Pick a party playlist

You can have the best food, entertaining guests and be the perfect hostess, but all could be lost with a playlist that kills the mood. These songs add the finishing touch to any soiree.

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Playlist for a pool party

A playlist with kid-approved songs may not always be a day in the sun for adults. The perfect playlist to lounge around to has a sunny, upbeat rhythm everyone can appreciate.

• Pom Poms — Jonas Brothers
• Brighter Than the Sun — Colbie Calliat
• Can’t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton) (clean version) — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Red Hands — Walk Off the Earth
• I Lived — One Republic
• The Underdog — Spoon
• A-Punk — Vampire Weekend
• I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) (clean version) — Icona Pop
• Next to Me — Emeli Sandé
• Carry On — Fun.

Plan the rest of your party:

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Playlist for a Mad Men viewing party

Before screening the latest Mad Men episode, grab a cocktail, mingle with friends and listen to songs that will transport you right into the 1960s. Complete with top artists of the decade, this is the quintessential playlist to get in the mindset of your favorite Madison Avenue character.

• Let’s Twist Again — Chubby Checker
• You Got to Do Your Share — Helene Smith
• Sugartime — The McGuire Sisters
• Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciani Piccina) — Rosemary Clooney
• The Best Is Yet to Come (with Count Basie and His Orchestra) — Frank Sinatra
• Almost Like Being in Love — Nat “King” Cole
• La Mer — Chantal Chamberland
• A Rockin’ Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love) — Dinah Washington, Brook Benton and Belford Hendricks
• When I Get Through With You (You’ll Love Me Too) — Patsy Cline & The Jordanaires
• Ain’t Too Proud to Beg — The Temptations

Plan the rest of your party:

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Playlist for a clam bake

To celebrate those warm summer days, nothing beats a clam bake with family and friends. Carefree tunes add to the mellow atmosphere and make you wish summer would never end.

• If I Lose Myself — OneRepublic
• Numb Bears — Of Monsters and Men
• Lonely Boy — The Black Keys
• On Your Way — Alabama Shakes
• Love Revolution — Lenny Kravitz
• Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
• Safe and Sound — Capital Cities
• Varsity — Smith Westerns
• Are You Gonna Waste My Time? — Zeus
• 7/4 (Shoreline) — Broken Social Scene

Plan the rest of your party:

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Playlist for a dinner party

To create an inviting ambiance where guests feel comfortable and are able to chat with ease, playing orchestral renditions of popular songs, mixed with a few smooth melodies, is a great way to relax a dinner party.

• Firework — Dallas String Quartet
• Madness — Muse
• High and Dry (Bluegrass) — Old School Freight Train
• Daylight — Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra
• Sunset — The xx
• I’m Yours — Vitamin String Quartet
• Revolving Doors — Gorillaz
• We Found Love — 2 Cellos
• Ho Hey — Vitamin String Quartet
• Speak in Rounds — Grizzly Bear

Plan the rest of your party:

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Playlist for a block party

Get the neighbors together for a night of drinking, dancing and having fun. Mix a few of the latest dance tracks with classic oldies to create a great time reminiscing on old favorites.

• Peace of Mind — Boston
• Hang Loose — Alabama Shakes
• Grace for Saints and Ramblers — Iron & Wine
• Holiday — Madonna
• All Star — Smash Mouth
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot — Pat Benatar
• One Week — Barenaked Ladies
• Crocodile Rock — Elton John
• If You Wanna — The Vaccines
• Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy — Queen

Plan the rest of your party:

For more on entertaining

3 Dinner party themes
10 Party hostess tips
How to throw a last-minute party