Billboard’s Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks
Contents
- What is Electronic Music?
- The Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks of All Time
- “In the Navy” by The Village People
- “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
- “Toxic” by Britney Spears
- “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd
- “Lean On” by Major Lazer ft. MØ & DJ Snake
- “Levels” by Avicii
- “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
- “Wake Me Up” by Avicii
If you’re a fan of electronic music, then you’ll want to check out Billboard’s Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks. This list features the latest and greatest hits from some of the genre’s biggest names. So whether you’re looking for something new to dance to or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, this is the perfect place to start.
What is Electronic Music?
Electronic music is a genre of music that uses electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. It encompasses a wide range of styles, from dance and club music to experimental and avant-garde forms.
Defining the genre
While it’s difficult to boil down an entire genre of music to a single definition, most experts agree that electronic dance music can be distinguished from other genres by its heavy reliance on computers and synthesizers. Electronic dance music is generally created for use by DJs, who mix together different tracks in a continuous set.
This genre of music has its roots in the United Kingdom’s underground club scene of the early 1980s. At that time, clubs like Manchester’s Hacienda were playing a blend of disco, new wave and synth-pop that became known as “new pop.” This new sound soon spread to other clubs in the UK, and by the end of the decade, it had taken root in Europe and North America as well.
The history of electronic music
The origins of electronic music date back to the early 1900s, when composers began experimenting with new ways to create sound. One of the earliest pioneers was Italian composer Luigi Russolo, who in 1913 wrote a manifesto advocating for the use of “noise” in music. Russolo’s idea was that any sound could be musical, regardless of whether it was created by an instrument or not.
With the advent of new technology in the mid-20th century, composers were able to create sounds that had never been heard before. This allowed them to explore ideas that were simply not possible with traditional instruments. In the 1950s and 1960s, composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez began creating works that incorporated electronics into traditional orchestrations.
In the 1970s, a new generation of composers emerged who were dedicated to creating music solely with electronic means. These composers, often referred to as ” minimalist,”utilized repetitive patterns and long passages of sustained sound to create pieces that were both hypnotic and meditative. Some of the most famous minimalists include Terry Riley, La Monte Young, and Phillip Glass.
In the 1980s, a style of music known as “house” emerged from the club scene in Chicago. House music was characterized by its use of repetitive 4/4 beats and synthesized melodies. It would go on to become one of the most popular genres of electronic music, spawning subgenres like techno and trance.
Today, electronic music has come to encompass a wide range of styles and genres. From ambient soundscapes to club-ready dance tracks, electronic music continues to evolve and surprise us with its endless possibilities.
The Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks of All Time
The Village People’s “In the Navy” was released in 1979 and quickly rose to the top of the Billboard charts, becoming one of the most popular electronic music tracks of all time. The song is an ode to the United States Navy, and its catchy melodies and danceable beat make it a favorite among electronic music fans.
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
This song by Michael Jackson topped Billboard’s Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks of All Time. The song was released in 1982 and was a part of Jackson’s Thriller album. The track has a danceable beat and talks about a woman who claims that Jackson is the father of her child. The song became one of Jackson’s signature hits and is widely considered to be one of the greatest electronic music tracks of all time.
“Toxic” by Britney Spears
“Toxic” is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears for her fourth studio album In the Zone (2003). It was released on January 13, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. The song was written and produced by Christian Karlsson andPontus Winnberg, with additional writing from Brittany Talanza. Lyrically, it refers to a poisonous love affair.
The song received acclaim from music critics, who noted its similarity to Spears’ previous work with producers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, and praised its hook as well as Spears’ vocal performance. “Toxic” won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005. It peaked at number one in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, while reaching the top five in Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the United States, “Toxic” became Spears’ fourth top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after debuting at number seven on the issue dated February 7, 2004.
A black-and-white music video directed by Joseph Kahn was shot in December 2003 and released on January 12, 2004. It won Best Pop Video at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awardsand Best Female Video at the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards. The video features Spears in different scenes where she poisons her cheating boyfriend (played by François-Simon Chartier) with a potion; it received positive reviews for its use of irony. “Toxic” has been performed on all of Spear’s concert tours since its release.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
“I Will Always Love You” is a song originally written and recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter, Dolly Parton. The song was covered by Whitney Houston in 1992, and her version went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time. The track was produced by David Foster, and features a piano accompaniment throughout.
The song became an international hit, topping the charts in several countries including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. In the US, the song spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the longest-running single by a female artist in history. The track also won Houston several awards, including three Grammy Awards.
“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
“Uptown Funk” is a song by British record producer Mark Ronson from his fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015), featuring American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. The song was written by Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Phillip Lawrence, Bruno Mars and Nicholas Williams; produced by Ronson, Bhasker and Mars; and with additional writing from Rudolph Taylor and Robert Diggs. “Uptown Funk” earned two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The song topped the charts in more than 20 countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Brazil.
“Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd
“Can’t Feel My Face” is a song by Canadian singer The Weeknd from his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The song was released on June 8, 2015 as the lead single from the album. It peaked at number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100.
“Can’t Feel My Face” is an uptempo synth-pop and dance-pop song with a house beat. The song’s instrumentation consists of synth keyboards and drum machines. Lyrically, it features The Weeknd singing about hedonism and drug use. Upon its release, the song was acclaimed by music critics and nominated for several awards.
“Lean On” by Major Lazer ft. MØ & DJ Snake
Released in 2015, “Lean On” is a track by Major Lazer, a musical group composed of record producer Diplo and DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. The track features vocals from Danish singer MØ and French DJ Snake. “Lean On” was released as the lead single from Major Lazer’s third studio album, Peace Is the Mission (2015). Upon its release, “Lean On” received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production and overall sound. The track was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and reaching the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
“Levels” by Avicii
In 2011, Swedish producer Avicii released “Levels,” a dancefloor-ready anthem that would go on to become one of the biggest songs in EDM history. The track features a catchy piano melody and a drop that will get even the most reluctant raver moving. “Levels” was so successful that it reached the top 10 in several countries, including Avicii’s native Sweden, and it even won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
“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 Pharrell Williams. The track was written by Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Paul Jackson Jr., and Thomas Bangalter. It is the lead single from Daft Punk’s fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013).
The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has become one of Daft Punk’s most commercially successful songs. It also peaked at number one in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. “Get Lucky” won Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards. A live version of “Get Lucky” was recorded at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014 and features additional vocals from Stevie Wonder.
“Wake Me Up” by Avicii
At number 10 on Billboard’s Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks of All Time is “Wake Me Up” by Avicii. The Swedish DJ and producer released the track in 2013, and it quickly became a global hit, reaching number one in over 20 countries. The track is a mix of electronic and folk music, with a driving beat and feel-good melodies that make it impossible to resist dancing along.