I remember growing up and my parents would have people over. Not often mind you, but when they did the dinners would be conducted without any background music. The only music you’d ever hear in the house was my music being played at ear splitting volume (I was a teenager) and my sister’s classical music.
I’ve since then learned that having music during dinner parties or when friends come over is actually quite crucial. For starters it puts people in a good mood and fills any gaps in silence. Sadly I do subject people to my own music taste ad at the recent True Blood dinner party people did comment that it was certainly an “eclectic” range of music. I should of course have just played the CD I was given from Ministry of Sound which is tailor made for setting the mood when entertaining. There are 41 tracks on 2 CDs and each CD is worth $35. There are tracks by Groove Armada, Cee Lo Green, Erykah Badu and Mark Ronson.
Thanks to the Ministry of Sound, five lucky Not Quite Nigella readers will each win a copy of the Tablesism CD! For a chance to win all you have to do is tell me what your current favourite song is! Simply add your answer as a comment to the story. The competition ends at midnight AEST on the 8th of October, 2011. You can enter this competition once daily and it is open to anyone within Australia.
Best of luck!
Lots of love,
Lorraine
xxx
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It’s got to be the 1989 hit:
Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy
This cd sounds like a perfect mix for any parties! I am always struggling to find music that would please at least the majority of the guests
My current favourite song has to be Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’. All her songs are so catchy!
Hi Lorraine, not sure what’s currently being played out there but been listening to Jeff Buckley’s “Eveybody Here Wants You” lately – one of the sexiest songs and one of my all time faves.
My current favourite song is “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye.
xx Kristy
Blending company and conversation is so relaxing while having a delicious dinner party and listening to Toro Y Moi – Still Sound does the job.
Handel’s Royal Fire works Suit
I absolutley love “I Feel Electric” (tiedye remix) by the Rubies. It would be perfect on this cd too! A real chillout Tableism type tune.
It’s MY party (and I cry if I want to!)
At the moment my favorite song is tonight tonight by hot chelle Rae! It just puts me in the best mood!!
and I love the story of how they got their band name 
xo
“The Heron and the fox” by Little Scream.
Lorraine your comments are so correct about music helping to make a successful dinner party. The CD on offer looks terrific.
hi and thank you for this chance – the design looks brilliant, I hope the music is too!
My favourite song of the moment, and probably for a while to come, is SOMETIMES by Melanie Horsnell, whose other songs are all equally gorgeous and filled with love and sadness.
regards, ann
The “Train Cake” song by Josh Earl – hilarious song about a kid whose mum promised to make him the train cake from the Womens Weekly cookbook. Kid was stoked, told all his friends about it, but then mum got sick and couldn’t make it. Dad said no worries kid, I’ll make you a cake, then bought one from the supermarket!!! Oh the tragedy…
I’m loving Tenderoni by Kele at the moment!
Aftergold – Big Head Todd and the Monsters
My favourite song at the moment is Forever by Ben Harper…
Pumped up kicks – by Foster the People – can’t get enough, and the other tracks on their ep are equally amazing! Loving!
My all time favourite songs to play whilst hosting a dinner party would have to be Michael Bubblé songs. I especially love his song ‘Everything’ .
It’s not aboutthe money
I love Kate Miller Heidke’s ‘The Facebook Song’ (it’s also listed under a very non politically correct name). It would be great to play at a dinner party when everything you’ve cooked has been a complete disaster. It’s sassy, quirky and has a whole lot of pent up anger just hiding under the surface.
My current favourite song is ‘Must Be the Feeling’ by English Dance band Nero. Definitely a feel good hit for the spring and summer season and for me epitomises what Ministry of Sound always evokes for me; long and languid summer days pottering in the kitchen or by the barbeque, eating and drinking and dancing with good friends…bliss!
Hmmm, my favorite song is The Story by Brandi Carlise, or any of the Glee stuff, but for dinner parties I love to play the Crooners, Doris Day or anything from that era.
The Photos on that CD are just gorgeous!
I love all of JESSICA MAUBOYs’ songs and the current on ‘Inescapable’
*I’ll be inescapable, unshakable, incapable
You won’t get rid of me, get rid of me (yeah)*
certainly gets me signing in the shower…..if I sing it anywhere else I am dragging the song down to my notably missing talent for singing
Oh ive grown up loving ministry of sound! Used to go to their gigs and dance into the not so wee hours of the morning! Ive made my own playlists on my ipod with my MOS chillout cds for dinner parties. But this cd would be awesome! My fav song at the moment is an old one (don’t buy much music anymore) “give it away” by deepest blue….makes me want to jump around happily
Jessie J’s “Price Tag” is so much fun to sing and dance along too and i always find myself humming it when working
HELP Lorraine, Meeting my girlfriend from Perth for 4 devine days of food, entertainment and retail therapy in central Sydney. Can you or ANYONE please recommend the best eating for 4 days in Sydney. I’m too over whelmed with your “Eating in Sydney” suggestions for only 4 days?! Many thanks.
I would have to say, ‘Hot August Night’ by Neil Diamond because it takes me right back to my parent’s dinner parties where I would hide on the staircase, listen in to the conversation, and of course hear Neil belting out his number one album in the background.
I have a few MOS CDs and love the mix!
Current fav song is ‘Rolling In The Deep’ Adele…it’s so refreshing to have a singer that can sing!
I love “Everynight my Teeth are Falling out” by The Antlers. Been skipping straight to that song on their album before playing all their other songs!
Gotye – Somebody I used to know is a haunting new song. Have you heard it ? I love Ministry of Sound and a new dinner party CD would be perfect for Spring when I can resume my outdoor entertaining as have no room inside for dinner parties !
I absolutely love SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW by ISRAEL KAMAKAWIWO’OLE …. and everything on his album of the same name.
Totally wonderful.
and just came across a youtube video of a 9 year old girl – Anjeli Diack singing ‘Wild Horses’. WOW!
Definitely
Kimbra – Settle Down
She’s an amazing young artist!
Also on my top favourites list IL VOLO the Italian teenage pop-opera trio. They are GOOD!
“All For You” is the latest song by Cold Chisel. It has a catchy sound and is the first recorded song by them in 13 years, it is also very special as I am a huge fan of the band and this song was the last recording they made with the drummer Steve who died this past January.
Corrine Bailey Rae and Put Your Records On. Love her voice and the tune.
Flower on the water,Wendy Matthews,equal favourite is seven spanish angels Willie Nelson.
All depends on the mood!
yellow brick road by elton john
“Moonlight Sonata” – it really calms me down!
…Oh but of course…would have to be a truly all time beautiful voice (lamenting here for her great loss)…
+Amy Winehouse
Her singing along with Tonny Bennett is absolutely sublime!
A new album being release on the 20th ‘Duet 11′
Sadly…..Susie Q
I adore “Somebody That I used to Know” by Gotye. The video clip to it is also very arty and worth looking at too.
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major – “Lovely Little Night Music” by Mozart. We play MOZART FOR BABIES at rest time for the children in Kindie. Incredibly beautiful music & YES!!! Mozart was a genius because the music works a treat.
Love Love Love by Avalanche City is my current favourite…such a chilled relaxing track perfect for any dinner party
Poolside – Do you believe – this is great music and gets me in the mood for cooking, great beat to help with chopping up the vegies etc and then gets me in the party mood!
Pink’s, “Stupid Girls.”
I love listening to Sia.
My favourite song of hers is “I’m in Here”.
It is currently on the website: http://www.siamusic.net/ with a video about abandoned pets and how many end up at animal shelters. The lyrics are perfect.
The Black Keys ‘Howlin for You’- Best listened to at ear splitting decibles but fabulous at less offensive levels too!
Friday to Sunday!
“Settle Down” by Kimbra, it’s so awesome! Also “Cameo Lover”, actually, her whole album is great. This CD would have been useful at my birthday party, there was NO music because my brother dropped the ipod dock thingy, and the only CDs we had were old metal compilations.
I love Rolling in the Deep. Her croaky voice is so sexy.
at the moment Gotye’s Somebody that I used to Know is my fav
Minority – Green Day – it’s in tune with my personality!
My favorite song right now is Bruno mars’ “just the way you are ”
I agree with you on the need for good dinner music too!
Lisa
I’m currently loving ‘without you’ by usher and David guetta. I love hip-hop but unfortunately it doesn’t really go with cheese and pate!
‘Peace Train’ by Cat Stevens would be a nice song to add. Good music, friends and eating create new good memories.
‘Stay the Night’
Maroon 5′s ‘Moves Like Jagger’. It’s very funky and I play it everywhere!
I’m loving Pete Murray “Always A Winner”….always uplifting.
Walk – Foo Fighters.
I’m trying to teach my daughter that you never give up and learning to Walk again is easy.
Having spent the afternoon dancing to the blues brothers soundtrack with the kids, my current favourite has got to be Cab Calloway singing Minnie the Moocher.
I know its from another era, but I’ve just been turned onto Joan Baez. Her song “Sweet Sir Galahad” moves me as I walk the beach with my Ipod….
Goyte are a new Aussie band with a subtle but unique sound that is the perfect guest for a dinner party or special gathering and they won’t take over the conversation preferring to stay in the background.”Somebody That I Used to Know is one of my favourite Goyte Songs!
destinys child nasty girl.. i heard it again after so long and ive been playing it since!!
At the end of the work week and you have the weekend to look forward to it has to be Friday I’m in love by The Cure.
‘I FOLLOW RIVERS’ by Lykke Li. it has soul, feeling and moves me every time I listen to the CD.
My current favourite song is at the moment is” I’m still hot” by Luciana
When I’m a bit down or I need a bit of a confidents before going on a date, I turn it up really loud and shake my booty lol
The song that always gets sung in our house, in the car, at the beach – whenever there is a void in the conversation and/or a rumbling tummy is Kate Rowe’s Fred the Dog. Goes something like this “I’m hungry, I’m hungry, I’m hungry, rub my belly, what’s that noise, what’s that noise, Schmacko, Schmacko, walkies kick the ball.” And yes, it has been heard from the dinner party table when the thrice baked cheese souffle is taking a little long to ready itself.
I love it … I spent Saturday nights years ago dancing for hours to MOS … Now I can spend Saturday nights with a dinner party to MOS … both have a similar outcome – sitting with close friends in the wee hours, a glass of wine too many, solving the problems of the world! My current fav song is Angus and Julia Stone “and the boys”.
Would love to win
My fave song right now is All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar
For fun, I love Maroon Five’s ‘Moves Like Jagger’ and for an Aussie choice, Gotye’s ‘Somebody I used to Know’. Genius.
Bounce by Calvin Harris – just so darn catchy and sticks in my head most mornings….!
The Go! Team – Ladyflash … I love music
“The Lazy Song” Bruno Mars
Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding.
I LOVE ‘Rolling in the Deep’ by Adele. It’s such a powerful song!!
What great tracks everyone has chosen, I can’t enter the competition as I’m in the UK but my current favourite track is Gros Islet by Krucy Darkstar. GG
Music is essential to a dinner party!
My favourite at the moment is still… I can’t remember the name so I’ll sing my favourite part – ‘grab somebody sexy tell them hey, give me everything tonight!’ Sounds a bit naughty when you write it out but it always makes me want to dance.
Not over you by Gavin Degraw
Bruno Mars – Marry You
China by Sparkadia – because there are always breakages at my dinner parties!!
I have recently re-discovered 80′s duo- Hall and Oats, and I love their funky song, “I can’t go for that, no way”.
HI Lorraine, my current favourite song is Empire State of Mind by JayZ and Rihanna … i downloaded it as a ringtone before our recent trip to New York so that it got me excited about our holiday every time my phone rang. Now I love it because it reminds me of our fabulous trip every time I hear it.
Wow!!! What a great idea, a safe CD for entertaining, Mr GG is still living in the 80′s and always tries to slip Guns and Roses or Metallic intothe CD mix (cringe).
My current favourite song is Baby I’m Getting Better by Gyroscope.
Gotye: Somebody That I Used To Know
Save Room by John Legend is my favourite at the moment. Very cruisy and great for background music
My favourite song at the moment is Blood and Gold by Boy and Bear!
Midas Touch by Midnight Star
Today my favourite song is the new remix version of the Play School theme song. Rock it out!
Robot-Marina and the diamonds:-)
my favourite song is ‘Sólin mun skína’ by a beautiful Icelandic band called Rökkurró. I’ll be using it at my upcoming wedding!
You can hear it here:
(http://www.youtube.com/user/Rokkurro#p/u/0/rrqu8bTO6BQ)
My current favourite song is – Changed the way you kissed me by Example. ♥’d it since I saw him on the Graham Norton show! =)
I am reliving a little Pearl Jam at the moment, so maybe “Just Breathe”
CD sounds great! At the moment it’s Dev – In the dark.
Hmmm…that’s a hard one, but going to have to say Gotye – somebody that I used to know
Hmm favourite at the moment? I’m loving anything by Adele and Bon Iver at the moment – so I’ll say Calgary by Bon Iver.
Anything by Claire Bowditch. Recently saw her at the Darwin Festival. A real down-to-earth person, with a fabulous voice.
My fave song at the moment is “Lights and Music” by Cut Copy. Such a great dance tune.
Thanks Lorraine!
Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band: “Stay Away”
on the tribute to Nirvana cd
Walking her Home by Mark Shultz but I wouldn’t play it at dinner because that darn song makes me cry every single time I hear it!
I must confess to inflicting Michael Buble and the Glee soundtracks upon people during dinner parties
Don’t stop the music, by Rihanna. Such a great beat to dance to. It makes housework much more fun!
Chopin – Prelude in D-Flat Major.
Not exactly a new #1 hit…
California Soul by Marlena Shaw…seriously, I don’t even care if I don’t win the prize….just promise me you will download this song….it’s the ultimate in cool.
My favourite song of all time is Hallelujah, sung by KD Lang. I saw her peform it here in Canberra and it was amazing!
Oooh I like this one and I’m not too late, have been out of the country for a month. This CD sounds great, it’s always hard to find music that sets just the right mood.
My current favourite is Gotye feat. Kimbra – somebody that I used to know. It’s so beautiful. An older all time fave of mine is Eagle eye cherry – save tonight. That one came up doing karaoke in Italy!
I am a real fan of tina arena’s music. It’s easy to listen to and my favourite is ‘Do you know where you’re going to’.
Adele – Someone Like You – great voice, great song – cant wait to catch her live!
Cristina perri – Jar of hearts – not normally my kind of music but it is a beautiful song and I heart it
Toploader – Dancing in the moonlight, it just makes me happy
It would have to be the song ‘Home’, by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros –Because for me, “Home” is about the people you love, not the places
Gorecki by Lamb, an all-time fave
‘Foreign Language’by Flight Facilities is an absolutely rocking tune and i challenge anyone listening to it not to start grooving along. Having a film clip that channels a 1970′s roller disco was also a winning move by the band, i’m hoping it puts lycra leotards and flares back on the fashion map!
Sadly I have to admit it’s that ‘moves like jagger’ song! I don’t know if it’s a favorite or if I just can’t get it out of my head but I constantly find myself in random public places doing my little groove and singing ‘moo-oo-ooo-oo-ves like jagger’ the other people in the supermarket seem to particularly like it!!
Just rocked up to check out your stained glass jelly recipe and very pleased to see the Australian food focus. Will be subscribing!
Favorite song of the moment – “Moving the goalposts” by Billy Bragg. That will show my age!
My new favorite jam is One Republic’s song, “good life” – something about it just makes me smile everytime I hear it….like food makes me smile everytime I eat it or prepare it!
‘Gravity’ – John Mayer
Bruno Mars – Just the way you are. Because we are all special just the way we are!
‘Rolling in the Deep’ by Adele – yes I know I’m on the bandwagon but it really is a rockin’ song
Birds of Tokyo “Plans” – fantastic song!
Knock em out by Lily Allen. Makes me laugh every time.
I’m a Little Teapot…to the delight of our 6 month old.
Not a current song but I love listening to Sade’s By Your Side. It’s the song we had our first dance to at our wedding, beautiful sentiments and makes me remember all the wonderful things about our relationship
I currently don’t have a particular favourite song, but I do like any of the old rock and roll songs that I can sing along with lol !
Anything by Adele – I have just discovered her and my husband says I am very behind the times. Oh please let me win this competition so I can show him just how hip his wife is!!
I love listening to John Mayer, Gravity.
Alfonzo!!! He is our neighbor… he sings and plays the guitar when over for dinner… no idea what he sings as it is all in Italian! Best fun though particularly as he always insists on cooking as well
Cheers by Rhianna. I don’t want to like it, but really I do! It gets stuck in my head for hours ever time I hear it.
I have been late to discover and enjoy Joan Baez . Her soulful song “Sweet Sir Galahad” moves me to tears and smiles every time. (check it out) x
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Foo Fighters’ Everlong – just gets me soooo fired up
You Are All I See by Active Child. I think I’ll create my own genre for this one too, chilled whimsy.
Fantastic dinner music for sure. 
Anything sung by Pink is perfect, probably not suitable for a romantic dinner date, where I would rather have a Micheal Buble CD playing
The Bird and the Bee’s album Interpreting the Masters is thir chilled out yet very funky versions of Hall and Oates 80′s hits! Love every song on it, and perfect dinner music.
At the moment I am totally in love with Rhianna’s Cheers I play it nice and loud on a Friday and over the weekend.
Edith Piaf’s je ne veux pas travailler…. Because I don’t want to work no more. All I want is a holiday!!!
Ok, I wouldnt usually admit this but, I quite like the soothing sounds of Kenny G – Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
I love the Party Rock Anthem. I just can’t get it out of my head!
Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ – awesome song!!!
My favourite song is currently Zimbarbwee by New Navy. They are a Triple J Unearthed band and have been getting played a lot lately. The song is fun and funky and makes me think of Summer on these rainy days sitting at work.
Rolling in the Deep by Adelle is a great song to listen to
Great CD to chilax !!!!! Party rock anthem for the win !
Gotye – Somebody that I used to know. So excited, they are coming to Canberra, playing at Foreshore. Woopie.
And, maybe it’s all the years of working in restaurants, but the music playing totally sets the scene of how your dinner party rolls. Love the Ministry stuff, classic and works for most themes.
Jon Stevens accoustic album is fantastic. Love his gruff tones singing all the great old tunes, especially Take Me Back and Reach Out.
I love dancing around in the kitchen to Laws of Gravity by Rubik (http://youtu.be/ojzZTGAN3TQ)
I could have dinner party after dinner party with this great selection, I am struck on Mel Torme, Special Agent Man.
The Scientist by Coldplay.
Im always picked on for this, but I also love John Farnham. Two Strong Hearts is my all time fave.
Linkin Park Iridescent, can’t help but sing along and have a little boogie while I cook or clean or play with the kidlets!
She’s like the wind (from dirty dancing)
Anything by Adele….what a voice!
David Guetta Ft. SIA – Titanium Love it !!!
Gotye – Somebody that I used to know
My favourite song changes often depending on my mood, but right now it’s by little known Sydney band called Relunctant Friends of Steve and the song is My Kinda Girl. Loving it right now.
I love anything eighties.
Something that your guests will hear and think I love the song! Like Summer of ’69! 
Cd sounds fabulous for a party mix to please all guests,
im a true 80′s at heart to love songs,
eternal bliss, this kiss this kiss forever mine… list could go on anything with real lyrics real soul and meaning behind it.
About a Girl – Nirvana (unplugged in New York)
Grinspoon – Chemical Heart
Adele “Set Fire to the Rain”. So much passion!
‘Somebody I used to know’ by Gotye is the perfect breakup tune!
It got to be “Release Me” by Angnes…huge hit of 2010
Someone like you by Adele……I know right, me and everyone else in the world lol but shes great
In The Summer by Aussie band Loon Lake is so catchy. It sounds like sunshine!
Bruno Mars Marry you
I can’t go past Coldplay songs…they’re all fabulous but my favourite is ‘Yellow’. However this could change on 24th when the new album is out !!!
I like Blister in the Sun….everyone bops to that one!!! And it is an oldie but a goodie.
Anything by Michael Buble for me.
i’m feeling Twisted Sister lately!!
when you’re in the kitchen you have to sing – we’re not gonna _bake_ it. House rules!
Love the song “Glory Box” by Portishead, great song to relax with wine and chilling out with friends
All My Life by K-Ci and JoJo
Love is a drug by Eskimo Joe, its such a fantastic catchy tune by an awesome Aussuie band.
Cee Lo Green feat. Phillip Bailey – Fool For You. Funky, cool, Cee Lo Green.
My favourite song at the moment would be Armando’s Rhumba On The Idea of North’s new album. It makes me feel cheerful.
TISM – Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me. It is such a catchy tune, and hilarious!
I love Mark Ronson’s version of Valerie.
Locomotion – Kylie Minogue!!
party rock anthem is my favourite …..just so catchy it makes you want to dance
Two Strong Hearts – John Farnham
Oh, I’m so ashamed to admit this, but the Letter L song by My Friend Mark. Apparently I’ve been a parent for so long that my previous identity has been completely obliterated.
Ooo so excited about this one! Who were the lucky winners?
And bonus, found some great new tunes, thanks guys!
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