DJ Closing Songs: The 10 Best Songs To Close Your Set In 2024
The art of DJing requires careful selection of a range of music that takes the audience on an unforgettable journey that triggers baseline emotions.
Closing songs are a key aspect of this journey, rounding up a gig with a memorable moment that leaves a lasting strong impression in the audience’s mind.
This article covers 20 essential songs to finish a set for all DJing occasions, from weddings and corporate events to headline performances in dance music venues.
DJ Closing Songs: The 20 Best Songs To Close Your Set In 2024
Whether you’re a professional DJ working in one of the big clubs in a capital city or a bedroom DJ planning a house party, a brilliant closing song is a must for your playlist.
Let’s explore the best closing tracks you can add to your list that will get the kind of reaction you’re looking for, whatever your audience’s demographics are.
20. Pharrell Williams – “Fun, Fun. Fun”
If you’re a professional gigging mobile DJ, chances are you’ve performed at a children’s party at some point in your career.
A great closing song for these events is a firm favorite among kids and adults alike, with “Fun, Fun, Fun” by Pharrell Williams as catchy as they come.
Thanks to its inclusion in the Despicable Me soundtrack, the song was a huge hit, with an appropriately fun and upbeat tone that will end the party on a high note.
19. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
With over two billion views and counting on YouTube, few songs have the staying power and fan base as “Bohemian Rhapsody” by the iconic rock band Queen.
With eminently memorable lyrics guaranteed to get the crowd singing along, it’s a song that belongs on any self-respecting DJ’s playlist.
Queen continues to make waves in the music industry, with new music coming out nearly thirty years after the band released their previous album.
18. Bruno Mars – “Just The Way You Are”
Another popular type of event for mobile DJs is performing sets at anniversaries and helping married couples celebrate their time together.
Bruno Mars’s song “Just The Way You Are” captures the spirit of lengthy relationships and serves as a great final song to mark the occasion in style.
It’s a song that everybody is likely to be familiar with and can get everybody on the dancefloor singing along to the lyrics with a smile.
17. James Brown – “I Got You (I Feel Good)”
If you’re a corporate event DJ looking for the perfect final song to unite the bosses and employees, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown hits the spot.
Delivering the kind of upbeat vibe perfect for such events, it’s a funky and driving track that has become an integral aspect of contemporary Western culture.
A huge hit when it was first released, the song’s popularity hasn’t waned since and is frequently played as the closing song for all types of parties and events.
16. Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline”
The Neil Diamond song “Sweet Caroline” is an impressively versatile closing song that fits the bill for playing at general parties with guests of all ages.
Most guests will recognize the song the moment they hear the intro, get up on the dancefloor, and have endless fun joining in with the tune.
Neil Diamond continues to enjoy success to this day, with Hugh Hackman playing the iconic singer in a movie that will also star Kate Hudson.
15. Gloria Gaynor – “I Will Survive”
If you’re wondering how to DJ a house party and struggling to fill your playlist, adding Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is great insurance for when the party starts to wane.
With its lyrically fluid intro paving the way for a thumping soul track packed with nostalgia, the song blends infectious melodies with plenty of percussive energy.
Like “Sweet Caroline,” “I Will Survive” is another example of a final song that offers plenty of versatility for playing at all types of parties and special occasions.
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14. Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”
Another hugely popular song for house parties guaranteed to get guests jumping around the dancefloor is “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba, a massive chart hit on its initial release.
If you play this song at the end of the night, even the most tired guest is likely to stand up and dance, or at the very least sing along with the lyrics.
In addition to selling close to one million copies, the song became a cultural icon in the UK and beyond. Critics praised it, and it formed the centerpiece of Chumbawamba’s live performances.
13. Elvis Presley – “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
If you’ve landed a gig DJing at a wedding, selecting the best closing track is one of the most important aspects of properly planning for the event.
There are no shortage of iconic songs about love that provide a fitting soundtrack to wrapping up a wedding reception, but it’s hard to go wrong with Elvis Presley.
His song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a perfect slow song for dancing, and its memorable lyrics are sure to be familiar to guests of all ages.
12. Donna Summer – “Last Dance”
Another hugely popular song that many wedding DJs put at the top of their playlists is “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, an aptly titled song for that special occasion.
A more upbeat option than Presley’s classic song, “Last Dance” is a funky and soulful classic that effortlessly complements a wedding event’s disco lights.
Like “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton, it’s guaranteed to get everybody in the room tapping their toes to the groove or hitting the dance floor.
11. Justin Timberlake – “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!”
Like “Fun, Fun, Fun” by Pharrell Williams, “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” by Justin Timberlake is a hugely infectious pop song that appeals to all age groups.
A big hitter on the US Billboard Top 100 charts with a large fan base, it has plenty of mainstream appeal, making it an absolute winner on any DJ’s playlist.
Timberlake continues to exist at the forefront of popular culture, with his movie In Time up for a movie adaptation with Snoop Dogg’s involvement.
10. The Bee Gees – “Night Fever”
Classic disco songs from the late 1970s and early 1980s have withstood the test of time, remaining popular with plenty of replay value.
The Bee Gees were at the forefront of the disco movement, and their song “Night Fever” is arguably their most recognizable piece of music.
Play it at birthdays and Christmas parties, or drop it at the night’s end in the club, and the audience will absolutely get lost in the groovy instruments and catchy lyrics.
9. Otis Redding – “(Sitting On) the Dock of the Bay”
If you’re looking for something with a more soulful style to bring the night’s entertainment to a close, look no further than “(Sitting On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding.
Redding’s silky smooth vocals are the stuff of dreams, while enough people know the lyrics to guarantee a reaction from the audience.
It’s another great example of closing tracks that offer plenty of flexibility for various events, making it another essential addition to any self-respecting professional DJ’s archives.
8. Kanye West – “Stronger”
DJs and audiences looking for a touch of hip-hop to conclude the night have plenty to choose from, with “Stronger” by Kanye West a great choice for the occasion.
With production from Daft Punk, “Stronger” blends the inimitable beats of hip-hop with a house music flavor to make it a unique choice for livening up the final moments on the dance floor.
It’s also a great opportunity to show off your scratching techniques and wow the audience with turntablism to leave a lasting impression.
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7. The Prodigy – “Out Of Space”
The 1990s was a hugely influential era for the dance music scene, and few acts had such a lasting impression on electronic music as The Prodigy.
While many excellent tracks by The Prodigy end DJ gigs on a high point, “Out of Space” brings a high-energy style while instantly recognizable to the audience.
DJs and audiences alike who have a soft spot for the rave era of the 1990s will be reminded of what it was like to hit the club during the scene’s heydays.
6. Origin Unknown – “Valley Of The Shadows”
Another great track for wrapping up a dance music event is “Valley of the Shadows” by Origin Unknown, a drum and bass masterpiece with heavy basslines and pounding drums.
It’s the kind of track the best drum and bass artists regularly include in their gigging roster, delivering tried-and-trusted results and filling the dance floor.
Other notable drum and bass tracks that will yield similar results include Roni Size’s “Brown Paper Bag” and The Ganja Crew’s underground hit “Super Sharp Shooter.”
5. Green Velvet – “La La Land”
Green Velvet has long been a favorite among club DJs looking for house music that’s infused with a touch of techno to get the crowd animated on the dance floor at the end of the night.
Few tracks accomplish this quite like “La La Land” by Green Velvet, which has been frequently played by the best techno DJs in many of their iconic performances.
Infectious lyrics combine with a Chicago house-style jacking rhythm and booming bass lines to great effect, putting any club’s sound system through its paces.
4. MGMT – “Kids” (Soulwax Mix)
Another iconic track from the house music genre that has an impressive record of success on the dance floor is the Soulwax mix of “Kids” by MGMT.
This punchy and melodic release is one of the most popular closing tracks for house DJs who want to end the night on a high point and leave a great impression.
If you enjoy what you hear, it’s worthwhile browsing through the extensive discography of Soulwax for more similar tracks that capture the feeling of “Kids.”
3. Underworld – “Born Slippy”
Released along with the underground hit movie Trainspotting, Underworld’s “Born Slippy” shares the same status as The Prodigy’s “Out of Space” when it comes to 1990s dance music.
As popular today as it was when it first landed on the charts, it has that driving sense of high energy and memorable melodies that define the best closing tracks.
Underworld continues to remain a vital and forward-thinking force in the music industry today, with performances at prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House.
2. 808 State – “Pacific State”
One of the most enduring and influential house music tracks came from 808 State at the peak of the dance music revolution, “Pacific State.”
Anyone who is learning how to DJ house music and looking for a banging track to drop at the end of the evening should consider adding this to their playlist immediately.
It’s a track that hasn’t gone out of style, becoming a huge source of inspiration for cutting-edge music producers in the electronic scene up to the present day.
1. Eric Prydz – “Opus”
Choosing the best EDM tune to wrap up a set in a nightclub is hard, with many songs from the likes of Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, and Deadmau5 worthy selections.
Eric Prydz has earned his spot among the best EDM DJs over the years, with his dancefloor-friendly release “Opus” widely recognized among trend-conscious clubbers.
It delivers the necessary anticipation with its crescendo-like tempo increase in the intro, before dropping into a euphoric main section that gets the audience raising their hands.
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Summary
Selecting the best closing tracks for a DJ set is a vital element of constructing a musical journey that the crowd will remember long after the venue closes its doors.
The tracks covered in this article provide a great starting point for building a robust library of music for professional gigs, covering classic songs and the latest dance hits.
By testing out these closing tracks at your next gig, you can assess their performance and gauge how the audience responds, refining your lists over time.
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