Cocktail Hour — Smooth, Classy & Upscale
R&B / Soul
- Lovely Day — Bill Withers
- Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington Jr. / Bill Withers
- Is It a Crime — Sade
- Smooth Operator — Sade
- By Your Side — Sade
- Sweetest Taboo — Sade
- Nothing Can Come Between Us — Sade
- Rock With You — Michael Jackson
- Human Nature — Michael Jackson
- Lady in My Life — Michael Jackson
- Cruisin’ — Smokey Robinson
- Let’s Stay Together — Al Green
- What’s Going On — Marvin Gaye
- How Sweet It Is — Marvin Gaye
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
- Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
- Ribbon in the Sky — Stevie Wonder
- Knocks Me Off My Feet — Stevie Wonder
- For the Love of You — The Isley Brothers
- Footsteps in the Dark — The Isley Brothers
- Between the Sheets — The Isley Brothers
- Sweet Love — Anita Baker
- Caught Up in the Rapture — Anita Baker
- Giving You the Best That I Got — Anita Baker
- You Are My Lady — Freddie Jackson
- Never Too Much — Luther Vandross
- Here and Now — Luther Vandross
Modern R&B / Neo-Soul
- Best Part — Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.
- Get You — Daniel Caesar
- Focus — H.E.R.
- Damage — H.E.R.
- Sure Thing — Miguel
- Adorn — Miguel
- Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder) — Maxwell
- Sumthin’ Sumthin’ — Maxwell
- Pretty Wings — Maxwell
- Fortunate — Maxwell
- Brown Sugar — D’Angelo
- Lady — D’Angelo
- Golden — Jill Scott
- The Way — Jill Scott
- A Long Walk — Jill Scott
- So Beautiful — Musiq Soulchild
- Love — Musiq Soulchild
- Just Friends (Sunny) — Musiq Soulchild
Pop / Acoustic-Friendly
- Thinking Out Loud — Ed Sheeran
- Perfect — Ed Sheeran
- Tenerife Sea — Ed Sheeran
- I’m Yours — Jason Mraz
- Lucky — Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
- Better Together — Jack Johnson
- Sunday Morning — Maroon 5
- She Will Be Loved — Maroon 5
- Just the Way You Are — Bruno Mars
- Marry You — Bruno Mars
- Versace on the Floor — Bruno Mars
- Until I Found You — Stephen Sanchez
- A Thousand Years — Christina Perri
- All of Me — John Legend
- Ordinary People — John Legend
- Conversations in the Dark — John Legend
Jazz / Standards
Perfect for sax, keys, guitar, bass, or a small cocktail trio.
- Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra
- The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
- L-O-V-E — Nat King Cole
- Unforgettable — Nat King Cole
- Route 66 — Nat King Cole
- At Last — Etta James
- What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
- The Girl from Ipanema — Antônio Carlos Jobim
- My Funny Valentine — Standard
- Autumn Leaves — Standard
- Misty — Standard
- Blue Bossa — Kenny Dorham
- Cantaloupe Island — Herbie Hancock
- Watermelon Man — Herbie Hancock
- Song for My Father — Horace Silver
- Breezin’ — George Benson
- This Masquerade — George Benson
Dinner Set — Recognizable With More Energy
The dinner set can gradually increase the energy without going into full dance-floor mode.
Motown / Classic Soul
- My Girl — The Temptations
- Ain’t Too Proud to Beg — The Temptations
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- You’re All I Need to Get By — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered — Stevie Wonder
- I Wish — Stevie Wonder
- Sir Duke — Stevie Wonder
- Higher Ground — Stevie Wonder
- September — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sing a Song — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Fantasy — Earth, Wind & Fire
- That’s the Way of the World — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Let’s Groove — Earth, Wind & Fire
- Got to Give It Up — Marvin Gaye
- Give Me the Night — George Benson
- Love X Love — George Benson
Funk / Disco — Controlled Energy
- Rock With You — Michael Jackson
- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough — Michael Jackson
- Off the Wall — Michael Jackson
- Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
- Easy — Commodores
- Outstanding — The Gap Band
- Yearning for Your Love — The Gap Band
- Forget Me Nots — Patrice Rushen
- Never Too Much — Luther Vandross
- Got to Be Real — Cheryl Lynn
- Best of My Love — The Emotions
- He’s the Greatest Dancer — Sister Sledge
- Thinking of You — Sister Sledge
- Good Times — Chic
- Everybody Dance — Chic
Modern Pop / R&B Dinner Songs
- Leave the Door Open — Silk Sonic
- Smokin Out the Window — Silk Sonic
- Skate — Silk Sonic
- Treasure — Bruno Mars
- That’s What I Like — Bruno Mars
- Love Never Felt So Good — Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! — Justin Timberlake
- Water — Tyla
- Made for Me — Muni Long
- Boo’d Up — Ella Mai
- Trip — Ella Mai
- Snooze — SZA
- Good Days — SZA
- Essence — Wizkid feat. Tems
- Calm Down — Rema
- If I Ain’t Got You — Alicia Keys
- No One — Alicia Keys
Country / Crossover Wedding Options
Useful when the wedding crowd has a wider demographic.
- Tennessee Whiskey — Chris Stapleton
- Starting Over — Chris Stapleton
- Joy of My Life — Chris Stapleton
- You Are the Best Thing — Ray LaMontagne
- Die a Happy Man — Thomas Rhett
- Speechless — Dan + Shay
- From the Ground Up — Dan + Shay
- Amazed — Lonestar
- Bless the Broken Road — Rascal Flatts
- Forever After All — Luke Combs
Strong Instrumental / Sax Features 🎷
These work especially well when you want the musicianship to be part of the cocktail experience.
- Isn’t She Lovely — Stevie Wonder
- Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington Jr.
- Breezin’ — George Benson
- Mister Magic — Grover Washington Jr.
- Cantaloupe Island — Herbie Hancock
- Pick Up the Pieces — Average White Band
- Lily Was Here — David A. Stewart / Candy Dulfer
- Smooth Operator — Sade
- Human Nature — Michael Jackson
- Careless Whisper — George Michael
- Ordinary People — John Legend
- Best Part — Daniel Caesar
- Tennessee Whiskey — Chris Stapleton
- Let’s Stay Together — Al Green
Sample 60-Minute Cocktail Set
- Breezin’
- Lovely Day
- Just the Two of Us
- Smooth Operator
- Isn’t She Lovely
- Best Part
- Tennessee Whiskey
- Let’s Stay Together
- Human Nature
- At Last
- Sunday Morning
- Adorn
- Give Me the Night
- Never Too Much
Sample Dinner Set
- What’s Going On
- Rock With You
- Lovely Day
- Cruisin’
- Golden
- Sweet Love
- My Girl
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
- Give Me the Night
- Leave the Door Open
- Treasure
- Got to Give It Up
- September
Programming tip: During cocktail hour, keep the arrangements relaxed and sophisticated. During dinner, gradually increase the tempo and audience interaction. Save the major party records, line dances, current club songs, and high-impact medleys for after dinner so the reception still has somewhere to go.
Royal X Dj band pop
- Beyoncé – Cuff It, Crazy In Love, Love on Top, Flawless
- Lizzo – About Damn Time, Truth Hurts
- Farruko – Pepas
- Dua Lipa – Levitating, Don’t Start Now
- Cardi B – Up, I Like It, Money, Bodak Yellow
- Kid Laroi – Stay
- Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga – Rain On Me
- The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
- Lil Nas X – Old Town Road
- Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling
- Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
- Meghan Trainor – Me Too
- Bruno Mars – 24karat Magic, Finesse, That’s What I Like, Uptown Funk, Treasure
- Zedd – In The Middle, Stay
- Kendrick Lamar – Humble
- Drake – Once Dance
- DNCE – Cake By The Ocean
- The Chainsmokers – Closer
- Coldplay – Something Just Like This, Viva La Vida
- Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
- Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
- Justin Bieber – Sorry, Baby
- Walk The Moon – Shut Up and Dance
- Daft Punk – Get Lucky
- Pharrell – Happy
- T-Pain – Bartender, Up Down
- Rihanna – We Found Love, Rude Boy
- DJ Khaled – All I Do Is Win
- Trey Songz – Bottoms Up
- Calvin Harris – Feels So Close, This Is What You Came For
- Avicii – Wake Me Up
- Nicki Minaj – Pound The Alarm
- Ariana Grande, Jessie J, Nick Minaj – Bang Bang
- LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
- Pink – Raise You Glass
- Taio Cruz – Dynamite
- Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind, Izzo
- Flo Rida – Wild Ones, Low, Good Feeling, Club Can’t Handle Me, GDFR
- Pitbull – Fun, Give Me Everything, Feel This Moment, Timber
- Jennifer Lopez – On The Floor, Live It Up
- Miley Cyrus – Party In The USA
- Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
- Kanye West – Gold Digger, Flashing Lights
- Usher – Yeah
- Outcast – Hey Ya
- Nelly – Hot In Herre
- 50 Cent – In da Club
- Destiny’s Child – Say My Name, Bootylicious
- Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me
- TLC – Scrubs
- Dr. Dre – Next Episode
- Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), I Want It That Way
- Britney Spears – Hit Me Baby One More Time
- NSYNC – Tearin’ Up My Heart, Bye Bye Bye
- Spice Girls – Wannabe
- Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
- Ini Kamoze – Here Comes The Hotstepper
- Bell Biv Devie – Poison
- Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
- Beatles – Twist and Shout, I Wanna Hold Your Hand
R&B, Soul, Funk
- Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered, Superstition, I Wish, Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thang
- Sister Sledge – We Are Family
- The Emotions – Best of My Love
- Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie
- Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real
- K.C. & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty, That’s The Way I Like It, Get Down Tonight
- Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music
- Isley Brothers – Shout
- Tina Turner – Proud Mary, Simply The Best
- Natalie Cole – This Will Be
- Frankie Valli – Oh What A Night
- Rick James – Give It To Me Baby
- Teena Marie – Square Biz
- Temptations – Ain’t To Proud To Beg, Sugar Pie Honeybunch, The Way You Do Thing Things You Do
- Aretha Franklin – Respect, Natural Woman
- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
- James Brown – I Feel Good, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, Gonna Have A Funky Good Time
- Jackson 5 – Dancin’ Machine, Stop The Love You Save, ABC, I Want You Back
- Jackie Wilson – Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher
- Kool & The Gang – Hollywood Swinging, Jungle Boogie
- O’Jays – Love Train
- Wilson Pickett – Mustang Sally
- The Tams – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
- The Supremes – Can’t Hurry Love
- Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There
- Commodores – Brick House
70s- 80s
- King Harvest – Dancing In The Moonlight
- Earth, Wind, & Fire – Get Away, In The Stone, September, Let’s Groove, Boogie Wonderland
- Prince – 1999, Kiss, Let’s Go Crazy, Purple Rain
- Toto – Africa
- Gloria Estefan – Conga
- Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
- Donna Summer – Last Dance
- Bobby Brown – My Prerogative, Every Little Step
- Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
- Phil Colins – Sussudio, You’ll Be In My Heart
- Lionel Richie – All Night Long
- ABBA – Dancing Queen
- Labelle – Lady Marmalade
- Whitney Houston – Dance With Somebody, How Will I Know, I’m Every Woman
- A-ha – Take On Me
- David Bowie & Queen – Under Pressure
- The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
- Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
- Wilson Phillips – Hold On
- Salt N Pepa – Push It
- Kenny Loggins – Footloose
- Madonna – Like A Prayer, Holiday
- Michael Jackson – P.Y.T., Billy Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, Shake Your Body Down, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ hit songs
Rock Songs
- Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
- Joan Jett – I Love Rock N Roll
- Queen – We Will Rock You
- Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me
- AC/DC – Shook Me All Night Long
- Journey – Don’t Stop Believing, Anyway You Want It
- Bon Jovi – Living On A Prayer
- Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
- Guns & Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine
- Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- The Outfield – Your Love
- Beatles – Come Together
- The Killers – Mr. Brightside
- Prince – Purple Rain
Ballads/Standards
- Silk Sonic – Leave The Door Open
- Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
- Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight, Fly Me To The Moon
- Etta James – At Last
- Ben E. King – Stand By Me
- Gladys Knight – Midnight Train To Georgia
- Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey
- Astrud Gilberto – Girl From Ipanema
- Ray LaMontagne – You Are The Best Thing
- Elton John – Your Song
- Eric Clapton – You Look Wonderful Tonight
- Van Morrison – Days Like This
- Boys To Men – A Song for Momma, I’ll Make Love To You
- Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You
- Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
- Nat King Cole – L..O.V.E Unforgettable
- Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
- Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me
- Marvin Gaye – How Sweet It Is
- Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There
- John Legend – All Of Me
- Stevie Wonder – You Are The Sunshine of My Live
- Phil Collins – You’ll Be In My Heart
Country Songs
- Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey
- Darius Rucker – Wagon Wheel
- Garth Brooks – Friends In Low Places
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
- John Denver – Take Me Home, County Roads
- Rascal Flatts – My Wish
- Tim McGraw – Humble And King, My Little Girl
- Shania Twain – I Feel Like A Woman
- Willie Nelson – On the Road Again
- Johnny Cash – Walk the Line, Ring of Fire
- Shania Twain – I Feel Like A Woman
Holiday Songs
- Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
- Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
- Steve Wonder – That’s What Christmas Means To Me
- Deck The Halls
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Jingle Bells
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- Come All Ye Faithful
- Little Town Of Bethlehem
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Holiday / Traditional
- Ave Maria – Piano
- Bridal Chorus – Piano
- Canon In D – Piano
- Ode To Joy – Piano
- Wedding March – Piano
- Auld Lang Syne
- Hava Nagila
- Mezinka Dance
- Simon Tov
- Sunrise, Sunset