Dance music greatest hits is a collection of upbeat genres such as disco, house, funk and techno that includes more slow styles such as chillout.
Dance music’s story begins with disco, then progresses through early Eighties club sounds such as electro and Latin freestyle before evolving in Chicago as house and Detroit as techno music. Next came rave and EDM music in the Nineties before finally reaching its pinnacle during the 2000s rave explosion and EDM boom.
Disco
The disco music craze may have been one of the shorter-lived fads in the history of the dance floor, but it left behind a lasting influence on contemporary electronic music. It was born on Valentine’s Day, 1970 when a New York City deejay named David Mancuso hosted a dance party in his Manhattan apartment inspired by the rent parties of Harlemites in the 1920s. Mancuso used his record collection to provide the soul, funk and R&B music that kept dancers moving on the floor all night. This is often credited as the birth of disco and a movement that centered Black, Brown, and Queer people.
Disco was a cultural phenomenon that transformed the sound of pop, rock and much more. It was especially popular with women, African Americans and Latinos, and it had a profound impact on the gay community. It was also a time when artists began to explore the power of their own voices, and it became an important vehicle for female empowerment.
This 1979 smash hit by Gloria Gaynor is an anthem of self-love and empowerment that transcends generations. Its message of strength and triumph over adversity has made it one of the most timeless and enduring songs in pop music. Its iconic sound and beat have been replicated across the world by dancers and karaoke singers alike.
Donna Summer’s collaboration with producer Giorgio Moroder is a classic example of disco at its most sophisticated and visionary. Its minimal electronic sound was years ahead of its time and laid the groundwork for synthpop and house music.
The Bee Gees’ biggest hits from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack showcased Barry Gibb’s falsetto and luxurious textures. Its layered harmonies and lush arrangements set it apart from other disco tunes.
While many of the most influential disco acts were African American, many non-black musicians also incorporated elements of the genre into their own work. For instance, Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” from 1979 incorporated disco elements and was a huge success. Similarly, progressive rock group Pink Floyd’s album A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1979) included a version of the song “Money” that was heavily influenced by disco.
Electronic dance music (EDM)
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is an umbrella term that encompasses various dance-oriented genres such as house, synthpop, techno, trance music and drum and bass. EDM can be created either by DJs or electronic music producers using computers; this allows producers to fine-tune every aspect of a song’s tempo, synth sounds and vocal samples if necessary – including replacing them if they no longer suit.
EDM can trace its roots back to disco music’s popularity during the 1970s and 80s, particularly disco’s ability to get people on dance floors moving, paving the way for other EDM subgenres such as techno and trance. Notable examples of disco songs that helped birth EDM include Donna Summer’s 1977 synthesized hit “I Feel Love” and 1974 hit “Rock Your Baby”, both featuring drum machines and Roland rhythm machines – these songs helped form what later came to be known as synthpop.
EDM continues to gain in popularity and now enjoys widespread appeal. Its signature thumping beats and hypnotic rhythms can become mesmerizing; while its buildups aim to get listeners up on their feet or raise hands in celebration.
EDM music can be extremely complex, yet still adheres to certain core principles. These include loud volumes and an average BPM between 129 to 150. Additionally, EDM often utilizes synthetic sounds and timbres – with minimal vocalization present.
No matter your taste in music, this playlist has something for you. From contemporary house tracks to timeless club classics and iconic artists like Calvin Harris reimagining himself as a DIY dance-pop architect and encouraging A-List stars like Rihanna and Dua Lip to explore dance spheres in their music, this list has something for everyone.
House music
House music made its debut at Chicago’s Warehouse nightclub in 1977 with an electronic pulse, merging disco’s rhythmic elements with drum machines, synthesizers and audio editing techniques to form chart hits that went on to influence everyone from Stock Aitken Waterman to The Style Council as it ignited a cultural movement.
“Move Your Body” became one of the definitive House anthems during its time, boasting an infectious synth line and emotive vocal that showcased all that House could offer. Yet its lyrics remain subdued for such an aggressive genre – in fact it even begins slowly before eventually picking up momentum again!
The 1990s witnessed the arrival of an entirely new genre of club hits: house. From acid house’s clacking beats to deep house melodies, each variant brought something special and original to this musical form.
ATFC, an expert House music enthusiast, was an integral part of its heyday and can identify which tracks made its hallmark sound. Here he presents 10 timeless house tracks.
“Groove Is In The Heart” made waves across radio stations nationwide in 1989 with its sensual, funk-infused house cut that exuded sexual euphoria – it became one of the first dance-pop crossover hits ever! Boasting charismatic vocals by Lady Miss Kier and an irresistibly grooved house groove inspired by ’70s house music, its ageless appeal remains. Even its quickly assembled video made up from pre-war dancing clips and basic animation is instantly recognisable – hard to imagine such a statement making dance-pop crossover hits nowadays!
Techno
Techno is a dance music genre that has developed over decades. Techno artists create massive hits that stand out from EDM music with its louder sound, unique feel, and distinct hypnotic beats that many listeners find attractive. One key characteristic that characterizes techno is its distinctive hypnotic beats; these drum beats are one reason so many listeners find pleasure listening to this genre of dance music.
Though techno is filled with fantastic tracks, some songs truly stand out among the pack. Techno enthusiasts consider some tracks to be some of the greatest rave songs ever composed and some remain timeless favorites at parties of all types today – definitely something worth checking out if you’re curious!
The 1920’s may not have been the ideal decade for dance music, yet techno artists continued to produce captivating tracks like Tooz and Fyex’s 2020 Raw Hypnotic track that topped the Beatport Raw chart and is still played at all of the best clubs today.
This song by Detroit producer is infectiously catchy. A fantastic mix of hypnotic beats and heartfelt vocals make this track perfect for anyone interested in hardcore music.
It would be impossible to select just one classic by this Detroit techno legend, as his entire catalog contains incredible tracks. Of those tracks, Jaguar stands out as being truly iconic – it crosses boundaries within dance music while still remaining an influential tune that has been covered by many artists as an excellent demonstration of just how diverse techno can be.
Kelli Hand, one of the original pioneers of Detroit techno, stood out amongst a male-dominated field as an exceptional female producer. Acacia Classics compilations showcase her prolific back catalogue; Starz stands out as an urgent yet lush track which propels forward but remains hypnotic at once. Music collective Drexciya are often described as the Public Enemy of techno, yet all their manifestos and political commentary would mean nothing without their music being so great; Starz from Acacia Classics features an original Kraftwerk sample combined with electro beats and Afrofuturist mythology that sounds great 40 years after release!