The Top 10 Pop Dance Songs of All Time

From Michael Jackson to Madonna, these are the top 10 pop dance songs of all time according to Billboard.

Introduction

It would be hard to overestimate the role that dance music has played in popular culture. For generations, people have used dance music as a way to let loose, express themselves, and come together. While the specific songs that get people moving may change over time, the appeal of dancing to pop music remains constant.

There are countless great dance songs out there, but some stand out above the rest. Here are ten of the best pop dance songs of all time.

1. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
2. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
3. “Sorry” by Justin Bieber
4. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
5. “What Does the Fox Say?” by Ylvis
6. “Gangnam Style” by PSY
7. “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” by Los Del Rio
8. “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
9. “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
10. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé

“Crazy in Love” is a song by American singer Beyoncé, featuring American rapper Jay-Z. The song was released as the lead single from Beyoncé’s debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003). It features a sample of early-’80s hit “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)” by Chicago-based soul/funk band The Chi-Lites. “Crazy in Love” peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Beyoncé’s first number-one single as a solo artist and Jay-Z’s third.

The single spent eight weeks on top of the Hot 100, earning Beyoncé her longest-running number one single as a solo artist, tied with “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. The song won Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 46th Grammy Awards, makingBeyoncé only the second African American woman to win in both categories in the same year since Lauryn Hill did so in 1999. It also won Song of the Year at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, while also being nominated for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The music video for “Crazy in Love”, directed by Jake Nava, featured Beyoncé dancing provocatively throughout several Parisian locations.

The song became one of Beyoncé’s signature hits and has been included on various compilation albums, such as The playlist: The Very Best of Beyoncé (2010), On the Run Tour: Live from Paris (2014), Lemonade (2016), and Crazy In Love: The Collection (2019). In 2019, Billboard ranked it as the greatest love song of all time.

“Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd

The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” is a song that has it all: a great beat, great lyrics, and a great message. The song is about a guy who is in love with a girl who is in love with someone else. The guy can’t help but feel jealous, but he knows that he can’t control how she feels. He just has to accept that she loves someone else and move on.

“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars is a fun and upbeat pop dance song that has become one of the most popular songs of all time. The song was released in 2014 and quickly rose to the top of the charts, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year. The song features a catchy beat and positive lyrics that make it impossible not to dance along. “Uptown Funk” is the perfect song to get any party started, and it is sure to get stuck in your head after just one listen.

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran is a song that was released in 2017. It quickly climbed the charts and became one of the most popular songs of all time. The song is a mix of pop and dance and has a catchy beat that makes it perfect for dancing.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor

“All About That Bass” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her 2014 debut EP and 2014 studio album, Title. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-leading single of Trainor’s career, and also reached number one in 58 other countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is a song by American singer Whitney Houston, released as the first single from her second studio album, Whitney. The song was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of the pop music duo Boy Meets Girl, and produced by Narada Michael Walden. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” received positive reviews from music critics and topped the charts in several countries, including the United States, Canada, West Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.

The song won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards. The accompanying music video for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” was directed by Brian Grant and premiered on May 7, 1987. The video features Houston dancing along with a large group of people at different outdoor locations in Los Angeles. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” has been featured in various television shows and movies including: Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Bridesmaids (2011) and Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).

“Sorry” by Justin Bieber

“Sorry” is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015). The song was released on October 22, 2015 as the second single from the album. “Sorry” is a dance-pop and tropical house song written by Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Sonny Moore, Justin Bieber and Michael Tucker, and produced by Skrillex and Blood. It features vocals from Bieber’s apologetic plea to a former lover. The song sold 124,000 digital copies in its first week of release in the United States and debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bieber’s third consecutive number-two debut on the chart. Internationally, “Sorry” reached number one in Australia, Canada and New Zealand—making this Bieber’s sixth consecutive single to reach this feat—and peaked within the top ten of several other countries including France, Germany and Sweden.

“Dance (A$$)” by Big Sean

“Dance (A$$)” is a song by American rapper Big Sean, released as the second single from his debut studio album, Finally Famous (2011). The song features additional vocals from Canadian singer Cassie Ventura. It was written by Sean, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Ester Dean, Benjamin Levin and Aaron “Yeoman” Nevezie. The production was handled by Hit-Boy and Kanye West.

The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video was directed by Traktor and features appearances from occasional actor Danny Trejo and rapper Nicki Minaj, who is also featured on the song’s remix.

“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

“Get Lucky” is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk, featuring vocals from American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams. The song was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). It is an upbeat disco and funk song in the key of G♯ minor, with a tempo of 116 beats per minute. “Get Lucky” peaked at number one in thirteen countries, including France, where it became Daft Punk’s first number-one single on the French Singles Chart. Internationally, the single reached number one in Australia and Venezuela. In the United States, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 behind Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”, while topping Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs and Dance/Electronic Songs charts.

The song’s music video was directed by Daft Punk themselves and contains a cameo appearance by Paul Williams. The video features Daft Punk performing the song with a band inside a darkened studio room; Williams also performs his part alongside Nile Rodgers on guitar. “Get Lucky” won Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards (2014).