How Swing Deejays determine the music you dance to!

There are about 100 veteran Swing deejays across America who make an absolute "art" of finding and playing the best dance music for Swing conventions.  They belong to deejay discussion groups, they meet regularly at Swing events and they usually have more than 10,000 songs loaded onto their laptops.  The VERY BEST of these deejays are hired by event directors to select the music for Competitions and Social Dancing at the Major dance conventions across America.  It's time we get into their heads.

Deejays have a tough job.  Dancers at Swing events have a wide range of music and dance tastes.  Some like old-fashioned Blues.  Some prefer R & B.  Others like a little Funky Hip-Hop edge to the music.  Still others want to hear a mainstream Contemporary Pop sound.  Clearly, it's hard to please everyone's tastes.

We sat down with Greg Parmerton, Director of the "All Swing Deejays Group", to discuss the state of Swing deejay music being played at Swing conventions across America today so we could get some insights into how deejays select music for Social Dancing and Competitions.  Greg's invitation-only professional group is comprised of ardent deejays who consider the collecting of great Swing music their passion and avocation.  Each month they share their top song picks among the group and compare notes on music trends around the country.  Here are his comments...

USASN:  What's the most popular style of Swing music being played at dance conventions around the country these days - Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Contemporary?

GP:  Pop music seems to be the most popular type of music being played for a very short amount of time (meaning that they are like "pop-tarts" - sweet and tasty but not too nutritious).  Blues and Jazz songs have a longer visitation period over time. Anyone heard "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley played lately?  I'm sure you still hear "Like I Love you" by Mike Morgan and the Crawl every big weekend.

(I have never appreciated the term "contemporary" as it is too vague. Contemporary is a timeframe, not a style.)

USASN:  What's the most popular beat range for Swing music at most events?

GP: Right now I would put that “sweet spot” at 108 bpm [beats per minute] - which is harder to dance to for Beginners.  Intermediate and Advanced dancers love this tempo - and lower.

USASN:  What kind of songs do most deejays in your professional group like to play to get dancers on the floor?

GP:  Mostly "they like" Swing-beat songs that have a Syncopated Triple built into the rhythm of the song.  But they are mostly Professionals (or want to be) and they will play what keeps the most folks on the floor.  What a deejay likes and what his audience likes are many times two separate things.
 

USASN:  Are there different music preferences in different regions of the country?

GP:  Oh yes!  California is the first in all things that “might" swing; only time sorts it all out as to what "did" swing. 

The fine dancers from Houston have been pushing the bpm envelope lower and lower into what was known as "buckle polisher" or "belly rubber" tempos.

Chicago still has a strong Stepper music scene.  The Shag states seem to have a Traditional vs New music issue brewing for the past few years.

Lindy is still big in Boston, NYC, LA, and San Francisco.

USASN:  What kinds of things do the Swing deejays discuss among themselves?

GP:  Mainly, does the song "swing"?   Or, are we trying to add a Swing beat over it?  Or --- can you believe that they like this song?????!

USASN:  Are there any notable trends in Swing music over the past few years?

GP:  Really, the move against the R&B and Blues music into an area that confounds the audience into a non-Swing-based musical experience.  This has been promoted by the “Pros” through routines and class music without regard to the genre of music that does swing.
 

USASN:  What makes a good Swing song?

GP:  Rolling triples.  Or as my Jazz teacher said, “lazy triplets over a straight beat’’.  Pulsing to the upbeat like a "heartbeat".

USASN:  What is the primary job of the deejay at an event?

GP:  The amount of Feet on The Floor.  "90%" is the [participation] factor we use as a "play or flay".  No matter what we think is best, the audience on the floor is correct.

USASN: What makes a great Swing deejay?

GP:  Ability to adapt.  The floor is alive and always changing.  A great Swing deejay must find the way with the tools at hand to adapt and keep the majority of the dancers on the floor.

USASN:  What do deejays do to prepare for a gig that people don't realize?

GP:  Basically we plan our attack mode - are we "Competition" deejays or are we "Social" deejays?  This is what we do 24+ hours before our play time.  We are always listening to music every chance we get.

USASN:  How many songs do you think most deejays have in their music libraries?

GP:  I would say, almost every AllSwingDj has at least 18,000 Swing songs on hand while performing.
 

USASN: What popular song styles seem to be preferred by dancers at recent Swing dance events?

GP:  Believe or not, the "throwback" stuff is the most popular.  Ask any deejay.  Amy Winehouse has some killer old-school sounds.  Taylor Dayne and Janet Jackson are keeping the dance beat in focus, as well.  The old-style acoustic blues of Keb-Mo, Brother Yusef and Jack Johnson are very popular.

USASN:  Why do you deejay?

GP:  To feel a crowd’s reaction to my presentation.  I really get a kick playing music for people who want to dance - be it The Macarena, The Cupid Shuffle or Spankin' Leroy.  Being the conduit for people having a good time is both, a great reward and an honor.
 

USASN:  In what direction does Swing music preference by Social dancers seem to be trending over the past 5 years - Blues, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, other?
 

GP:  Away from anything that does swing, as evidenced by the next two questions.

USASN: Name several artists over the past few years whose music heard on the radio is especially popular at Swing events.

GP:

1. Timbaland - Way I Are

2. Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back

3. Ne-Yo - Can We Chill?

4. Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction

5. Miley Cyrus - Let’s Dance

6. Flo Rida - Low

7. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

8. Britney Spears - Gimme More

9. Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned

USASN: Name 5 songs that broke over the past few months that are really hot right now for Social dancing at Swing events.

GP:  

1. Beautiful - Taylor Dayne

2. Pocket Full of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield

3. Elevator - Flo Rida
4. Feedback - Janet Jackson
5. Sweet Feeling - Cracked Ice 

USASN:  Pick 10 songs that you'd consider all-time classics for Social Dancing.

GP:

1. Funky Mama - Lou Donaldson (the original and BEST version worth searching for)
2. Ability To Swing - Patty Austin (the river, by far)
3. Natural Man - Lou Rawls (intro and all - it works!)
4, Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn (yes, this IS THE version!)
5. Let’s Rendezvous - Swingerhead (the best slow-beat phrased song out in the wild!)
6. Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison (a Classic for any party)
7. Baby What You Want Me to Do - Lou Rawls (no contest)
8. Fever - Elvis Presley (gold album)
9. Blue, Blue World - Roomful of Blues
10. Alva’s Baby Blues - Ray Sharpe (Texas Boogie Blues)

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 interview was from January 2008 with Gerry Zonca of USASwingnet
 

Notice that the "popular" and "hot right now" at swing events listings are not played anymore?
It is because they are "pop-tarts"
(consumed without nutritional value).
The classic list can be played at ANY time, because they are swing.