# Help me pick party songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997 "2017-03-25T13:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/1 "2017-03-25T13:41:31Z")
A friend is having his fourth yearly music party. He has Apple Music and a few other services. His house is wired with speakers everywhere. Each year he picks three or four song categories. Previously we’ve done “Song everyone will be surprised to find out you like” and “Song playing when you lost your virginity”. Everyone also brings a six pack or two and we all share beers. He “DJs” ; announcing each category, then each person’s submission is played. It’s more fun than it sounds.😛 This year I haven’t chosen my songs yet, and I’m getting nervous. Little help? [ol] [li]Best party song that is at least 50 years old. (He just turned 50)[/li][li]Best party song from the 70s.[/li][li]Best party song post 1980.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/2 "2017-03-25T13:44:44Z")
Two years ago I submitted **Lucille Bogan** ’s _[Shave 'Em Dry](http://lyrics.wikia.com/wiki/Lucille_Bogan:Shave_%27Em_Dry)_ for the “Songs I like that I predict nobody will have heard before”. I won the category. ETA: the amazing thing was, he punched in the title and the song played! ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/3 "2017-03-25T14:13:44Z")
Dance This Mess Around by the B-52’s. Late seventies or early eighties, can’t remember which. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/4 "2017-03-25T14:21:02Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Dance This Mess Around by the B-52’s. Late seventies or early eighties, can’t remember which. Released July 6, 1979. Thanks! Listening now… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/5 "2017-03-25T14:28:45Z")
[Brown Eyed Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfmkgQRmmeE) and [(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzDVaKRApcg) are both 50 this year. [Beat It](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0) from the 80s. [Superstition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g) from the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/6 "2017-03-25T15:21:08Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Brown Eyed Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfmkgQRmmeE) and [(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzDVaKRApcg) are both 50 this year. > > [Beat It](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0) from the 80s. > > [Superstition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g) from the 70s. Van The Man!!! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/7 "2017-03-25T15:27:06Z")
Turns 50 this year: [(Ain’t Nothin’ But a) House Party](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvrAce0fK4Q) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/8 "2017-03-25T15:33:42Z")
Extremely obvious: [Tequila - The Champs (1962)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdMTl9zHQ9Y) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/9 "2017-03-25T15:44:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > This year I haven’t chosen my songs yet, and I’m getting nervous. Little help? > > [ol] > [li]Best party song that is at least 50 years old. (He just turned 50)[/li][li]Best party song from the 70s.[/li][li]Best party song post 1980.[/li][/ol] The first songs to pop into my mind for each category (so, _not_ the result of careful consideration): 1. “Louie Louie” or “Twist and Shout” 2. “September” 3. “1999” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/10 "2017-03-25T15:50:11Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The first songs to pop into my mind for each category (so, _not_ the result of careful consideration): > > 1. “Louie Louie” or “Twist and Shout” > 2. “September” > 3. “1999” Louie, Louie was also the first I thought of for that category! > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Extremely obvious: [Tequila - The Champs (1962)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdMTl9zHQ9Y) PeeWee Herman cover (dance)!! ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/11 "2017-03-25T16:00:18Z")
I maintain that no one can remain sad/silent while the Romantics “What I like About You” is playing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/12 "2017-03-25T16:05:12Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I maintain that no one can remain sad/silent while the Romantics “What I like About You” is playing. Agree. Same with “96 tears” (Plus, how cool is the band name **? and the Mysterians?** ) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/13 "2017-03-25T16:07:41Z")
Best is hard. How about fun and maybe not submitted by everyone? Over 50, “[Peppermint Twist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WIvZu4dPQQ),” by Joey Dee and the Starliters. For 70s, [You Should be Dancing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI68A-rntIk), by the Bee Gees. For post 80, I’m skipping some of the obvious answers like 1999 and going with “[Let it Whip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccvUstooIfw),” by the Dazz Band. I thought I had a winner in “Sweet Caroline,” but it’s not quite old enough or quite new enough. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/14 "2017-03-25T16:40:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > \ PeeWee Herman cover (dance)!! Still got your monster platform shoes? > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I maintain that no one can remain sad/silent while the Romantics “What I like About You” is playing. Please, not that version from that Amanda Bynes/Jennie Garth show. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > \ I thought I had a winner in “Sweet Caroline,” but it’s not quite old enough or quite new enough. Bah. What is it with that song? I was (hiding) in a biker/redneck bar once. “Sweet Home, Alabama,” finished, then Kid Rock’s bastard version ended, then everyone is screaming for the Neil Diamond tune. 😕:eek:😕 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/15 "2017-03-25T16:57:51Z")
The Kings “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’To Glide”. Released in 1980 so does it go in category #2 or #3? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/16 "2017-03-25T17:04:55Z")
1. Twist and Shout was my first pick, but Johnny be Goode would be appropriate at this time. 2. Hair if the Dog - Nazareth. (Now you’re messing with a son of a bitch. 3. Don’t You Want Me - Human League Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/17 "2017-03-25T17:07:18Z")
1. Twist and Shout was my first pick, but Johnny be Goode would be appropriate at this time. 2. Hair of the Dog - Nazareth. (Now you’re messing with a son of a bitch. 3. Don’t You Want Me - Human League Edited. Which usually doesn’t go well on Tapatalk. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/18 "2017-03-25T17:26:22Z")
_A little less conversation_, 1968 Elvis, [remixed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkCWVNaX6-k) [Why can’t we be friends,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5FfJ89rGPc&index=17&list=PLHfWXJ_5EaGx5EbcJCMgAgOwfaOfxDYAq) 70’s, War. [WHAM!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgZ7gMze7A&index=37&list=PLd9auH4JIHvupoMgW5YfOjqtj6Lih0MKw), because George Michael. ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/19 "2017-03-25T17:31:13Z")
IMO, one of the utmost perfect 70s party songs, if not THE utmost perfect one, is **[Parliament-Funkadelic’s “(Not Just) Knee Deep”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jEU-tZyG2U)** (released in 1979, so almost barely 70s, but it works). My only concern would be its length at approximately fifteen minutes…but if that’s a problem, then there’s always **[the twelve inch cut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN1xFZ2vfwY)**. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997/20 "2017-03-25T17:43:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Best party song that is at least 50 years old [“Shout”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFCePEPdaU4) by the Isley Brothers, hands down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-party-songs/782997.md?page=2)