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slang.fyi

setlist

/ˈsɛtlɪst/

Common

The ordered list of songs an artist plays at a live show.

Setlist discourse is its own genre online. Fans argue about what should have been played, what got cut, and whether the opener was the right choice.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01the setlist was 24 songs and they played the deep cut i've been waiting years forA long show that included a rarely performed fan-favorite track.x, 2024
02leaked setlist and they're not playing half the album. i'm devastatedFan disappointment after seeing planned songs ahead of a show.x, 2023
03someone threw the setlist into the crowd and my friend caught it. genuinely pricelessGetting the physical setlist paper as a concert souvenir.instagram, 2024
04check setlist.fm after the first show to know exactly what you're gettingRecommending a website where fans log concert setlists in real time.reddit, 2023

Use it when

  • Discussing what songs were or will be played at a concert.
  • Sharing a photo of the physical setlist paper left on stage after a show.
  • Debating an artist's song choices for a tour.

Do not use it when

  • You mean a studio tracklist on an album.

Origin and context

Compound of 'set' (a group of songs performed in sequence) and 'list'. Used in live music since at least the 1960s. The term became mainstream with fan culture growing online in the 2000s.

First seen
1960s
Confidence
medium

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Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/setlist
Updated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0

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