I think I speak for most people when I say you can’t start a night out without a little boogie in your room first. There’s nothing better than that moment when the outfit looks even better than expected, you’re just the right amount of tipsy, and the only thing missing is the ‘Pres Playlist’ to hype you up and set the tone for wherever you’re heading next.
Now, my ideal Pres Playlist is built on classic, unapologetically girly bangers. Honestly, to get your confidence rising and excitement buzzing, you have to bring in the 2000–2010s tunes. Everyone’s taste is different, sure, but speaking from experience, these gems pretty much guarantee a glow-up in mood.
First of all, you cannot start a night without Rihanna. Instantly recognisable, her R&B/Pop catalogue oozes confidence and attitude; you can’t help but absorb it. From Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, songs like ‘Don’t Stop the Music’, ‘Shut Up and Drive’ and ‘Disturbia’ get the job done instantly. They’re the kind of songs you can belt out and dance to, even stone-cold sober. The energy doesn’t stop there; ‘S&M’, ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ and ‘Love On The Brain’ from Loud and Anti make it physically impossible to stand still. Honorable mention to ‘Rude Boy’, a song that practically demands a reaction.
Once you’re at that stage of the evening where you’re feeling gorgeous and just need five minutes of singing and dancing before you head out, it’s time for the iconic duo: Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. Separately or together, these two have produced some of the most recognisable boogie-inducing tracks of the era. If you haven’t heard ‘SexyBack’, first of all: I’m disappointed. Second of all: I envy the fact you get to experience it for the first time.
With a killer beat and slightly cheeky lyrics, this duo set the tone perfectly. Tracks like ‘The Way I Are’, ‘Ayo Technology’, and Timbaland’s ‘Come Down’ (featuring M.I.A.) have a confident, smooth energy that sets the tone perfectly; they’re the kind of songs that make everything feel a bit more effortless while you’re getting ready. Justin Timberlake’s solo hits such as ‘Rock Your Body’ and ‘What Goes Around…Comes Around’ will at the very least get your foot tapping.
Since we’re already talking about Timbaland and JT, we have to bring Nelly Furtado into the mix. ‘Give It To Me’ (featuring all three) is impossible not to move to; the beat hits before you’re even aware you’ve started dancing. Add in more Furtado essentials like ‘Maneater’, ‘Say It Right’, and the timeless ‘Promiscuous’ and you’ve got the perfect pre-club soundtrack. If you can’t hear the sass in her voice, you’re either tone-deaf or simply haven’t grooved enough, and if we’re approaching club time, you’d better be ready to get your freak on.
A few honourable mentions deserve a spot on the queue too. ‘Run the Road’ by Santigold has been a recent find — and a very underrated one — which I think fits into this confidence you’ve been building up so far. ‘Johnny Glamour’ by Rusowky is a Spanish song, but honestly might even get you into an even dancier mood than the other songs. These might not fit neatly into the R&B or 2000s throwback category, but they round out the playlist with a bit of variety that keeps the energy moving.
So, next time you’re getting ready, throw these tracks in the queue, hype yourself up, and let the pres do what it does best. It’s time to get the show on the road.
