From South Africa, to Florida, to Sweden – jump in and explore our curated, crowd-sourced playlist of safe-for-work music from around the world!
Thank you to the following people from The Hacking Remote Facilitation Community for putting this together: Steve Holyer, Alhad Akole, Socotra Williams, Andrea Roux, Pascal Papathemelis, Mark Kilby and April Jefferson, Wandiswa Jonga, Kirsten Clacey and Joanne Perold
WHY DID WE MAKE THIS PLAYLIST?
Have you ever wanted to play happy welcome music while people are joining a call and questioned if the song is appropriate? Or maybe for long portions of silent work, you’d like to play calming, quiet music but are worried it may be distracting.
WHAT DOES ‘APPROPRIATE’ MEAN TO US?
- No violent, sexual, or discriminatory language of any kind
- No swear words/curse words
- Generally “feel good music” – positive and uplifting as opposed to dark, negative themes
WELCOME SONGS
These are the songs you can play to set the tone and welcome people when they join.
- Somewhere over the rainbow
- Friday (feat. Mufasa & Hypeman), Dopamine Re-Edit – Great for when it’s actually Friday and you want to bring some lightness
- Jerro, Lake Nivu – Very chilled but upbeat instrumental
- Jerusalema
- Higher and Higher
- Uyandihola
- Numa Numa Song
- People Like Us
- Love Shine a Light (in every corner of the world)
- Into Ingawe (This one is about going through hardships, but still persevering through all of it.)
- Peace Train (Dolly Parton cover feat. Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
- They All Ask’d For You (at the Audobon Zoo)
- Down at the Twist and Shout
- Love Can Build A Bridge (very chilled, song starts slow at 1:20 and builds)
- Cotton Eyed Joe / Hoe Down Medley from Strictly
- Hallelujah (Pentatonix acapella cover)
- La Copa De La Vida (The Cup of Life) – ‘98 World Cup Anthem (Ricky Martin)
- Say A Little Prayer (Cheerios Audition from Glee)
- The Rain in Africa (Ndlovu Youth Choir)
- Ngwanaka Feat. Maxy Khoisan (Master KG – It doesn’t have to be all Jerusalema 🙂
- Scotty pres. YAMBOO feat. Dr. ALBAN – Sing Hallelujah
- I saw the Sign (More from Sweden!)
- Invincible (don’t miss the wait for the key change)
- Evighet (Swedish original)
- Going to Ibiza
- YMCA (movie version from the Village People movie Can’t Stop the Music)
- Do the Milkshake (really if you include YMCA you have to include the milkshake number too. In the film the Village People became the spokespeople for the Dairy Board and have to create a song to sell milk.)
- Popcorn (instrumental) (original)
- Crazy Frog Crazy Version (surprisingly fresh early 2000’s edm/progressive trance)
- The Final Countdown (also a good ending song for the call—especially for fans of Arrested Development … and illusions)
- All Saints Pure Shores from the movie the beach Soundtrack
- Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
- Safety Dance
- Better Get to Livin’ (Dolly Parton — song starts at ca 1.00)
- Gugo’thandayo (It’s all about living in the moment. ‘Guga Othandayo’ means that age ain’t nothing but a number, if you keep yourself old you will feel old)
- Osama – Zakes Bantwini ft Kasango (This one is what South Africans call their National Anthem—unofficial of course. Down tempo and it builds.)
- Baby Baby
- 9 to 5
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Muppet Version
- Waterloo!
- Take On Me (Another “oldie”, but you must agree this song is TIMELESS)
REFLECTION SONGS
These songs are very mellow, calming and non distracting – to be used (sparingly) during silent reflection pieces of sessions.
