Top 10 Songs to Get Everyone On the Dance Floor

Backstreet Boys were one of the hottest music groups of their generation. But even amidst steep competition from their various hits, this single remains a crowd favorite. Though it may have never hit #1 on the US charts, it’s a real party anthem. The song won best group video at the VMAs in 1998, and went on to win favorite song at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. The song has a bit of an instructional vibe to it thanks to the catchy lyrics: “throw your hands up in the air, wave them around like you just don't care” and of course… “rock your body”. With such a catchy beat, they’re easy to follow.

Are these three little words the key to making an enduring dance hit? Between this and the aforementioned song, we’re noticing a bit of a pattern. Former *NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake sure rocked dancefloors across the world with this single in 2003. It’s one of his most beloved solo songs on his first debut studio album ‘Justified’. Timberlake lures dancers to the floor with lyrics like “grab your girls and you grab a couple more.” Then he encourages them to follow basic moves, like to “whirl,” “rock,” and “shake.” The song’s blend of disco groove and soul will leave everyone on the dance floor feeling euphoric by the time JT brings it to a close.

You’d be hard pressed to find a dance party playlist that doesn’t include this song. Rapper Missy Elliott’s most successful single ‘Work It’ made everyone want to bust a move. The song was ranked one of the best songs of the 2000s by Rolling Stone, and continues to get people pumped many years later. The rhythmic Timbaland beat and catchy lyrics make it an easy song to groove to, even if you can’t do some of the crazy dance moves from the music video. Put this track on and you can guarantee that the “badonkadonks” will start shaking as everyone works it to the rhythm of the beat.

Jumping ahead to a more contemporary hit, let’s talk about this feel-good jam. Producer and singer Pharrell Williams’ infectiously upbeat single ‘Happy’ received a lot of love and radio airplay. His blend of R&B, funk, and soul turned the song into a bona fide international sensation, and the accompanying video concept, advertised as "the world's first 24-hour music video" certainly helped to spread the love. ‘Happy’ ultimately proved to be the best-selling song of 2014 and became one of the most popular tracks to dance to at parties and weddings. The point of the song is not to necessarily dance well, but to dance to the rhythm of your own heart.

When you hear this song, you can’t help but think of the smash hit musical ‘Footloose’. The movie helped popularize American singer Kenny Loggins’ song, which claimed the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1984 and was promoted by a music video featuring footage from the film. The upbeat tempo reminds people of the movie’s final dance scene, in which the characters break loose and have a dance party of their very own. This feeling of nostalgia, coupled with the song’s infectious beat and melody makes it a timeless dance track.

What ‘90s girl can resist the desire to dance when this song comes on? For that matter, which ‘90s boy can resist it either? The girl power group made it to the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 in the late ‘90s with this Motown-influenced track. But this song had far more influence than chart positions can measure. The song’s choreography made it an international sensation, enticing many to join in by following the easy-to-remember dance routine. It also helps that “Stop” has a singalong chorus that goes with the routine. Be it a wedding, a sleepover or a ‘90s dance party, “Stop” is a must-play track.

When this song comes on, it’s almost impossible not to hit the dancefloor and ‘shake it like a Polaroid picture’. Hip-hop duo Andre 3000 and Big Boi’s single ‘Hey Ya!’ was named one of the most successful hits of the decade by Billboard magazine, and at least as far as it applies to dance parties, it hasn’t lost any of it’s appeal over the years. OutKast encourages listeners to ‘get on the floor’ and just shake it. Those are simple instructions that anyone can appreciate and follow through on.