11 Songs That Party Hard features party-centric music courtesy of AJR, Arctic Monkeys, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Shawn Mendes. 

“Party rockers in the house tonight / Everybody just have a good time.” Ah, it just seems like yesterday that LMFAO had their 15 minutes of fame with “Party Rock Anthem”.  Of course, Miley Cyrus also ‘partied hard’ on “Party in the U.S.A.” when she asserted, “So I put my hands up / They’re playing my song, the butterflies fly away.” Maybe partying hard is an overstatement – Cyrus partied harder on the likes of “Can’t Be Tamed” and “We Can’t Stop”.

Regardless, both of these songs are focus on partying, which is the central theme of the playlist at hand, “11 Songs That Party Hard.” 11 Songs That Party Hard features music courtesy of AJR (“Birthday Party”), Arctic Monkeys (“No. 1 Party Anthem”), Beyoncé (“Party – Homecoming Live”), Britney Spears (“Slumber Party”), and Shawn Mendes (“Life of the Party”).

1. Beyoncé, “Party – Homecoming Live”

Homecoming: The Live Album • Sony • 2019

Beyoncé never fails to surprise – period.  While unannounced, unexpected, surprise albums have become the norm for Mrs. Carter, the excitability factor every time a release materializes is quite high. Sure, few get really amped-up for a live album, but Homecoming: The Live Album just isn’t any live album.  Homecoming features performances from Beyoncé’s historic performance at Coachella, where she became the first African American woman to headline.  Even without being present at the performance or seeing the visual, Homecoming: The Live Album is quite a treat to say the least.

Some of the more intriguing moments from Homecoming: The Live Album originally appeared on Beyoncé’s fourth studio album, 4, released in 2011.  4 is arguably her least notable album, which isn’t fair considering it has plenty of hits.  One such hit is “Party,” which actually sounds more like a hit in its live rendition.  What makes “Party” such an intriguing on Homecoming? Well, Yoncé embraces the HBCU tradition of marching band, which adds more flavor compared to the original with its live horns and hyper-rhythmic percussion.  Add that flavorful backdrop to assertive, high-flying vocals, and listening to “Party” is truly where the party’s at, sigh.

2. AJR, “Birthday Party”

Neotheater • BMG Rights Management • 2019

AJR (Adam Metzger, Jack Metzger & Ryan Metzger), comprised of three brothers from New York, makes quite the interesting collective.  AJR delivers their own unique brand of pop – yep, it’s definitely alt-pop that’s a bit more left-field than many of the songs gracing the Top 40.  The song at hand, “Birthday Party,” brings the clarinet to a modern pop record… that’s quite unique in its own right. “Birthday Party” appears from the trio’s third album, Neotheater. 

Besides the recurrent, jazzy clarinet lick, the production on “Birthday Party” shines.  This incredibly sleek cut is produced by Ryan Met (all three brothers abbreviate their last name btw), sounding exuberant, optimistic, and robust in sound.  The most robust moment occurs during the chorus, which is also the catchiest moment of the song:

“So, thank you,
For coming to my birthday party
I am one-minute-old today
And everything is going great (oh)
Thank you,
For coming to my birthday party
I am one-minute-old today
And my minute’s been going great
And I hope it stays that way.” 

Of course, beyond the chorus, there are the sometimes-cheeky and clever lyrics of the verses, which capture that millennial-pop characterization associated with AJR.  Maybe it’s not for everybody, but all in all, this “Birthday Party” is pretty intriguing. “Birthday Party” also appeared on previous playlists 15 Must-Hear Songs to Celebrate Your Birthday and 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in April 2019.

3. Yellow Claw, “Crash This Party”

Ft. Tabitha Nauser

New Blood • Barong Family • 2018

“Falling down but it feels like flying / What you doin’ to me? / And I don’t care if we crash this party / As long as you are with me.” Dutch producer/DJ duo Yellow Claw (Jim Taihuttu and Nils Rondhuis), known for “bass-heavy productions and riotous performances,” remained busy throughout 2018. After dropping hot single after single, their third album, New Blood, arrived in all its electronic glory. “Crash This Party,” a perfect fit for this party-centric playlist, appears as the fifth song on the album.  

In the context of New Blood, “Crash This Party” keeps the momentum going strong, clocking in at just two-and-a-half minutes. That’s sufficient, particularly in the hands of talented Singaporean pop/R&B singer, Tabitha Nauser.  The aforementioned chorus soars in particular, as Nauser pushes more, ascending into her upper register.  As she rises, so does the intensity the production, leading to a killer, trunk-rattling, drop/instrumental break. “Crash This Party” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Songs Where the ‘Crash’ is Real.

4. All Time Low, “Life of the Party”

Last Young Renegade • 2017

“Somewhere in between / Who I used to be / And who I’ll be tomorrow / When the champagne blows my mind…” On their seventh album Last Young Renegade, emo darlings All Time Low realize that youth doesn’t last always. Last Young Renegade finds the band in reflective mode, embracing newfound MATURITY.  While the maturity is pronounced, frontman Alex Gaskarth still manages an instance of potty mouth on the album’s sixth track, “Life of the Party.”

How explicit does Alex Gaskarth get? Well, he manages to sneak in a ‘youthful’ f-bomb on the second verse: “I keep thinking about you, how you level me out sometimes / When I’m out on my head, and I don’t wanna face it / You said it’s all for a reason, what the fuck is the reason now?” “Life of the Party” has ample pop sensibility, but don’t call the gem a sell-out.  Intriguingly, Gaskarth seems to question his identity on the chorus, which fits the vibe and overall sentiment of the album.  Excerpted at the top of the blurb, the chorus continues as follows:

“Thrills don’t come for free
The price you pay for dreams
In a sea of strangers
I can’t find me anymore, anymore,
I can’t find me anymore.”

“Life of the Party” appeared on the previous playlist, 13 Songs Centered on Life.

5. Vince Staples, “Party People”

Big Fish Theory • Def Jam • 2017

“I been fucked since my early days / I been stuck in my world ways.”  Wow, that’s some frank talk for sure! The talk hails from Big Fish Theory, the 2017 sophomore album by California rapper Vince Staples. As an album, Big Fish Theory is a rock-solid effort.  There’s a lot to absorb, but also a lot to love and appreciate about this LP.

“Move your body if you came here to party / If not then pardon me / How I’m supposed to have a good time / When death and destruction’s all I see?” True. “Party People,” one of many highlights, like most of Big Fish Theory, features distinctive production work.  The beat is danceable, while the record itself has an incredibly dark quality. From the jump, Staples is frank – see ‘Exhibit A’ from the first verse at the top of the blurb. Later, he goes on to say on the same verse:

“Couple problems my cash can’t help
Human issues, too strong for tissues
False bravado all masked by wealth.”

Staples does a fantastic job of making reference to partying, while also keeping it 100.

6. Britney Spears, “Slumber Party”

Ft. Tinashe

Glory • RCA • 2016

Glory, the ninth studio album by Britney Spears, marked one of her better efforts of the 2010s.  After the disappointing Britney Jean (2013), Spears stepped her game up on the 2016 LP. Unfortunately, Spears was past her most lucrative prime when Glory arrived, so sales weren’t nearly as strong as during her heyday.  Glory features its fair share of gems including singles “Make Me…” and the sexually-charged “Private Show”.  “Slumber Party” may not receive top honors on Glory, but it’s certainly ‘pleasing.’

“Slumber Party” isn’t a traditional slumber party by any means.  Like the aforementioned “Private Show,” the innuendo is amped up to the nth degree. How so? Well, Britney and her man are preparing to make love.  Beyond the sex itself, apparently, they also plan to make a sex tape… The proof is in the lyrics: “We use our bodies to make our own videos / Put on our music that makes us go fucking crazy.” What more can be said? It should be mentioned that Tinashé appears on the remix, which appears as the sole version of the track on some editions of the album.

7. The Weeknd, “Party Monster”

Starboy • Republic • 2016

“Party Monster” is one of the most aggressive songs from Starboy, the third proper studio album by Grammy-winning, Canadian R&B singer, The Weeknd.  Released as an advance single, “Party Monster” appears as the second track on the 2016 LP following the title track.  In regard to the sound, “Party Monster” sounds enigmatic, dark, and, dirty.

“Party Monster” has nothing to do with a literal monster, unless in entails the stripper pole (“And I’ve seen her get richer on the pole”), drinks, drugs, and sex (“I’m the realest, she said I’m the realest / Head be genius, dick game be the meanest”). The chorus surprisingly eschews profanity, gives thanks to God, and then embraces irresponsibility.  Go figure.

“I’m like, got up, thank the lord for the day
Woke up by a girl, I don’t even know her name
Woke up by a girl, I don’t even know her name
(Woke up by a girl, I don’t even know her name)
Got up, thank the Lord for the day.”

“Party Monster” previously appeared on the playlist Creatures! Ghosts, Monsters, Vampires and Such.

8. Shawn Mendes, “Life of the Party”

Handwritten • Island • 2015

Shawn Mendes has truly matured as a pop musician.  His 2018 album, Shawn Mendes, is representative of some of his best work.  It’s no surprise the album, or superb single “In My Blood” were nominated for Grammys.  That said, the Canadian pop heartthrob wasn’t always as mature – everyone has a starting place.  His debut, full-length album, Handwritten, had some respectable moments, and showed how much potential a “Kid in Love” had, even if it didn’t quite transform the pop game.

“I love it when you just don’t care / I love it when you dance like there’s nobody there / So when it gets hard, don’t be afraid / We don’t care what them people say.” Okay… Looking back at a younger Mendes, we find a song that fits this party-loving list.  That song would be “Life of the Party,” which commences Handwritten.  Notably, it precedes the crowning achievement for Mendes, “Stitches.” Even so, “Life of the Party” would give Shawn an excellent boost early-on. If you were expecting the then teenaged pop star to be a fun, party animal, that’s not the case here.  “Life of the Party” is focused on matters of the heart as well as taking a leap of faith.

“We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby, be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby, be the life of the party.”

9. Arctic Monkeys, “No. 1 Party Anthem”

AM • Domino • 2013

“So, you’re on the prowl wondering whether she left already or not / Leather jacket, collar popped like antennae / Never knowing when to stop…” Sigh, five years before Arctic Monkeys would deliver the weird, yet oddly satisfying Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, the British alternative rock collective dropped AM.  AM ranks among my favorite alternative albums of the 2010s, chocked-full of memorable hits.  To this day, “Do I Wanna Know?” remains a surefire bop.  While that inquiring number doesn’t fit the parameters of this party-centric affair, another surefire bop does – “No. 1 Party Anthem.”

One would expect “No. 1 Party Anthem” to be quick and incredibly enthusiastic record.  Instead, “No. 1 Party Anthem” is slow and dramatic.  The harmonic progression is one of many pros.  Even at the slower tempo, Alex Turner expresses plenty of lyrical swagger including the aforementioned lyrical excerpt from the first verse, as well as “Drunken monologues, confused because / It’s not like I’m falling in love I just want you to do me no good / and you look like you could” from the second verse.  His best lyrical triumph comes courtesy of the smart bridge:

“The look of love, the rush of blood
The ‘she’s with me’, the Gallic shrug
The shutterbugs, the camera plus
The black and white, the color dodge
The good time girls, the cubicles
The house of fun, the number one party anthem.”

10. Ciara, “Body Party”

Ciara • Epic • 2013

“My body is your party baby.” Who wouldn’t want to be part of a “Body Party” with the gorgeous R&B singer and model Ciara? Unfortunately, only one person is invited to this sexual occasion, as she memorably states, “…Nobody’s invited but you, baby.” “Body Party” is the subtlest sex track, but she does manage to make sexual escapades pseudo-classy as opposed to downright explicit.

Ciara has had something of an ‘up and down’ career.  Even so, “Body Party,” which appears on Ciara (2013), ranks among her best.

“You can’t keep your hands off me
Touch me right there, rock my body
I can’t keep my hands off you
Your body is my party
I’m doing this little dance for you
You got me so excited
Now it’s just me and you
Your body’s my part, let’s get it started, oh.”

“Body Party” previously appeared on the playlist 17 Songs Associated with the Body.

11. Yelawolf, “I Just Wanna Party” (Ft. Gucci Mane)

Trunk Muzik 0-60 • DGC • 2010

“Go white girl, it’s ya birthday / … We blowing smoke in the air, drinking ice cold beer / Got ya girl in my ear saying, she just wanna party.”  For many, the 2010 commercially-released mixtape Trunk Muzik 0-60 marked the introduction of southern rapper Yelawolf to the world.  Early on in his career, the rapper proved himself to be quite distinct – ‘one of a kind.’ On the banger “I Just Wanna Party,” he’s pretty straightforward, assisted by fellow southern rapper, Gucci Mane.

“Trunk Muzik got these boppers poppin’ on the Richter scale / D boys on the corner droppin’ quarters like a wishing well,” Yelawolf raps on the first verse.  Throughout the verse, he flexes while also remembering where he came from – “I come from the bottom, you ain’t gotta put ya dope away.” Good to know! On the third verse, he offers up much of the same, putting emphasis on being ‘down to earth’ and delivering a bullet when he asserts, “Yelawolf and Gucci Mane keepin’ yo bitch entertained.” Rap cliché, but effective as always. In between the two Yelawolf verses, Gucci Mane delivers the second verse, rapping in his usual slow, but confident style – “She just want a Harley, I’m rollin’ up the Marley, I’m drunk as Paul McCartney.”  The centerpiece is the chorus, excerpted at the top of the blurb.  The production is pretty sweet too, fueling the fire of both rappers.

11 Songs That Party Hard [Photo Credits: Barong Family, BMG Rights Management, Def Jam, DGC, Domino, Epic, Fueled by Ramen, Island, Pixabay, RCA, Republic, Sony]