21 Best 2010s Dance Songs
Dance music, as a genre, underwent a renaissance in the 2010s as emerging artists from the United States and overseas broke onto the scene, changing it forever.
If you ever went clubbing in the 2010s, chances are you are already familiar with a number of the songs listed here. They have been organized by year of release, starting with the most recent and moving backward in time. Take a trip down memory lane as you read through our picks for the best dance songs of the 2010s.
Contents
“Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK
Song Year: 2019
“Kill This Love” opens with blaring horns and fierce drumbeats that demand your attention, announcing the arrival of KPOP queens. What is fantastic about the intro of this song is that its repetitive beat will quickly inspire you to move along with it.
The immediate transition into a brazen rap section will, in my opinion, help you unleash your inner baddie. With its catchy EDM-infused instrumental chorus, you will feel yourself getting swept up in the fast-paced rhythm in no time.
“Boy With Luv” by BTS (ft. Halsey)
Song Year: 2019
This is, by far, one of the most popular songs of the 2010s, and, in Korea, it earned a record-breaking number of music show wins! The song became wildly popular among BTS’ fandom, as well as casual listeners whose attention was grabbed by the feature of Halsey on the track. Whatever dance club you went to in 2019, you were sure to encounter its mesmerizing, summery sounds.
“Boy With Luv” is a bubblegum/electropop fusion with hints of funk and nu-disco that round out its summer vibe and add a warm, tropical inspiration to the song. It is fantastic for dancing along to, and the combined vocals of BTS members and Halsey make for a lovely singalong.
“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson (ft. Bruno Mars)
Song Year: 2018
When this iconic collaboration dropped, it quickly rose in popularity as one of the year's most played songs. Wherever you went to the grocery store, a hotel lobby, or your local club, “Uptown Funk” was sure to make its way through the stereo system.
Mixing funk-pop, boogie, soul, and disco with the slightest trace of an EDM influence, this hypnotic and rhythmic song is sure to inspire you with a little groove of your own. When paired with Mars’ raspy vocals and charismatic delivery, and before you realize it, you’ll be tapping your foot and singing along.
“DDU-DU DDU-DU” by BLACKPINK
Song Year: 2018
Even traveling back into BLACKPINK’s discography, it is clear this track was produced for partying. With catchy choreography and a thumping electronic beat, alongside the opening chant, the song is easy to get sucked into.
If you’re especially interested in dance, then the number of killing points in the choreography is enough to make you dizzy with pleasure. The EDM-inspired chorus allows for beat-killing in a way that not many tracks released around this time do. Leave it to BLACKPINK to deliver yet another masterpiece.
“Havana” by Camila Cabello (ft. Young Thug)
Song Year: 2018
“Havana” is a song that has been described by critics as “bouncy,” and for good reason! This Latin-Pop track with a dash of electronic dance influence is the perfect love song to dance to whether you are with your friends or a partner. The vocal topline in the chorus is extremely fun to sing along to, and the rhythm underneath gets the body moving without you even having to think about it.
“Havana” was so popular upon release that Camila Cabello released a remix with Puerto Rican rapper, Daddy Yankee, in which the first verse is sung in Spanish, and Daddy Yankee replaces Young Thug on the track.
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi (ft. Daddy Yankee)
Song Year: 2017
“Despacito” smoothly slid onto the music scene and garnered the attention of millions of listeners. The whimsical strings of this Latin-Pop/Reggaeton call to mind the salty sea breeze and white sandy beaches. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee profess their most profound desires through their sultry line delivery. The chord progression leading you to the pre-chorus pulls at you like the ocean tide.
“New Rules” by Dua Lipa
Song Year: 2017
Dua Lipa is an artist known for the sensual flair her songs tend to have, and “New Rules” is no exception. It is a captivating song about finding the strength to move beyond heartbreak and the push-and-pull that accompanies trying to break away from a toxic-yet-charismatic partner. The instrumental mimics this magnetism, and the listener feels like they’re being drawn deeper into the song with every verse, only to be pushed out abruptly by the chorus.
This particular track is an interesting blend of many genres, including RnB, Soul, EDM, and Reggaeton.
“Work” by Rihanna (ft. Drake)
Song Year: 2016
Despite the explicit nature of the music video, as well as its sexually suggestive lyrics, the song in and of itself captures shared love and mutual desire in a way not many other duets would have managed to given the same theme. The chemistry Drake and Rihanna exude as artists and performers are top-tier and as they sing to one another, harmonizing together and parroting lyrics, the atmosphere they create is perfect for any club setting.
“Closer” by The Chainsmokers (ft. Halsey)
Song Year: 2016
“Closer” was an instant earworm when it came out. Between The Chainsmokers and Halsey’s beautiful vocals and classic pop elements combined with electronic and dance, it is not difficult to see why it became so popular. Additionally, the story the song takes the listener through lyrically is a journey. It is rare to find a song that is easy to dance to and where you get a full narrative, but “Closer” succeeds.
“Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake (ft. MØ)
Song Year: 2015
There is no denying just how catchy “Lean On” is. Its hook is iconic, and the electronic-infused Moombahton instrumental filling in the empty space truly adds flesh to the song itself. Moombahton derives a lot of its inspiration from Reggaeton and house music, and elements of this can be heard in the echoes of the drum machine and whining of the synths.
“Lean On” is a fantastic track for a rave setting or a pool party, the diversity of this track lies in the simplicity of the lyrics but the inclusion of a well-rounded instrumental.
“Where Are Ü Now” by Skrillex and Diplo With Justin Bieber
Song Year: 2015
If you were frequenting nightclubs or were dedicating yourself to the rave scene in 2015, you may have noticed the popularity of this song. The verses use Justin’s gorgeous voice singing about lost love – while the chorus drops into a fast-paced, almost upbeat rhythm that allows the person to imagine they’ve thrown themselves headlong into forgetting about the pain that accompanies a breakup. Perhaps listeners can relate to the feeling? We’ve all been there.
“Shut Up And Dance” by WALK THE MOON
Song Year: 2014
“Shut Up And Dance” is an electronic dance that swept the radio stations and topped charts shortly after its release with its memorable and repetitive chorus and blaring synthesizers. The guitar progression gives the song an element of the increasingly popularized new wave pop-rock.
If you’re at the club but afraid of hitting the dance floor, then I think this mid-2010s anthem will give you the perfect advice. Let go of your fears, feel the rhythm, and “Shut Up And Dance.”
9. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
Song Year: 2013
“Happy” was actually a song that was recorded and released as a part of the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, but the fame the song would subsequently receive had very little to do with the bright yellow minions who iconically danced along to the upbeat melodies and bouncy instrumental. Independently, it has received many awards and even has acclaim as the best song of 2014, following its November 2013 release.
Though it is known as a soul/neo-soul track, the dance moves demonstrated by Pharrell in the music video were extremely popular among middle and high school students.
“Harlem Shake” by Baauer
Song Year: 2013
The song that started one of the hottest dance crazes of the decade, “Harlem Shake,” transcends being iconic- one could argue that it is actually historic. The massive wave of individuals filming collaborative “Harlem Shake” videos ranges from regular elementary school students to celebrities.
In and of itself, the song is very simple. It is an electronic dance beat with very little to it in the way of lyrics. What makes this particular track so memorable is the dance that accompanied it. When the moves for “Harlem Shake” went viral via Youtube, millions of people flocked to parody it. To this day, this iconic choreography is only rivaled by the likes of “Gangnam Style.”
“Turn Down For What” by DJ Snake and Lil’ Jon
Song Year: 2013
To this day, “Turn Down For What” is still the same beloved meme and absolute bop that it was when it came out in 2013. Lil’ Jon’s delivery is what ultimately sells this song, which is largely a fusion of trap and electronic dance by dropping bars that will stick in your brain long after you’ve heard it. Even now, I can still recite the chorus.
You can not talk about club songs that transformed the 2010s without discussing “Turn Down For What,” leaving it off this list would be criminal.
“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (ft. Wanz)
Song Year: 2013
From the loud horns to the group chanting, who doesn’t remember the loud intro of “Thrift Shop?” Intended by Macklemore to be a comedic song, by and large, I don’t think anybody ever expected this track to receive the success that it did. However, there’s no denying that it was produced extremely well. From the mixing to the clever vocal arrangement and cavalier line delivery, there is something addicting and endlessly humorous about playing “Thrift Shop.”
“Gentleman” by PSY
Song Year: 2013
The perfect follow-up to “Gangnam Style,” “Gentleman” was easily one of the most danceable tracks released in all of 2013. At this point in the game, PSY had already gained fame in the United States and was one of the first South Korean artists to make a name for themselves on an international level. Though KPOP, as a genre, had been thriving in its home country, it had yet to make large waves among the general public.
“Gangnam Style” by PSY
Song Year: 2012
PSY is, perhaps, one of the largest reasons KPOP became popular in the west, particularly the United States, among your average citizen. When “Gangnam Style” was introduced to the public, people went mad for it. Everywhere you looked, people were mimicking the iconic pelvic thrusts, as well as the “horse riding” move. You could not attend a school dance or a music festival without “Gangnam Style” being played and people crawling between the legs of dance partners.
“Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO (ft. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock)
Song Year: 2011
“Anthem” appearing in the title of this song was not an exaggeration, and I don’t think anybody could have anticipated the splash made by LMFAO when they released “Party Rock Anthem,” because it became THE anthem of 2011. The music video is hilarious, the song popping, and as soon as it comes on, waves of nostalgia will crash over you as the words you thought you had forgotten rush back into your mind.
The iconic shuffle that characterizes the song is easy enough to follow along to that people young and old are able to get down to the “Party Rock Anthem.”
“California Gurls” by Katy Perry (ft. Snoop Dogg)
Song Year: 2010
It is safe to say that this song is unforgettable, despite it being released 12 years ago. To this day, it is perhaps one of Katy Perry’s most beloved songs. It is impossible not to sing along when and wherever “California Gurls” plays. From its smooth intro to the tongue-in-cheek quips Katy Perry makes throughout the recording, in a word, this song really brings its A-game. Her voice does not hurt, either, because, in spite of how fun it is, her vocal runs are insane!
“Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj
Song Year: 2010
Everyone knows Nicki Minaj is a fantastic rapper, but nobody was prepared for just how beautiful her singing voice was when the chorus hit in “Super Bass.” The song’s arrangement is wonderful, as well, from the various distortion effects placed on her voice to the various ad-libs, and when you factor in the hypnotic, thumping bass? Through any half-decent speaker, it is enough to get your heart pounding out of your chest.
Top 2010s Dance Songs, Final Thoughts
The songs I have listed here are, subjectively, THE best dance songs of the 2010s because, for me, they carry fond memories of school dances and parties with friends. Though I may not have covered every artist that got you grooving during this decade that can be thought of as the renaissance of dance tracks, I hope I have still brought you some nostalgia with my picks.
