Playlist of a 90's Stripper

In my 20s, I loved clubbing and dancing the night away. A couple of weekends a month, I would get a babysitter for my two young daughters and hit the club scene with my girlfriends. It was a great way to unwind, socialize with old pals, and meet new people. I enjoyed getting a break from my usual mom gear (t-shirts & jeans, or sweats) to swap out for some heels, a sexy new dress, a fresh hairdo, and makeup. Oh, those sure were the days. My friends and I could move on that dance floor which caught much attention.

I will never forget the night a young man dropped a pile of $1 bills down on me from an upper seating level in a club. He approached me afterward, telling me that I should be a stripper. This immediately became a dare made by my friends, one of which I made good on that summer.

At 24, I packed up my daughters and moved from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Utica, New York. Before this, I had performed at various clubs throughout the tri-state region, scouting out the scene until choosing a stable location. I gained experience in the adult entertainment world but ultimately wanted to settle in one place to raise my children. In Utica, I found a juice bar and, for the next two years, became a permanent fixture known as a “House Girl.”

The revolving circuit scene gave me a good idea of all the personalities I would encounter and answers to safety concerns and club etiquette before taking my permanent home in upstate New York. In addition, I was greeted by several other young stripper moms, all single mothers. Believe it or not, I had a great support system with the other girls, networking for child care, housing, shared safe rides, etc. Sure, there are typical downsides to this type of business, but my experiences were mostly positive.

My playlist includes my ten favorite songs used in my 1995 & 96 performances. Like every stripper, I had a genre of music that I preferred; mine was dance, rhythm and blues, and a bit of rap. A typical set for dancers is 2 or 3 songs depending on the number of girls scheduled to work on a particular shift. I generally would pick one upbeat tune followed by a slowdown. Even though my stripper days are long behind me, I still use these songs to work out at home. Dancing is an excellent form of exercise and a whole lot of fun.

My first set of 2 songs is by Aaliyah, one of my favorite female artists from the '90s. I didn’t necessarily choose multiple pieces by the same artist in one set, but I loved her voice. Later in my life, I went on to name one of my twins Aaliyah who, just like the artist, sadly passed away.

Set number 2 begins with the La Bouch, a German- American electronic music duo. They had several popular hits, including “Be My Lover” and “Sweet Dreams.” This hit was one of the top picks for the dance genre. The second song, “Who Can I Run T0,” is by Xscape, an all-girl group who’s cd often played on repeat at my apartment.

Set number 3 goes to Method Man and Mary J. Blige with “All I Need” and Mariah Carey and ODB with “Fantasy” remix. Sometimes I would perform sets that did not include any slower pace music. I loved mixing things up, and “Fantasy” is one of my top picks for stage performance songs.

Set number 4 is “Never gonna get it” by En Vogue and “Sweetest Taboo” by Sade. “Never gonna get it” was probably one of my best- choreographed numbers. I love the energy of this song. Although “Sweetest Taboo” is not a 90’s song, it will always be on my playlist. This hit came out in 1985, and I had never heard of anyone like Sade before. There is a very sensual appeal to her music.

My 5th and final set is “Sexy MF” by Prince and “How do you like it” by Keith Sweat featuring Left Eye. The Late and Great Prince is one of my all-time favorite performers, and there is no way I would exclude his music. Besides, his style is fitting to the strip club environment. I used to get an uproar of approval with this one. Finally, I close out with Keith Sweat, who has some of the best old-school songs. This choice was a massive hit, especially when paired with Left Eye from TLC.

It has been 25 years since my stripper days, but I still listen to my playlist, dancing at home. I worked as an exotic dancer for a short period, but I appreciate dance on an even greater level from my experiences. Dance is an art, but you do not have to be a professional or a stripper to enjoy it or benefit. So find some music you like, perhaps something from my list above, and make space in your living room. Get comfortable; turn the tunes up and dance, baby, dance!!