Good songs for dancing

ldk

Joined: Nov 08, 2017
Posts: 369
San Francisco Bay Area
United States

Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:14 AM

The other night I was playing for my wife and a friend of hers. After a while, they said I should play something good to dance to. I never thought about that aspect of the music I play—I just play songs I like the sound of.

So, especially for those in a band, what songs get the audience dancing? Is it just a beats per minute thing? Enthusiastic playing? Mood?

—

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

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montereyjack66

Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
United States

Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:20 AM

Dance is what makes the world go around, more than ever. The more you can incorporate more dance friendly material in to your surf set, the more the modern audience can relate and participate. I know, shoot the heretic. It is what it is.

—

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Nov 23 2019 04:59 AM

It's the beat. It's always the beat. Surf was always meant to be dance music first and foremost. A lot of the modern stuff--and plenty of the old stuff, too--isn't all that danceable because it's too fast or otherwise doesn't groove.

You want to hear dance music, put on Stop Making Sense. Best party album ever.

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11058
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Nov 23 2019 11:31 AM

See Satan's Pilgrims for a band that gets it.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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montereyjack66

Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
United States

Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:42 PM

Redfeather wrote:

It's the beat. It's always the beat. Surf was always meant to be dance music first and foremost. A lot of the modern stuff--and plenty of the old stuff, too--isn't all that danceable because it's too fast or otherwise doesn't groove.

You want to hear dance music, put on Stop Making Sense. Best party album ever.

—

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Nov 24 2019 05:43 AM

Trad surf is inherently danceable. If a good sized crowd is enjoying the music and not seated, any high energy surf beat song will have them moving. Sometimes it takes a few in the crowd to break the ice. Once you get a few dancing, audible out more songs of the same tempo and beat and keep them up there. Some stuff can be too fast and too slow is the fastest way to clear the dance floor. Anything slower then 120 BPM is too slow. 140 is the sweet spot but we also do well at 160-170.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Nov 24, 2019 05:50:46

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ldk

Joined: Nov 08, 2017
Posts: 369
San Francisco Bay Area
United States

Posted on Nov 25 2019 12:42 PM

stratdancer wrote:

Trad surf is inherently danceable. If a good sized crowd is enjoying the music and not seated, any high energy surf beat song will have them moving. Sometimes it takes a few in the crowd to break the ice. Once you get a few dancing, audible out more songs of the same tempo and beat and keep them up there. Some stuff can be too fast and too slow is the fastest way to clear the dance floor. Anything slower then 120 BPM is too slow. 140 is the sweet spot but we also do well at 160-170.

Good stuff. Thanks! What are a couple of songs, original or covers, that you think work well in keeping folks dancing?

—

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Nov 26 2019 05:12 AM

If people want to dance, songs like Miserlou always get them moving. We will stretch it out and trade leads between the two guitars and then leave space of just the beat and rhythm. We also get good response with similar trad surf music and various modern pop/rock covers. Generally the more familiar they are with the song the more likely to get them moving. It's a spontaneous thing and more likely in larger crowds.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Nov 26, 2019 05:12:45

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19308
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Nov 26 2019 08:39 AM

Los Straitjackets always gets the crowd moving. Their live album Damas Y Caballeros is a very good example of a fun danceable show.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1374
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Nov 26 2019 12:09 PM

Not saying these are my favorites, but we have played them to get crowds moving: Wipeout, California Sun (w/vocals)

Also if groove is good - Latinia

Also, more modern - Pacifica, Tsunami Tsurprise, Save the Waves- great tunes, just don't let tempo get out of hand on any of these. Too fast a tempo = no dancing

—

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Last edited: Nov 26, 2019 12:10:52

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ldk Joined: Nov 08, 2017 Posts: 369 San Francisco Bay Area	Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:14 AM The other night I was playing for my wife and a friend of hers. After a while, they said I should play something good to dance to. I never thought about that aspect of the music I play—I just play songs I like the sound of. So, especially for those in a band, what songs get the audience dancing? Is it just a beats per minute thing? Enthusiastic playing? Mood? — If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play. Bringing instruments back to life since 2013. Top
montereyjack66 Joined: Jul 23, 2014 Posts: 637 LA -ish	Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:20 AM Dance is what makes the world go around, more than ever. The more you can incorporate more dance friendly material in to your surf set, the more the modern audience can relate and participate. I know, shoot the heretic. It is what it is. — mj bent playing for benter results Do not attempt to adjust your TV set. https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/ https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/ Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Nov 23 2019 04:59 AM It's the beat. It's always the beat. Surf was always meant to be dance music first and foremost. A lot of the modern stuff--and plenty of the old stuff, too--isn't all that danceable because it's too fast or otherwise doesn't groove. You want to hear dance music, put on Stop Making Sense. Best party album ever. Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11058 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Nov 23 2019 11:31 AM See Satan's Pilgrims for a band that gets it. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
montereyjack66 Joined: Jul 23, 2014 Posts: 637 LA -ish	Posted on Nov 23 2019 12:42 PM Redfeather wrote: It's the beat. It's always the beat. Surf was always meant to be dance music first and foremost. A lot of the modern stuff--and plenty of the old stuff, too--isn't all that danceable because it's too fast or otherwise doesn't groove. You want to hear dance music, put on Stop Making Sense. Best party album ever. — mj bent playing for benter results Do not attempt to adjust your TV set. https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/ https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/ Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Nov 24 2019 05:43 AM Trad surf is inherently danceable. If a good sized crowd is enjoying the music and not seated, any high energy surf beat song will have them moving. Sometimes it takes a few in the crowd to break the ice. Once you get a few dancing, audible out more songs of the same tempo and beat and keep them up there. Some stuff can be too fast and too slow is the fastest way to clear the dance floor. Anything slower then 120 BPM is too slow. 140 is the sweet spot but we also do well at 160-170. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Last edited: Nov 24, 2019 05:50:46 Top
ldk Joined: Nov 08, 2017 Posts: 369 San Francisco Bay Area	Posted on Nov 25 2019 12:42 PM stratdancer wrote: Trad surf is inherently danceable. If a good sized crowd is enjoying the music and not seated, any high energy surf beat song will have them moving. Sometimes it takes a few in the crowd to break the ice. Once you get a few dancing, audible out more songs of the same tempo and beat and keep them up there. Some stuff can be too fast and too slow is the fastest way to clear the dance floor. Anything slower then 120 BPM is too slow. 140 is the sweet spot but we also do well at 160-170. Good stuff. Thanks! What are a couple of songs, original or covers, that you think work well in keeping folks dancing? — If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play. Bringing instruments back to life since 2013. Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Nov 26 2019 05:12 AM If people want to dance, songs like Miserlou always get them moving. We will stretch it out and trade leads between the two guitars and then leave space of just the beat and rhythm. We also get good response with similar trad surf music and various modern pop/rock covers. Generally the more familiar they are with the song the more likely to get them moving. It's a spontaneous thing and more likely in larger crowds. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Last edited: Nov 26, 2019 05:12:45 Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19308 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Nov 26 2019 08:39 AM Los Straitjackets always gets the crowd moving. Their live album Damas Y Caballeros is a very good example of a fun danceable show. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1374 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Nov 26 2019 12:09 PM Not saying these are my favorites, but we have played them to get crowds moving: Wipeout, California Sun (w/vocals) Also if groove is good - Latinia Also, more modern - Pacifica, Tsunami Tsurprise, Save the Waves- great tunes, just don't let tempo get out of hand on any of these. Too fast a tempo = no dancing — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus Wake up Jimmy! It's Christmastime! (2024) - Agent Octopus (Single) YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf SG101 Festival 2025 Click Here! Last edited: Nov 26, 2019 12:10:52 Top

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Good songs for dancing