Songs for a dance band

[JeezyMcNuggles]

So, a drummer friend and I have been trying for a while to get players together for a cover band that plays music that gets people dancing. Funk, R&B, disco, funk/rock, rock, pop, reggae, Latin, afrobeat, country, etc. A smattering of styles, not focused on when the songs came out, also not too focused on genre, but we want to play a variety that many different kinds of people (young/old/hip/square/whatever) would want to dance to.

We finally found a great female vocalist, and now we are bass/drums/keys/guitar/singer. We all sing backgrounds, and the keyboard player sings some lead. Everyone seems nice, talented, responsible, and enthusiastic, so I have high hopes.

We plan to start by playing in bars within a month or two, and then start looking for events, private parties, and such. I would love to hear recommendations for songs and artists you think would be good for a band such as this. We are in Los Angeles if that makes a difference.

Here’s some of the stuff we have been thinking about:
James Brown, Madonna, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Bee Gees, Village People, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Chaka Khan/Rufus, Stevie Wonder, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Justin Timberlake, No Doubt, Pink, Patrice Rushen, The Time, Rick James, Daft Punk, Kool and the Gang, The Temptations.

That list is maybe tilted toward funk, as that was our first thought. But I would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks!

Put on your red shoes, and dance the blues

 

[5StringBlues]

speaking of weddings, WONDERFUL WORLD and our instrumental of AT LAST were always surefire slowdance numbers at weddings.



And as said upthread, My Girl.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

Almost anything from Sparks

I'd like my band to try out "The Greatest Show on Earth", or "Rock'n'roll People in a Disco World", or "All You Ever Think About is Sex", but I don't think these would be a dancefloor fillers.

BTW, Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean might work.
P.S. Also Black - Wonderful Life for a slow couples dance.

 

[friskinator]

Yeah this x 1000. Couple guys in my current band had this problem. One has come to his senses and the other defers to others as he pretty much understands that he lives in his own bubble and has no clue what normal people listen to, or eat, or drink, or how they think.

Yeah, lot of bad song ideas in this thread along with the good.

 

[richntiff]

You're killing me. You are correct, but you're still killing me.

why? It's a great song with an iconic verse. Legions of younger people know the song, love the song, and groove/sing along at top lung capacity whenever they hear it. I'm trying to get my band to do it - it's one I've always wanted to sing live.

 

[Snarf]

why? It's a great song with an iconic verse. Legions of younger people know the song, love the song, and groove/sing along at top lung capacity whenever they hear it. I'm trying to get my band to do it - it's one I've always wanted to sing live.

I've played it sooooooooooooooooo many times. And yes, people love it and as soon as that guitar part starts, they lose their minds. But I've played it sooooooooooooooooooo many times. It's like Don't Stop Believing at this point. The last time I play that song can't come soon enough.

 

[richntiff]

I've played it sooooooooooooooooo many times. And yes, people love it and as soon as that guitar part starts, they lose their minds. But I've played it sooooooooooooooooooo many times. It's like Don't Stop Believing at this point. The last time I play that song can't come soon enough.

ok - I get it - if it's achieved DSB status in your brain, that's a tough hill to climb

 

[acid bass]

You're killing me. You are correct, but you're still killing me.

You can actually get away with playing When You Were Young instead, folks go wild for this one too. Helps to mix things up a bit.

 

[51PRI]

Whole lotta oldies being named here.
Familiarity is fine, but it might be a good idea to include some relatively recent tunes, like say from the last 10 years.
Jus' sayin'..... .....

Here's a new song that fits the bill, and already even has it's own dance, and a line dance, too:

Someone mentioned "Shut Up And Dance" and that always seems to go over well at the weddings and corporate functions I play. The Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse version of "Valerie" goes over well in bars here (and gets requested a lot). "Tennessee Whiskey" is also a guaranteed floor-filler here as long as there are couples in the room.

Have you heard the Bruno Mars version of "Valeria?"

 

[smeet]

Here's a new song that fits the bill, and already even has it's own dance, and a line dance, too:



Have you heard the Bruno Mars version of "Valeria?"

Valerie is a good song, I like Bruno Mars, but the Ronson/Winehouse version hits much harder for me.

And I don’t want to be an old man yelling at clouds, but does rapping over a loop of the Temptations really qualify as a new song?

I mean, I’ll play it if people want to hear it, but maybe as a mashup of Best of my Love and Lil Boo Thang.

 

[Marko 1]

I don't know the demographic you're playing to, and I'm a bit shy about posting this as I really don't think it's what you're looking for.

We do a lot of what some call the "Antler Circuit", so you know what I'm talking about, not too many young folks, typically like Country, but we hit them with a variety of covers from 60-90s, and it appears to be hitting really well and we keep getting re-booked.

I can say the last gig they danced energetically to every, single, song.

Next gig's setlist will be a bit different, Brick House and a couple slow ones added per request. Jenny here was played only in the first set and we got a request for Mustang Sally.

 

[51PRI]

I don't know the demographic you're playing to, and I'm a bit shy about posting this as I really don't think it's what you're looking for.

We do a lot of what some call the "Antler Circuit", so you know what I'm talking about, not too many young folks, typically like Country, but we hit them with a variety of covers from 60-90s, and it appears to be hitting really well and we keep getting re-booked.

I can say the last gig they danced energetically to every, single, song.

Next gig's setlist will be a bit different, Brick House and a couple slow ones added per request. Jenny here was played only in the first set and we got a request for Mustang Sally.

If you have a guy in the band who can sing "My Maria" and "Long Cool Woman" in the original keys you're got a keeper.

Valerie is a good song, I like Bruno Mars, but the Ronson/Winehouse version hits much harder for me.

And I don’t want to be an old man yelling at clouds, but does rapping over a loop of the Temptations really qualify as a new song?

I mean, I’ll play it if people want to hear it, but maybe as a mashup of Best of my Love and Lil Boo Thang.

What Temptations song?

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

What Temptations song?

@smeet misspoke/mistyped/misremembered; the original artist was The Emotions.



Personally, I am not a fan of people "borrowing" other people's recordings as their backing track, but it seems to be widely accepted.

 

[Rev_Slinky]

Pretty Woman is a great pick! We always get a good dance response for that one. Plus, that bassline is so fun to play!

 

[51PRI]

...I am not a fan of people "borrowing" other people's recordings as their backing track, but it seems to be widely accepted.

Like this?:

 

[mike o]

Guaranteed get ‘em up and dance songs. Someone had to say it. LOL. Cupid shuffle, electric slide, etc. heck, I’ll play anything that gets folks dancing.

 

[Wisebass]

I like Sly and Robbie

In that case you gotta play this one! one of Robbie's best:



If you get horns, this is a cool song to bring them in:



no idea if these work in L.A.


greetings

wise(b)ass

 

[51PRI]

....I don’t want to be an old man yelling at clouds, but does rapping over a loop of the Temptations really qualify as a new song?.....

Apparently the list of songs that have covered or sampled "Best of My Love" is pretty extensive.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Michedelic]

Do the Tighten Up. But don’t get too tight.

 

[richntiff]

I don't know the demographic you're playing to, and I'm a bit shy about posting this as I really don't think it's what you're looking for.

We do a lot of what some call the "Antler Circuit", so you know what I'm talking about, not too many young folks, typically like Country, but we hit them with a variety of covers from 60-90s, and it appears to be hitting really well and we keep getting re-booked.

I can say the last gig they danced energetically to every, single, song.

Next gig's setlist will be a bit different, Brick House and a couple slow ones added per request. Jenny here was played only in the first set and we got a request for Mustang Sally.

This is a GREAT setlist. Some overplayed tunes, but they are the ones that people still like to hear. A great mix of genres/ages to hit your target demographic.