During cocktail hour, you want to put people into party mode without going too hard. It's a feel good hors d'oeuvre while you're nibbling on... hors d'oeuvres.
The wrong songs though, can create a weird vibe and make people uneasy. No gangster rap or heavy metal here, if that’s your thing save it for a little later when people have loosened their shirts and are in full party mode. Here’s a great sample playlist:
1) Ed Sheehan - Thinking Out Loud
2) Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
3) Michael Buble - Save the Last Dance for Me or Sway
4) The Lumineers - Ho Hey
5) Al Green - Let’s Stay Together
6) Neil Young - Harvest Moon
7) Van Morrison - Into the Mystic
8) John Mayer - Your Body is a Wonderland
9) Colbie Caillat - Bubbly or Lucky
10) Nat King Cole - When I Fall In Love
Or just cheat and put on Cakewalk's "Cocktail Hour" Spotify playlist here: