Editor’s Note: There is a Spotify playlist embedded at the bottom of this story, but it does not work on the school filter. 

Getting Ready

• “New Shoes”- Paolo Nutini

This guy is reminiscent of a less suave Bruno Mars. His voice is so easy and classic, but he’s a quirky 29-year-old rising Scottish heartthrob. Paolo Nutini is definitely one to watch, and one to listen to while you’re putting on your new shoes for prom.

• “Crazy in Love”- Beyonce

Taylor Swift’s “Style” originally held this position in the playlist, but she can’t knock Beyonce out of a spot. This song couldn’t fail at making even the worst day better, so if you’re seriously stressed, because everyone knows something is going to go wrong while getting ready, just do a mini-karaoke party to this song.

• “Wannabe” – Spice Girls

Have you ever seen the 2004 movie Sleepover? Jamming out to this song is a staple of every girly, early 2000s movie since it came out. Turn up “Wannabe” while you’re curling, straightening, primping, and jamming with your girls.

Limo Over

• “Ready to Go”- Panic! At the Disco

While you may not be a huge Panic! At the Disco fan, this is guaranteed to make you feel like you’re in a music video. Especially if you’re sticking your head out the top of a limo. The Red Ledger staff doesn’t necessarily recommend sticking your head out of the sunroof, but if you do, this is the song for it.

• “Harlem”- New Politics

New Politics are such great performers, and that energy translates into their music. Play the song a couple times before your big night, and you’ll definitely find yourself rocking out to it. (P.S. It’s way more fun if you can scream the words along with it)

• “Go Big or Go Home”- American Authors

“Life’s too short/it’s passing by/so if I’m going to go at all/go big or go home.” Does this need any further explanation? Live it up! It’s prom!

The Dance

• “Shut Up and Dance”- Walk the Moon

This song is just pure fun! Everyone knows the beat, and it’s hard not to dance to Walk the Moon. You’ll be sure to have everyone on the dance floor when they hear the first couple of notes.

• “Cake by the Ocean”- DNCE

This song has the power to change even the most dedicated Nick fan to a Joe fan. Many people hate “mindless pop,” but you’ve got to be mindless to hate dancing to this song. It may not be incredibly intricate or indie, but who hates having fun?

• “Dance All Night”- Dirty Heads

This is a little bit slower, but a solid dance song. The Dirty Heads are one of those modern bands with a ska twist. And here’s a bonus, if you love the song, you can see them perform it live at Gexa Energy Pavilion on Aug. 6.

The Afterparty

• “The Nights”- Avicii

All of Avicii’s songs are strong contenders for the after party playlist, but this one takes the cake. This track makes you want to conquer the world…or at least the afterparty.

• “Out of My League”- Fitz and The Tantrums

So hopefully you have a date to prom, but this song has been proven to bring people together. It’s a really great choice if you’ll continue grooving at the afterparty.

• “Tongue Tied”- Grouplove

Grouplove is always a good party band. Most everyone recognizes the music, but it’s repetitive and easy to learn if you don’t. Slipping a couple Grouplove songs onto your afterparty playlist certainly won’t hurt.

The Morning After

• “Home”- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes

This is the song everyone doesn’t know they know. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes are an eccentric bunch, but this song is as sappy as it is easy to listen to. This is a great one to play when you’re finally home, pot of coffee in hand, pretending like you don’t have a statistics test in a couple days.

• “Morning Light”- The Dirty Guv’nahs

If you’re feeling good the morning after prom, play this one. You’ll feel like you’re in the beginning of a rom-com. This is a flipping-pancakes-while-dancing song.

• “Only Just a Call Away”- The Struts

So at the moment, seniors are all ignoring a cold hard fact: this is your last prom. While everyone’s jumping for joy right now, you know the day after the dance, the reality will set in. Graduation is coming quickly, and everyone will be dispersing across the world, but remember, your friends are only just a call away.
Hopefully you’ve found something new to add to your mix for the evening. So stay safe, crank up the tunes, and have the most epic of nights.