Rory Tassell
Turning sixteen is a big milestone and should be celebrated! It’s the time of life when a person is full of life and excitement for the future. Entering the sixteenth year of life is surely something to talk about. Throwing birthday parties and celebrating this milestone with friends and family is a great way to enjoy and have fun!
But, what about the songs that you should really be playing at the party?
Well, that’s an important consideration too! When you are turning sixteen, you can’t simply play a regular playlist at the party.
Rather, you need to compose a new one (or new ones!) that would take into account the theme of the party and the feelings of the birthday girl or birthday boy.
Also, each song in the playlist must be able to make the party lovers groove to the tunes!
Here is a breakdown of DJ tips to create the ultimate sweet sixteen songs and playlists
Sweet 16 Songs: One Rule. BE VARIED!
Teenagers, especially those who have just turned sixteen, have a wide range of choices when it comes to listening to music. They enjoy listening to Pop music, hip-hop and rap, Rock music, Electronic dance music, and even Reggaeton!
While creating a playlist with songs that would be played at the sweet sixteen parties, you need to add a mixture of songs from all these genres. By doing this, you’ll be covering all angles!
Here are some of the different kinds of music genres that you should consider:
Pop music is a popular genre amongst teenagers, no matter which era we are talking about. At the moment, there are various artists who are loved by people in their teens solely for the amazing pop music they come up with such as Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and several others.
Electronic Dance Music
Dance Music is a genre that’s filled with energy, liveliness, and vibrance. Playing it at a party means the guests would instantly start showing their moves to the music. It’s usually a winner!
A playlist filled with EDM songs will surely add the oomph to the party, making it an absolute hit! Ensure you include really popular commercial dance music artists currently David Guetta, Tiësto, Martin Garrix, and Calvin Harris.
Hip-Hop songs are full of fun and some tracks are timeless party belters! Owing to the super catchy music that comes with these songs and some really thriving beats, they are a massive hit amongst teenagers.
Currently, the most loved Hip-Hop artists among teenagers are Cardi B , Drake, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. Add a few songs from these artists to your playlist and your party guests would love to hum them!
How To Choose The Right Songs?
If you are worried that you may end up messing up big time and won’t be able to create the right kind of playlist for the sweet sixteen bashes, don’t worry! It’s not that big of a task.
Here are some things you need to keep in mind while choosing songs for the playlists.
Follow The Theme
If there is a particular theme you have decided upon, make sure not to ditch it while creating the playlist. If you are playing at a party that expects excitement and energy, opt for the EDM songs as they would add the much-needed punch to it.
However, for a party that is supposed to be laid back and chill, Hip Hop would work great to set the vibe. Don’t underestimate the power of a playlist when it comes to setting the mood of the party.
Shuffle The Genre
Choosing a single genre and sticking to it religiously while creating the playlist would be boring and actually quite risky.
Rather than doing that, be open formatted and simply choose different songs from different genres, eras, and artists. This way, you would be able to entertain all the guests at the party equally.
Choose Big Hitters!
If you pick tracks that no one has ever heard, it will bore the guests and you’ll end up getting complaints and you won’t get booked again.
This is why you need to consider the popular choices while composing playlists and add those songs that people actually love!
Creating Varied Playlists Is Crucial
Yes, you read that right! You need to create multiple and varied lists of songs to be played at different times. Not all parties are the same.
Not all atmospheres are the same.
And, most importantly not all audiences are the same!
It would make each moment stand out, ensuring that the songs would reflect the emotions and sentiments of the attendees.
You might be a bit confused! Here is an example of how to break your listings down:
Entrance Songs
This is your party and you have to make a BIG entrance! As soon as you enter the party, all eyes will be on you. You would obviously be looking heavenly, but that’s not all. You need to enter the space with a song that perfectly defines the moment.
Choosing songs to play when you enter the venue would get easier if you check out this list!
Dance Music Songs
What’s a party without some proper, well-known dance numbers in the playlist?
Once the guest of honor, the birthday girl/boy, has entered the party, it’s time to start the real fun and get everyone on that dance floor.
You need to compose many playlists for all the songs that you would play when your friends would be dancing. Each song in this playlist must have a bit of energy and punch.
Hip Hop & Reggaeton Playlists
Hip Hop is one of the most popular genres amongst teenagers, especially those who are sixteen or above.
This is why having a playlist filled with a whole range of Hip Hop and a bit of Reggaeton is a MUST for the sweet sixteenth party.
Here are some killer songs you can add to the playlist:
Sweet 16 Songs: Summary
A sweet 16 party is an important event for teenagers, and choosing the right sweet 16 songs and creating those playlists is crucial to making it a memorable one.
Just make sure you create multiple, open-genre playlists.
With the wide range of music genres that teenagers enjoy, it’s important to add songs from pop, hip-hop, rock, electronic dance music, and even the new rising sensation of Reggaeton.
We hope these sweet 16-song DJ tips have helped you. Now it’s over to you!
