42 songs · 5 sections · about 2.7 hours
A bar crowd decides in the first two or three songs whether they're listening or just drinking near you. The songs below are the ones cover bands keep on the list for years because they keep working: people know them, they sing them back, and they fill a floor.
They're grouped the way a night goes. Load the list into the free setlist maker, cut what doesn't fit your band, and time out your sets.
Free, no signup. Each section becomes a set you can reorder, trim and print.
Hit hard, get it recognized fast, and give the sound person a chance to dial you in.
| # | Song | BPM | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr. BrightsideThe Killers | — | 4:39 |
| 2 | Take Me OutFranz Ferdinand | 104 | 3:57 |
| 3 | Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes | — | 3:51 |
| 4 | Are You Gonna Be My GirlJet | 105 | 3:35 |
| 5 | Learn to FlyFoo Fighters | 136 | 3:58 |
| 6 | The MiddleJimmy Eat World | 162 | 2:46 |
| 7 | Use SomebodyKings of Leon | 140 | 3:51 |
| 8 | All the Small Thingsblink-182 | 148 | 2:52 |
The crowd carries the chorus. Leave room for them and don't rush the endings.
| # | Song | BPM | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond | 127 | 3:21 |
| 10 | Don't Stop Believin'Journey | 121 | 4:09 |
| 11 | WonderwallOasis | — | 4:18 |
| 12 | Livin' on a PrayerBon Jovi | 122 | 4:09 |
| 13 | Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison | 158 | 3:36 |
| 14 | Friends in Low PlacesGarth Brooks | — | 3:51 |
| 15 | Piano ManBilly Joel | 177 | 5:36 |
| 16 | AfricaToto | 92 | 4:56 |
| 17 | Ring of FireJohnny Cash | 104 | 2:35 |
| 18 | Teenage DirtbagWheatus | 95 | 4:01 |
Steady tempos with a groove. Stack these back-to-back once people are up.
| # | Song | BPM | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Uptown FunkMark Ronson | 115 | 4:30 |
| 20 | SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire | 126 | 3:35 |
| 21 | ValerieAmy Winehouse | 96 | 3:50 |
| 22 | Shut Up and DanceWALK THE MOON | 128 | 3:17 |
| 23 | Hey Ya!Outkast | — | 3:55 |
| 24 | SuperstitionStevie Wonder | 101 | 4:01 |
| 25 | Dancing in the MoonlightToploader | — | 2:54 |
| 26 | Pumped Up KicksFoster the People | 128 | 3:59 |
| 27 | Feel It StillPortugal. The Man | 158 | 2:43 |
| 28 | Get LuckyDaft Punk | 116 | 6:07 |
| 29 | I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)Whitney Houston | — | 4:52 |
For when the room wants it louder. Keep it to a few songs so you don't lose the dancers.
| # | Song | BPM | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | You Shook Me All Night LongAC/DC | 129 | 3:28 |
| 31 | Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' Roses | 125 | 5:55 |
| 32 | Basket CaseGreen Day | 175 | 3:01 |
| 33 | EverlongFoo Fighters | 158 | 4:10 |
| 34 | Highway to HellAC/DC | — | 3:26 |
| 35 | Last NiteThe Strokes | — | 3:19 |
| 36 | Song 2Blur | 130 | 2:01 |
Leave them shouting. Your last song is the one they'll remember when they rebook you.
| # | Song | BPM | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Don't Stop Me NowQueen | — | 3:32 |
| 38 | Bohemian RhapsodyQueen | — | 2:28 |
| 39 | Twist and ShoutThe Beatles | 124 | 2:33 |
| 40 | ShoutThe Isley Brothers | 137 | 5:25 |
| 41 | Hey JudeThe Beatles | 148 | 3:59 |
| 42 | Closing TimeSemisonic | 184 | 4:33 |
BPM and length come from the original recordings and are approximate (tempo apps sometimes read half or double time). Your band's version will vary.
A short core that works almost anywhere: Mr. Brightside, Sweet Caroline, Don't Stop Believin', Brown Eyed Girl, Uptown Funk, September, Livin' on a Prayer and Don't Stop Me Now. Add to it based on your crowd, whether that's country, 90s rock or dance-pop.
Three hours is usually three 50-minute sets or four 45-minute ones. Figure 11 to 13 songs per 45 minutes with a little talking, so 40 to 45 songs, plus a few spares for requests.
Open strong and familiar, build toward the dance songs, keep tempos grouped so you can segue, and end each set on something big so people stick around for the next one. Put your best closer last.
Yes. Load it into the free setlist maker and each section becomes a set you can reorder, trim and print. No signup.
Your songs,
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Bandloop keeps your band's songs with the key you play them in, builds setlists from them, and puts the lyrics on a teleprompter for the stage. Paste a list like this one and it fills in tempo and length for you. Free to start, for the whole band.
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