Wednesday, December 30, 2015

John's World's Top 50 Dance Songs of 2015


Hello and welcome to John's Music World's annual Top 50 Dance Songs of the Year countdown.  For those of you who follow this blog, you know that I love dance music, especially the poppier style of dance, and so the songs on this countdown are chosen randomly by me, and are of the style of music I like and that you usually see here.  All of the songs on this list have been posted by me here and some have links to the original Song of the Day posts where they were shared.  For others, you'll see the vids right here.
So without further adieu, here are my picks for the best 50 dance songs of the year.  Enjoy!

#50 - BurnItUp! - Janet Jackson, featuring Missy Elliot

Ms. Jackson returned this year with a brand new set of songs called Unbreakable.  It was her first since 2008's Discipline.  One of the better dance tunes off the album features classic Janet funkiness and a little help from another comebacker, Missy Elliot.

#49 - Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis

This year's prize for silly dance anthems goes to Swedish electronic duo Galantis and their song Peanut Butter Jelly.  Oh yeah, spread it like peanut butter jelly...

#48 - She Knows - Ne Yo, featuring Juicy J

I love the sound of Ne Yo's smooth R&B voice!  It works so well with club music and this jam, recorded in late 2014, but featured here back in April is the latest of his several dance classics.

#47 - One More - Elliphant

C'mon now sugar, come
I really don't want to go home
Stay with me be a friend
These streets so cold and my money's so full of ghost

This darkish tune from Swedish electronic act Elliphant is simply hypnotic.  Check out One More...


#46 - Hold Up, Wait a Minute - Zhu, with Bone Thugs n Harmony & Trombone Shorty

A dancey mix of funk, hip hop and jazz, this one burned up dance floors all over the place in 2015.

#45 - Expensive - Tori Kelly, Featuring Taye Jack

This is one big song from powerful-voiced singer Tori Kelly with a little help from rapper Taye Jack.  Check out Expensive on John's Music World.

#44 - Where Are U Now - Skrillex & Diplo, with Justin Bieber


Justin Bieber has had a fantastic year with a stellar new album Purpose, and it all started back in February with this collaboration with two of the greatest names in dance music today.  Where Are U Now isn't necessarily a big dance tune, because it's more R&B than dance, but I've heard the original version at the clubs both at the beginning and end of the night.  Love this one!  Check it out...


#43 - Alors En Dance - Stromae


The only foreign language song on this countdown (it's French!) is by hot Belgian singer Stromae, who recorded the song way back in 2009.  Nevertheless, the tune gained steam throughout its six-year life and it came under my radar just this year.  I posted it in October, in commemoration of the artist's debut at Madison Square Garden as a headline act.  Check it out here.

#42 - Bitch I'm Madonna - Madonna, featuring Nikki Minaj

We go hard or we go home, we gon' do this all night long

Madonna had a big year in 2015 with her Rebel Heart album, and this fast and frenzied song grew on me throughout the year.  Check out the equally crazy video on John's Music World.

#41 - On My Mind - Ellie Goulding

One of the most pleasant surprises of the year for me was Ellie Goulding's third album Delirium.  The set is jam packed with upbeat and danceable songs and this, the lead single, is one of the best on the record.  I posted it here back in November, so check it out.


#40 - Real - Gorgon City, featuring Yasmin


I first discovered the British electronic duo Gorgon City a little over a year ago, and I've become a big fan ever since.  This one was actually their first single, released back in 2013, but I posted it once or twice here and it garnered a lot of page views.  The sultry tune features singer Yasmin and it's oh so chill!

#39 - Get Dirty - Xenia Ghali, featuring Wyclef Jean

One of the lesser known comebacks of 2015 came in the form of two new tunes, one a new collaboration with Avicii (take a look further on down this list) and the other as a guest vocalist on this funky, bassy sexy jam.  Love it!


#38 -GDFR - Fo Rida, featuring Sage the Gemini and Lookas


Flo's latest entry into the world where rap and dance collide.  Oh yeah, it's goin' down for real!

#37 - Love is Free - Robyn, La Bagatelle Magique, featuring Maluca

After way too long a hiatus, my Swedish queen also returned this year, and once again it was within another collaboration.  This time new music came from a newly formed entity called La Bagatelle Magique and the music shows off Robyn's more funk-dified side.  Check out the recently released video for the wild and crazy Love Is Free on John's World.

#36 - Another You - Armin van Buuren, featuring Mr. Probz

Here's a late comer from Dutch deejay Armin van Buuren, just posted by me just a couple of weeks ago.  It features Waves singer Mr. Probz. 

#35 - Straight Into the Fire - Zedd

Dance deejay/producer Zedd scored big this year with his newest set, True Colors.  I've chosen three songs off the album to be included on this list and this is probably the least known of the three, but it's my favorite.  Singer-songwriter Julia Williams voice sounds a little like Ellie Goulding and the song itself is just so sunshiney.  Check it out here.

#34 - Magnets - Disclosure, featuring Lorde

I was generally disappointed in Disclosure's newest set, Caracal, with the exception of this one featuring the one and only Lorde.  Check it out on John's World.

#33 - Go All Night - Gorgon City, featuring Jennifer Hudson

Here's another Gorgon City song that's big and dancey and it features big-voiced Jennifer Hudson.  Check out the awesome, funky Go All Night...


#32 - Same Old Love - Selena Gomez

Here's one that's been getting so much airplay lately.  It's a slow, sultry jam off the newest by Ms. Gomez.

#31 - For a Better Day - Avicii


Avicii's new Stories album was another general disappointment for me, especially after his last gem of a record, True.  This is one of the bright spots for me on the set.  It's got Avicii's signature style...a little country-western twang set to an uplifting dance track.  Check it out on YouTube.


#30 - Divine Sorrow - Wyclef Jean, featuring Avicii

Avicii fared much better to me with his out of his own record collaborations in 2015 than on his own set, and here's a song that grew and grew on me the more I heard it.  Somewhat soft for a dance song, but Wyclef, oh Wyclef...love your voice on this one!  Check it out on John's World.

#29 - Automatic - Zhu & AlunaGeorge

This collaboration between dance music producers Zhu and AlunaGeorge is one deeply funky tune!  Check it out right here

#28 - Show Me Love - Robin Schulz

Robin Schulz is one of my favorite current artists, and his album Sugar is chock full of great chill/lounge/dance tunes spun in his own unique style.  Here is one of the great ones off of the album, a melodic radio-friendly, easy breezy tune... 


#27 - How Deep Is Your Love - Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris is yet another producer whose latest contribution to dance music has left me somewhat disappointed, though this happy jam is one of the brighter spots on Motion.

#26 - Ocean Drive - Duke Dumont

Here's a recent entry in the dance music books and it's by hot dance artist Duke Dumont.  The song's got an great 80's feel to it.  Check out a recent post of it on John's Music World.

#25 - Feel the Vibe - Bob Sinclair, featuring Dawn Tallman


French dance music producer Bob Sinclair has been making hits for almost two decades now and this, his latest with powerhouse singer Dawn Tallman, is simply fun.  Check it out on YouTube.


#24 - You Have to Believe - David Audé, featuring Chloe Lattanzi and Olivia Newton John

Oh yes, one of my newest favorite tunes is a new take on an old classic.  Olivia Newton John and Matt Lattanzi's daughter Chloe recorded this updated take on mom's Xanadu classic Magic in the funnest of ways.  Check out the vid right here.

#23 - Secrets - Tiesto, featuring Vassy

Oh won't you stay for awhile
I'll take you on a ride if you can keep a secret

Here's a dance tune by famed producer Tiesto that I just love.  Starts off slow, then bam!  Check it out right here.

#22 - Home - Naughty Boy

Here's a nice jam, soulful and fun.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#21 - We Are One - DJ Asad
Here's a great song that unfortunately didn't get a lot of attention this year.  It's one of those uplifting tunes that a lot of fun, with whistles and melodic and uplifting lyrics and such...and the video's pretty fun, too.  Check it out...


#20 -  Zero Gravity - Borgeous

From the very first time I heard this one, I couldn't help but think of Zedd.  Nice tune!  Check out Zero Gravity on John's Music World.

#19 - Something Better - Audien, featuring Lady Antebellum

In the year 2015, country went dance, as Lady Antebellum joins forces with producer Nate Rathbun, AKA Audien, to create this beautiful dance song.  Check it out right here.

#18 - Right Here, Right Now - Giorgio Moroder, featuring Kylie Minogue


After a long hiatus from the music world, superstar producer Giorgio Moroder joind forces with Aussie super diva Kylie Minogue for this wonderful dance song.  Check it out...



#17 - I Want You to Know - Zedd, with Selena Gomez

Youngish diva in training Selena Gomez lends her voice to probably one of the biggest hits off of Zedd's True Colors album.

#16 - Beautiful Now - Zedd

Another track off of True Colors, this one's simply beautiful!

#15 - Let It Breathe - Treasure Town

I could be the flame that'll light you up
I could be, I could be
I could be the rain that cools you down
I could be, I could be...

Love, love love this beautiful song...check it out on John's Music World.

#14 - Thinking Bout You - Calvin Harris, featuring Ayah Marar

Haha, yeah I said I was disappointed in Calvin Harris' latest set, but here ya go, another song in my Top 50 list.  Check out Thinking Bout You...nice, easy and breezy!

#13 - November Skies - Carnage

Here's an entry from late in the year by DJ Carnage, with Tomas Barford and Nina Kinert.  It got A LOT of hits when I posted it in, of course, November.  Great, fast-paced dance tune.  Check it out...


#12 - Through the Night - Cedric Gervais, featuring Coco


Simply funky, simply awesome.  Check it out right here.


#11 - Hide Away - Daya

I just discovered this one back in November and I absolutely love it!  Love the voice, love the music, love the chorus...check this hot one on John's Music World.

#10 - Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

Here's one I just posted earlier today.  Many people loved her vocals on Clean Bandit's beautiful Rather Be, and the sweetness of this one'll have ya kicking up your heels and singing at the top of your lungs. 

#9 - Can't Feel My Face - The Weekend

One of the biggest stories of the year was the breakout of Canadian artist known as The Weekend.  This funky jam with the killer hook was a smash all over the world and you can check out the video right here.


#8 - Sugar - Robin Shulz, featuring Francesco Yates

The title cut that started it all for Robin Schulz this year is one of the coolest...check that...flyest...jams on the album is the kind of song ya just can't get outta your head after a listen.  Check it out right here.

#7 - Sorry - Justin Bieber


As I mentioned somewhere up above, Justin Bieber's Purpose is one great record, and this light-hearted and fun dancey tune is my personal favorite of all the cuts.  Check out Sorry...


#6 - You Know You Like It - DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge

Man, there are a lot of guys with the moniker "DJ" on this list.  I guess it's to be expected on any type of dance song listing.  Anyway, DJ Snake had one of the biggest dance hits of the year with this hypnotic gem.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#5 - Lay It All On Me - Rudimental, featuring Ed Sheeran (Sultan + Shepard Remix)


Another artist to have a huge breakout year this year (and last!) was Ed Sheeran.  One of his latest and greatest hits of the year was a guest spot on Rudimental's Lay It All On Me.  I saw some end of year lists already that had the remix of this one at the top spot, though I found just a few more that I liked better.  Nevertheless, Sheeran's great vocals lend themselves nicely to this dance jam.   Check it out...


#4 - Hey Mama - David Guetta, featuring Nikki Minaj


The hottest track off of Guetta's latest album, Listen, is a fast and frenzied dance anthem that reunited the world-famous deejay/producer with the current queen of rap.  Oh, and another superstar producer, Afrojack, did his own thang to the jam.  Check out the vid right here


#3 - Roses - The Chainsmokers

2015 was the year I fell in love with The Chainsmokers, a relatively unknown production team until they had put this awesome record out.  Check it out on this post from my blog, and say you'll never let me go...

#2 - Lean On - Major Lazer & DJ Snake


One of the most iconic dance tunes of the year features some great female vocals,  catchy lyrics, and some happy beats.  It is by far one of the best dance tunes of the year, and if I weren't such a Madonna fan, it'd probably be my #1.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#1 - Wash Over Me - Madonna (Avicii remix)

In a world that's changing
I'm a stranger in a strange land
There's a contradiction
And I'm stuck here in between

Life is like a desert
An oasis to confuse me
So I walk this razor's edge
Will I stand or will I fall?

Turn a blind eye, try to pretend that
Nothing is what it seems
Torn between the impulse to stay or
Running away from all this madness

Who am I to decide what should be done?
If this is the end then let it come
Let it come, let it rain
Rain all over me
Like the tide, let it flow
Let it wash all over me, over me
Let it wash all over me, over me
Let it wash all over me



I may be heavily biased, but this Avicii remix of Madonna's Wash Over Me is the perfect dance song.   The original version of the tune is slow and it works much much better as a club jam.  The lyrics are simply beautiful and so are the beats.  Check this one out...


So there you have it, my top 50 dance songs of the year 2015.  I hope you've found some tunes in this list that you'll agree with.  In any case, if you follow John's Music World, there should be no surprises here.  Stay tuned for my list of the Top 20 Pop Songs of the Year and a whole lot more.

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