So the other day I popped up a Friday Morning Metal about Municipal Waste, it was a great song from an article I read about Party Metal. They claim it to be a subset of metal songs that can be played AT a party without people getting confused and wanting to leave. And that’s a great jumping off point to more songs about partying. Or drinking. Or having a hangover. Or anything else.
The article itself referenced some good alternative & punk songs, which are good gateway drugs to turning people to the dark side of metal. My list is by no means complete, but it seems to lend itself more toward metal than pop punk and other assorted music found in the list.
Andrew W.K.
He’s referenced in the article. He’s the king of partying. His music, especially on “I Get Wet,” is full of huge drums, layered guitars, and fantastic hooks. And then just amazing choruses that can get the whole party worked up. There’s a reason his songs are featured in party intros in movies like Old School and more than a few Bud Light ads. Because he wants fun. And he’s gonna party til he pukes.
It’s Time to Party:
Party Hard:
Party Party Party:
Turisas – Rasputin
It helps that Ra Ra Rasputine was a disco hit before Turisas got their Finnish hands all over it. Not everyone digs disco, but it’s at least something people can dance to. And Turisas’s version has a bigger feel to it, something you can bounce and fist pump to, or throw up on the cat. Whatever happens at your parties. Did you know Rasputin was Russia’s greatest love machine?
Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani usually play pagan folk metal, with songs about like I don’t know what because I don’t speak Finnish. However they have a couple songs that are great party anthems. “Bring us Pints of Beer” and “Vodka” are both in English and both have a solid hook. They might be better beer pong and depth charge type parties, but they’re loud and fun.
Bring us Pints of Beer:
Vodka:
Alestorm
It’s a good thing pirates were drunken louts, because that means Alestorm is a wealth of shout & response big crazy songs. There’s a reason my friends made shirts that say “WE ARE HERE TO DRINK YOUR BEER” for my birthday. And it wasn’t just because I was there to drink some beer.
Wenches & Mead:
Drink:
Hangover:
Demons & Wizards – Immigrant Song
This is a bit more on the edge of party songs, definitely a backing track to a beer pong tournament. Demons & Wizards cover the Led Zeppelin classic with aplomb, giving it a bigger, fuller sound than you hear from the greats of the early 70s.
Earthless – Flower Travelin’ Man
A buddy of mine loves putting these on the jukebox at his bar. He says it’s the cheapest way to keep crappy music from playing for an hour or so. Earthless has been on here before, they’re a proggy metal jam band out of San Diego, and they specialize in long form songs with big builds and assorted other great stuff. And there aren’t any lyrics, so it fits well in the background of a party night.
Clearly not all of these are going to work at every party. But if your party is getting wild, this might be able to kick it up a notch.