Top 10 Dance Songs of the 2010s

Anytime a successful pop act releases a track with “anthem” in the title, you know it’s about to get crazy. Especially when that act is LMFAO. As one of the best-selling songs of all time, the EDM monster destroyed the charts along with the Internet when the music video went viral thanks to the “Melbourne Shuffle.” The lyrics push listeners to throw up their hands and push it good while party rockin’ like nobody’s business. And you know “Sexy and I Know It” made some booties shake as well. Mission accomplished.

Okay, here’s a lyrically proficient joint that transformed Bruno Mars from a megastar into an unstoppable monstrosity of modern popular music. Some dance songs rely mainly on a dope beat, however this Mark Ronson jam also boasts a complete narrative about looking fresh and funkin’ up the scene. Both its sound and its style were based on the Minneapolis scene of the early '80s, while adding a modern flair that kept us coming back for more. With Bruno Mars taking care of business on the mic, Mark Ronson put a spin on some old-school funk.

Written and produced by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, this electro house sensation spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard charts. It’s probably no coincidence that Rihanna sang about finding “love in a hopeless place” after her turbulent relationship with Chris Brown, and the music video supports this as Rihanna’s co-star bears an uncanny resemblance to her former flame. Despite the sparse lyrical content, the hopeful voice of Rihanna and the inevitable Calvin Harris drop ensured that “We Found Love” would become a modern anthem for rebellious lovers without a cause.

The title of this Euro-hit symbolizes commitment to a loving relationship, but what it really means is “Lock me up and throw away the key.” Featuring the holy voice of Sam Smith, “Latch” found a steady home on the UK charts and slowly but surely found its way into American nightclubs. While Disclosure originally believed their singer to be a woman after first hearing his voice, they found out that he was indeed a grown man capable of owning any octave. As a result, listeners “latched” onto the track along with its controversial music video.

With a little disco funk and that incomparable Pharrell Williams swag, a couple of legendary French musicians added yet another international smash to their distinguished discography. Anybody can relate to gettin’ lucky, which allowed this track to reach the “random access memories” of over 200 million, at least according to official YouTube statistics. Of course, “Get Lucky” is far more than just your typical dance song, as the Russian Police Band perform an interesting rendition of the track.

Does the name Sonny Moore mean anything to you? Well, how about if I said “Skrillex?” While Skrillex’s brand of dubstep/brostep started reaching the mainstream with “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”, it was this 2012 banger that propelled the American DJ to smashing chart success and won him his fourth Grammy Award. With a glitchy beat that will have you headbanging, and all the “wubs” you could want out of a Skrillex tune, “Bangarang” is undoubtedly a signature dance track of the decade.

Inspired by the “kuduro” dance craze, this international collaboration has an irresistible chorus and infectious beat. “Danza Kuduro” was written and produced by French artist Lucenzo, whose family came from the northern region of Portugal. As an ode to his roots, Lucenzo teamed up with reggaeton singer Don Omar for a song about living life to the fullest. The exotic music video features the crew rockin’ the ocean blue and showcasing what luxurious living is all about.

The turntable virtuoso Calvin Harris makes his second appearance on our list with this dope joint, but it’s the first in which he provides his own vocals. With a laid-back groove and poignant lyrics, “Feel So Close” highlights the feeling of magnetic love and tumbling down a waterfall of emotion. It also proves that you don’t necessarily need strong vocals if you already have a sultry electro house beat. With a music video that will never fail to put a smile on your face, Calvin Harris continues to prove that he has this music thing down pat.

This Grammy-nominated track was a fitting conclusion to the supergroup trio of Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell and Steve Angello as the song was released as their last single. With a focus on spirituality and childhood memories, “Don’t You Worry Child” connected with listeners of all ages, and by the looks of the music video, the live performances take the song to an entirely new level. Inspired by the beauty of Australia, this progressive house tune will keep you moving and grooving until the song’s conclusion. And if you’re looking for an additional release, “Miami 2 Ibiza” brings the heat as well.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“On The Floor”
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull (2011)

“Hello”
Martin Solveig & Dragonette (2010)

“I Like It”
Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull (2010)

“Yeah 3X”
Chris Brown (2010)

“Dynamite”
Taio Cruz (2010)

“Hideaway”
Kiesza” (2014)

By sampling Etta James’ 1962 classic, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” this dance song established a new level of progressive house mania. In fact, there’s no original lyrics in Avicii’s production, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t innovate the genre with this sonic miracle. “Levels” has been remixed by Skrillex, it inspired Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” and even K-Pop artist Im Seulong got in on the action. Truly universal, “Levels” channeled a little soul and made us get down with the infectious beat.

So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite dance song of the 2010s? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.