By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Matt "The Big Kahuna" Catingub and his Copa Cats
are a swinging choice for music.

The sound of music
is essential

Happily, lots of choices are
easily available to the music
director in all of us

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

So you're planning to avoid the insanity of the mother of all New Year's parties -- the New Year, the New Century and the New Millennium -- by staying home and partying with a loved one or a few friends.

The party needs music and you are the designated music programmer. What to choose? What to choose?

Here are a few suggestions of what to pick -- or what to avoid -- depending on the flow and vibe of your fete.

Happy New Year?

This is the obvious theme. What could be easier than simply celebrating the event itself? Each new year begins full of promise and can progress in any direction. These are the songs to put a positive spin on the next millennium:

"1999," Prince
"Future's so Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)," Timbuk 3
"Function at the Junction," Shorty Long
"All Night Long (All Night)," Lionel Richie
"Celebrate," Three Dog Night
"Celebration," Kool & The Gang
"Partyman," Prince
"Party Doll," Buddy Knox
"Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," Stick McGhee & His Buddies
"Paradise City," Guns N' Roses
"Paradise by the Dashboard Lights," Meatloaf
"Party's Over," Doris Day
"New Year's Day," U2
"(Just Like) Starting Over," John Lennon

Dance, dance, dance

You feel the excitement of the millennium from your head to your toes and you can't help wanting to move your feet and swing your arms. Clear the knickknacks from your shelves, shove the furniture to the side, and surrender to the groove:

"Dance (Disco Heat)," Sylvester
"Dance to the Music," Sly & The Family Stone
"Dancing Man," Q
"Dancing Queen," Abba
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Michael Jackson
"Dancing on the Ceiling," Lionel Richie
"Dancing in the Dark," Bruce Springsteen
"Dancing in the Sheets," Shalamar

Our Hawaii

Can anyone even guess how many songs have been written and recorded by island artists? The list includes everything from chant to pop to rock. Assert your sovereign right to choose a locals-only soundtrack for a backyard celebration:

"I'll Remember You," Don Ho & The Aliis
"Wahine 'Ilikea," Dennis Kamakahi
"Island Love," Peter Moon Band
"Coconut Girl," Brother Noland
"E Ku'u Morning Dew," Melveen Leed
"Kalama'ula," Arnold Keolanui
"Ikona," Ledward Kaapana
"Honolulu City Lights," Keola & Kapono Beamer
"E Ku'u Sweet Lei Poina'ole," Olomana
"Kawika," Brothers Cazimero
"Flying with Angels," Na Leo Pilimehana
"Alika," Genoa Keawe

Back to the Frat

These songs have become party favorites over the years. Some people are old enough to remember them from whenever they were originally hits. Many more people know them as "oldies" from movies like "Animal House." What they have in common is attitude and energy. They're songs easy to sing along with even if you've had one too many drinks and wouldn't know the words, even when sober:

"Louie Louie," Kingsmen
"Mony Mony," Billy Idol (audience response version)
"Brass Monkey," Beastie Boys
"Shotgun," Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
"Let It Be Me," Social Distortion
"Shout Shout (Knock Yourself Out," Ernie Maresca
"Everything About You," Ugly Kid Joe
"Smells Like Nirvana," "Wierd Al" Yankovic
"Honky Tonk Attitude," Joe Diffie

Modern Swing is the Thing

Is there anybody out there who hasn't heard that the swing music of the '30s and '40s has been rediscovered by the Post-X generation? Business hasn't been this good for dance instructors since the disco boom 20 years ago. Few people in Hawaii have homes large enough and ceilings high enough for dancing neo-swing style, but the music is great listening as well. Music archaeologists can look for rereleases of original swing recordings by artists like Glenn Miller and Louie Prima. Neo-swing fans can start with these songs by contemporary swing artists:

"This Cat's On A Hot Tin Roof," Brian Setzer Orchestra

"Jump Jive An' Wail," Brian Sezter Orchestra
"Lady Luck," Brian Sezter Orchestra
"The House is Rockin,' " Brian Sezter Orchestra
"Zoot Suit Riot," Cherry Poppin' Daddies
"After Hours," Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack

Reggae rhythms

Jamaican music has been extremely popular in Hawaii for years. Here are a few of the songs that inspired the boom for parties with a mellow groove:

"You Can Get It If You Really Want," Jimmy Cliff
"Rivers of Babylon," Melodians
"Many Rivers to Cross," Jimmy Cliff
"Israelites," Desmond Dekker
"Pressure Drop," The Maytals
"Buffalo Soldier," Bob Marley
"Exodus," Bob Marley
"Tumblin' Down," Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
"Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt," Yellowman
"Picture on the Wall," Naturalites
"Gimme No Crack," Shinehead

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By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Stay in "Control" in Year 2000 with Janet Jackson.

Divas R Us

Yo girl, time to start the new year anew, make some changes, adopt a new attitude. These singers provide the inspiration:

"New Attitude," Patti LaBelle
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Diana Ross
"Control," Janet Jackson
"Good To Me As I Am To You," Aretha Franklin
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now," Celine Dion
"Just Like Jesse James," Cher
"There's Got to be A Way," Mariah Carey
"People," Barbra Streisand
"I Will Always Love You," Dolly Parton
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be," Aretha Franklin & Whitney Houston
"Reach Out For Me," Dionne Warwick
"The Woman in Me," Donna Summer

Crude, Rude and Lewd

Gangsta rap doesn't often get air play, yet there's a time and place for just about anything. If you're in the mood for a ruckus, and your neighbors are making a lot of noise, do them one better and see who calls the cops first!

"Me So Horny," 2 Live Crew
"99 Problems," Ice-T
"Streiht Up Menace," MC Eiht
"Only the Strong Survive," Too $hort
"Pimp Behind the Wheels," Ice-T & Evil E
"Once Upon A Time in the Projects," Ice Cube
"Get Off My () And Tell Yo () to Come Here," Ice Cube
"Packin' A Gun," Ant Banks
"Friday Night," Scarface

Alone again, naturally

There's a reason that suicides and crisis calls go up at certain times of the year. Holidays and special events can be depressing if you're alone, have lost a loved one, or look back at the past as having been better than the future can ever possibly be. Some find hope in the knowledge that others have suffered too.

"I Want to be Wanted," Brenda Lee
"Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis Presley
"Alone Again Naturally," Gilbert O'Sullivan