Why Artie Shaw Won The DJed Band Battle At ABW 2013

Since a few (three?) years, All Balboa Weekend (ABW, happening in Cleveland, OH) is running a DJed Battle of the Bands on Sunday night.

How does that work?

DJed Band Battle

Each of three DJs spin an one-hour-set of a single artist of their choice, well at least this time. In fact, last year Laura Windley and I had two options: Django Reinhardt and Artie Shaw, while master Kyle Smith already had chosen Chick Webb.

I was quicker then and took Artie Shaw. The rest is history :D.

With that said, I had to defend my title this year with Artie Shaw against Charlie Barnet (Laura) and Glenn Miller (Kyle).

Several people asked me about the set list (which songs I played in what order). I have to admit that I don't like sharing my set lists. Not because they are secret but because my sets are created in the moment, with a lot of gut feeling.

My set list doesn't help you.

Because next time when you're DJ'ing the venue will be different, the energy in the room will be different and there will be different people.

And even if those three parameters would be the same and the set would be same (means you would play the same songs in the same order), you wouldn't be able to re-create that specific night.

So, instead of sharing my set list I'm more than happy to share the played songs.

The Artie Shaw Playlist in Alphabetical Order

1. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7HK7K” locale=”us”]Back Bay Shuffle[/easyazon-link] – 192 bpm
2. [easyazon-link asin=”B0018C331W” locale=”us”]Carioca[/easyazon-link] – 234 bpm
3. [easyazon-link asin=”B000YTNX1K” locale=”us”]Copenhagen[/easyazon-link] – 202 bpm
4. [easyazon-link asin=”B002N8SHI4″ locale=”us”]Diga Diga Doo[/easyazon-link] – 208 bpm
5. [easyazon-link asin=”B00C7C1L98″ locale=”us”]Free Wheeling[/easyazon-link] – 202 bpm
6. [easyazon-link asin=”B000Y2NQ0U” locale=”us”]It's A Long Way To Tipperary[/easyazon-link] – 206 bpm
7. [easyazon-link asin=”B0018C8JFM” locale=”us”]Leapin' At The Lincoln[/easyazon-link] – 208 bpm
8. [easyazon-link asin=”B0018C30KG” locale=”us”]Man From Mars[/easyazon-link] – 224 bpm
9. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7L8HI” locale=”us”]Non Stop Flight[/easyazon-link] – 208 bpm
10. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7JMHQ” locale=”us”]Oh! Lady Be Good[/easyazon-link] – 212 bpm
11. [easyazon-link asin=”B004B4J92G” locale=”us”]One Night Stand[/easyazon-link]- 201 bpm
12. [easyazon-link asin=”B004GF89E4″ locale=”us”]Prosschai (Goodbye, Goodbye)[/easyazon-link] – 204 bpm
13. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7JMIK” locale=”us”]Scuttlebutt[/easyazon-link] – 208 bpm
14. [easyazon-link asin=”B00C7C2GY2″ locale=”us”]Serenade to a Savage[/easyazon-link] – 220 bpm
15. [easyazon-link asin=”B0018C1USK” locale=”us”]Shine On Harvest Moon[/easyazon-link] – 190 bpm
16. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7FXJW” locale=”us”]Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise[/easyazon-link] – 190 bpm
17. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7FXHY” locale=”us”]Special Delivery Stomp[/easyazon-link] – 260 bpm
18. [easyazon-link asin=”B002N8SH3E” locale=”us”]Together[/easyazon-link] – 184 bpm
19. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7HHQY” locale=”us”]Traffic Jam[/easyazon-link] – 272 bpm
20. [easyazon-link asin=”B001D7JK2S” locale=”us”]What Is This Thing Called Love?[/easyazon-link] – 197 bpm

Of course, I didn't just have these 20 songs ready. I had prepared two hours of awesome Artie Shaw tracks and chose 20 of them on-the-go.

What Can You Learn From That Playlist?

As you already know from the post title Artie Shaw won the battle again – for the second time. And this is not a coincidence.

Of course you need DJ skills like feeling the floor, creating a certain flow and dramatic composition but the main reason is Artie Shaw's music itself.

It's just the perfect match for Balboa dancers and it's the perfect match for a Swing DJ.

Here are a few reasons why Artie Shaw won

• most of the songs are popular, dancers love tunes they already know
• many of the songs are in the sweet balboa spot around 200 bpm
• the energy of the songs is infectious
• there's a good mix between instrumental tunes and such with vocals
• there are surprises: use of unusual instruments such as a harpsichord

Any thoughts about this post? Do you see another reason why Artie Shaw won? Please let us know in the comment section below.

Now Check Out:

• The Insights from The Battle of the Bands at ABW 14 – with Playlists