These three songs are cultural icons. For decades now, these songs have been important needle drops for our biggest celebrations. They are more than hits. They are institutions as integral to society as anything else. They are shorthand for a good time and won’t be left out of any party playlists anytime soon. How many times have you heard these tracks? Odds are you can’t even count them.
“Celebration” — Kool & The Gang
This disco song is a part of the furniture. It’s a must-play at just about any event, from birthdays to weddings and everything in between. Kool & The Gang wanted to write an upbeat, universal anthem akin to the success of “Ladies Night”. They earned an even bigger deal than what they originally set out to create with “Celebration”. It’s been a staple for decades.
[RELATED: Kool & The Gang’s Last Top 40 Hit Marked the End of a Specific Era of the Band]
This song will get most people out on the floor. Sure, some roll their eyes at this ubiquitous needle drop. But, at the end of the day, we can’t deny that this song works for any situation you put it in. And we couldn’t forget it if we tried.
“Dancing Queen” — ABBA
This is another guaranteed floor filler. ABBA was at the height of their powers with this disco staple, delivering a track with an emotional center and no shortage of crowd appeal. Who doesn’t want to be the dancing queen? It’s impossible not to want to try your hand at the title when this one comes on.
This song carries with it an immense weight of nostalgia. It reminds us of youth, whether we can fully relate to the lyrics. It’s fun incarnate, and for that, it’ll always be a party staple.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” — Whitney Houston
Lastly, we have Whitney Houston‘s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. This song is less a hit from Houston’s discography and more a universal emblem of love and good times. It’s transcended the pop diva and become a cultural icon in and of itself.
When’s the last time you went to a wedding and they didn’t play this? It’s rare. That’s because it reminds us all of time spent living it up with someone we love. Who doesn’t want to feel that way on a day like that? Or really any day for that matter.
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The post The Ultimate Party Playlist: 3 Classic Songs We All Know by Heart appeared first on American Songwriter.
Author: Alex Hopper
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