There are hundreds of songs that feature dance in their title and lyrics but not all are about actual dancing. Some highlight the emotions that dance create or the romantic side of dancing with someone you love.
Whatever the story that the song tells, there are some amazing songs about dance. Here are ten of our favourites.
Lady Gaga – Just Dance
Just Dance was the debut single by American artist Lady Gaga and was released in 2008. It is a ‘happy song’ according to the artist and also captured the times, featuring club dancing and more than a bit of alcohol.
Irene Cara – Flashdance
The theme from the movie of the same name is one of the few songs that has won an Oscar in its own right. The movie is one of the classic dance movies featuring Jennifer Beals and the performance of the song in the movie is unforgettable.
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody
A classic from 1987, this was a romantic dance song that perfectly captured the partying vibe of the time and the desire of the singer to find someone to dance with but also a lot more than that. It was re-released after the singer’s sad death and once again reached the Top 40 charts in the US.
Leo Sayer – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
A classic from 1976, this song was a number 1 hit in the US and number 2 in the UK. It was also awarded a Grammy in 1978 for best R&B song. It was a very upbeat and fun song about the effect of a young girl in the singer’s life.
Genesis – I Can’t Dance
One of the best dance songs for the story it tells, this song was improvised by Phil Collins after being inspired by a Levi jeans advert. Originally thought to be unsuitable for the band, they were convinced to include it on the We Can’t Dance album and it remains a hit.
SNAP! – Rhythm Is A Dancer
Released in 1992, this was a chart topper around Europe and the US and was the second biggest selling single of the year. It has a great beat and surprising lyrics that make it great to listen to even today. And at full volume in the car – unbeatable!
Tina Turner – Private Dancer
From the album of the same name, this song was released in 1984 and was written by and featured Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits. It was about a very different type of dancer – a stripper – and talked about how she felt dancing for money. Very poignant and still a great song.
ABBA – Dancing Queen
Famous in its own right and for its use in the Broadway musical Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen was released in 1976 as the disco era was just beginning. It is one of the first songs most of u think of when you are talking about dancing songs and still sounds great today.
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
As with many of his songs, this is about more than just the urge to go and dance. With this 1983 song, Bowie created a video that was a powerful look at racism in Australia at the time and position of Aboriginal culture. Plus, it is a great song!
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
Written for the hit album Born in the USA, this song is actually about the difficulty in writing top selling songs as opposed to dancing and became one of his biggest hits.