What makes a party a great? It has to have good food, a fun crowd, great entertainment and some pretty awesome music. Have you ever walked into a party and just started to bob your head or shuffle your feet to the beat of the song playing? Whether you're throwing a luau, organizing a rave or just planning a small get together with your college buddies, a selection of good party songs can mean the difference between a great party and a so-so gathering.

So, here's a list of good party songs that will get whatever crowd you have swing their hips and get ready to rip the dance floor.

Just Dance by Lady Gaga. A heart-thumping mix of R&B and techno pop, this song's beat will jump right into your bones and will make you, well, dance.

OMG by Usher featuring Will.I.Am. "Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh my God," is exactly what you will say when you hear the decidedly sexy hip hop beat of this song. It will make you swoon, it will make you scream, but most of all it will make you grind to the music.

SexyBack by Justin Timberlake.  With off the hook beat and the unique arrangement of JT's vocals, this song is a party sizzler that makes you want to get sexy back straight to the dance floor.

Blah, Blah, Blah by Ke$ha. With synthesized drum beats and catchy lyrics, it's going to be hard for anyone to resist grooving to this song.

Umbrella by Rihanna. A hip hop beat mixed in with a decidedly rock sound makes this song a hit, but what makes it even more irresistible is Rihanna's catchy pronunciation of the song's title over and over.

Be My Lover by La Bouche. A highly energetic dance mix that will get you pumping your arms and your legs jumping to the words, "La Da Da Dee Da Da Da Da."

Day N Night by Kid Cudi. Hip hop is definitely alive in this party song. Bare-bones beats, well timed sweeps and squelches, and surprisingly reflective lyrics just invites you to bump and grind all night (and day) long.

Fancy Footwork by Chromeo. A perfect blend of crisp drum beats and quivering synths makes this song infectious. An unapologetic tribute to the synthesized pop of the 80's, this party anthem will definitely encourage you to bust out that fancy footwork.

Want to throw a party that is fun and memorable, but don't know where to start? Or, the only thing that lacks in your party is the music? What are some good party sounds? Read on:

• The safest way to bring in the crowd is to play mainstream tunes. This makes it easier for people to relate and loosen up at the party. You can play Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", Willow Smith's "Whip my hair", and Robyn's "Dancing on my own" to make the crowd groove along. As the night progresses, why not add some David Guetta or Ke$ha to keep the energy high? You can add some Florida, Sean Kingston, and even some Kid Cudi songs to feel the groove.
• Then again, those songs will work for theme-less parties. What if you want your party to be mellow but fun? This time, you will need to be more picky in choosing your tracklist. Choose the songs that will go with the theme of the party. Christmas party but you want some class? Then why not pop in tunes from the Rat Pack? You can feature songs from Jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Etta James.
• If you want something light and easy for the ears, the safest way is to play some acoustic covers. Or, better yet some mild world music--the kind you listen at coffee shops? Easy to the ear yet not boring, your sounds will provide a nice ambience to the party.
• If you want things rough, why not pop some pop-rock tunes? The ones that you can lightly bang your head to. Just make sure the volume's toned down a bit to avoid the music from conflicting with people's conversations. If you want the kitschy kind of rock, why not have a karaoke themed party? Gather all the kitschiest songs you know and play them during the party. Throw in a lot of alcohol as well and expect a lot of laughter, singing, and guess-the-song moments. You'll have everyone singing along to the tunes. Another suggestion playlist: songs from your teenage years. Yes, if you are an 80s kid, pop in those Bananarama, Heart songs and sing! You can even pop in sing 90s hits from the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls. What makes these songs fun to listen to (hey, even if you hated them back in the day), is that they all sound nostalgic now. And you can live those times and be campy by singing these songs! There are so many good party songs to choose from.