Best Electronic Dance Music of 2016
Looking for the best electronic dance music of 2016? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the top tracks of the year, so you can stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest in EDM.
Introduction
From house and techno, to dubstep and trance, 2016 was another huge year for electronic dance music. With so much great music to choose from, it’s impossible to list everything, but here are 20 of the best tracks that we think you should check out.
Best Dance Tracks of 2016
2016 was a great year for electronic dance music. We saw a lot of new artists emerging and a lot of new trends being established. The best dance tracks of 2016 reflect all of that ingenuity and creativity. From catchy melodies to hard-hitting basslines, these tracks had it all.
Closer – The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
“Closer” is a song by American electronic music duo The Chainsmokers, featuring American singer Halsey. It was released on July 29, 2016, as the lead single from The Chainsmokers’ debut studio album, Memoria (2017).[2] The song was written by Andrew Taggart, Ashley Frangipane, Shaun Frank, Freddy Kennett and Isaac Slade of Colorado rock band The Fray.[3][4][5] It is the duo’s most successful single to date.
The song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100,[6] giving The Chainsmokers their second consecutive and fourth overall top five entry. In October 2016, it topped the Hot 100, becoming their first number-one in the United States. Internationally, “Closer” reached number one in Australia and New Zealand as well as several other major countries including Canada and the United Kingdom.
Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
“Don’t Let Me Down” is a song by American electronic music duo The Chainsmokers. The song features vocals from American singer Daya, and was released on February 5, 2016, throughDisruptor Records and Columbia Records. It peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Cold Water – Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ
Released in July 2016, “Cold Water” is a song by American electronic music group Major Lazer, featuring vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber and Danish singer MØ. The dance track was written by Ed Sheeran, Benny Blanco, MØ, and Justin Bieber, with production handled by Blanco and Diplo.
“Cold Water” is a mid-tempo synth-pop and tropical house ballad which lyrically discusses the theme of recognizing one’s own mistakes and making an effort to change for the better. Upon its release, the song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production as well as Bieber and MØ’s vocals. Commercially, “Cold Water” debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Internationally, the single peaked at number one in several countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden. A music video for “Cold Water” was released on August 1st 2016.
Let Me Love You – DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber
“Let Me Love You” is a song recorded by French electronic music producer DJ Snake, taken as the third single from his debut studio album, Encore (2016). The track was written by Justin Bieber, Benny Blanco, Thomas Pentz and Louis Bell. “Let Me Love You” became one of the best-performing songs of the year, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming DJ Snake’s first and Bieber’s fourth top 10 single in the country.
The song debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 6, 2016, and reached its peak position of number two on November 5, 2016. It became DJ Snake’s first single to be certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 4.8 million units in the United States as of December 2016. Internationally, “Let Me Love You” peaked at number one in Belgium and Poland, while reaching the top three in Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Netherlands, Norway Portugal Slovakia and Switzerland. A remixes EP was released on December 16th featuring American rapper Genius Mike Gip among other remixers.
DJ Snake included “Let Me Love You” in his setlist at Coachella 2017. The song was also included in Justin Bieber’s setlist for his Purpose World Tour.
Best Dance Albums of 2016
2016 was a great year for dance music. In this article, we’ll be counting down the best dance albums of the year. These are the albums that got us moving, that made us feel alive. They’re the ones that we just couldn’t get enough of.
Encore – DJ Snake
Encore is the debut studio album by French electronic music producer and DJ Snake, released on 5 August 2016 by Interscope Records. The album was preceded by the release of two singles, “Middle” featuring Bipolar Sunshine, which peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart, and “Talk” featuring George Maple.
The album features guest appearances from Justin Bieber, Skrillex, MØ, Young Thug, Jermaine Dupri and Travis Scott. The album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 31,000 equivalent units in its first week. It also debuted at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number five on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
A Head Full of Dreams – Coldplay
A Head Full of Dreams is the seventh studio album by British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 4 December 2015, by Parlophone in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States. The album was produced by Max Martin, Stargate, and Coldplay’s long-time producer Rik Simpson.
The album reached number one in the UK and number two in the US. It was the seventh best-selling album worldwide of 2015 with sales of more than six million copies. “Adventure of a Lifetime” and “Hymn for the Weekend” were released as singles ahead of the album’s release. Upon its release, A Head Full of Dreams received mixed reviews from critics; some praised its luminescent pop production, while others found it incohesive and overproduced.
This Is What the Truth Feels Like – Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani’s third solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, is one of the best dance albums of 2016. The album is full of catchy hooks, amazing production, and great songwriting. Stefani’s voice sounds better than ever on this album, and she really shines on tracks like “Used to Love You,” “Make Me Like You,” and “Misery.” If you’re a fan of dance music, you need to check out This Is What the Truth Feels Like.
Conclusion
That’s it for our look at the best electronic dance music of 2016. While it’s impossible to crown a single winner, we hope this list provides a helpful starting point for anyone looking to explore the genre. Thank you for reading, and be sure to check back next year for our updated list.
