Top 10 Dance Songs of All Time
These tunes just make you wanna get up and shake your groove thang, over and over again. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Dance Songs of All Time. For this list, we're ranking the best, most memorable and popular dance tunes from the 1970s to the mid-2010s.
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#10: “Dancing Queen” (1976) ABBA
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Nobody knew how to throw together infectious pop hooks quite like ABBA, as this monster international hit demonstrates. From the first moment, when a piano glissando bleeds into an angelic chorus wordlessly oohing and aahing, “Dancing Queen” grabs hold of the listener’s ear and won’t let it go. The beat behind the tune isn’t as openly propulsive as most disco hits, but it’s all the more powerful for that reason. And the silky vocals are heavenly.
#9: “One More Time” (2001) Daft Punk
Top 10 Dance Songs of All Time - Best of WatchMojo
Always the musical innovators, French duo Daft Punk brought on American DJ Romanthony for this electronic classic and auto-tuned his voice just enough to give it that robotic flair. The lyrics of “One More Time” capture the feeling of living in the moment, while the euphoric sound sets the tone for an unforgettable dance experience. Many critics have listed Daft Punk’s hit as one of the best tracks of all time, but it’s undoubtedly the quintessential dance track of the 2000s. #8: “Disco Inferno” (1976) The Trammps
Top 10 Dance Songs of All Time - Best of WatchMojo
The Trammps’ disco classic was released in 1976 and became a dance club hit, yet it didn’t make an impression on the general public until it was included on the “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack two years later. The song was inspired by the destruction of the dance club in the film “The Towering Inferno,” but it really caught fire when it played as John Travolta snaked across the screen. One of the hottest and smoking-est dance tracks, it absolutely forces people out of their chairs and onto the floor.
#7: “Hey Ya!” (2003) Outkast
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Through a gonzo blend of musical genres, a pair of rappers from the south not only transformed popular music but helped people show off dance moves they probably didn’t know they even had. Musically, “Hey Ya” may put a smile on your face, but delve into the lyrics, and you’ll find some emotional lines about relationship issues. Ya’ll don’t wanna hear him though, you just wanna dance. Definitely one of the most sonically joyous tracks ever recorded, “Hey Ya” proves that even the most personal of songs can make you get up and shake it.
#6: “Groove Is in the Heart” (1990) Deee-Lite
A fan favorite in the ‘90s night club scene, this funky house tune just won’t let you stop moving. With Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest providing the rhymes and Bootsy Collins throwing down a sweet bass line, “Groove Is in the Heart” blended a variety of genres while maintaining the feel-good vibe of a dance floor. There ain’t no other ‘90s dance song like it, as proven by its psychedelic music video which mesmerizes us as much as it encourages us to continue moving to the track’s infectious groove.
#5: “Celebration” (1980) Kool & The Gang
We all know that special someone who refuses to dance – UNLESS this song blasts through the speakers. And it usually happens at a wedding reception. Originally released in late 1980, “Celebration” has become a party anthem for good times and laughter too. Who cares if the lyrics aren’t deep or thought provoking? All that matters is that Kool and the Gang wants to party hard with the entire world. And that, my friends, is something to celebrate, so c’mon!
#4: “Holiday” (1983) Madonna
Produced by Jellybean Benitez, this pop classic became the breakout hit for a 25-year-old singer named Madonna Louise Ciccone and catapulted her from obscurity to pop stardom. Her accessible pop sound became a huge success but of course, her music videos were on a whole other level. “Holiday” became essential listening for the children of the 80s, and grown women continue to scream out everything time this song is heard. It’s one of Madonna’s personal favorites, and a definitive dance track of her immaculate collection. Of course, her 1990 hit “Vogue” never fails to get us moving either.
#3: “I Will Survive” (1978) Gloria Gaynor
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Most classic disco songs are about…well dancing. But Gloria Gaynor’s multi-platinum monster hit has other things on its mind: namely, making sure that the entire world – and one person in particular – knows that she is not someone to be messed around with. A glorious anthem of self-reliance, inner strength and defiant anger, “I Will Survive” stands the traditional torch song on its head. Those seeking personal empowerment need look no further; get those fists pumping while those feet get moving.
#2: “Billie Jean” (1982) Michael Jackson
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Say what you want about Michael Jackson, but no one can deny his influence on dance music, and certainly no one could bust a move like the King of Pop. While the musical production of “Billie Jean” boasts the perfect vibe for dance floor boogies, it was MJ’s 1983 live performance that stunned the world and inspired a new generation of dancers. So you think YOU can dance? Michael Jackson offered up a master class on live television and instantly proved that “Billie Jean” had become the ultimate ‘80s dance song. Of course, he also released “Beat It” and “Thriller” to further establish himself as the Boss of the Dance Floor. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Le Freak” (1978) Chic “Superfreak” (1981) Rick James “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (1983) Cyndi Lauper “Just Dance” (2008) Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis “Levels” (2011) Avicii
#1: “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) Bee Gees
The Bee Gees told everybody in 1976 that they should be dancing; a year later, the entire world was on its feet, thanks to the disco juggernaut that was the “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack. And “Stayin’ Alive” is about as iconic as a song you can get; more than any other single cut, it indelibly captures the feel, the sound and the intensity of the entire disco era. The Gibb brothers’ tune is built on an undercurrent of alternating tension and release, perfect for a time when people danced like their lives depended on it. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite dance song of all time? For more groovy top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
