Adagio fans, here is the moment you’ve been eagerly awaiting. The announcement of the big #1 most important song of 2011!!! Before we get to that, here’s a recap:

#11) Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup”
#10) Foster the People – “Pumped Up Kicks”
#9) Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)”
#8) Lady Gaga – “The Edge Of Glory”
#7) Zac Brown Band – “Knee Deep”
#6) Lonely Island – “Jack Sparrow”
#5) Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”
#4) Jason Aldean – “Dirt Road Anthem”
#3) Rebecca Black – “Friday”
#2) Pitbull – “Give Me Everything”

Right now I’d like to address the following questions and/or criticisms: “What about Adele? Nicki Minaj? Florence and the Machine?” Yes, you are right in that Adele, Nicki Minaj, and Florence and the Machine had huge contributions to the musical landscape this year. This list is simply those that either have established a timeless quality that will be seen for years to come or they are synonimous with 2011. There’s also a glaring absence of rock artists from the list, I know. Maybe 2012 will be a more profound year for rumbling drums and guitars cranked to 11 (or 12, nothing wrong with going 1 louder). This again is also one person’s opinion, that is what makes these list intriguing and annoying all at the same time. Am I intriguing or annoying? That’s up to you to decide, but if you ask any of my ex-girlfriends, they’re LYING…..okay, on to the final stop on the countdown:

THE BIG NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT SONG OF 2011 IS…………………………………………………..

#1) LMFAO – “Party Rock Anthem”There’s a concept in creating a great song whether it be a pop song, rock, country, metal, alternative, hip hop, (it just occured to me that there are about 50 million genres of music, so I’ll stop there). That concept is known as “K.I.S.S.” Which means Keep It Simple, Stupid. LMFAO (pronounced as “Lummaffo”, according to my mom) have captured the concept of keeping it simple perfectly on “Party Rock Anthem”. First of all, think about the title. They could have gone for anything artsy or symbolic for a song title. It could have been called “Good Time” or “In The House” or any other random lyric; but they thought about it and decided to tell us, the listeners, that this is an anthem. What kind of anthem? A party anthem. A party anthem that rocks you. Thus a party rock anthem. Well, you get what you pay for and LMFAO delivers. In fact the whole song is just telling you like it is. We’re all party rockers. We’re in the house tonight. What should we do? “HAVE A GOOD TIME.” Roger that. How do we have a good time? “SHAKE THAT.” 10-4. Pepper in a command of putting your hands up (which we’ve heard thousands of times but somehow LMFAO makes it seem fresh), an easy to dance to beat, and an easy to enjoy keyboard hook and you’ve got it; a simple pop song that will keep club goers, wedding guests, and Jersey Shore wannabes pumping their fists in the air for years to come.

Well, that’s it for the top 11 most important songs of 2011. Without a doubt I hope you have enjoyed this list and my ranting. What’s ahead for 2012? Well………..

I’m a DJ, not a fortune teller. Sheesh. Happy new year everybody! From all of us at Adagio Djay Entertainment, have a wonderful and safe 2012!!! 

–DJ Tommy

Hey Adagio followers! If you’re reading this, that means you were interested enough in the first part of my Top 11 countdown of the most important songs of 2011, that you decided to move on to part 2. Why did I go with 11 and not an even 10 or stretch it to 20? Well, if you talk to anyone at Adagio, they’d say that doing a top 11 countdown sounds pretty typical for me. That’s just Tommy for ya. Also it is a list for the year 2011, so I thought it would be fun to do, ya know, 11 songs. Also when I jotted down my notes I had 11 songs and didn’t know which one to cut. Editing is NOT my forte. Anyway, here’s a brief recap:

#11) Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup”
#10) Foster The People – “Pumped Up Kicks”
#9) Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”
#8) Lady Gaga – “The Edge Of Glory”
#7) Zac Brown Band – “Knee Deep”

For my rants about these songs, check the previous blog. Otherwise, on with the countdown:

#6) Lonely Island – “Jack Sparrow”; Lonely Island, aka “Saturday Night Live’s” Andy Samberg and two other guys, is obviously a comedic hip hop trio; but the song “Jack Sparrow” is certainly one of the defining songs of the year. Quite frankly, the sound of Michael Bolton’s sexy hook singing a tribute to Johnny Depp’s most recognizable character has been stuck in my head for weeks on end this year. For that, I cannot forgive Lonely Island. However, we all know that one guy or gal that has little personality of their own and spends their lives talking about and/or quoting movies so for that, I thank Lonely Island for giving us the term “cinephile”. Anyone ever see “Office Space”? There’s a Michael Bolton in that movie, too. I think someone stole my stapler…..

#5) Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”; In another effort to show how old I am, let’s talk this release by Taio Cruz. As a DJ, I love the fact that this song appeals to people young and old. At events I’ve worked this year, the results on the dance floor are great with this song. Kids, twenty-somethings, forty-and-fifty-somethings acting like twenty-somethings, and grandparents can all get along with the concept of putting ones hands in the air and saying “ayyyyy-yo”. I also like it because if you listen very closely, Taio isn’t saying “Dyn-A-mite”, it’s actually “Dyn-O-mite”. Now is this because he’s british and it’s a simple accent thing, or is Mr. Cruz offering up an ode to Jimmie Walker ala “Good Times”? I’d like to think the 70′s sitcom had something to do with the inspiration for this song.

Wait a minute, it just occured to me this song came out in 2010. Oops, see how old I’m getting? Memory……GONE.

#4) Jason Aldean – “Dirt Road Anthem”; Jason Aldean claims he isn’t rapping on this song. Riiiiiiight. Has he heard it? Sure sounds like a rap to me! I don’t know why he’d deny it like it’s a bad thing, rap crossing with other musical genres has been happening for years. Rock and rap have had it’s successes (Rage Against The Machine) and it’s failures (Limp Bizkit), but country and rap can actually find common ground. Trace Adkins and Big & Rich have been sprinkling in hip hop terms in their songs over the last decade, plus, let’s not forget Cowboy Troy. I like the way this song goes from a swaying drinking song to a cool little rap and back again. So embrace it, Jason, it’s not like Lil’ Wayne is showing up at the CMA’s or anything….oh wait, yeah he did.   http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7kq17_kid-rock-lil-wayne-performance-2008_music

#3) Rebecca Black – “Friday” ; Auto tune. In the hands of someone like T-Pain, it just makes your voice sound really cool and electronic like. In the hands of Rebecca Black, it has the power to take a voice that may have potential to one day sing really well and make her an instant pop star without developing the talent. While this may not have been one of the more favorite songs of the year (most people downright hated it), you can’t think of 2011 without thinking of “Friday”. So don’t curse out YouTube and Auto Tune for subjecting the world to Rebbeca Black and “Friday” (In the right hands, “Friday” actually isn’t a bad song; consider Steven Colbert, The Roots, and Taylor Hicks on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” doing the song. It was actually pretty good.) After all, with out YouTube and Auto Tune we wouldn’t have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKsVSBhSwJg

#2) Pitbull featuring Ne-yo, Nayer, and Afrojack – “Give Me Everything”; Anyone else you’d like to invite to contribute on this song, Pitbull? He must have lost my number. One of the biggest and most important songs of the year is without a doubt “Give Me Everything”. The thing that gets me about this song is that when Ne-Yo is singing on the chorus, it sounds like an outpouring of emotion and opening your heart to a relationship that’s fulfilling and life affirming. But then again, it’s Pitbull, so on the other hand it could be about a relationship that is, well, much shorter and lacking in minor details like family histories, common interests, or last names. Whatever it’s about, it has a great beat and grandparents seem to love Ne-Yo’s singing. As your DJ, I’d highly recommend this to be on your request list.

Well, that’s 11 thru 2. What is the big #1? Stay tuned to this blog space to find out! (If you’re wondering if it’s Ke$ha, no, it’s not. If you’re wondering if I left Ke$ha off of the 11 most important songs of 2011 on purpose; yes. Yes I did.)

–Seacrest Out

Greetings Adagio fans! 2011 is wrapping up and it’s been a great year in music. So great that I, DJ Tommy, have come up with my own list of the most important songs of 2011. I know, there are a million of these “Top (insert subject here) of (insert year here)” lists out there; but this is the only one from a DJ’s perspective (as far as I know, don’t hold me to that.)

By the way, this will be a three part series, with numbers 11 thru 7 today, with 6 thru 2 upcoming, and wrapping it all up with one blog dedicated to the #1 most important song of 2011.

#11) Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup” ; This song sneaks in due to the fact that this song DEFINES parties for everyone, especially anyone who went to college. One factor was always consistent: 5 bucks gets you a plastic cup. Until this song came out, it never really occurred to me that the cups were always red and made by Solo. 5 bucks for a cup and the money likely went to the party thrower’s rent for the month. Toby Keith captures the essence of the cup perfectly. If you’ve ever been part of a large gathering, it is very likely that you had a red Solo cup in your hand at some point in your life.

#10) Foster The People – “Pumped Up Kicks”; Here’s a song that proved that a solid hook can make a hit. I’ve had this requested a few times at weddings I’ve worked and I always chuckle a bit because the lyric content isn’t exactly the happiest stuff on earth. I’m not going to get into it here because I’m a positive and uplifting guy, but if you’d like, go ahead and Google the lyrics and give them a read. After that, you better watch this YouTube video of the surprised kitty to get you back to happy again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8

#9) Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”; Katy Perry did it again. Here we have another tune about the most legen (wait for it) dary, debaucherous evening that any party goer has ever experienced (there was likely red Solo cups at Katy’s party), yet most parents probably don’t mind their small children hearing it in the car (at least I HOPE me and my wife aren’t the only parents who do this). Adults love the song because they can live vicariously through the music, and kids love the song because they all get to yell “T-G-I-F” and let’s face it; everything Katy Perry releases sounds like an amped-up Radio Disney tune. Still, I’d like to see the “Kidz Bop” people TRY to clean this one up.

#8) Lady Gaga – “The Edge Of Glory”; I gotta say, I’m not that big into Lady Gaga, but I really do like her latest record “Born This Way”. Not just because I was able to download the whole thing for just 99 cents on it’s release date (I spent a whopping dollar on my wife. “C’mon honey, I saved a ton on your gift. Let’s go get dinner and feel free to super size your meal…”), but this record is a creative step up from her previous releases. While there were quite a few singles off this record this year, I chose “The Edge Of Glory” to be in the top 11 solely for the fact that it has a saxophone solo. Sometime around the breakout of Seattle grunge, saxophones have essentially been wiped out of popular music. But in a year where we lost Clarence Clemons, I’m quite happy to see the saxophone make its way back into the fold. Yes, I know, some of you reading this might need to ask your parents who Clarence Clemons is.

#7)  Zac Brown Band – “Knee Deep”; As a wedding DJ, I like to find the right music to set the mood and tone for the evening. When we reach the final songs of the night, I like to begin to put the newlyweds in the mood for what’s next. No, not THAT, I’m talking about the HONEYMOON. If they’re heading somewhere tropical, “Knee Deep” is a perfect song. I love how songs like this really put you in that place where you are surrounded by white sands and blue water. This particular song is actually a duet with Jimmy Buffett, the KING of island country music. Seems like every country singer that has a song about a tropical destination calls on Mr. Buffett at some point, which unfortunately is a little predictable. Now if Jimmy Buffett teamed up with Metallica for a duet?……it could happen (and if it does, it has to be better than the stuff they did with Lou Reed). Turn on a heat lamp, mix a drink with some fruit in it, and listen to “Knee Deep” when it’s 20 below this winter, you’ll be glad you did.

That’s all for now, check back to the blog for #6 thru #2 and then again as I reveal the #1 most important song of 2011!

–Casey Kasem, I mean, DJ Tommy

Have you ever been presented with the question of “If you could have lunch/dinner with ANYONE, living or dead, who would it be?” This is always a common essay question or a personality quiz question that I’m sure you’ve had to contemplate at least once in your life. It’s a pretty loaded question for sure, but I definitely think Sir Mix-A-Lot would be in the top 10.

Why Sir Mix-A-Lot? I can picture it now…we’d be sitting at a nice casual diner of some sort and I’d say “Sir, (cause we’re totally on a first name basis) I’m a DJ and I play your big hit song “Baby Got Back” quite often. The thing is, everytime someone comes up to request it, they simply call it “Big Butts”. If you could go back in time, do you think you would have just called it “Big Butts”? The answer would probably be a resounding “No”, but that’s beside the point.

It got me thinking: It’s funny how different songs take on lives of their own. Whether a song is commonly known by another name because of a great hook, (“I like big BUTTS and I cannot lie…”) or the artist’s meaning behind the song means something totally different to the listener (Green Day’s “Good Riddance” is commonly known as “Time Of Your Life” and is actually a story about a relationship ending badly; but it was TOTALLY everyone’s graduation song in 1997 and beyond) or the listener just keys in on the song’s feeling rather than the message (Brad Paisley’s “Whiskey Lullaby” is actually a VERY sad story about heartbreak and death, but it’s hauntingly beautiful and a common wedding playlist request.) But that is the great thing about music, the artist has the freedom to create and the listener has the freedom to interpret. So keep on requesting “Big Butts”, we know what you mean!

Now onto some recent celebrations. I gotta tell you about Nora and Andy’s ceremony and reception at the Van Deusen Mansion in south Minneapolis. Holy cow, WHAT a venue! I was privileged to help with their ceremony as well as their dinner and dance along with the help of the Van Deusen staff and Lori Snyder and her staff at Evolution Events. Unlike a typical reception with an on-site ceremony, where a single space gets utilized for everything, Nora and Andy’s day moved all around the property. Ceremony in the courtyard, to cocktails on the front terrace, to dinner in the event center, back to the courtyard for cocktails and desert, then into the carriage house for the dance. The two story carraige house has an upstairs lounge that completely overlooks the dance floor below. It really kind of looked like a mini nightclub! Of course everyone had a great time, but here’s the really cool part about the whole day; Nora and Andy pulled off this absolutely INCREDIBLE day by bartering. That’s right, everything they had for they wedding they recieved by trading through Andy’s company Boomerang. You can learn more about their journey and how they did it by visiting www.tradingvows.net. It just goes to show what you can accomplish for a wedding without breaking the bank! I don’t know what Adagio is getting in exchange for our services, but I’m hoping the package includes a pony. My daughter really wants a pony.  Friday was also Andy’s birthday, so happy birthday to him and congratulations to Nora and Andy!

I wrapped up the weekend with Sarah and Michael at Mississippi National Golf Links in Red Wing. I would like to think that I have seen everything in my seven years with Adagio, but Sarah and Michael provided a first for me; as I got to witness Michael’s 100 YEAR OLD grandmother get up (with some assistance) and do the twist. All of our clients recieve a DJ evaluation after their event, and one of the questions is “Did guests of all ages dance?” Hee hee, CHECK! Congratulations to Sarah and Michael as well, we here at Adagio wish you all the best.

That’s all for me for now, thanks as always for reading!

–DJ Big Butts

Hello Adagio fans! DJ Tommy here with my first foray into the blogosphere.

First off, I am considering a new DJ name inspired by a couple I worked with a couple of weeks ago. Jessica and Joe had a great reception at the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center. They didn’t realize it when they made up their place cards for dinner, but they made a very fitting DJ name for me with mine. It simply said “Tommy-DJ Beef”. DJ BEEF?!?!?! That is BEYOND awesome! Everywhere you hear about DJs, they all have cool, funky names like “DJ Mixmasta Q” or “DJ Fastscratch 2001″. That’s not me at all. DJ Beef. Why beef? Ask any chef; there are a TON of ways you can prepare beef. You can grill it, broil it, roast it, chop it, slice it, dice it, grind it up…..that’s me as a DJ: VERSATILE! I can turn an event into anything you want me to, just tell me how to prepare myself! That’s why I like DJ BEEF. Although, I guess I can see problems arising from such a nickname. Perhaps if I have a consultation with a vegetarian couple? Hmmmmm…….better stick with Tommy.

Anyway, I would like to write about the event I DJ’d on September 10, 2011 for Stacie and Chris at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury. First of all, I can’t recommend the services at Prestwick enough. Banquet Manager Traci Meyer does an absolutely dynamite job and has a top notch staff. A key component to making a reception a success is a banquet facility that keeps things on time and flowing. I’ve worked at Prestwick many, many times and have never seen Traci and her staff come up short; and with the in-house catering done by Axel’s Charhouse, you know the food will be fantastic! (And in case you’re wondering, yes, I had the beef.)

Stacie certainly knew the great job that Prestwick would do since she herself is a part of Traci’s staff. Stacie and I had met many times with my various appearances at Prestwick while she was doing her job serving guests, clearing tables, and keeping water glasses full. But it was her day, so Traci and the service staff said congratulations to their friend and co-worker the only way they knew how: FLASH MOB.

The entire staff (along with three bridesmaids, who are also Prestwick banquet staff) had an entire choreographed routine worked out, all I had to do was press play. After all of the salads were served, the staff was wandering about, as if they were checking on the needs of guests. Then Traci gave me the signal, and I switched the light jazz dinner music into “I Gotta Feeliing” by Black Eyed Peas. The staff immediately switched from serving mode into full on dance mode in perfect unison that would likely impress Usher.

In a twist that even surprised me, right after the part of that song where the chorus is really mellow, where the beat kicks in again to the chants of “HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO!…” EVERYONE that was working that night in the ENTIRE BUILDING rushed in an a pumped up conga-like fashion. There were servers and bartenders from the adjoining Axel’s restaurant, chefs, cooks, dishwashers…I think I even saw a UPS guy who was dropping off a package…EVERYONE was out around the tables dancing. I had lights blazing, music pumping, and the thought going through my head of “is there a restaurant full of people over there and NOBODY working?” I digress. The song concluded with the whole staff lined up in front of the head table holding up signs to Stacie and Chris, offering their congratulations. Then, in true flash mob fashion, it quickly dissipated as if nothing happened.

The remainder of the night was great, with people of all ages dancing and having a great time. The groomsmen even serenaded Stacie’s mom while everyone danced to Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom”. Different spellings of the name “Stacy”, I know, but who’s counting? I mixed a playlist of current dance music, hip hop, and rock, with a few special 80′s and 90′s requests. It was a fantastic reception, and I hope to do it all again for Stacie’s bridesmaid Jolynn next June!

-DJ Beef, I mean TOMMY, DJ Tommy

Photos c/o Donae Cotton Photography