A good DJ can do two things, the first is keep the party
going (or get it started) and the second is to understand the beats.
And DJ Sun Queen/DJ Madonna have got both of those things figured out!! I first saw them perform at The Fest For Beatles Fans-Chicago in 2014 at the end of the Michelle My Pelle show. And, they definitely kept the party going!! It was late and the crowd had been up pretty much all day and just finished participating in the Michelle My Pelle audience participation event. The final act to take the stage was DJ Sun Queen/DJ Madonna. The night was already filled with the unexpected - and this was no different. The 2 lovely lady DJs took the stage and started playing some Beatles music, then started to add beats, and "mix" the songs, and then medley the songs. I honestly don't remember all of the songs (as I said, it was late and a long day) - but I do remember them mixing into a rather rocking version of Hey Jude! So much so, that the crowd instinctively got out of their seats to move! And the energy-filled DJs immediately hopped into the audience and led one of the most fun conga-lines I've ever been a part of. (Now, to emphasize how good these girls are at keeping the party going - and finding the beat - let me say this - I DON'T DANCE - PERIOD. However, I got up and danced and conga'd and had a great time!!!)
Since that night the duo has landed several gigs across the nation (literally) including LA!! This year's Fest they had 3 official time slots on the program at the Apple Jam Stage. There was much to do at The Fest, but I made sure I had a chance to catch at least one of their shows (ended up catching 2). On Friday night, they once again followed Michelle My Pelle. The show started at midnight (or was it 11:00? It's a blur). At any rate - it was a perfect "return performance" from 2014 - only longer - and better!!! (2014 was great, this was greater)
The party was already going, so they didn't need to get it started - but they did need to keep it going - again performing in front of a crowd that had a long day (some even traveled into town that day, so their day was even longer). And once again, they DID keep the party going - and going and going.
Their on-stage and in-audience energy level is contagious to say the least! Their pure enjoyment of music and The Beatles is so obvious in their permanent smiles and laughter and enthusiasm. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY that anybody can just SIT in their seats and have no reaction to these ladies! Even a decades-long non-dancer like me was up and moving almost instantly (yes, it was some scary dancing, I admit, but so what - I couldn't help myself).
After 2 songs, I knew they had to be a Featured Live Music Artist! So, subconsciously, I started to pay more attention to details. Of course, I never stopped having fun and "dancing" (or something like it). I've already more than explained their energy and ability to keep the party going - but let's talk about understanding the beats.
It takes a true musician to really "understand" music - and it takes that knowledge/talent/gift to know how some songs just naturally go together, naturally co-exist, naturally blend. And these ladies HAVE THAT TALENT!!! Let me give you the examples I remembered - there are so many others, but I was too busy having fun to have kept good blogger notes.
1) Who would have expected to hear Motley Crue at BeatleFest? Girls Girls Girls specifically, and it was used as a perfect lead-in to a Beatles song - and also mixed into the song
2) An amazing mix of Royals with Come Together - A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
3) And even some "A-ha" mixed in to Beatles songs
I'm not going to list others that I recall, because I want to leave the magic in the performance.
Understanding the audience is critical as well - and these ladies have that figured out as well. A Fest For Beatles Fans would not be complete without some Monkees thrown in here and there - and they did that too - perfectly placed in the playlist!
I don't know the technical terms for "mixng" a song and pulling the beats to the forefront and turning non-dance-music into dance music. But whatever those terms are - these ladies do that flawlessly as well!!!
There was so much fun and energy not only in their mixes but in their interaction with the crowd. They constantly made their way into the audience to dance and party with the crowd. It was exactly what a DJ experience should be!!!
If you have the opportunity - you need to check these ladies out!!!
Oh, by the way, if that wasn't enough, they were in the Battle Of The Bands winning band - playing cello and violin!!! Yep - that's right!!! Told you they knew music!!!
Check them out on facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/djsunqueendjmadonna?fref=ts
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