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The Most Requested Cover Songs (100+ Most Popular Songs For The Ultimate Wedding Band Set List)

January 10 2023

If there was ever an ultimate list of songs that cover bands should play, it’s this one.

We’ve scoured the setlists of the most popular cover bands with a fine-tooth comb, spoken to wedding band professionals and sourced the most requested cover songs for bands.

The best cover band song lists are all killer and no filler. When covering the best rock, current pop or classic rock songs, function and wedding bands will only choose the best of the best in their gig setlist.

The following are songs that everyone should know, no matter your audience! The reason that these are good songs to cover is because they are tried and tested by the top wedding and party bands over hundreds and hundreds of shows.

Follow our most requested cover band songs Spotify playlist below!

Here is our YouTube playlist of the ultimate wedding band set list songs!

These wedding and cover band songs are classics for a reason. The majority of these songs will still be in cover band song lists for decades, and some already have been a mainstay for years.

Here is our list of 100+ most popular songs for cover bands to create the ultimate wedding band set list!

1. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi

There are a handful of songs that just had to feature on this list.

‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ is one of those songs that almost every wedding and covers band will have on their song list! A must have song for any party or wedding.

2. Hold Back The River – James Bay

‘Hold Back The River’ is a firm favourite for wedding bands to perform. James Bay is super smooth and his songs very popular and often requested by couples for their weddings.

3. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

A masterpiece of a song with such a powerful melody, ‘Go Your Own Way’ can be seen across many wedding band set lists and is one of the most covered songs we found!

4. Get Lucky – Daft Punk ft. Pharell Williams

Simply put, Daft Punk are cool. This song featuring both Pharell Williams and Nile Rodgers is one of their biggest hits, making it a perfect song to cover for a wedding band.

5. I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons have had such a huge influence on the wedding industry with many bands basing their whole style and song list after them.

Their folk and festival style sound goes perfectly with UK weddings, rustic barns and tipis!

6. Counting Stars - One Republic

This is hands down one of the greatest songs on this list and it is so underrated! A must have for the ultimate wedding band set list.

7. I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs

One of the great songs of the early 2000s and it definitely had its fair share of radio play! This is one of those incredible fun songs to perform as a party band and it is still in heavy rotation for wedding bands.

8. The Strokes – Last Nite

The Strokes may well be one of the coolest bands to ever exist. They just ooze that ‘I don’t care’ feeling and effortless grungy, indie rock. ‘Last Nite’ is an indie classic that is here to stay for cover bands.

9. Riptide – Vance Joy

‘Riptide’ is an awesome cover band song and we have had so many couples request it to be performed on their wedding day!

10. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

This song is so popular across the world and has even been crowned the most-played song of the 21st Century on UK radio.

This is unbelievable considering the ballad never actually reached the number one spot! Not all wedding and party songs have to be upbeat. This song has a special way of unifying audiences whenever it is performed.

11. Stand By Me - Ben E King

One of the most defining songs of the 60s, ‘Stand By Me’ is among the most requested songs at functions and weddings decades after its release in 1961!

12. We Found Love – Rihanna

There are a number of Rihanna songs that we could have included in this list, ‘Umbrella’ being one of them. When looking at songs for female singers to cover and female cover band setlists, ‘We Found Love’ featured more than any other Rihanna song, hence its inclusion in this ultimate song list!

13. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5

A real dance floor filling track here by Maroon 5. A high tempo party song that never fails to guests of all ages up dancing! We still can’t believe this song was released way back in 2011 but it still heavily features in wedding band song lists now.

14. Champagne Supernova – Oasis

If you’re playing a wedding or event in the UK, you will no doubt hear requests for Oasis. ‘Champagne Supernova’ is one of many euphoric British anthems penned by the one of the biggest bands on the planet.

15. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus

Released in the year 2000 and this pop/rock song absolutely defines the nerdy side of the noughties.

Its chorus is absolutely anthemic and our bands are always pulling this one out at weddings and parties!

16. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

‘Brown Eyed Girl’ is one of the most popular songs of all time is a major hit for functions, parties and weddings. Guests of all ages can enjoy this classic song and its feel good vibes!

17. Parklife – Blur

Is this the most British song ever? Even the opening lyric is ‘OI!’. This song is brilliant and also a little bit quirky to perform. Our wedding bands love covering it and putting their own spin on this cockney classic.

18. Can’t Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers

You can’t beat a bit of funk, and this rocky Red Hot Chili Peppers song is a real upbeat crowd pleaser song to cover. We’ve chosen this one over Californication and other RHCP classics due to its popularity on our bands set lists!

19. Buck Rogers – Feeder

Feeder are an incredible band and ‘Buck Rogers’ is a song that never fails to fill a dance floor. A proper pop rock chorus with loads behind it to get guests singing along at the top of their voices.

20. Mr Brightside – Killers

The most British, non-British song ever made.

If ‘Mr Brightside’ isn’t played at some point during a wedding (or a night out) in the UK, it would feel like something is missing. That something would be this timeless classic by The Killers.

21. Anarchy In The UK - Sex Pistols

Sometimes you have to include something a little bit heavier in your set list for those who like their music with a bit of edge. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ is one of the great punk songs in its genre and makes for an awesome gig atmosphere when bands pull it off correctly.

22. Shut Up & Dance - Walk The Moon

As soon as this song came out in 2014, every wedding band and singer scrambled to be the first to add it to their song lists. We all knew it was going to be a popular cover band song but I don’t think anyone expected it to be as popular as it still is! This is also an awesome song to end the night!.

23. Best Day Of My Life – American Authors

This song is pure feel good vibes and for this reason it is one of the most popular wedding songs we see in setlists for cover bands to perform.

24. Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash

This song has always been a classic track by The Clash but has seen a bit of a resurgence over recent years due to its inclusion in the hit Netflix series, ‘Stranger Things’. Nonetheless, it is an awesome and easy song to cover as a band, always guaranteed to get a good reaction.

25. Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis

LADS! If you asked us to pick the ‘laddiest’ song around, we would play you the opening minute to ‘Chelsea Dagger’ on repeat, for the rest of eternity.

Wedding bands absolutely love to cover this song and couples love to hear it!

26. Lonely Boy – The Black Keys

A great pop rock song with an awesome riff and an even awesome music video (check it out if you haven’t already!). This is a song we’ve seen more and more cover bands play as they look for rock alternatives that aren’t so obvious.

27. You've Got The Love - Florence And The Machine

Such a powerful song and this version by Florence and the Machine will have voices soaring at any wedding or party. This is also one of the most popular songs that people don’t realise is actually a cover! Florence Welch the original single by ‘The Source’ as one of her favourite songs ever. A popular song for UK wedding singers to perform.

28. Rockin’ All Over the World – Status Quo

One of the top rock songs of all time by one of the top rock bands. We love it when wedding bands cover this in their repertoire and bring the stadium rock vibe to their shows!

29. Every Breath You Take – The Police

The most romantic way to say ‘I’m stalking you’, this classic song from The Police is a great cover band song and always goes down well!

30. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the national anthem of Scotland.

Okay, not quite, but Scotland’s favourite duo are known worldwide for their unforgettable song, making it a must have for the end of any party or wedding.

31. Breakfast At Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something

Notoriously one of the easiest songs to cover, Breakfast At Tiffany’s is a simple band song but still one of the best crowd pleasing tracks of all time!

32. Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry

The 90s is packed with fun songs to cover and ‘Save Tonight’ is one of our favourites from this great decade of music.

33. Locked Out Of Heaven – Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is hugely popular among wedding bands and you would struggle to find a wedding band set list without a Bruno Mars song included in it somewhere!

34. Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man

A really cool and funky song that we’re still seeing bands include in their set lists for weddings and parties.

35. Place Your Hands – Reef

The sweet sound of the 90s doesn’t get much better than Reef.

Anybody wanting to relive this amazing decade of music will be right at home with ‘Place Your Hands’.

36. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Among one of the heaviest rock songs on our list of ultimate wedding songs but we had to include Nirvana somewhere. Not only is this a good wedding band song but it also shows how far we have come with weddings over the years! As celebrations become less traditional, songs like ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit are becoming wedding band standards.

37. New Rules - Dua Lipa

One of the most popular EDM and pop songs for both male and female singers to cover. This song is really cool and fun to cover which is why we see it in so many song lists!

38. Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader

‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ is one of those songs that instantly puts you in a good mood. We love how it is so highly requested at weddings as it always creates a magical atmosphere!

39. Human – Rag’n’Bone Man

We love how popular this song became. Rag’n’Bone Man’s deep and unique voice meant that not as many wedding bands have covered this song compared the others on this list, but it is still a well-known enough song to have at your wedding.

40. All The Small Things – Blink 182

Pop punk powerhouses Blink 182 are a mainstay at weddings and parties and ‘All The Small Things’ is a firm favourite for couples to hear on their wedding day!

Its catchy sing-a-long chorus and fast tempo make it a highly requested song to cover.

41. I'm A Believer - The Monkees

One of the best crowd pleasing songs for any band to cover and we love hearing it at a party or wedding.

42. All Day And All Of The Night – The Kinks

The Kinks have a huge back catalogue of worthy tracks for any bands song list and this is one of their most popular.

43. Dynamite – Taio Cruz

We wish more bands would cover this song as it is such a banger! You will most commonly hear this on a wedding DJ playlist but we love it when a band does decide to perform it.

44. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet

A great rock song with a real driving force behind it, our bands love to cover this and it always fills a dance floor.

45. Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

This song has the weird ability to make you nostalgic for memories you never even had. It has that euphoric but wistful feeling that only Ed Sheeran manages to capture better than anyone else!

Also, no one should be driving at 90mph, let alone on country lanes. We just wanted to make that clear.

46. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Joan Jett

A classic rock song from Joan Jett and a great way for bands to get the crowd going! Put another dime in the jukebox.

47. Valerie – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse

An incredible song that is sure to get people singing along. Not only is it one of the most covered songs by any covers band but this version is also a cover of the original track by ‘The Zutons’!

48. Heaven - Bryan Adams

This song is legendary and always works well for a slow dance at a wedding or party. You could even use this as an alternative first dance song to kick things off in a romantic way.

49. Hey Ya – Outkast

‘Hey Ya’ is one of those upbeat jams that you can’t help but dance to. It is super popular as a wedding song request and we’ve heard so many cool arrangements of it!

50. I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor – Arctic Monkeys

Indie rock doesn’t get much better than this. At a time where manufactured and over-produced pop reigned supreme, Arctic Monkeys hit song was the perfect antidote.

It still stands as one of the flagship songs of the early 2000s and our wedding bands absolutely love to cover it.

51. Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love

One listen would have you believing this was an Elvis Presley song, or even a cover a of an Elvis song! Freddie pulls out his best Elvis impression for this one and this original Queen track is a popular song to perform for bands.

52. Have A Nice Day – Stereophonics

Any cover band song list is always made better with some Stereophonics. ‘Have A Nice Day’ is one of the lighter songs from the Welsh rock band, making it a popular song to cover earlier on in the set for our wedding bands.

53. You Really Got Me – The Kinks

This song has one of those unforgettable guitar riffs that is so influential for any of the rock music that followed it! A good cover song to play for any band.

54. Best Fake Smile – James Bay

An upbeat number from James Bay here and this one always goes down well at weddings and parties. This song is always popping up in set lists for folk and festival wedding bands!

55. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

The queen of 80s pop still lives on through her incredible music.

Both male and female led bands cover this song and its one of the most popular throughout the set lists for our bands!

56. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ain’t nothing wrong with some jangly country pop! A good song to cover and the opening riff to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ is enough to get any crowd going.

57. You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi

Okay, maybe not one for a first dance (unless you have a good sense of humour!), but it is easily one of the best rock songs to cover for any band!

58. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry

Probably one of the most covered songs of all time by guitarists at least! We love hearing this as part of a retro mash up by cover bands.

59. Proud Mary – Tina Turner

One of the greatest song intros ever and the build up is totally worth it. All 2 minutes and 20 seconds is worth the wait when ‘Proud Mary’ finally kicks in! This is one of the best cover band songs out there and it never fails at a wedding.

60. Basket Case – Green Day

It’s so cool to be able to hear songs like this at weddings and so many bands love to cover this pop punk Green Day hit from the 90s!

Huge song for turning any respectable dance floor into a mosh pit.

61. Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran

This Ed Sheeran tune might be up there as one of the most covered songs by the cover bands for hire on our roster. Any wedding band set list is sure to have this song in it!

62. Respect – Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is the queen of soul and ‘Respect’ is an incredible and memorable song for any band to cover!

63. Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons

Guests are always requesting Mumford & Sons songs for their wedding, especially here in the UK. The band’s sound and look is so popular for rustic barn weddings which makes their tracks a must for any wedding band.

64. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley

Gnarls Barkley’s debut single ‘Crazy’ was impossible to avoid during its release in 2006. The song was everywhere, and every radio station had it on their playlists! It’s still as popular today with many bands covering it.

65. Superstition – Stevie Wonder

So. Much. Funk.

The musical talent of Stevie Wonder is undeniable and ‘Superstition’ remains as one of the most popular song requests for bands to cover!

66. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

You know when your main riff becomes a football chant across the globe, you’ve done something right with your songwriting. ‘Seven Nation Army’ is a global anthem and one that all cover bands should be able to play!

67. Half The World Away – Oasis

Another wonderful song from Oasis and this one can pull at the heartstrings. Any indie cover band or wedding band will have Oasis in their set list and this is one of the best tracks to include.

68. Happy – Pharell Williams

It doesn’t get much more feel good than ‘Happy’ by Pharell Williams. A proper crowd pleasing track for any wedding band’s set list.

69. Paradise - George Ezra

Recently, George Ezra has been requested more than most artists when it comes to wedding music. ‘Paradise’ is an awesome summer song, and George has many to choose from!

70. Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns N Roses

This is one of those must have songs for any band that leans towards classic rock.

The guitar riff is unmistakable for every living human and is one of the most covered songs ever!

71. Highway To Hell - AC/DC

There aren’t many vocalists who can nail this as well as the original, but the singers who can will almost definitely include this in their set list. An absolute classic rock track from one of the best eras of music.

72. Rude – Magic

A fantastic wedding song by Magic and admittedly a bit of a one hit wonder for the guys. It’s still one of the most popular songs for wedding bands to cover as the lyrics are so perfect!

73. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley really was the whole musical package for a terrific entertainer. The voice, the style, the signature dance moves, the looks, everything. ‘Hound Dog’ is a fantastic crowd pleaser for any set list.

74. Hey Brother – Avicii

An amazing song in its own right and one that is perfect for any festival or folk style wedding band to add to their set list.

75. Dakota – Stereophonics

Young, summer love. ‘Dakota’ perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to be in love for the first time in such an awesome way.

A sense of nostalgia and a sing-along rocky chorus, what more could you want?

76. American Pie – Don McLean

This song clocks in at almost 9 minutes and is a trip from beginning to end. An awesome track to get guests singing along, most bands learn an abridged version for live performances or include as part of a mash up!

77. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina And The Waves

This has been one of the most popular wedding band songs for many years and it never fails to get a good reaction!

78. Teenage Kicks – Undertones

Legendary DJ John Peel claimed this was his favourite song of all time and we have to admit, it’s not a bad choice at all. The best songs are often the most simple and ‘Teenage Kicks’ is great music in its purest form.

79. Lightning Bolt – Jake Bugg

You can absolutely hear influences of Bob Dylan and other incredible songwriters in Jake Bugg’s music. Lightning Bolt is a rocky number for bands to cover and is highly requested.

80. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

We’ve seen so many versions of ‘Uptown Funk’ by different wedding and covers bands that we’ve lost count!

The song has everything you could ever ask for in a party classic and is one of the most popular songs for a wedding band’s set list.

81. Smash Mouth – All Star

All Star is such a classic tune and became iconic after its inclusion in the hit movie ‘Shrek’. We love it and we love that so many bands cover it!

82. Ace of Spades – Motörhead

This one is for any old school rockers out there! A classic tune. This is song is just pure badassery and rock cover bands love to have it in their set list.

83. Sit Down – James

The original version of this song was a flop in the UK, stalling at #77, but the song was later re-recorded, and the more rockier version from 1991 was a huge #2 hit in the UK in April 1991. It is still the group’s biggest hit single in Britain!

84. Ho Hey - The Lumineers

A melancholy folk inclusion here by The Lumineers. This is definitely one of the most requested cover songs for wedding bands to have in their set list. We’ve had couples ask for this for their ceremonies and first dance!

85. Wonderwall – Oasis

No cover band setlist is complete without Wonderwall. For many musicians, it is almost a rite of passage to have this in your repertoire!

You will not be able to play a number of weddings or gigs without this Oasis classic being requested. It is one of the easiest songs to cover but it never fails.

86. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - Green Day

The perfect closing song for a show? Green Day’s timeless classic works so well in many situations, whether this is a first dance, stripped back for an aisle walk or even to end an incredible gig.

87. Symphony (ft. Zara Larsson) - Clean Bandit

This song is fantastic and most often seen in wedding bands with a female lead vocalist! We love how epic it is when performed live, especially when a wedding saxophonist gets in on the action!

88. Blame It On Me - George Ezra

A delightful track by George Ezra, a popular artist for cover band set lists and singers to include in their repertoire.

89. Adventure Of A Lifetime – Coldplay

Coldplay produce hit after hit single so we’re never surprised to see their most popular songs included in the set list for a wedding band.

90. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

A popular song for wedding bands to cover and is one of the most covered songs on our bands set lists.

As soon as any crowd hears the opening 5 words, ‘Just a small town girl…’ they are instantly hooked! A great crowd pleaser.

91. America – Razorlight

Razorlight are a great band who never really got the attention they deserved! Those who remember this song will have fond memories of it for sure.

92. Song 2 – Blur

Woo-hoo! ‘Song 2’ definitely takes any party or wedding gig to another level. When a band needs to turn things up a notch, this Blur classic is sure to stir up a frenzy in the crowd.