail attire.
Louie Armstrong: Mack the Knife
A lot of versions of this song will work. I like this one:
Bob Dylan, Mr. Tambourine Man
Take me for a trip upon your magic swirlin’ ship
All my senses have been stripped
And my hands can’t feel to grip
And my toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin’
Julio Iglesias, La Mer
Go foreign language. This version was featured at the end of the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Chris Issac I never want to fall in love
Tried to find a worthy cover of this. Couldn’t do it. Also, this suit would be an excellent wardrobe choice.
Creep (Cover) by Danieal Andrade
This is one of my go to Karaoke songs… slightly better performed here.
Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole’s singing “Over the Rainbow”
Best Ukulele song ever.
Most importantly remember the right booze will make any playlist sound great. Make sure and stock up on your Big Gun Vodka and Big Gun Bourbon and check out these great recipes:
Got some suggestions for our playlist, please comment!
Cheers, Rich Bucheri – Co-Founder
Recent Comments