Tina Turner: A Musical Legend and Australia’s Nutbush Queen

In the wake of the recent passing of the incomparable Tina Turner, we gather here today to pay tribute to her extraordinary life and the profound influence she had on Australia’s music scene. This blog post is dedicated to celebrating Tina Turner’s remarkable career and delving into the iconic song that has become synonymous with her name: “Nutbush City Limits.” Join us as we embark on a journey through the life of this legendary artist, and discover the dance that has brought joy and excitement to parties all across the nation.

The Rise of Tina Turner: Tina Turner’s story is one of triumph, a testament to talent, perseverance, and resilience. Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, she overcame countless obstacles to rise as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. From her early days as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue to her awe-inspiring solo career, Tina Turner captivated audiences worldwide with her electrifying performances and soulful voice.

“Nutbush City Limits”: Among Tina Turner’s extensive discography, there is one song that holds a special place in the hearts of Australians: “Nutbush City Limits.” Released in 1973, this energetic rock and soul anthem pays homage to Tina’s hometown while embodying the spirit of resilience and determination. With its infectious rhythm and catchy lyrics, the song quickly became a fan favorite not only in Australia but around the globe.

The Nutbush Dance Phenomenon: Alongside the song, the Nutbush dance has become an inseparable part of Tina Turner’s musical legacy. This vibrant dance routine is characterized by lively footwork, hip shakes, and spirited arm movements—a true invitation to hit the dance floor. From weddings to parties and nightclubs, the Nutbush dance has transcended generations, bringing people together and igniting the spirit of Tina Turner in every dancer.

Tina Turner’s Impact on Australia: Tina Turner’s music has left an indelible mark on the Australian music scene. Her powerful voice and dynamic performances resonated deeply with Australian audiences, propelling her to unparalleled heights of popularity. Tina’s magnetic stage presence and empowering lyrics made her an icon for countless Australians, and her music continues to inspire new generations of artists to this day.

The Legacy Lives On: Though Tina Turner officially retired from performing in 2009, her impact and legacy remain as vibrant as ever. Her music continues to be celebrated and enjoyed worldwide, including in Australia, where the Nutbush dance serves as a testament to her enduring influence. Tina Turner’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring musicians, a reminder of the boundless power of talent, determination, and the ability to touch the hearts of millions.

Tina Turner’s extraordinary talent, magnetic charisma, and unwavering spirit have rightfully earned her the title of a musical legend. In Australia, her music, particularly the iconic “Nutbush City Limits,” has become an integral part of the cultural fabric, with the accompanying Nutbush dance bringing joy and unity to countless parties and events. Let us cherish Tina Turner’s music and forever celebrate her as Australia’s Nutbush Queen, leaving an everlasting imprint on our hearts and dance floors alike.

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Everybody wants to have great music played and their guests up dancing and enjoying themselves at their party, wedding or special event, but how do you choose the music?

There’s no right or wrong answer, and it’s completely up to you, here are a few things to consider to make sure your event is fun and the success you want it to be.

Options:

1. You could entirely compile your own list of your favourite songs for the DJ to play from, but bear in mind that if you have really eclectic, ‘out there’ tastes, your song selections may not cater for all your guests and where you may love the music, your dancefloor may be left empty and your guests may not enjoy themselves as much as you

2. On the flipside, you could leave it up to your DJ to select all of the music, and use his/her experience and skill to play a good mix of music to cater your guests’ wide range of ages and musical tastes. However, you run the risk of an inexperienced,’hobby’ DJ completely missing the mark by playing all wrong or inappropriate songs, or even just playing only the songs that he/she wants to hear without regard to what you/your guests want to hear

So what do you do? Here’s the secret…

Hiring a professional DJ from a professional, reputable DJ company ensures the DJ is experienced, skilled to ‘read crowds’ and knows what song to play and ‘when’ to get the best response from guests. Even if you still want to provide a list of songs to be played, a true professional DJ will be only too happy to accommodate this, and give you ideas on how to work your requests in to the night, particularly if your requests aren’t ‘mainstream’ or likely to be loved by your wider guests, but you still want them to feature at your event. A professional DJ has the experience to tailor a playlist to suit a wide range of ages and musical tastes, and who are happy to take requests on the night!

Team this with selecting your favourite songs to be played and you get the best of both worlds!

It can be overwhelming when it comes to selecting music for your party, there are just so many songs to choose from! This is especially true when your DJ/DJ company boasts to having upwards of 50,000 songs in their collection.

So where do you start when making a song list for your party, wedding or event?

Firstly, have a think about your own favourite songs and what you want to hear at your event. Then, think about the guests you have invited and what music they like to listen to and/or which era they grew up with, to give you an idea of the genres you might like to cover on the night to ensure everybody has a great time.

Other tips:

1. Check if your DJ has a song list as this will give you an idea of what’s in their library
2. Go through the list (or google a list) and tick your favourite songs which you ALSO think make for great party/dancing songs too. Bear in mind that whilst it might sound good to you to just select your favourite songs, but if all these songs aren’t what most of your guests will enjoy too, you might end up with a poor atmosphere at your party with none of your guests dancing or enjoying themselves. Ticking your favourite songs also gives the DJ an idea of the kind of songs you like, so he/she will be able to mix in other songs on the night similar to the style/s you have already selected
3. Share the list with your friends/family who can also select some of their favourite songs too – that way, you will have a list of music to please a wide range of your guests
4. Bear in mind that for a typical 5 hour party, anywhere from 60-100 songs may be played, so if you select more than this, be prepared that some may not get played. With this in mind, make sure the songs you do select are the ones that you and your guests can really enjoy and dance to
5. Alternatively, instead of selecting songs, give your DJ an idea of the genres/styles of music you enjoy and leave the rest up to him/her! That way, your DJ can select the best songs that people respond to from his/her experience, and you and your guests can make requests too!

Should you hire a professional DJ for your party or event? Or should you just hire the equipment to then play the music from your phone or laptop yourself?

By having a professional DJ:

• you instantly get that party ‘feel’ simply by just having the DJ and the DJ set-up, which help create a party atmosphere
• you trust that their experience will help make your party/event fun and the success you want it to be. Whilst they take care of the music, you can concentrate on having fun!
• the music will be seamless, that is, no pauses between songs which can dampen an atmosphere if everybody is dancing – then there’s silence!
• it will cost more than if your do the music yourself

If you decide to D.I.Y:

• it’s cheaper!
• you have complete control over the music and can play your favourite tracks from iTunes or Spotify from your iPhone, smart-phone, iPod, tablet, laptop, or computer
• it takes a different interaction from your guests where they can even plug their own phone in to help out with the music
• you can extend your party or event for much longer than being bound by the set hours that a DJ can play/has been paid for

A lot of factors contribute to what makes a great DJ, but here is a list of just some of the qualities to look for when hiring a DJ for your party, event or wedding:

1. Arrives early for every event. A professional DJ will arrive 60-30 minutes before the start of any event, will set-up in a timely manner, have completed any sound checks and be ready to start playing BEFORE the event is to commence
2. Comes dressed to suit the occasion. A professional DJ will be neatly presented. and you should expect formal pants and a collared shirt for any wedding, black tie or corporate event
3. Looks relaxed and comfortable behind the decks. A good DJ should be looking out at the crowd and responding to what the guests want played. This is ‘reading the crowd’ and the DJ should know what tracks to play and when to play them. The DJ should give the vibe that he is enjoying it, as your guests will feed off this energy
4. Plays the music that YOU want played, and that of your guests. Not what he wants played for his own enjoyment. Period
5. Understands that practice makes perfect. A good DJ will consistently practice and strive to perfect his beat matching, scratching, mixing and ‘mash-ups’ skills in order to be the best that he can be, for you

These are just some of the qualities that make a great DJ which might help you make a decision when looking for the best DJ to hire for your wedding, party, corporate event/function, school disco or formal, deb, valedictory or any function that you want fantastic music and entertainment for!