Birthday Music Ideas

Music is a key factor in setting the mood at your party and should be planned with care. We have provided:

• Guidelines for selecting songs for your playlist
• Suggestions for a Birthday party
  

Guidelines for Building Your Playlist

For any type of cocktail party, it is strongly recommended that you prearrange a list of songs. Choose a mix of popular songs, recognizable standards, and your personal favorites. Here are our guidelines for selecting your playlist songs:

• Choose upbeat tempos for a light and happy mood
• Mix genres to appeal to all tastes
• Vary styles to add interest
• Contrast artists for diversity and to avoid sameness

and for a Birthday party:

• Interject tunes in the spirit of your birthday theme, about 1 every 20 minutes or every 5-6 songs.
  
• Add humor and nostalgia for surprises & smiles

Edit your song list by:

• Eliminating songs 4 minutes or longer
  
• Include only one song per group or artist

For a dinner party, you may select a list of songs and play your list on shuffle.  You may want to choose a list for the pre-dinner cocktail hour and a separate list during dinner. 

For more about making a general playlist refer to Cocktail Party Planning: Making Music and Dinner Party Planning: Selecting the Music.

Musical Suggestions For A Birthday Party

Apply the same suggestions above for selecting theme-related songs as for building your playlist.  Choose upbeat, fast tempos to maintain the party spirit. Do not include songs over 4 minutes long and incorporate only one song per any single artist into your playlist.

Generally look for a variety including:

• Famous theme-related songs like Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday, Mr. President
  
• Birthday or party songs recorded by a popular artist, like the Beatles' Birthday
• Humorous songs, like Disney's Happy Birthday, Princess!
  
• Hit songs by current artists, like 50 cent's In Da Club
• Nostalgic/retro recordings, like Lesley Gore's It's My Party
• Content related songs, Patrick Hernandez's Born To Be Alive
  

Here are some songs to consider for your playlist:

Birthday Songs

• Happy Birthday, Mr. President, Marilyn Monroe
• Birthday, Beatles
• 16 Candles, The Crests
• Happy Birthday, Stevie Wonder
• Happy Birthday, Princess!, Disney
  
• Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby, The Tuneweavers
• Happy Birthday To Me, Cracker
• Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Altered Images
  
• Happy Birthday, Sweet 16, Neil Sedaka
  
• Happy Birthday, Concrete Blond
• In Da Club (Party Like It's Your Birthday), 50 Cent
• Happy Birthday (My Olde Friend), Voltaire
  

Birthday Theme & Content Related Songs

• It's My Party, Lesley Gore
  
• Let's Get This Party Started, Shirley Bassey (recommended) or Pink
• Tardy For The Party, Kim Zolciak
• Celebration, KC & the Sunshine Band
• Party In The USA, Miley Cyrus
• Party, Boston
• Party, Elvis Presley
• Born To Be Alive, Patrick Hernandez
• Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf
• Born In The USA, Bruce Springsteen
• Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen
  

Find more information about making a musical party playlist in Cocktail Party Planning.