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21 Best Songs About Dancing of All Time

Show off your dance moves with these iconic songs. 

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Best Songs About Dancing

The best songs about dancing of all time feature toe-tapping beats and infectious rhythms along with easy-to-follow lyrics, so people can sing along. 

Dance songs have been a feature of the charts over the decades, from early rock-and-roll classics to modern-day hip-hop and electronic music producers. 

We’ve chosen a broad spectrum of artists and bands to bring you a diverse selection of the best dancing songs in music history.

 

The 21 Best Songs About Dancing of All Time

Whether you’re a fan of classic rock music or prefer upbeat pop songs with an electro beat, there’s plenty of great music so you can get up and dance. 

This playlist has been compiled to ensure there’s something here for all tastes, from the iconic rock band the Beatles to present-day megastar Lady Gaga. 

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 21 best songs about dancing of all time:

 

21. “One More Time” – Daft Punk 

We’re kicking off this playlist exploring the greatest songs about dancing with a classic track from the dance music genre: “One More Time.” 

This legendary electronic music release was a massive hit for the French producer duo and remains one of the best dancing songs to date. 

Daft Punk burst onto the scene in the late 1990s with their debut album Homework, which catapulted them into international fame with the single “Around the World.”

 

20. “Hips Don’t Lie” – Shakira Ft. Wyclef Jean 

Before wowing her fans with her iconic song about animals, “She Wolf,” Shakira unleashed the dance floor classic “Hips Don’t Lie” in 2005. 

“I never really knew that she could dance like this (hey),” the lyrics praise in this popular song, continuing with, “She makes a man want to speak Spanish.” 

Released on the album Oral Fixation Volume 2, “Hips Don’t Lie” also featured the vocal performance of another iconic star of the era, Wyclef Jean.

 

19. “I Can’t Dance” – Genesis 

The ironically titled “I Can’t Dance” by progressive-rock-turned-pop band Genesis came at the height of their fame under the stewardship of Phil Collins. 

It’s a catchy song with an infectious beat and memorable lyrics and stands as one of the most commercially successful releases by the illustrious band. 

“I Can’t Dance” was released at the height of Genesis’s fame, when they were known for touring the world and delivering sell-out performances at major stadiums.

 

18. “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” – Will Smith 

Will Smith’s excellent party song, “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” needs little introduction to anyone with even a passing knowledge of 1990s music. 

It’s one of several hit songs from Smith’s 1997 album, Big Willie Style, which catapulted the actor into the spotlight and helped to make him a household name. 

“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” is an incredibly fun song that can’t be taken too seriously, as well as a track for trying out your latest dance routine.

 

17. “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk The Moon 

Our next entry in this playlist of great dance songs is “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon, an uplifting rock song that won multiple music industry awards. 

“We were victims of the night, the chemical, physical, kryptonite,” the catchy lyrics sing, “Helpless to the bass and the fading light, oh, we were bound to get together.” 

Blending rock and electro-pop, “Shut Up and Dance” was released in 2014 on Walk the Moon’s album, Talking Is Hard, to critical and commercial acclaim.

 

16. “Push It!” – Salt-N-Pepa 

Another great song about dancing that dominated the charts upon its release is “Push It!” by Salt-N-Pepa, released in 1987. 

One of the biggest hip-hop songs of the decade, it features lyrics that quote a line from “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks. 

Ranked as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, “Push It!” remains popular to this day and features a colorful and lively music video.

 

15. “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins 

“Footloose” by Kenny Loggins was released in 1984 as the title song to the movie of the same name starring perennial star Kevin Bacon. 

What makes the song memorable is the lyrics about kicking off your Sunday shoes and letting loose before life passes you by in a flash. 

Kenny Loggins previously performed with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in the 1970s before paving the way as a successful solo artist the following decade.

 

14. “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake 

Justin Timberlake needs no introduction, with many chart-topping Billboard Hot 100 hits throughout his incredibly impressive career. 

“Can’t Stop the Feeling” is classic Timberlake, with the lyrics, “Nothin’ I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance, feelin’ good, good creepin’ up on you.” 

Timberlake released “Can’t Stop the Feeling” in 2016, and it was featured in the hit animated movie Trolls, which made it a huge hit among children.

 

13. “The Twist” – Chubby Checker 

We’re heading back to the early 1960s for another hit song that urged millions of youngsters to get up on the dance floor and do their thing. 

“The Twist” by Chubby Checker was a huge smash at the time and signaled the arrival of rock and roll in true style. 

This excellent dance track popularized the titular dance move, with Checker also responsible for the pony dance style with his song “Pony Time.” 

 

12. “Dance Tonight” – Paul McCartney 

After parting with the Beatles, Paul McCartney went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, with “Dance Tonight” among his many hits. 

It’s a simple yet effective song with repetitive lyrics that encourage the listener to dance the night away wherever they are. 

Paul McCartney released “Dance Tonight” later in his career, with this 2007 song featured on the track listing for his album Memory Almost Full.

 

11. “Dancing In The Dark” – Bruce Springsteen 

Another iconic rock singer who is no stranger to success is Bruce Springsteen, who released “Dancing in the Dark” to huge acclaim from critics. 

“You can’t start a fire sittin’ ’round cryin’ over a broken heart,” the lyrics sing, “This gun’s for hire, even if we’re just dancin’ in the dark.” 

It’s a seminal work that shares the same classy guitar as his great song about murder, “Nebraska,” and another dance song worthy of anyone’s playlist.

 

10. “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”- C&C Music Factory 

“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C&C Music Factory shares a resemblance to Salt-N-Papa’s “Push It!” and comes from the same era of music. 

Released in 1990, this dance floor tune was a popular hit in nightclubs worldwide, designed exclusively to get people’s toes tapping. 

One of their most iconic songs, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” perfectly encapsulated the zeitgeist of the early 1990s.

 

9. “You Should Be Dancing” – Bee Gees 

The iconic multiple Grammy Award–winning band the Bee Gees released a string of classic songs marking the high point of the disco era. 

“You Should Be Dancing” is perhaps their most famous song oriented toward the dance floor and was featured in the hit movie Saturday Night Fever

Released in 1976, “You Should Be Dancing” was featured on the Bee Gees’ album Children of the World and was the first single from this classic long player.

 

8. “Twist And Shout” – The Beatles 

The Beatles helped define rock and roll with their early hit song, “Twist and Shout,” which kicked off a new trend in dancing worldwide. 

Taken from the album Please Please Me, “Twist and Shout” is a driving song with fast strumming guitars and infectious vocals that drive it forward. 

It marked the band as one to watch, paving the way for dozens more chart-topping hits over the following decades, securing their reputation as one of the greatest bands of all time.

 

7. “Dancing With Myself” – Billy Idol 

Two years before releasing “Eyes Without a Face,” his classic song about eyes, Billy Idol released another huge hit, “Dancing With Myself.” 

This new wave classic featured the artist Generation X and these lyrics: “I wait so long for my love vibration, and I’m dancing with myself.” 

“Dancing With Myself” was released in 1981 on Billy Idol’s album 4, with the music video picking up an MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects.

 

6. “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars 

Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars joined forces for “Uptown Funk,” one of their biggest hits and a great song for anyone looking for dancing music. 

This pop song is another great example of how catchy and repetitive lyrics can help drive the rhythm forward and create a compelling tune. 

Mark Ronson has enjoyed many successes over the course of his career, with “Uptown Funk” among his most popular songs to date.

 

5. “Dance to the Music” – Sly and the Family Stone 

Sly and the Family Stone released “Dance to the Music” in 1968, releasing it as the lead single from their album of the same name. 

“All we need is a drummer for people who only need a beat, yeah,” go the lyrics in this fantastic song. “I’m gonna add a little guitar and make it easy to move your feet.” 

Sly and the Family Stone helped define the emerging funk genre at the time, with this top-ten hit single helping them establish a solid reputation among music fans.

 

4. “Dancing Queen” – ABBA 

Like the Bee Gees, ABBA transformed the disco music scene in the 1970s and 1980s into one of the most popular genres on the planet. 

“Dancing Queen” firmly established their reputation as singer-songwriters capable of producing some of the best songs of all time and dominating the charts. 

It’s one of the most iconic songs from their discography, loved by millions of fans worldwide, and still regularly played on radio stations and in discos.

 

3. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston 

The classic Whitney Houston song “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was released as the lead single from her second studio album, Whitney

With beautiful instrumental arrangements and stirring vocals from Houston, it’s a classic example of her unique style and a high point in her early career. 

Selling well over a million copies, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” helped establish Whitney Houston’s reputation as an iconic female vocalist.

 

2. “Let’s Dance” – David Bowie 

David Bowie is another celebrated artist who has enjoyed many successes over this long career, with “Let’s Dance” a notable entry in his discography. 

The lyrics sing about putting on your best red shoes and hitting the town for a night of dancing in clubs after listening to the radio to get in the mood. 

“Let’s Dance” was released in 1983 as Bowie began experimenting with more pop vibes but maintained his inimitable vocal prowess.

 

1. “Just Dance” – Lady Gaga Ft. Colby O’Donis 

We’re wrapping up this playlist of amazing dance songs with “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga, who collaborated with Colby O’Donis on this excellent track. 

Like the best karaoke songs, “Just Dance” combines simple yet effective lyrics with a pumping beat and singable vocals that urge the listener to participate. 

Released in 2008, “Just Dance” was featured on Lady Gaga’s album The Fame, with a high-production-value music video helping push it up the charts.

 

Summary

There you have it, our complete playlist covering the best songs about dancing you can listen to when you’re in the mood for strutting your stuff on the dance floor. 

These iconic songs span several decades of music history and reflect changing dance trends that have emerged in the wake of new music genres. 

With nightclubs continuing to be incredibly popular among young people, we can anticipate more new and exciting dance songs to be released in the future.

What’s the best song about dancing, in your opinion? Leave a comment below. 

Andy has been producing music since the early days of Cubase and spent much of the 2000s mixing house and techno with his trusty Technics 1200s. Fast forward two decades, you'll find him in his home studio experimenting with the latest music production software, tinkering with Ableton plug-ins, and occasionally trying (and failing) to complete Cuphead for the hundredth time.