Impromptu jam session songs

While I've been practicing and learning new songs, my brain started to wander, and a question formed. Place yourself at something like a family reunion or some other informal gathering, and there is a diverse group of people there, possessing a varied interests in music. Along the way, guitars start appearing, and a jam session begins. What would you expect to be the five most likely songs to be played?

The House of the Rising Sun might be one.

:)

Probably one Beatles tune like, Hey Jude
:)

Cannibal Corpse obviously

You people are having as hard of a time at coming up with 5 songs as I am. Mine, that I finally came up with are;

I too, would go with House of the Rising Sun for a first choice
Take Me Home, Country Roads
She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain
Louie, Louie
Wild Thing

I do find it interesting that the first choice of everybody that i've talked to is a song about a brothel.

To me, a good party/reunion always have one of the famous Johnny Cash songs
(Ring of fire, Folsom Prison Blues, Walk the line etc).
Also, the best thing about Johnny's songs is that they are not the hardest to play. So you can learn 3 or 4 songs pretty quickly (learning the words by heart his the longest thing to do :P )

Like dalduqye said, there's always someone that wants a good Beatles song. I would say that this would be the "slow" song. You always have one of those in a jam session. That way you reach out to almost the entire public/group. Rocking is good but theres always place for a "sitting and listening" song.

Maybe an Elvis song is also a good one to know. That way you reach out to the older generations in the groups. Go check out the lesson on Jailhouse Rock by Anders here on GuitarTricks ;)

Like Victory said, House of the rising sun is a good one that everyone knows.

Remember that your song picks also depends on the region where you live and the people present. For example, if you live in America down south, a good old blues or country song is a must have in your repertoire. Your from Alaska but HEY ! theres always room for blues :)

Margaritaville
For the slow song Father and Son
Well someone will have a harmonica so Heart Of Gold
Fire and Rain
End the night with Cover Of The Rolling Stone and give it that AC/DC ending :)

I don't think there is anything even close to a straight answer. It always depends on your audience. There is no "generic group" that will like certain songs. Depending on your audience it may be anything from top 5 country songs, classic rock songs, jazz songs, or anything else.

I can say though that I don't think "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" is a huge crowd pleaser. Can't imagine any setting where everyone will be impressed if that songs comes up. More of a childs song in my eyes, but then again, that just proves that everyone thinks differently.

Hunter1801, I would really have to agree with you on that song choice. LOL