Researchers have revealed that certain genres of music compel listeners to get up and move, such as house, techno and drum & bass music with uptempo dance-club beats and catchy melodies that encourage dancing.
DJs and producers used new technologies such as sequencers and drum machines to craft these sounds, while still including older genres such as disco and funk in their mixes.
It’s easy to dance to
Dance music is easy to get down with because its upbeat beat makes for easy movement and energy release. Dance songs can also help children stay active and engaged with activities they may otherwise find dull or monotonous, like schoolwork. Billboard has compiled an excellent selection of upbeat dance hits suitable for both children and adults looking for some good moves!
First step to learning dance: understand a song’s tempo. Tapping your toes or fingers along to its beat acts as a human metronome to determine whether its fast, slow or somewhere in-between tempo is being addressed in its composition. Knowing this tempo makes moving with it and creating your own dance moves much simpler!
“Groove is in the Heart” by Long Island native Leslie Wunderman is one of the most iconic dance songs ever written. Released as a 1987 classic, its memorable chorus and unabashedly hammy synths made it an instantaneous classic that could bring cheering arenas, nightclubs, and pool parties across America to their feet! No surprise this high-powered hip-hop jam also appeared in Boogie Nights!
Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 single, “Ferrari,” makes for an easy dance hit that even your non-dancer friends will be willing to get down with. With its pulsing drumbeats and angular guitar licks that harken back to postpunk forefathers Gang of Four and Wire, its hook-laden toe-tappers will entice even your most resistant to dancing friends onto the dance floor!
“Dynamite,” by South Korean band 311 is another easy dance song that makes dancing simple: its upbeat tempo and entertaining lyrics make it perfect for parties or dance classes – simply put on this music and watch your kids have an absolute blast! Encourage arm and leg movement while helping develop coordination and motor skills; teach simple steps such as the forward/backward rock/side to side rock/shuffle step!
It’s fun
Summer has seen many major highlights this year, from major movie releases and fashion trends to music festivals. But nothing has captured people’s hearts quite like dance music has. From stadium concerts to viral hits, dance music has made an indelible mark on pop culture as we know it; and it shows no sign of slowing anytime soon.
Dancing music is all about having fun! Studies have demonstrated that dancing to an upbeat beat releases happy chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin in your brain; plus it makes great exercise! So if you’re feeling stressed out by life’s challenges, turn up some dance tunes and start moving–you may be amazed how much better you feel afterwards!
Dance music’s history dates back to the 1970s and ’80s with disco, funk and boogie, later evolving to house music due to DJ use of electronic musical instruments to produce an original sound known as house music, which featured looping samples, sampling and segueing techniques. House’s popularity increased further during this period with artists such as Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy creating their own interpretations of this genre.
Since its advent in the ’70s, dance music has taken many different forms: techno, drum and bass, U.K. garage and electro are just some of the many subgenres found within it. Dance music remains popular across both genders and has produced numerous hit songs throughout its history – classic disco classics as well as recent chart hits by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa being among them.
Though dance music has become more accessible to a mainstream audience, its roots remain embedded within underground club culture. Now streaming services make discovering tunes easier than ever for everyone; providing popular hits as well as niche genres like house and techno music – even breaking new dance artists into mainstream recognition! No matter if it be for solo listening at home or for social gatherings with friends; there’s sure to be one or more dance songs perfect for you.
It’s addictive
No feeling beats that of dancing to an infectious beat! No matter whether it be at home, in a club, or just shaking your booty on the subway – dance music has the ability to change how we feel about life. Dancing releases dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin into your brain which then increase heart rate and blood flow for an excellent workout that leaves us feeling happier, healthier and more energetic – who wouldn’t want that?
Although much dance music is found at clubs and raves, there are also non-club tracks you can dance to without attending one. These include several popular upbeat genres like house, drum and bass, techno, dubstep as well as slower styles such as electro trance.
As dance music has gained in popularity, mainstream artists have also taken notice. Artists such as Kanye West, Azealia Banks and Teyana Taylor have all employed dance-music production techniques to craft hit singles such as 2019 track by The Weeknd “Jump Around” or Franz Ferdinand’s breakthrough hit “Afraid to Feel.”
Dance music’s rising popularity can be attributed to several factors. One such reason is accessing electronic music more readily; this has enabled producers to experiment with different sounds and styles while social media and streaming services have made discovering new songs easier for fans.
Dance music has come a long way since its origins in the early 1970s. Starting off as disco, later reengineered into Chicago house and Detroit techno. Next came jungle, trance, gabba before finally giving birth to rave culture during the Nineties before ultimately giving rise to everything from EDM to dubstep.
Although other dance music trends come and go, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) remains timeless. EDM has helped shape pop and hip-hop sounds while even impacting pop star clothing styles. But remember to stay safe when dancing: take extra precaution when dancing around large groups; drink responsibly and don’t overindulge in alcohol consumption or drug use as this can diminish your enjoyment of dance music.
It’s a good workout
Grooving to music that gets your heart pumping faster can be one of the best ways to both burn calories and have fun. Studies have demonstrated that dancing releases feel-good chemicals into your brain like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins that help alleviate stress while simultaneously improving your mood.
When it comes to dance music, there’s no shortage of dance anthems available to choose from. From retro hits to current hitmakers, these tunes can get any party started – but which should you put at the top of your playlist? Billboard compiled some of our favorites so you can make an informed decision.
Are You Searching For an Instant Classic from the 1980s? Look no further! This iconic hit from that era stands as an excellent example of dance-pop or post-disco, a genre-blending sound which emerged during that era and blended pop’s easy structure and catchy songs with club music’s uptempo nature and producer-driven production.
This song’s video shows a vibrant crowd dancing on a dance floor, but its true star is its music: Kurt Cobain’s haunting lyrics combined with Marvin Gaye’s smooth falsetto makes Teen Spirit one of the definitive MTV tunes.
This classic single by UK producer James Hype from 2005 serves as an exemplar of how dance music can capture a certain era. Featuring Avicii’s remix of its original version, as well as club-friendly vibes, it became an instantaneous success and has remained one of 2016’s biggest dance tracks – “Waves.” With such outstanding sampling and club vibes it has quickly become one of 2016’s biggest dance tracks! No wonder that “Hype’s Hit Single of 2015 has become so beloved!
Nothing beats dance therapy for unleashing your inner party animal or simply relaxing at home! From its vibrant beats and major chords to instantly shifting the focus away from daily problems – who knows? Maybe even losing some pounds along the way! So turn up the volume and let these grooves work their magic.