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PPE: Year In Review 2020

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2020 – A year we don’t want to remember, but will never forget.  Here is Press Play’s annual “Year in Review” of all things we loved about 2020.  Yes, there was some good and great mixed in with the scary and horrible.

Highlights from 2020

  • The births of 2 little Press Play DJs
  • COVID-friendly, socially distant parties
  • Press Play Friday’s on Facebook Live
    • More to come in 2021
  • DJing for Best Buddies and Needham High School
  • Mikey V rocketing to national stardom with multiple new syndicated radio programs
  • Continuing to work, partner, and communicate with some of the best in the industry

Press Play’s Favorite Artists & Songs from 2020

There may not have been a lot to like in 2020, but music was still there to take our minds off of things and we liked a lot of the music released in 2020.  Here they are in no particular order.  We have provided links to some of our most favorites.

Did we miss any of your favorites?  Let us know in the comments.

Stay safe and wear your mask so we can get the party started again in 2021!

Socially Distant Parties with Press Play

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Press Play – The New Socially Distant DJ/Emcee

First off, WE MISS YOU!  I hope everyone is staying safe and sane during this crazy time.  The Press Play family has been staying busy with our Press Play Friday Facebook Live Sessions and our Zoom parties.  If you have not been able to join them, please “Like” us on Facebook to see our Superstar DJs in action.

As we have started getting more and more requests for socially distant, outdoor affairs (THANKS TO THOSE REACHING OUT!), we wanted to provide you with some details on some of our “new” social distance policies and games for your next event.

Policies

  • All DJs/Emcees will be wearing masks and have access to gloves
  • We have purchased disposable hypoallergenic covers for all of our microphones. This will allow clients, officiants, and guests to use our equipment for ceremonies, candle lightings and speeches.
  • All deposits are transferable to alternate dates within 2 years of your original event date, without penalty
  • Clients will be responsible for all sanitation/cleaning supplies and masks for their guests
  • DJs/Emcees will wipe down all items used for games/activities prior to use and we will do our best to make sure items are not shared between guests
  • We will also lead interested families in a “no touch” Hora

Socially Distant – Minimal Touch Games

  • Human Tic Tac Toe or Tic Tac Toe Toss
  • Music Trivia Relay
  • Guest of Honor Trivia
  • Noodle Tag
  • Freeze Dance
  • Limbo
  • Captain’s Orders
  • True/False RUN
  • In the River
  • Silent Ball Toss
  • Wink Detectives

As always, Press Play is here for all of your event needs.  COVID-19 can’t keep us down and we are committed to providing you with a fun and safe experience.  We are all in this together and our DJs are looking forward to celebrating your family’s biggest milestones again soon!  Contact us today for more details. Now booking into 2022.

Stay Safe!

-Keith, Jay, A-Will, Tony the Entertainer, Mikey V, Deep Voice JoJo

keith@pressplayboston.com

 

 

 

 

Press Play’s Year in Review 2019

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Here is Press Play’s annual review of all things we loved about 2019.

Highlights from 2019

  • Keith’s son’s Bar Mitzvah!!!
  • DJing a wedding from a past Bat Mitzvah client (our 3rd year in a row doing so)
  • Press Play welcomed Big Mouth Jojo from Kiss 108 into our SuperStar DJ rotation
  • Miguel joined our ranks as a dancer/party motivator
  • We performed at our biggest wedding (over 400 people) @ Empire Garden Restaurant in China Town
    • We saw our first live Lion/Dragon Dance at the wedding
  • Received wedding requests from Buffalo, NY and Washington DC
  • The 1000s of compilations and remixes that were released in 2019
  • DJ Jay turning the BIG 40
  • Baby Yoda
  • Our continued partnership with the Biggsteps event in Needham in support of the Sean D Biggs Memorial Foundation (http://www.seandbiggsmemorialfoundation.org/)

Top Requested Songs of 2019

  1. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
  2. Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
  3. Cupid – Cupid Shuffle
  4. Toto/Weezer – Africa
  5. Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
  6. Pitbull f. Kesha – Timber
  7. Jonas Brothers – Sucker
  8. Lizzo – Juice
  9. Walk The Moon – Shut Up & Dance
  10. Shek Wes – Mo Bamba

Press Play’s Favorite Artists & Songs from 2019 (in no particular order)

  • Lizzo – who didn’t love this breakout performer?!
  • Halsey – just keeps getting better with every new release and her Live performances of “Graveyard” were incredible
  • Post Malone – his new album “Hollywood’s Bleeding” was one of the best of the year
    • “Take What You Want” with Ozzy and Travis Scott is Keith’s favorite song of the year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYa_ReqRlcs)
  • Ed Sheeran – another great year for the redhead. “No. 6 Collaborations Project” had so many great tunes.  Here are some of our favorites
  • “Only Human” by Jonas Brothers
  • NF – Dylan’s favorite new artist
  • Logic – has only gotten better since his first hit
  • Dua Lipa – her 2 end of the year song releases are great to get folks on the dance floor
  • “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0hyYWKXF0Q)
  • Songland on NBC – not only a great show for any music lover, but also produced some great songs in 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=songland+tv+show)
    • “Shadow” by Macklemore Featuring IRO
    • “Getting Started” by Aloe Blacc
    • “Greenlight” by Jonas Brothers
  • The remix and music video for “No Guidance” by Chris Brown & Drake
  • Mabel – one of the underappreciated artists of the year in our opinion
  • A big year for some great collaborations (including ones already listed)
    • “Seniorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
    • “Dancing with a Stranger” by Sam Smith and Normani
    • “Me!” by Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie
    • “11 Minutes” by Yungblud and Halsey
    • “I’ve Been Waiting” by Lil Peep, ILoveMakonnen and Fall Out Boy

Did we miss any of your favorites?  Let us know in the comments.

We are looking forward to creating our new lists and favorites for 2020!

Press Play’s Year in Review 2018

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Press Play Entertainment’s Year in Review 2018

Here is our 3rd annual Year in Review!  And, what a year it was for Press Play in 2018!  I want to extend a big THANK YOU to all our clients who chose us to help them celebrate their special occasions!  We also want to give a big SHOUT to our AWESOME vendor partners, who have become some of our closest friends in the industry and have helped us throw some great parties; Rachel @ Rachel G Events, Deb & Jen from sh Events, Elin from Elin Photography, Christian from Boston Photo Booth Rentals, Marc from Memories in an Instant, Scott and family from DJ Scott Events, and many more!  Another special THANK YOU to Rebecca Moran from Moran Media, who continually helps us with our website.

 

I, personally, want to thank my incredible team of Super Star DJs, Emcees, and dancers; Jay, Alan, Mikey V, Tony, Russ, Aly, Danaysha, and Rob, you make this job fun and memorable, not only for our clients, but for me as well.  I would not want to party with anyone else.

 

With 2019 right around the corner, we wanted to share some of our top lists and things from 2018.

 

Press Play Highlights from 2018:

 

  • Mikey V from Kiss 108 begins joins the Press Play stable of DJs and Emcees
  • Press Play finally joins The Knot and was selected as a 2019 winner
    in “The Knot Best of Weddings”, an award representing the highest-rated wedding professionals
    as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot
  • DJ Tony started helping us throw incredible parties for clients
  • Aly did her 1st gig as a DJ for us, after years of being our lead party motivator (she got incredible reviews from the client)
  • After over 25 years, we finally did a back-to-back gig at the same venue, on the same day.
  • We released our new website. Fantastic job Rebecca!
  • Press Play FINALLY joined Instagram
  • We had the honor and privilege of helping these INCREDIBLE foundations and organizations in 2018
    • Sean D Biggs Memorial Foundation
    • The Jimmy Fund
    • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Needham
    • Cradles to Crayons

Press Play Entertainment is The Knot's best of Weddings winner

Top Requested Songs from 2018 – Overall

10.Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber

9.Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper

8.24K Magic – Bruno Mars

7.God’s Plan – Drake

6.The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

5.New Rules – Dua Lipa

4.Cupid Shuffle – Cupid

3.I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin

2.Perfect – Ed Sheeran

1.In My Feelings – Drake

Top Requested Songs from 2018 – Weddings

10.Cupid Shuffle – Cupid

9.Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

8.A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

7.Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars

6.Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

5.I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston

4.This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan

3.Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber

2.24K Magic – Bruno Mars

1.Perfect – Ed Sheeran

 

Most Played Artists of 2018

10.Dua Lipa

9.Camila Cabello

8.Taylor Swift

7.Ariana Grande

6.Post Malone

5.J Balvin

4.Ed Sheeran

3.Cardi B

2.Drake

1.Bruno Mars

 

Finally, all of us at Press Play Entertainment would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year!  Let’s keep the momentum going on another great year!

 

Now booking into 2021.  Contact us today for details.  https://pressplayboston.com/contact-us/

 

 

Press Play’s 2017 Year In Review

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With 2018 right around the corner, we wanted to share our some of our top lists and things from 2017.  Here is Press Play’s 2017 Year in Review:

 

Top Requested Songs from 2017

10. That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars

9.   There’s Nothing Holding Me Back – Shawn Mendes

8.   Rockabye – Clean Bandit f. Sean Paul & Anne Marie

7.   Feel It Still – Portugal The Man

6.   Juju on that Beat – Zay ilfigger & Zayion McCall

5.   I’m the One – DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne

4.  24K Magic – Bruno Mars

3.   Closer – The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey

2.   Shape of You – Ed Sheeran

1.   Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, & Justin Bieber

 

Top Requested Wedding Songs in 2017

10. All of Me – John Legend

9.   Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt

8.   Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

7.   Don’t Stop Believin – Journey

6.   Perfect – Ed Sheeran

5.   At Last – Etta James

4.  24K Magic – Bruno Mars

3.   Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars

2.   Shape of You – Ed Sheeran

1.   Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, & Justin Bieber

 

Favorite Artists of 2017

10. Greta Van Fleet – if you like Robert Plant/Led Zepplin, you will love this band!

9.   Halsey

8.   Kendrick Lamar

7.   Khalid

6.   Migos

5.   Portugal. The Man

4.   Dua Lipa

3.   Imagine Dragons

2.   Bruno Mars

1.   Ed Sheeran

 

Favorite Albums from 2017

10. Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa

9.   Taylor Swift – Reputation

8.   Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1

7.   Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom

6.   Bright – The Album

5.   Portugal. The Man – Woodstock

4.   Imagine Dragons – Evolve

3.   Kendrick Lamar – Damn

2.   Ed Sheeran – Divide

1.   Bruno Mars – 24K Magic

 

Keith’s Favorite Things from 2017 music

  • Emergence of Portugal. The Man and Great Van Fleet as artists – getting back to some rock n’ roll!
  • Dua Lipa & Initial Talks remix of New Rules – probably one of the BEST remixes we have heard in years!  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDmXOjwrK0)
  • Bright The Album – The Netflix movie isnt the greatest, but the soundtrack is LEGIT. Check out these tracks
    • Home by Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors  Bebe Rexha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IumYMCllMsM)
    • Darkside by Ty Dolla $ign, Future & Kiiara (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3T3K2MHNjM)
    • Crown by Camila Cabello & Grey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYHuVBcxmhc)
  • Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour – this was one of the Best concerts I have seen in a long time.  Not only can Bruno sing and dance tremendously, he was funny and engaging.  For my son’s 1st concert ever, it was a BIG HIT!
  • Pearl Jam @ Fenway Park – Another great show by one of our all-time favorite bands.
  • The Latin-pop/Reggaeton movement into the mainstream – With the major success of Despacito, mainstream listeners are finally beginning to appreciate the wonderful artistry and musicality of artists like Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Nicky Jam, CNCO, and J Balvin.  Some of our favorites from 2017
    • Mayores by Becky G & Bad Bunny (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFewiplIbw)
    • Mi Gente – J Balvin, Willy William (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnJ6LuUFpMo)
    • Reggaeton Lento – CNCO (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jpqqBX-Myw)
    • Havana – Camila Cabello & Daddy Yankee (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qooQd8AA7_M)
  • Live reuniting with lead singer Ed Kowalczyk – This was a dream come true for me, as Live is my favorite band.  I cannot wait for them to come back to Boston on tour, so I can bring my son.
  • While definitely NOT a favorite, I did want to send some love to the artists we lost in 2017.  We certainly played many of their hits in remembrance of the joy they brought to us over the years.
    • Malcolm Young – AC/DC
    • Fats Domino
    • Tom Petty
    • Glen Campbell
    • Chester Bennington – Linkin Park
    • Greg Allman
    • Chris Cornell
    • Chuck Berry

Press Play’s Most Played/Requested Songs for 2016

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Press Play has DJ’d over 40 events this year; including Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, Sweet 16s, proms, and corporate events.  Over the course of the year, we were able to keep track of the most played and requested songs for 2016.  Here they are.  Overplayed or new classics/standards, your choices in 2017 will be the judge.

  1. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson w/ Bruno Mars
  2. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
  3. Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
  4. Watch Me – Silento
  5. Cake by the Ocean – DNCE
  6. Closer – The Chainsmokers w/ Halsey
  7. 7 Years – Lukas Graham
  8. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
  9. Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
  10. Timber – Pitbull w/ Kesha
  11. Cheap Thrills – Sia w/ Sean Paul
  12. One Dance – Drake
  13. This is What You Came For – Calvin Harris w/ Rihanna
  14. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love – Usher
  15. Yeah – Usher w/ Ludacris & Lil’ John
  16. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
  17. I Got a Feelin – Black Eyed Peas
  18. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  19. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
  20. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) – Luke Bryan
  21. Cha-Cha Slide – DJ Casper
  22. All of Me – John Legend
  23. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
  24. My House – Flo Rida
  25. Me Too – Meghan Trainor

We are looking forward to seeing what makes 2017’s list!  As always, CONTACT US today and ask about our great DJ packages!