Tip of the week: How to make a party playlist

Channel your inner DJ. “Create a vibe” for the kind of soiree you plan to hold. “Variety is the best way” to keep people moving and mingling, so a playlist should include an assortment of “slow songs, fast songs, classics, and pop-y stuff.”

Mix old and new. For a dinner party, for instance, don’t be afraid to put a cutting-edge group like Vampire Weekend next to classic jazz vocalist Billie Holiday. Both have a sound that’s “mellow but still cool.”

Get a little cheesy. Feel free to include some “old top-40 songs,” even if you fear they’re a bit too familiar. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and Madonna’s early songs were hits for a reason: They “always get people moving.”

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Have fun. “Don’t be shy,” and always experiment with song selection. If you want to include more obscure music, just “sandwich anything unfamiliar between songs everyone knows.”

Source: Allure