A music game for dinner parties

For after dinner, when nobody wants to go home yet. Everyone answers a question with a song, you play each one, and the stories behind them do the rest.

Why it works round the table

Asking someone about the song they'd want played at their funeral gets a better answer than asking about their week. The songs are the excuse; the conversation is the game.

There are no winners and no scores, so nobody's competing and nobody's left out. People who'd never join in with charades are happy to pick a song.

You need one phone and a speaker. No cards, no props, nothing to set up.

Questions that get people talking

A few from the Original deck, which has questions from the heartfelt to the ridiculous:

  • A song that could play over the end credits of a movie about your life
  • A song that you'd dedicate to your younger self
  • A song that embodies the personality of the person next to you
  • A song that you want played at your funeral
  • A song that people wouldn't expect you to like
  • A song that is a guilty pleasure
  • A song you hated at first but love now
  • A song you'd want to time travel back to hear live

Make it your own

Everyone can write their own question once a game. It comes up in a later round with their name on it, which is a good way to ask the table something you've always wanted to know.

Take turns choosing the category, or leave it to chance. Want something lighter? Stay with the casual and trivial questions. Feeling brave? Go for the intimate ones.

Questions people ask

How long does it take?
8-track (8 songs, about 40 min) is a good fit after a meal. Mixtape (16 songs, about an hour and a half) or CD (24 songs, about two hours) if the night's going well.
What if someone can't think of a song?
They can say "give me a moment" and go later in the round, up to 2 times a game, or play a filler song that doesn't quite fit, up to 2 times.