Everyone will leave (seriously)
By Sonam Kaloti, Arts Editor
Whether you’re Indian or not, some of these songs surpass any language barrier.
Indian weddings bear the brunt of high pressure—for being the absolute best. It’s a week-long hell… for the parents of the couple, anyway. If you’re a cousin, however, you’re in luck! It’s about to be a week of fun, food, drinking, and dancing. Emphasis on the dancing, because if the reception is good, that dance floor will be packed until the usual 2 am kickout.
For those couples who just don’t know which songs to tell the DJ to play (then again, if they don’t play these on their own, they probably shouldn’t be DJ’ing an Indian wedding), here’s a compiled list of the universally loved (and simultaneously hated due to overplaying) necessities.
“Amplifier” – Imran Khan
This song sucks so bad now it’s the best. I could probably recite the dance moves in my sleep, and I can assure you, every other brown person you know is the same. Fake driving with one arm, pumpin’ those bhangra arms for the amplifier boomin’ music—it’s simple. The lyrics are easy and catchy, the meaning is just dumb enough to laugh at together, and just overall a classic.
“Chite Suit Te” – Geeta Zaildar
If there’s anything a woman in a suit loves while dancing, it’s a song about wearing a suit. Again, easy and fun lyrics, a little silly, but so many action words to conjure up dance moves. If nothing else, just open-palm point to the person opposite to you in the dance circle and you’re set.
At this point you may have realized that the song itself matters less than how good it is for dancing in a ring. It’s all about expression. No one’s trying to awkwardly do gidha in a circle to songs they don’t know. Where’s the fun in that?!
“Dhol Jageero Da” – Panjabi MC
If there’s a banger in Punjabi music, this is the one. We’ve got a sick dholi banging it out; the beat is as hard as it gets so pack it up, gidha hips, and get ready, thighs, for it is bhangra time with this one.
Extra points if you’ve got a dholi at the party, or if there’s dhols floating around the dance floor.
Warning: some drunk uncle is going to be lifted on someone’s head. They usually defy gravity but keep a first aid kit on hand (or the bar fully stocked since both will work the same).
“Main Hogaya Sharabi” – Panjabi MC
Panjabi MC is out here with the bhangra songs. This one may be a little slow for a song about being drunk, so depending on your party guestlist, I do suggest seeking out a remix (there’s a pretty cool trap one on YouTube) but the DJ might just take this one to do their own thing.
Play this one later in the night, because as mentioned, it is about being drunk. Then again, I suggest playing it in the middle of the dance portion of the night because this one’s good for the people who are buzzed and ready to take some party shots.
“De De Gehra” – Balbir Baporai
This song is very energetic and while the last two tracks have high bhangra energy, this one’s pure gidha and it’s fantastic. The male and female vocal back-and-forth makes the perfect song for trading off with the rest of your group!
“Rail Gaddi” – Chirag Pehchan
The absolute last song you should play. This one comes at 1:55 am as the last hurrah before the banquet hall party is disbanded. Everyone connects, forming a chain by holding onto each others’ shoulders, and choo choo train dance around the hall. It’s super fun, and most comfortable when it’s just the immediate and closer extended family (but a longer train is always really fun too).
Hopefully, these songs will bring your wedding playlist more up to speed. Whether you’re Indian or not, some of these songs surpass any language barrier.
