Last January, I was trying to write an entry about my favorite feel-good songs of all time. My main goal was to pester all of my readers until they listened to them. The entry seemed very good when I finished it, but then I walked away for a few hours before posting it. When I reread it, I gave a big sigh of relief. I had gotten far too carried away. Furthermore, the structure and point of the entry was a complete mess.
Now Clarity25 has asked for her readers' recommendations for some party songs that she needs to play in her role as a DJ this coming weekend in Germany (where she presently lives). I couldn't have asked for a better excuse to post my list of favorites, as well as a few extras thrown in for the sake of her party. Many of them will work their magic on the crowd, even if they cannot speak English. It's the unrestrained enthusiasm in the music that will come across to the listeners.
The vast majority of these songs are oldies, because I have yet to find any truly "happy" songs in the past ten years (with the exception of three, two of which are not listed here because they probably don't fit the "party" mode). Rap and hip hop ARE NOT happy songs. Even the most light hearted among them reeks of loathing and hatred (at least to my finely tuned ears). Most modern "alternative rock" sounds completely alike and definitely not happy either (unless the definition of "happy" has changed dramatically since I last experienced that emotion long ago :-).
I would ramble on for several more paragraphs in this entry, but since Clarity is nine hours ahead of me, that means the weekend is fast approaching her (it is now 1:20 AM, Wednesday, here in western Nebraska). I'm not even proofing this entry ten times over (which is a scary prospect for me). I hope she will have a chance to listen to as many of these songs as she can, especially those in the first and second sections. She won't regret it. Many of these songs are a bit more unique than the average "party" faire, which is a good thing. They are not all favorites of mine, but most of them are. Comments follow some of them. Some of those comments denote a certain pattern among several groups.
As meaningful entries go, this one ain't. Instead, I am wasting valuable editorial ether on a bunch of silly songs for an American DJ in Deutschland. :-)
Highly, Highly, Highly Recommended
Seven Bridges Road - Eagles (this ones speaks for itself; will it speak to Germans, though?)
Kiss Me - Six Pence None the Richer (naturally)
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
Washington Square - The Village Stompers (it builds slowly)
Midnight In Moscow - Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen (much like Washington Square, yet different)
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado & His Orchestra
Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede (the greatest in silliness)
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group (silly hard rock at its best)
Popcorn - Hot Butter (a Dutch group)
Puttin' on the Ritz - Taco (a Dutch singer)
Little Green Bag - George Baker Selection (this one will grow on you)
Wild Thing - The Troggs (ultimate party song)
How Do You Do - Mouth and MacNeal (another Dutch group)
Topsy (Part II) - Cozy Cole (wait for the drums)
How High the Moon - Ferrante & Teicher (added on May 15, 2012)
Highly, Highly Recommended (in no particular order)
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Stray Cat Strut - The Stray Cats
Rock This Town - The Stray Cats
Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes (infectious beat)
Hot Dog - Led Zeppelin
Fox on the Run - Sweet
Ballroom Blitz - Sweet
The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night
Centerfold - J. Geils BandMy Sharona - The Knack
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens
Pipeline - Chantays (infectious beat; amazing video)
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly and the Family Stone
Tush - ZZ Top
Sweet City Woman - The Stampeders (infectious guitar)
Excellent Filler
Music to Watch Girls By - Bob Crewe Generation
Piano Man - Billy Joel (for a break)
The Tide Is High - Blondie
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione (for a break)
Dueling Banjos - Eric Weisburg (for a unique break)
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Spanish Entomologist - Leo Kottke
Pop Muzik - M
Sausalito Summernight - Diesel (see? here is yet ANOTHER Dutch group! :-)
Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
Mickey - Toni Basil
Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
I second some of the following suggestions by others:
Wipeout - Surfaris
Jenny (867-5309) - Tommy Tutone
We Will Rock You – We are the Champions - Queen
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Whip It - Devo
Knock on Wood - Ami Stewart
Cum on Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot
I Love Rock 'n Roll - Joan Jett
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & The WavesWalk Like an Egyptian - Bangles
