The Best Dance Electronic Music of 2016
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A look at the best dance electronic music of 2016. From new to old, these are the tracks that you’ll want to add to your playlist.
Best Dance Albums of 2016
The best dance music of 2016 brought us catchy hooks, thumping beats and often unexpected turns. This was a year where gender barriers in music genres continued to be broken down, and where fresh ideas thrived. Here are our picks for the best dance albums of 2016.
Flume – Skin
Flume’s second album, Skin, was released on 27 May 2016 to positive reviews. AllMusic’s Heather Phares praised the album, writing that “Skin is the sound of an artist coming into his own, as well as a confident step forward that bodes well for his future.”
The Chainsmokers – Collage EP
The Chainsmokers are an American DJ and production duo consisting of Alexander Pall and Andrew Taggart. They first gained popularity with their 2014 song “#Selfie”, which became a top 20 single in several countries. Their debut EP, Bouquet, was released in October 2015, receiving mixed reviews from music critics. The group’s second EP, Collage, was released on November 4, 2016.
The lead single from the EP, “Closer”, featuring vocals from Halsey, became The Chainsmokers’ first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Collage debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart.
Calvin Harris – This Is What You Came For
This Is What You Came For is the fourth studio album by Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris. It was released on 29 April 2016, through Sony Music. The album’s lead single, “This Is What You Came For”, featuring Rihanna, was released on 29 April 2016. The second single, “My Way”, was released on 17 September 2016.
The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, and became Harris’s third consecutive album to reach the top position in both countries. This Is What You Came For received generally positive reviews from music critics upon release. The album won Harris his first Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Best Dance Songs of 2016
The year 2016 was a great year for electronic dance music. Many different artists released fantastic tracks that got audiences moving. In this article, we’ll be discussing some of the best dance songs of 2016.
Flume – Never Be Like You
2016 was a huge year for dance music, with so many amazing artists releasing incredible tracks. It was hard to narrow it down, but we’ve selected what we believe to be the best dance song of 2016: Flume’s “Never Be Like You.”
Featuring the vocals of Australian singer-songwriter Kai, “Never Be Like You” is a beautiful, moving track that will get you up and dancing in no time. The production is flawless, and the melody is unforgettable. If you’re looking for the perfect dance song to help you let loose and have a good time, look no further than “Never Be Like You.”
The Chainsmokers – Closer
“Closer” is a song by American DJ duo The Chainsmokers, featuring American singer Halsey. The song was released on July 29, 2016, through Disruptor Records and Columbia Records. It is the second single from their debut studio album, Collage (2016). “Closer” was written by Andrew Taggart and Ashley Frangipane, with production handled by The Chainsmokers. Noah Cyrus is featured in the opening verse of the song. Musically it is an EDM pop ballad which has influences of indie pop. Commercially, “Closer” became both The Chainsmokers’ and Halsey’s first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In doing so it became only the fourth single to top the Hot 100 before its album’s release; the three previous being “Satisfaction” (1965) by The Rolling Stones, “I Gotta Feeling” (2009) by The Black Eyed Peas, and “Work” (2016) by Rihanna featuring Drake. As of January 8th 2017 it has spent 12 weeks at number one making it the longest running #1 hit for a duo in Billboard chart history beating out “ Closer” also became The Chainsmokers’ first UK number-one single on August 20, 2016.
An accompanying music video was released on October 24, 2016 which depicts a love triangle between two men and a woman played by model Emily Didonato.
Calvin Harris – This Is What You Came For
“This Is What You Came For” is a song by Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris, featuring English singer Rihanna. It was released on 29 April 2016 as the fourth single from Harris’ third studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 (2017). The song was written by Harris and its co-writers, British singer Naughty Boy and American rapper Taylor Swift; with the latter two credited under their respective aliases, Will Simms and Teddy Wingz. “This Is What You Came For” was released to contemporary hit radio in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2016, and in the United States on 26 July 2016. The song peaked at number three on both the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100.
The song received positive reviews, with critics praising its composition and club-ready sound, while others deemed it as one of Harris’ best productions and one of Rihanna’s strongest releases in recent years. An accompanying music video was released on 15 June 2016. It features footage of Rihanna performing in a nightclub intercut with scenes of a couple dancing in various locations around Los Angeles; these alternate between colour and black-and-white as the video progresses.
