Playlist 12: Miscellaneous Party LOLs

Sometimes you just need a playlist that takes the worries out of your head when you’re hosting friends.

Parties can be a nightmare for this reason; people can complain about one song and before you know it, you have a mutiny on your hands and people think you’re a dick. You end up in isolation, wondering where you went wrong, only to forever curse the Black Eyed Peas for luring you into choosing ‘My Humps’ for a laugh, only to get the dreaded lead balloon effect.

Most people pine for a range of classics that will get everyone dancing, enjoying the atmosphere, or simply punctuating and overriding the terrible awkward silences when you make a joke and forget that the punchline always, repeat always offends someone in the room.

You want those moments when someone you have a bit of a thing for goes “I LOVE this song!” and gets up, giving you an excuse to pretend that you like the song too and dance with them. Except you DO like the song, because it’s one that everyone knows but isn’t that much of a guilty pleasure, especially when you’ve had a few drinks in you. They aren’t songs that require serious dancing either, so put your two left feet together and get involved.

This Spotify Sunday playlist is a potent mix of classics from back in the day, a few more modern hits and the odd one-hit wonder thrown in for good measure. It’s a collection that’s sure to entertain, get a few discussions going and keep the party alive. Given Christmas is getting closer and the inevitable New Year’s Eve rush gets into full swing, it’s only right that you’re tooled up for countless interactions with friends and family.

There’s nothing incriminating here for that reason, too. You’re not going to be spinning your granny to ‘Gangsta Gangsta’ by NWA or carrying your beau a drink to the tune of ‘Gold Digger’ by Kanye West, and that’s a promise.

Usually, the list of songs is provided at the end, but this time it’s not being included for two reasons: the first is that it’s a real pain in the arse to type 50-plus songs and the artists behind them. Secondly, the fun’s in the surprise. There may be a few you don’t recognise by name but you will know the tune. If you don’t know either, put faith into the choices. The ones you do know? You won’t complain.

It’s not trying to be the most diverse of playlists, though the range of genres is enough to keep things changing. Besides, it’ll serve as a perfect base for extra hooj choons to be sprinkled liberally throughout – just get your copy and paste skills on the go.

By Matt Gardner