• 40th Birthday Music Ideasbirthday image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  Celebrating or helping someone to celebrate the big 4-0 this year? Finding music ideas for a 40th birthday can be a challenge; the main focus should be on the type of music the celebrant likes, combined with popular songs from the year they were born. Additionally, you can also incorporate some musical games into the party, or have a musical theme from the '70s. Here are some music ideas for a 40th birthday.
  
  

Disco

• Have a disco-themed party for the person who was born in the '70s. Decorate the party area (or wherever it is that you happen to be celebrating, if possible) with disco and '70s memorabilia. Hang posters from movies such as "Saturday Night Fever" or from popular TV shows such as "Happy Days" or "All in the Family". Play songs from popular '70s artists such as the BeeGees, Gloria Gaynor or Diana Ross. You can even rent a karaoke machine, if you don't have one, and invite guests to sing their favorite disco tunes.
  
  

Country

• If the birthday celebrant is a country music fan, there are lots of music choices. In the '70s, country music stars Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams all had top hits, among many others. Play "The Gambler" album by Kenny Rogers. You can find a list of the top country hits of the '70s on The 9513, a website dedicated to all things relating to country music. If you want to have a country music-themed party, you're not just limited to music from the '70s. You can mix up some current popular country songs in with those from the '70s. Hang posters from shows such as "Gunsmoke" or western movies from the '70s such as "Blazing Saddles."
  
  

Rock

• Rock music of the '70s produced many hits that are still classics today. If you want to have a 1970s rock music theme, some of the biggest hits are by artists such Derek and the Dominos with "Layla," "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel, or "All Right Now" by Free. You can also have a Glam Rock theme, and invite guests to dress as their favorite glam rock artist such as David Bowie or Alice Cooper. Play music from glam rock bands Kiss, Slade, or Roxy Music.
  
  

Favorite Music of the Celebrant

• If you don't want to have a theme party, or you're not celebrating with a party at all, you can also ask the birthday celebrant to pick out a list of her favorite music and compile it on to a CD (or whatever medium you prefer). You can use this in a party or private setting, and you can customize it to the tastes of the birthday boy or girl.