Prom 2009 - Top 10 Songs

Few rites of passage strike a chord in the hearts of high school students like prom. Not only is it a time of joy and laughter, it is also the most glamorous occasion in the career of most high school seniors. As a former member of a prom committee, I remember all too well the intensity of the planning process - choosing a theme, hand-selecting decorations, ordering favors, and rifling through playlist after playlist in search of the perfect prom soundtrack. Background music may not be the most obvious addition to a successful event, but it is just as much a part of the complete prom package as the lavish decorations.

As a good rule of thumb, one should always begin the selection of music by considering the current, most popular hits of mainstream radio. During this initial phase, it is also helpful to consult web services such as Billboard.com. Browse through the "Hot 100" and the Top 50 Charts to develop a good base of albums to utilize throughout the evening. Be sure to incorporate favorites such as The Electric Slide, The Cha-Cha Slide, and The Cupid Shuffle. The goal is to keep people on the dance floor, so be prepared and bear in mind that you will most likely require three to four hours of music.

Blending Music and Theme

Aside from a good base playlist, you will also want to select a variety of songs central to your own personalized theme. For example, if your prom theme is "Stairway to Heaven," you will obviously want to utilize the matching song for a spotlight dance or other special moment. Remember, music is just as important as any other component when it comes to setting the mood.

Several different people from all walks of life will be attending prom. With this in mind, realize that it is necessary to select various songs from all types of musical genres. Not all people enjoy mainstream music, but they will most likely be satisfied with a mix of popular tunes and songs from independent artists. All music is open to interpretation, so it is useful to consider lyrics when selecting unique or spotlight songs.

Unique Song Options for Prom 2009

If you find yourself stuck in this process, consider the following list and look to it for inspiration.

1. Moonlight in Vermont- Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong

This is an excellent song for setting the ultimate romantic mood with an essence of subtlety. Not to mention, this song functions as a prom theme in itself. This song was published in the 1940s, so for some of the younger generation, it may not be the most obvious choice; however, including classic songs in a playlist tends to break-up the monotony and encourage an interest in the music.

2. Steal Me - Jupiter Sunrise

To me, this song embodies the very definition of young love. As an adult, the lyrics inspire me to think back to a time when love was innocent and without end. In its essence, it is a love song that encourages a youthful glow of happiness without the slightest hint of remorse.

3. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Greenday

This is without explanation one of the most summative and defining descriptions of a high school career. Even if the song was not intended as such, no prom is complete without the memories and thoughts evoked by its lyrics.

4. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - John Mayer

This song is intense. It serves as the ultimate illustration of the fight to remain in a relationship even when you know it's probably not the easiest situation. This is the direct antithesis of Jupiter Sunrise - a deeply romantic song with all the oppositional forces of adulthood included.

5. Take My Breath Away - Berlin

Ah memories. Over twenty years later, this song is still pulling the heart strings of listeners everywhere. Who cares if we are long past the decade of big hair, hairspray, glitter, and poufy dresses? Nothing else screams "I love you" like this classic.

6. Staying Alive - The Beegees

No song inspires people to get up and dance quite like this one does. I mean, can anyone really forget John Travolta breaking it down? I think not.

7. Girls just want to have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

The tradition of prom has long been known as a time for the girls ... a time to get together, dress up, primp, and what else - have fun! This song emulates everything that makes a girl what she is and is bound to be greatly appreciated by the ladies.

8. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Beyonce

And yes, we girls who attended prom stag or with a male friend need some recognition, too. Put your hands up, single ladies!

9. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron and Wine

If you didn't know already, this is the song that plays in the background of the prom scene in the movie Twilight. With the recent popularity of this film, this melody is bound to inspire romance and warm feelings in the hearts of Twilight fans everywhere.

10. So What - Pink

This is another excellent tune for the ladies. The fast beat of this song is bound to lift the mood of anyone who is feeling overly nostalgic or who is suffering from slow-dance overload.