Top 10 Songs That Gave Us Famous Dances
#10: “Lambada” (1989) Kaoma
Although the lambada dance was already sweeping South America in the ‘80s, it was this 1989 hit that made it an international sensation. Released by the French-Brazilian group Kaoma, “Lambada” was an unauthorized translation of the Bolivian song “Llorando se fue” that fused Caribbean rhythms with infectious pop melodies. As the tune hit peak popularity in the late ‘80s, so did the eponymous sensual dance. Characterized by intimate body movements between partners and intricate Salsa-style footwork, the lambada captivated people around the world and became a staple on dancefloors. Like many one-hit wonders, the song and its accompanying dance eventually waned, but it saw a brief comeback in 2011 after it was sampled on Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor”.
#9: “Cha Cha Slide” (2000) DJ Casper
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It says a lot when a song that was created for a fitness workout takes over the dancefloor and becomes a global phenomenon. Tapping into the Chicago-style stepping movement, DJ Casper made an infectious jam with the perfect how-to manual. What made the “Cha Cha Slide” catch on quickly were the step-by-step instructions that told patrons how to execute the moves in the easiest way possible. You didn’t need to know how to finesse some complicated rhythms. Just one slide to the left, another to the right, a little hop and stomp, and you’re good to go! While we never really heard from DJ Casper again, his legacy has continued to live on at wedding parties and sporting events all around the world.
#8: “Gangnam Style” (2012) PSY
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Before “Gangnam Style” hit the waves in 2012, K-pop music wasn’t nearly as popular worldwide as it is today. Not only did this song pave the way for the global rise of other K-pop acts, it also gave us one of the goofiest dance fads ever. Picture yourself riding a horse and trying to throw a lasso. Now take away the horse and take away the lasso, and you’ve got a move that practically everyone, even highly influential political leaders, were attempting back in the early 2010s. “Gangnam Style” transcended language and cultural barriers to become an international smash hit. Just a few months after its release, the now-iconic music video became the first YouTube clip to reach one billion views.
#7: “Vogue” (1990) Madonna
Madonna by no means created the art of voguing. The dance style originated in the ballroom scene of Harlem, New York’s LGBTQIA+ community, where the pop star drew her inspiration from. Once this song was released in 1990, however, it became an international chart-topper and catapulted the niche moves from the underground ballroom scene to the mainstream. Calling on everyone to strike a pose and vogue, the song’s lyrics celebrate the artform, put on extravagant display in the David Fincher-directed music video. With more than six million copies sold, “Vogue” became Madonna’s best-selling single at the time. And decades after its release, the dance still lives on in the rooms and clubs whence it originated.
#6: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008) Beyoncé
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There’s something about black-and-white music videos that just makes everyone lose their minds. It’s no news that Beyoncé is one of the greatest performers to ever walk the earth, a title she easily earned with the video for her Grammy Award-winning single “Single Ladies”. The song hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, not just for its catchy hook and empowering lyrics, but also for the instantly recognizable choreography featured in the music video. Inspired by a Bob Fosse routine, Beyoncé and her two backup dancers gave us the signature hand wave that spawned thousands of parodies and kicked off a craze. Today, “Single Ladies” remains a lasting symbol of female empowerment and the fastest way to run out of breath.
#5: “Night Fever” (1978) Bee Gees
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The Bee Gees will always be remembered for helping to usher disco into the mainstream in the mid to late ‘70s. One of their signature songs remains “Night Fever” which was released as part of the soundtrack for 1977’s “Saturday Night Fever”. The dance drama made its lead actor John Travolta a household name, and this song’s use in the film popularized the diagonal pointing-into-the-air move performed by the actor. The dance quickly became synonymous with the disco movement, popping up in clubs and parties around the world. To call “Night Fever” a cultural phenomenon would be putting it lightly. It defined an era in music history and still endures as a timeless classic.
#4: “Thriller” (1983) Michael Jackson
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Throughout his long and storied career, pop icon Michael Jackson was known for his signature moves such as the moonwalk and the anti-gravity lean. But perhaps his most famous routine came from the groundbreaking music video of his single “Thriller”. The parent album of the same name had already spent nearly a year at the top of the charts before this song’s music video was released in December of 1983. Directed by comedy filmmaker John Landis, the video featured the singer as a zombie performing with other undead dancers. The iconic choreography took the world by storm and inspired countless imitations. It was once performed by nearly 13,000 dancers in Mexico City.
#3: “The Twist” (1960) Chubby Checker
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It’s not quite clear where exactly this dance originated from. But Hank Ballard, who first wrote and recorded “The Twist,” was reportedly inspired by a group of teenagers he saw doing the dance in Florida. Although Ballard’s 1958 version was fairly popular, it would take two years and a cover by Chubby Checker for it to become a global hit. In August 1960, Checker performed the song and the titular dance on the Dick Clark show “American Bandstand” and the rest is history. The move, which was pretty easy to execute, swept across the U.S. and was a hallmark of the ‘60s. Regarded as one of the first dance crazes, “The Twist” kicked off a sensational trend that continues to this day.
#2: “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (1995) Los del Río
Before the reign of “Despacito,” there was only one Spanish song that graced the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and that was “Macarena”. Although the original song was released in 1993 by the pop duo Los del Río, it wasn’t until the Bayside Boys put a unique spin on it that it spread like wildfire all around the world. By the summer of 1996, the song and its corresponding dance were impossible to avoid. Practically anyone who could walk unaided at the time was doing the Macarena, from Olympic athletes to politicians at the Democratic National Convention. It certainly helped that all you needed for the move were working hands and hips that weren’t afraid to swing. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” (2015), Silentó Silentó Had Everyone Whipping and Nae-Naeing With This Infectious Bop “Teach Me How to Dougie” (2010), Cali Swag District We Certainly Hope You Learned To! “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (2007), Soulja Boy Tell'em Even Superman Had to Take a Break From Saving the World to Hit the Dancefloor “Lean Back” (2004), Terror Squad feat. Fat Joe & Remy Ma This Song Managed to Spark a Dance Craze From Lyrics About Not Dancing
#1: “Y.M.C.A.” (1978) Village People
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Most other songs on this list either established a dance move with their music videos, or popularized already established ones. The routine associated with “Y.M.C.A.,” however, came after the song had already become a hit. Reportedly, while performing the track on an episode of “American Bandstand,” the audience mistook the band’s overhead claps for a ‘Y’ and just made up the rest of the number. Thus, the cheerleader-esque choreography that we all know was born! Village People subsequently adopted the routine, and as the song continued to soar in popularity, so did the dance fad. These days, there’s nary a person around who hasn’t been seen rocking the “Y.M.C.A” at some point.
