80s and 90s Electronic Dance Music Hits

The 80s and 90s were a golden age for electronic dance music. From Depeche Mode to The Prodigy, check out our list of the greatest hits of the era.

Introduction

Electronic dance music, or EDM for short, is agenre of music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Characterized by its fast tempo and upbeat style, EDM is often associated with nightclubs, parties, and festivals.

EDM has experienced something of a resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of artists like Kygo, The Chainsmokers, and Calvin Harris. If you’re looking for a blast from the past, or just want to discover some new tunes, check out our list of 80s and 90s EDM hits!

“Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic

“Pump Up the Jam” is a song by Belgian group Technotronic released as their debut single in late 1989. The song reached number two in the United Kingdom in February 1990 and number one on Billboard Hot 100 a month later.

“Rhythm is a Dancer” by Snap!

“Rhythm is a Dancer” is a song by German group Snap!. It was released in June 1992 as the lead single from their second album, The Madman’s Return. The song became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Finland, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the UK, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.

“What is Love” by Haddaway

Love is a 1993 song recorded by the Trinidadian-German musician Haddaway for his debut album, The Album. It was released as the lead single from the album on May 29, 1993 and became a worldwide hit, peaking at number 1 in 13 countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland and Norway. In the United States, it peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“I Like to Move It” by Reel 2 Real

Reel 2 Real’s “I Like to Move It” is a perfect example of the 90s electronic dance music sound. The song features a catchy beat, Cowbell, and a sample of the film Madagascar. The song was released in 1994 and quickly rose to the top of the charts, becoming one of the most iconic songs of the 90s.

“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory

This song was released in 1990 and quickly became a worldwide hit, reaching the top of the charts in multiple countries. The song is credited with helping to popularize electronic dance music, particularly in the United States.

“Everybody Everybody” by Black Box

Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of record producer Daniele Davoli, computer scientist Valerio Semplici, and DJ Max Pezzali.

The group’s biggest hit was “Everybody Everybody”, which reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, and Australia. The song also peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Black Box’s other singles include “I Don’t Know Anybody Else”, “Strike It Up”, “Ride on Time”, and “Fantasy”.

“No Limit” by 2 Unlimited

Hits like “No Limit” by 2 Unlimited brought electronic dance music to the mainstream in the late 80s and 90s. The genre became increasingly popular with the rise of rave culture and dance clubs.

“Can You Feel It” by The Jacksons

The Jacksons were a successful group in the 1970s and early 1980s. The group consisted of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. “Can You Feel It” was released in 1981 as the third single from their album Triumph. The song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. “Can You Feel It” is a dance song with positive lyrics about dancing and unity. The song became a dance hit in the 1980s and has been sampled by numerous artists over the years.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Merrill and Rubicam originally wrote the song for British group Baltimora in 1985, but the group ultimately rejected it. Houston’s version was released as the lead single from Whitney on May 2, 1987, just six months before the album’s release. The song became Houston’s fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards ceremony.

The music video for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” was directed by Brian Grant. It features Houston dancing with friends at various festive events. It won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. Houston performed “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” in support of charities responding to HIV/AIDS, including AIDS Project Los Angeles and amfAR. At the 2005 World Music Awards, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” received an award for 100 million copies sold worldwide, which also made her one of only seven female artists to sell more than 100 million records. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 140 on its list of “The 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”.