I recently played two high school dances, the first was a regular prom, with the normal top 40, hip-hop. The next was an 80's dance. When asked to do it, I thought, how in the world am I supposed to play 3 hours of 80's music to kids who weren't even born in the 80's?!?!?. The kids suprised me, they were so into it! There was a couple lulls in the dancing but when it happened I'd pull out something like the Electric slide and boom, back into it.

Here is the playlist:

Jam on it-Newcleus
Atomic dog-George Clinton (played these two as they were entering)
P.Y.T.-Michael Jackson
Thriller-Michael Jackson
Straight up-Paula Abdul
Superfreak-Rick James
1999-Prince
Hungry like the wolf-Duran Duran
You spin me round (like a record)-Dead or Alive
Physical-Olivia Newton-John (they wen't crazy as most of the girls dressed like ONJ in the video LOL)
Footloose-Kenny Loggins
Don't stop believing-Journey
You give love a bad name-Bon Jovi
Talk dirty to me-Poison
Like a virgin-Madonna
Kiss-Prince
Billie Jean-Michael Jackson
Parents just don't understand-DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
The twist-Fat Boys and Chubby Checker (I broke out the Hula-Hoops for this song, it went over huge)
It takes two-Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Bust a move-Young MC
Girls just want to have fun-Cyndi Lauper
Mickey-Toni Basil
Love shack-B-52's
Goody two shoes-Adam Ant
Love is a battlefield-Pat Benetar (even though I had a few requests for this one, there was a little lull at this time....so I broke out........)
Apache (jump on it)-Sugarhill Gang
(You gotta) fight for your right (to party)-Beastie Boys (I did the class shout outs to this one with the seniors winning, I then passed out the glow sticks)
You shook me all night long-AC/DC
I love Rock N Roll-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Cherry pie-Warrant (ok, this one is from 1990 but close enough :lol: )
Wild thing-Tone Loc
Push it-Salt N Pepa
Da butt-EU (They didn't really know this one, I was suprised...so I did this.....)
Hot hot hot-Buster Poindexter (I pulled out the limbo stick, I would say a good 98% of the kids did the limbo, went over VERY well)
The loco-motion-Kylie Minogue (again about 98% of the kids did this...probably the biggest train I'd even seen)
Pour some sugar on me-Def Leppard
Wake me up before you go-go-Wham
Jessie's girl-Rick Springfield
867-5309/Jenny-Tommy Tutone
Come on Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners
Planet rock-Afrika Bambaataa (had a request for a breakdancing song, the kids breakdancing were amazing)
Electric boogie-Marcia Griffiths
Celebration-Kool and the Gang (One of the teachers asked for this so the kids could form 2 lines with the first 2 kids dancing through the lline and so on. I wasn't sure about it but it worked very well, these kids suprised me all night)
It's tricky-Run-DMC
Beat it-Michael Jackson
Thriller-Michael Jackson (had tons of requests to play this again)
We're not gonna take it-Twisted Sister
All out of love-Air Supply (had to end with some cheese :lol: )

I'm impressed with your playlist Dan, great stuff!! It comes as no surprise to me that kids are requesting retro themes for parties and proms, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a large majority are totally hacked off with the hip-hop crap and yearn for some danceable, lighthearted entertainment....and you certainly delivered :thumb:

What an awesome list Daf! It's so cool that kids are in to all this good stuff now. Like I've said, if it's good it's not gonnna die. The music of the 80s is lighthearted and I think people want to come back to that now. Nice job!

Sounds like a great night. My son's in middle school and all he wants to hear at school dances is the 80s stuff, but of course that's how he was raised.;) He has a friend, 13 years old, who has been amazing us with his break dancing skills for about 3 years now. Head spins and all.

I'm surprised that you didn't give 'Relax' a spin Dan...or is that still a little too mature for todays Rap audiences? ;)

It was on their request list but with only 3 hours I just plum ran out of time.

It was on their request list but with only 3 hours I just plum ran out of time.

Sacrilege!! :lol:

Frankie Goes to Hollywood was more of a British thing. They were a one hit wonder on this side of the pond. :)

Frankie Goes to Hollywood was more of a British thing. They were a one hit wonder on this side of the pond. :)

Two Tribes didn't chart? Very surprising. Maybe it was a bit too anti-Reaganist?

Two tribes is my absolute favorite of theirs and the video was on MTV a lot, It charted on the Billboard Hot 100 but it never charted top 40, which is the measuring stick for a "hit".

Two tribes is my absolute favorite of theirs and the video was on MTV a lot, It charted on the Billboard Hot 100 but it never charted top 40, which is the measuring stick for a "hit".
Well, that's gotta rank alongside all the other great mysteries of the world Dan....:lol: