The Essential Selection: UK Funky

For those who are new to SEDA or just need a refresh the Essential Selection features 5 top tracks from a specific genre that should have you covered if you are every asked to play that style of music.

This shows Essential Selection was UK Funky, which is one of my personal favorite styles of music. Being from Watford myself, UK Funky is a major component in many of my events everything from 16ths, 18ths, 21st to club nights even a fair few Weddings that have specifically request either UK Funky or certain tracks.

The music style is very vibratant and originates from Broken Beat but has elements of Garage, electro dance, house, Latin beats and a few other bits and pieces thrown in. Most of the UK Funky chart toppers are from London and many tracks receive a chat place (depending on who’s chart you listen to), and its usually the songs with a dance or certain move that make it up there!

So here’s my top 5:

1. Paleface featuring Kyla – Do you mind (youtube link) This song was the birth place for UK Funky in mainstream commercial music
2. K.I.G Family – Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (youtube link) This song was next in line making it to first place in many urban charts. With an action orientated dance you can expect a very odd looking but bouncing crowd
3. Donaeo – Party Hard (youtube link) If your in a venue with a crowd enjoying some UK Funky this is certainly an essential hit and always fills up the floor
4. Gracious K – Migraine Skank (youtube link) Another steamer of tune! This follows on from number 2, with more actions and a lot of singing along no doubt!
5. JP – Jungle Skank (youtube link) My last of the 5 essential selection is  this one, reason is its a little less commercial but yet still very well known within UK Funky. This one will show your not just playing the commercial only stuff but also have a good understanding of the genre too.

So those are my top 5, I actually have around 40 UK Funky tracks myself and happy to help anyone else who is interested. Also not all songs can actually be bought many are made in home studios and just released by an unsigned artist, so it can be a cheap genre to get to grips with!

Until next time… Keep it Funky

Barney
Party Events Unlimited (Wedding DJ)

Essential Tunes Selection: Ska

The second in our series of essential tunes featured the SKA Genre.  From it’s Jamaican origins in the 1950’s it has been a very popular genre of music especially with the Mods and Skinheads in the 60’s and then on to the 2-tone revival in the 70’s.  It still continues to fill floors today, so we thought it would be a good idea to showcase the 5 most popular Ska tracks you can play to satisfy all ages.  Ian Forest, our Technical Officer was given the task which he delivered to perfection at last nights Shownight.  Here are the tracks he played in order…

1. Toots & The Maytals – Monkey Man
2. The Specials – A Message To You Rudy
3. Bad Manners – Lip Up Fatty
4. Madness – Nightboat To Cairo
5. Lionrock – Rude Boy Rock

The final track was a curveball, an obscure track from the 90’s that doesn’t get a lot of play, but fits right in with the original Jamaican sound.  Hopefully you will find the above tunes rock your floor at your next event – don’t forget to leave feedback and let us know how you got on!

Essential Tunes Selection: Line Dancing

One new feature of the SEDA Show Night is the ‘Essential tunes selection’. This is the feature where we pick a small selection of essential tunes for a particular genre which are tried and tested by an expert DJ in this field.

On Sunday 21st September 2008, our President Theo Loyla presented the following Line Dancing tunes:

The 5 tracks were:

1. Red Hot Salsa by Dave Sheriff for Red Hot Salsa (very popular easy classic)
2. Now I can Dance by Tina Arena for Into The Arena (classic intermediate)
3. Last Night by Chris Anderson & DJ Robbie for Chill Factor (classic intermediate)
4. If You Wanna Be Happy by Dr Victor & The Rasta Rebels for Crazy Foot Mambo (easy intermediate & No 1 on Line Dance dj’s playlist chart)
5. Headphones by LeAnn Rimes for Head Phones (intermediate & No 1 on latest dancers chart)

For further information, step sheets, music links and up to date info go to www.linedancermagazine.com

Essential Tunes Selection: Drum n Bass

One new feature of the SEDA Show Night is the ‘Essential tunes selection’. This is the feature where we pick a small selection of essential tunes for a particular genre which are tried and tested by an expert DJ in this field.

On Sunday 20th July 2008, I presented the following Drum n Bass tunes, all of which work wonders on my dancefloors.

• DJ Marky, Stamina MC & XRS – LK
• Peshay feat. Coordinate – You Got Me Burning
• The Qemists – Stompbox (Spor Remix)
• Prodigy – Voodoo People (Prodigy Remix)
• Pendulum – Hold Your Colour (Album) feat. the following songs in particular…
  • Prelude
  • Slam
  • Tarantula

The Pendulum – Hold Your Colour album is incredibly useful, I would recommend you buy the whole CD, there are deals on this album in some stores. I played Prelude into Slam as a continuous play, this is most effective when introducing a DNB set from something else!

Incidentally, whilst introducing the feature I was playing Goldie – Inner City Life.

Many thanks,
Brian Mole.