The 10 Most Requested Songs From Each Decade (Wedding Receptions)

Whether it be your big wedding day reception or just a backyard family party, a great song list adds to the atmosphere of any event. Music is the best way to get people in the mood for dancing and having fun, which makes the night one to remember.

Being event DJs we get thousands of song requests throughout the year, but there’s always a few which are sure to get people off their feet. So, from the 1960s to today, here are the 10 most requested songs in 2022!

1960s

To kick things off, we’ll start with the 1960’s classics!

The 1960s was a truly historic period for music and saw the rise of iconic acts like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and more. This era featured a diverse range of musical genres including psychedelic rock, garage rock and soul. To this day, countless radio stations celebrate the music made by these legendary artists with dedicated shows that feature their most famous singles. Songs from the ’60s continue to captivate the world over, and serve as a kind of time capsule or window into what life was like during that decade. It’s no surprise that iconic musicians still fill venues across the globe when they perform hits with rich 1960s flavour.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 1960s:

1. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
2. The Beatles – Twist And Shout
3. The Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
4. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
5. The Beatles – Help
6. Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds
7. The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
8. The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun
9. Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love
10. Marvin Gaye – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

1970s

The 1970s were a time of great musical revolution and creativity, with performers like the Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder bringing their unique songs to the world. Furthermore, genres such as disco, funk, and punk grew in popularity during this era. This vibrant decade provided something for everyone – whether it was the melodic pop of ABBA or the hard rock sounds of Deep Purple. There’s something special about 70s music that can’t be replicated with modern records. The passionate cries of an electric guitar solo, the bright synths of classic disco tunes; those layers of sound help us escape into a simpler time and remember why music is so powerful.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 1970s:

1. ABBA – Dancing Queen
2. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Village People – Y.M.C.A.
4. Stevie Wonder – Superstition
5. Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
6. Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
7. Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
8. The Beatles – Let It Be
9. Don McLean – American Pie
10. Eagles – Hotel California

1980s

The 1980s were a decade full of ground-breaking musical movements that shaped the landscape of popular music to this day. From the retro and synth-pop sounds of artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna to New Wave and post-punk, they represented a diverse range of styles all blending together. Though MTV rose to fame during this decade, it was the radio airplay and album charts that truly brought those sounds to life. The mixed bag of upbeat dance rhythms, funky R&B beats, hard rock hooks and creative hip hop samples laid the foundation for much of what was heard in later decades. Without doubt, it is safe to say that the music from this era will continue to influence generations for years to come.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 1980s:

1. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
2. Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
3. Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
4. Bryan Adams – Summer Of ’69
5. Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
6. Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-go
7. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
8. Dolly Parton – 9 To 5
9. Toto – Africa
10. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

1990s

The music of the 1990s was truly unique and reflected cultural changes happening around the world at the time. Breakthrough acts such as Nirvana, Oasis and Metallica pioneered grunge and alternative rock to mixed reviews, but their influence reverberated for years in the work of acts that followed. Gangsta rap, which emerged from the West Coast, received both praise and criticism for its lyrical content that included issues like police brutality. In contrast, upbeat and cheerful boy bands took off in Europe and were some of the most popular groups of the period. The 1990s truly had something for everyone in terms of music.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 1990s:

1. Toploader – Dancing In The Moonlight
2. Oasis – Wonderwall
3. Blink-182 – All The Small Things
4. Gala – Freed From Desire
5. Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger
6. Take That – Never Forget
7. Pulp – Common People
8. The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
9. Backstreet Boys – I want It That Way
10. Will Smith – Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It

2000s

The 2000s delivered a highly diverse and chart-topping decade of popular music. A plethora of genres made their debut, ranging from pop-punk anthems to mainstream hip hop, and the decade saw a resurgence in the indie rock scene. Artists like The Strokes and Outkast produced timeless classics that have stood the test of time, while classic acts such as The Killers, kings of Leon, and Fall Out Boy experienced huge rises to fame. Whether you wanted to laugh, dance, or contemplate, there was no shortage of musical treasures to choose from in the 2000s.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 2000s:

1. The Killers – Mr Brightside
2. Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
3. Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
4. Beyonce feat. Jay-Z – Crazy In Love
5. Bruno Mars – Marry You
6. Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
7. DJ Casper – Cha Cha Slide
8. Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
10. Kings Of Leon – Use Somebody

2010s

The 2010s will be remembered for some of the most global music of all time with the rise of the internet seeing songs such as Gangnam style getting billions of views online for the first time. Even as streaming services dominate our listening habits today, artists continue to push the envelope with their unique sounds and imaginative directions every year. It is clear that from Sam Smith’s neo soul cries to Billie Eilish embracing nu metal – this decade had something for everyone, making sure that music fans would never get bored.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 2010s:

1. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
2. Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance
3. Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
4. Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
5. P!nk – Raise Your Glass
6. Ed Sheeran – Shape Of You
7. Drake – One Dance
8. Tones And I – Dance Monkey
9. John Legend – All Of Me
10. Coldplay – A Sky Full Of Stars

2020s

While still only just getting started, the 2020’s have been jam-packed with quality fresh new songs propelled to global fame through TikTok and social media trends. Artists like Lil Nas X, Dua Lipa and Harry Styles have all carved out their own unique sounds and styles while pushing boundaries of what is considered to be popular music. It is clear that 2020’s will no doubt leave an indelible mark on the music industry for generations to come.

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the 2020s:

1. Maroon 5 – Memories
2. Little Mix – Break Up Song
3. Justin Bieber – Yummy
4. Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
5. Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
6. Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits
7. George Ezra – Green Green Grass
8. Sam Fender – Spaceman
9. Glass Animals – Heat Waves
10. Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U

So, there you have it, the 10 most requested songs over the last 7 decades, from Elvis Presley to The Weeknd. If you want to bring the party to any event, be sure to play a few of these and everyone will be up and having a good time before you know it!

We hope you found our list helpful, and let us know if you think we’ve missed any classics!