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DJ Kenny Casanova has won best karaoke titles a number of times. While it is hard to explain what it is, exactly, that makes us “The Best” in the eyes of our patrons, they tell me that it has to do with personality and fast pacing.

Personality. It is something your karaoke DJ either has, or doesn’t have. You cannot learn this. The reason we get booked for a lot of weddings and sweet 16 birthday parties is I have potential customers come to public gigs and test us first. It seems we seem to pass with flying colors. They tell us that we are funny, and fun and keep the party going. We don’t get on the mic and attempt stand up comedy. We know that people want to hear music, not speeches, but a little bit of quick mic work in the appropriate places after or before a strategic song can be classic. We mix our party DJ success with the karaoke.

Timing is everything. No dead air, is important to us. When it happens – I CRINGE!  Have you ever been on a dance floor and there is a space between songs? What do the dancers do? They either freeze and stand there like deer in headlights, or go and sit back in their seats. BOTH OF THESE OUTCOMES ARE NOT GOOD! We try our hardest to keep everything moving and leave no room to sleep for the karaoke audience. Admittedly, we end up trying to pick more of the fast songs that singers want to sing first, but do leave room for a couple of slow dances, where necessary.

So that’s it. Book us for your next party and add karaoke! You will love it!

It is now that magical moment for you, the bride in white. The glowing spotlight is shinning softly on you and all eyes casted your way. Your hands hold a modest, yet gorgeous bundle of flowers and you are about to throw it all away, and move on to the next wonderful chapter in your book.

Your dress is perfect. Your hair is lovely. Everything is just how you imagined it would be, but the silly DJ cracks a stupid joke to match his song choice and plays something ridiculous and seemingly unrelated,  because you didn’t specify and left it up to him.

You bite your lip. “I knew shoulda told him what to play!”

Don’t worry! You are not there yet. So what can you actually pick for a song? There are countless songs out there, and it is overwhelming, but you do not half to reinvent the wheel.

Here is a popular listing of Top Bouquet Tossing Songs where you cannot go wrong!

• Single Ladies – Beyonce
• Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
• Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
• Dancing Queen – Abba Girls
• Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
• Man! I Feel Like A Woman – Shania Twain
• Respect – Aretha Franklin
• All I Wanna Do – Cheryl Crow
• Chapel of Love – Dixie Cups
• Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
• Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
• So Many Men, So Little Time – Miquel Brown
•This one is for the girls – Martina McBride
•Wishin’ and Hopin’ Ani Difranco (My Best Friends Wedding Soundtrack)
•”Sex in the City” theme song
• American Woman – The Guess Who
•Bootylicious – Destiny’s Child
• Diamonds are a girls best friend – Marilyn Monroe
• Dirty – Christina aguilera
• Don’t want no Scrub – TLC
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
• Express Yourself – Madonna
• Funky Town – Lipps Inc.
• Girls, Girls, Girls – Motley Cruew
• Hey Ladies – The Beastie Boys
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
• Its Getting Hot in Herre – Nelly
• Its Raining Men – The Weather Girls
• Just a girl – No Doubt
• Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
• Lady Marmalade – Pink, Mia, Lil’ Kim, Christina Aguilera
• Let’s Get Loud – Jenifer Lopez
• Like a Virgin – Madonna
• Milkshake – Kelis
• Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman – Britney Spears
• Oh Its so Quiet, Shhh (Zing-Boom) Bjork
• One way or another blondie
• Our Day Will Come – Ruby and the Romantics
• Perfect Day Hoku – Legally Blonde Soundtrack
• Red Neck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
• Shoop Shoop Song – Cher
• Single White Female – Chely Wright
• This one’s for the Girls – Martina Mc Bride
• Touch Me, Tease Me Case – Foxy Brown
• What a Girl Wants – Christina Aguillera

The traditional cutting of the wedding cake has strange roots. Did you know that back in the Roman Empire, the groom would eat part of some barley baked especially for the nuptials and break the rest over his bride’s head.

Did you also know that the multi-tiered wedding cake was originally reserved for English royalty?  Well, a lot has changed.

You are probably planning a wedding and wondering, ” what are some good songs that my DJ could play for before dessert is served?”

Here are a few I have seen in the past:

•Cut the Cake (Average White Band) – *I don’t really recommed this instrumental anymore, as no one really knows the title.
•I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
•How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
•Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
•Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
•When I’m 64 (The Beatles)
•Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
•That’s Amore’ (Dean Martin)
•Happy Together (The Turtles)
•Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
•I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
•Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
•Oh Yeah! (Yello)
•Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
•Peter Gunn Theme

SELECTING THE BEST FIRST DANCE WEDDING SONG

If your wedding is coming up you know that making everything just right is a daunting task. There are countless things to look at, and with so many options out there, it can truly be overwhelming. Hall location, center pieces, floral arrangements, which DJ and catering company to select, entry selections & appetizers; the list goes on and on.

Some nervous grooms and brides alike get sweaty palms at the mere mention of having to step up to the spotlight and face “The Dreaded First Dance.” But if you choose a song that is meaningful to you, and makes you happy, that first dance will set the tone and break the ice for everyone.

If you have no clue what to pick for the first dance, here is a great list to look at at some popular hip songs, as well as some great classics that many couples have used in the Upstate New York area for their first dance.

EIGHTIES MUSIC IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING OR PARTY

Over the past weekend, I did a really fun 80’s theme wedding where the guests actually dressed up to go along with the décor. It was really a blast! People dressed punky as early Madonna, sunglassed and pantless as Tom Cruise in Risky Business, and even as the zombie Michael Jackson!

Having a theme-based wedding reception, or get together can really make things more fun for your next big party or event, too. This campy decade saw the rise of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, and the King of Pop Michael Jackson thanks to the early music video-playing channel, MTV. If you choose to go this route, remember to word your invitations in exactly the same way, and tell everyone to come dressed as their favorite 80’s star. The pictures will be priceless!

MY 80’s TOP 10 LIST TO PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING

Out of the countless weddings I have been the DJ for, I have found that these 10 80s songs seem to get the best response from the guests:

1. Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
2. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
3. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
4. Outfield – Your Love
5. Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride
6. The Police – Roxanne
7. Prince – Kiss
8. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam
9. Salt N Peppa – Push It
10. Run DMC – It’s Tricky

Music Videos and television shows lead to the fashion industry, pushing black and white lace for the girls, a la The Material Girl, or pastel colored jackets with T-shirts or skinny ties, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow for the guys like the guys from Duran Duran and Miami Vice.

Make sure to have plenty of jelly bracelets, fishnet gloves and punk wigs for those guests who will not be dressed appropriately. Quite often people will not want to dress up and look “silly,” but then wish they did after they see all the fun the other guests are having, once they get there.

80’s TOP 100 MUSIC LIST

According to VH1, a station that still plays some actual music videos (albeit early in the morning0, these are the top 100 80’s songs that you just, like totally have to play!

1. Bon Jovi / “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
2. Def Leppard / “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (1987)
3. Duran Duran / “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / “Billie Jean” (1982)
5. Prince / “When Doves Cry” (1984)
6. Hall & Oates / “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” (1981)
7. Guns N’ Roses / Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / “Like a Virgin” (1984)
9. Run-D.M.C. / “Walk This Way” (1986)
10. AC/DC / “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
11. Journey / Don’t Stop Believing (1981)
12. Whitney Houston / “How Will I Know” (1985)
13. U2 / “With Or Without You” (1987)
14. The Bangles / “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986)
15. Van Halen / “Jump” (1984)
16. INXS / “Need You Tonight” (1987)
17. Whitesnake / “Here I Go Again” (1982)
18. Dexy’s Midnight Runners / “Come On Eileen” (1982)
19. Cyndi Lauper / “Time After Time” (1984)
20. Rick Springfield / “Jessie’s Girl” (1981)
21. Michael Jackson / “Beat It” (1982)
22. The Cure / “Just Like Heaven” (1987)
23. Cyndi Lauper / “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1984)
24. A-Ha / “Take On Me” (1985)
25. Go-Go’s / “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
26. Guns N’ Roses / “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
27. Kajagoogoo / “Too Shy” (1984)
28. Wham! / “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984)
29. Talking Heads / “Burning Down the House” (1983)
30. Pat Benatar / “Love is a Battlefield” (1983)
31. Queen and David Bowie / “Under Pressure” (1981)
32. Night Ranger / “Sister Christian” (1983)
33. Soft Cell / “Tainted Love” (1981)
34. Poison / “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” (1988)
35. Phil Collins / “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
36. Tommy Tutone / “867-5309/Jenny” (1981)
37. Aerosmith / “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1989)
38. U2 / “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984)
39. Modern English / “I Melt With You” (1982)
40. The B-52’s / “Love Shack” (1989)
41. Mötley Crüe / “Dr. Feelgood” (1989)
42. The Clash / “London Calling” (1982)
43. ABC / “Look of Love” (1982)
44. Bananarama / “Cruel Summer” (1984)
45. Janet Jackson / “Nasty” (1986)
46. The Police / “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
47. Twisted Sister / “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
48. Bruce Springsteen / “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
49. Beastie Boys / “Fight For Your Right” (1986)
50. Eurythmics / “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” (1983)
51. Ratt / “Round and Round” (1984)
52. Dead or Alive / “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” (1985)
53. Billy Idol / “White Wedding” (1988)
54. Salt-N-Pepa / “Push It” (1986)
55. A Flock of Seagulls / “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)
56. Bonnie Tyler / “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
57. Toni Basil / “Mickey” (1981)
58. Culture Club / “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982)
59. John Mellencamp / “Jack & Diane” (1982)
60. Young M.C. / “Bust a Move” (1989)
61. Styx / “Mr. Roboto” (1983)
62. Berlin / “Take My Breath Away” (1986)
63. Devo / “Whip It” (1980)
64. Paula Abdul / “Straight Up” (1988)
65. Foreigner / “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
66. Depeche Mode / “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981)
67. REO Speedwagon / “Keep On Loving You” (1980)
68. Public Enemy / “Fight the Power” (1988)
69. R.E.M. / “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1980)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / “I Love Rock N’ Roll” (1981)
71. Rick James / “Super Freak” (1981)
72. The Fixx / “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983)
73. Nena / “99 Luftballons” (1983)
74. George Michael / “Faith” (1987)
75. Prince / “Little Red Corvette” (1983)
76. Thomas Dolby / “She Blinded Me With Science” (1982)
77. New Edition / “Candy Girl” (1983)
78. Blondie / “Call Me” (1980)
79. Human League / “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / “It Takes Two” (1988)
81. Cameo / “Word Up!” (1986)
82. Squeeze / “Tempted” (1981)
83. Prince / “Kiss” (1986)
84. Lionel Richie / “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983)
85. Robert Palmer / “Addicted to Love” (1985)
86. Bow Wow Wow / “I Want Candy” (1982)
87. Falco / “Rock Me Amadeus” (1986)
88. Chaka Khan / “Ain’t Nobody” (1989)
89. The Pretenders / “Brass in Pocket” (1980)
90. Tone-Loc / “Wild Thing” (1989)
91. Katrina and The Waves / “Walking On Sunshine” (1983)
92. New Kids on the Block / “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” (1988)
93. Gary Numan / “Cars” (1980)
94. Rolling Stones / “Start Me Up” (1981)
95. Debbie Gibson / “Only in My Dreams” (1987)
96. Men at Work / “Down Under” (1982)
97. The Romantics / “What I Like About You” (1980)
98. Bobby Brown / “My Perogative” (1988)
99. Wang Chung / “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (1986)
100. Loverboy / “Working for the Weekend” (1981)

MORE 80s THEME IDEAS

For more 80’s party and wedding theme ideas, go to our blog by clicking HERE – 80s wedding theme ideas. 

Thanks for visiting our site.  Party on!

IDEAS FOR YOUR COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH A DJ

This past weekend I had a couple of Christmas parties. Yes, it is that time of year again. No weddings this weekend for a change. It was pretty fun.

The first one that I DJ’ed for The NYS Parole Christmas / Holiday Party. This fun little group of great people met up at the Appletini’s Banquet Room in Albany, NY, off of Central Avenue.

We started off with a mixture of lounge music and Christmas music while the guests ate, then gave away a number of door prizes.

DOOR PRIZES – Giving away door prizes is one of my most favorite activities as a DeeJay. I love to interact with the guests and this is a great way for me to hit people with some ridiculous jokes – which is one of my specialties. Seeing how this party was full of state workers, it was an easy topic for me to hit upon, with jokes about unions and taking too many breaks – etc… People love to laugh at themselves.

The party organizer, Maria, did a great job and had a lot of cool prizes. Like some of the union parties I do, she had taken extra collected money and bought up a bunch of small gift certificates (like $5 – $20) from Target, Home Depot, Panera and Dunkin’ Donuts.

NAME THAT TUNE WITH THE DJ – At one point we turned it into a Name That Tune – Music Trivia contest, where I played TV Theme songs and the first person to stand and give our judge the correct answer would win. This was super fun. Some of the songs included St. Elsewhere, Wonderwoman, Dynasty, The Greatest American Hero, and The A-Team.

Great fun had by all!