Song of the Day - Get Low - Zedd, Liam Payne

Here's a song that placed at #21 on my Top 51 Dance Tracks of 2017 list.  It's an ear pleasing collaboration between producer Zedd and singer Liam Payne and it reminds me of summer.  Check out the cool Get Low...

John's Music World's Top 51 Dance Tracks of 2017

Lol, I know that it's already January 21st of the new year, but time constraints and taking my time on this list have left me to this.  Regardless, this is a labor of love getting to share some great music that my followers might not otherwise get to know.  So, even though 2017 is long gone by now, here's my picks for the best 51 Dance Tracks of the Year 2017...

It was a lot of fun compiling a list of 2017's Best Pop Songs, and it's going to be even more fun doing the same for dance tracks.  As you all already know, dance music is my favorite type of music.  I love pretty much anything that gets me moving, from straightforward pop/dance songs to house, tropical and chill to some of the great new vibes of neo-disco.  As with any year, 2017 produced some pretty memorable, and very danceable, tunes, so let's take a look at what I chose as the best in dance music tracks for the year 2017...

#51 -Slow - Matoma, Noah Cyrus

Norweigan deejay/producer Matoma enlisted the help of sweet-voiced Noah Cyrus on this slow, but steady dance tune.  Check out Slow on YouTube.

#50 - Told You So - Miguel

Miguel's Told You So is the kind of song I used to love back in the 80's.  With a soulful, yet dancey sound, this one's got an uplifting chord to go along with that chorus.  Check out Told You So...

#49 - More Mess - Kungs, Olly Murs, Coely

French deejay/producer is best known for his smash This Girl, and in 2017 he put out a brand new set of goodies for us to hear.  Featuring British singer Olly, More Mess has got a fast-moving, harder edge for a dance song and it's oh so good. Check it out... 

#48 - Keep It Low - Afrojack, feat. Mighty Fools

Here's a fast and frenzied dance track from the master of fast and frenzied dance tracks.  Check out Keep It Low.

#47 - Disco T*ts - Tove Lo

Swedish singer Tove Lo returned in 2017 with a brand new album of goodies.  Blue Lips is the funky, disco-infused album and Disco T*ts was its lead single.  Check it out on YouTube.

#46 - Hot Damn! - The Shadowboxers

Here's one of only five songs to be featured on both this countdown and my Top 50 Pop Songs of 2017, and for good reason.  Though not a classic dance tune, this one is funky enough to get anybody moving.  Check out Hot Damn! on John's Music World.

#45 - Pose (Eva Shaw Remix) - Rihanna

Though the Anti album was not nearly the commercial success I am sure it was intended to be, this sexified remix of the song Pose is vintage Rihanna.  Check it out on YouTube.

#44 - DNA - BTS

South Korean boy band BTS struck it big internationally with this k-pop dance smash.  Check out DNA...

#43 - Lonely Together - Avicii, with Rita Ora

After a long hiatus, Avicii returned in 2017 with a new extended play record and one of the biggest hits to come off of that effort is this one with sweet-voiced Rita Ora.  Check out Lonely Together.

#42 - I Believe I'm Fine - Robin Schulz, Hugel

German deejay/producer Robin Schulz has had several hits off his latest, Uncovered, and this one, with French producer Hugel, is uplifting and chill.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#41 - Never Too Late - Alle Farben, Sam Gray

I've had German deejay/producer Alle Farben on my radar for some time now.  His 2017 tune, Never Too Late, is a nice, chill tune that's perfect for a summer day.  Check out Never Too Late.

#40 - Love Is Alive - Louis the Child, feat. Elohim

Such a nice, chill vibe from this track by dance pop duo Louis the Child!  Check out this cool expressive dance video for Love Is Alive...

#39 - Swish Swish - Katy Perry, feat. Nicki Minaj

Katy Perry's Swish Swish is by far the funnest thing on her latest Witness record.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#38 - Only With You - Cyn

I don't want anything to do with anyone like you

...and speaking of Katy Perry, here's a funky lil jam by an artist signed to Katy's record label, Unsub Records.  The singer's high-pitched voice is perfect for this type of in-your-face dance record.  Oh this one's been on my playlist for some time now.  Check out Only With You on YouTube.

#37 - Waterslides - Pixx

Here's a fast-moving, ultra-futuristic jam that I discovered back in June.  Think of it as Bjork meets the dance floor.  Check out Waterslides.

#36 - Water Me - Lizzo

I am free, yeah yeah
Come water me, oh oh
Love you so, but if you don't
I have to leave, oh no
I am free, yeah yeah
Come water me, oh oh
Love you so, but if you don't
I have to leave, oh no

One of my absolute favorite songs of the year is this inspirational and funky gem by indie raptress Lizzo.  Not only are the lyrics empowering, they're downright fun!  Ooh, I so wanna do a video of this one.  In the meantime check out Water Me...

#35 - Without You - Avicii, Sandro Cavazza

Here's another track from Avicii's latest, and it's got his classic sound, a hard-driving, rockish sound with strong male vocals, provided by Mr. Sandro Cavazza.  Check out Without You.

#34 - Hello There - Dillon Francis, feat. Yung Pinch

Here's a recent discovery that I posted only a month ago.  It's by LA-based deejay/producer Dillon Francis and it's got a cool, island vibe.  Oh, and the video is hysterical.  Check out the Song of the Day post for Hello There.

#33 - Wild Thoughts - DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller

Now here's a sexy, sultry song by DJ Khaled with a lil help from RiRi and Bryson Tiller.  Check out the hot, Santanaesque Wild Thoughts.

#32 - Line of Sight - Odesza, WYNNE, Mansionair

I love me a good chill tune, and though this hypnotic, ethereal tune took awhile to sink in, when it did it never left.  Great song!  Check out Line of Sight...

#31 - raingurl - yaeji

There's this hella cool deejay based out of Brooklyn and her name is yaeji.  She's got one of my favorite house tunes of the year.  Check out raingurl on John's Music World.

#30 - Right to It - Louis the Child, Ashe

Louis the Child makes a second appearance on this chart with this easy breezy summer jam that you can check out on John's Music World.

#29 - Oh Child - Robin Schulz

German deejay/producer Robin Schulz has proven to be a reliable quality music maker.  Ever since discovering his work on Lilly Wood & The Prick's Prayer in C and then through his awesome Sugar record, I've become a bona fide fan.  Here, he shows his versatilty with this easily pop chart-worthy tune, Oh Child.  Check it out...

#28 - Instruction - Jax Jones, Demi Lovato, Stefflon Don

Jax Jones is one of my favorite dance artists to come out of 2017.  This high energy track always gets me going.  Check out Instruction on John's Music World.

#27 - Everything Is Never Enough - Goldfrapp

Goldfrapp is an act that's had true staying power.  The British electronic duo have been making hits since 2000 and their latest, Everything Is Never Enough, is as hypnotic and pulsating as anything they've ever done.  

#26 - A Different Way - DJ Snake, Lauv

DJ Snake has been one of the hottest dance music deejay/producers around for the past couple of years.  One of his latest, A Different Way, wouldn't necessarily have placed this high on my list if it weren't for the wild and funky vocals that accompany the crescendo and are hard to make out.  Very cool!  

#25 - Interweb - Poppy

If you're a child of the 80's and you went clubbing back in the day, then you will really appreciate this one.  Poppy's Interweb is a sexy, hypnotic, bass-thumper that if you closed your eyes you'd swear you were back in 1985.  Check out Interweb... 

#24 - Starlight - Emeli Sandé

Singer Emile Sandé is not known for dance music, but last year she released the brilliant Starlight and proved she's got it when it comes to more than one genre.  Check out Starlight on John's Music World.

#23 - M.I.A. - Why Don't We

Manufactured boy band and occasional vloggers Why Don't We had this song in 2017, M.I.A., and it was...is...pretty darned hot!  With a steady beat and some catchy lyrics, it's a slow and deliberate dance floor jam.. Check out M.I.A. on YouTube.

#22 - All Over Again - Todiefor, feat. Helen, Dazie

Another slow, deliberate song that sort of reminds me of chill EDM artist Zhu is this hypnotic tune by Todiefor, which you can check out right here...

#21 - Get Low - Zedd, Liam Payne

This very catchy and sexy collaboration between superstar deejay/producer Zedd and former One Directioner Liam Payne is da bomb!  Check out Get Low...

#20 - F**k They - Sofi Tukker

Soffi Tukker, a New York-based duo, was on fire all year long in 2017.  This one, a great big, high energy middle finger aimed at their detractors, was, and still is, one hot club jam!  Check it out on John's Music World.

#19 - I Feel So Bad - Kungs, feat. Ephemerals

You might remember French deejay Kungs from his dance smash, This Girl.  Well, I happened to catch his page on Spotify and checked out his whole album, from which the former came, and I found several songs to hit my playlist in 2017.  I Feel So Bad is somewhat reminiscent of something the Avicii of a couple of years might've put out, with a strong male vocal and a funky, harder edge track.  Check out I Feel So Bad.  

#18 - It Ain't Me - Kygo, Selena Gomez

Kygo and Selena Gomez had a huge hit with this anthemic and ethereal kind of dance tune.  I placed it at #13 on my Top 50 Pop Songs of 2017 and it belongs in the top 20 here, as well.  Check out It Ain't Me on John's Music World.

#17 - House Party - The Knocks & Captain Cuts

I've been hearing a lot of neo-disco in recent months, and this funky little ditty adds, you got it, a little house into the neo-disco mix and the result is hip-shaking.  Check out My House.  

#16 - Rockabye - Clean Bandit, Anne Marie, Sean Paul

Clean Bandit had a productive 2017, with at least a couple of records to hit the charts.  This collaboration with singer Anne Marie and reggae rapper Sean Paul is dramatic and dancey all at the same time.  Check out Rockabye...

#15 - Would You Ever - Skrillex, Poo Bear

Superstar deejay/producer Skrillex created one of my favorite dance tunes of the year.  Check out my Song of the Day post for Would You Ever.

#14 - Get It Right - Diplo, MO

Another superstar deejay/producer to make great stuff in 2017 was Diplo.  His collaboration with Danish singer MO on a track for Major Lazer's documentary, Give Me Future, is the perfect blend of slow melodies and up tempo dance stuff.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#13 - There For You - Martin Garrix, Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan's first foray into dance music couldn't have called for a better partner, Dutch EDM producer Martin Garrix.  Ooh, this one's smooth!  Check out There For You.

#12 - Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man

One of the funkiest songs of the year came from a new (at least to most of us) band with a strange name.  I placed this one at #2 on my favorite Pop Tunes for 2017, and it's dance-ability surely places it towards the top here, too!  Check out Feel It Still.

#11 - Heatwave - Amber Mark

My favorite neo-disco jam of the year comes from young singer Amber Mark.  If you close your eyes and listen to Heatwave, you're gonna think you're back on a dance floor somewhere in the late 70's.  Check out the samba-infused disco of Heatwave...

#10 - Faking It - Calvin Harris, Kehlani, Lil Yachty

This, our #9 dance tune of 2017, wasn't really a huge hit for Calvin Harris, but to me it's just so irresistible!  Check out Faking It on John's Music World.

#9 - Breathe - Jax Jones

I've become a big fan of Brit producer Jax Jones over the last year, and this dance-heavy jam, featuring Norwegian singer/songwriter Ina Wrodsen is a perfect dance tune  Check out Breathe.  

#8 - Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift

My #1 pop song of 2017 is also in the top ten of my dance tunes, as well.  Taylor Swift's Look What You Made Me Do is such a hot song to dance to, especially if you're a pole dancer!  Check it out on John's Music World.

#7 - D.Y.T. (Do Your Thing) - NVDES, REMMI

NVDES was new to me in 2017 and I am loving just about everything they put out.  This sexy dance jam is hot!  Check out D.Y.T. (Do Your Thing).

#6 - Shedon'tknowbutsheknows - Tove Lo

Another entry from the neo-disco persuasion, this groovalicious disco jam is the perfect song for a late night twirl under the disco ball.  Check out Shedon'tknowbutsheknows...

#5 - Dirty Sexy Money - David Guetta, Afrojack, Charli XCX, French Montana

When I first reviewed this collaboration between superstar dance music producers David Guetta and Afrojack, I was surprised at a lot of negativity towards it.  To me, the high energy tune, with some nice vocals by Charli XCX, sounds like a lot of the kind of stuff that made us all love David Guetta in the first place.  Ah well, I love it.  Here's Dirty Sexy Money...

#4 - Uh Huh - Somewhere Else

Now here's a dance track that is so hot that I can't stop bopping and shaking whenever I hear it.  A little bit of house, a little bit of sexy, and a whole mess of beats.  Check out Uh Huh...

#3 - Swalla - Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign

Jason Derulo is an expert at making music that makes ya move, and this shimmy shimmy yay, shimmy yay, shimmy yo is freaking awesome!  Check out the funky Swalla...

#2 - Best Friend - Sofi Tukker

I think that I'll keep loving you, way past sixty-five
We made a language for us two, we don't need to describe
Everytime time you call on me, I drop what I do
You are my best friend and we've got some shit to shoot

Sofi Tukker's biggest breakthrough of the year was this pulsating bit of high energy dance.  Check out Best Friend...

#1 - Mi Gente - J. Balvin, Willy William

By far, the most hypnotic dance track to come out of 2017 was J. Balvin's Mi Gente.  Whether you understand Spanish or not, the hot hook of this one'll get you moving every time.  The song was so infectious that Beyoncé even put herself into the mix at one point. Check out Mi Gente...

So there you have it, my picks for the best 51 dance tracks of 2017.  If you can't find something here to dance your ass off to, then I'm thinking you may be without any rhythm.  Stay tuned for my choices for the best 10 albums of 2017 coming soon.

John's Music World's Top 50 Dance Tunes of 2016

Hello and welcome to my third annual Top Dance Songs of the Year Countdown.  Though 2016 seemed like a slow year, musically, looking back I can see now that overall it was a pretty decent year in the world of dance music.  With the popularity of so-called EDM, many deejay/producer acts such as Major Lazer, DJ Snake, Kygo and The Chainsmokers have all really come into their own in a major way this year and these four acts maintain a major presence on this countdown.  But of course, with a whopping 50 songs on this list, there are plenty of other artists who have contributed great stuff to the dance music scene of 2016.  So without further adieu, here are my 50 favorite dance tunes of 2016:

The Chainsmokers

Beatport

#50 - Powerful - Major Lazer, feat. Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Reilly

Released in June of 2015 as the second single off of Major Lazer's third album, Peace Is the Mission, I only discovered this one earlier in 2016 and shared it here back in September.  Though not a heavy hitting dance track, it does kinda make you want to sway in a slow, methodical dance.  Love it! 

#49 - Sit Still, Look Pretty - Daya

You probably know 18 year-old, sweet voiced Daya from her earlier hit, Hideaway (check that one out further down the list), and her guest vocal on The Chainsmoker's hot Don't Let Me Down.  Well, the native Pittsburgher released her eponymous debut EP, which I promptly downloaded. Unfortunately I didn't really find any special tunes here, except this light-hearted and very memorable song.  Check it out right here in a post from October.

#48 - Starboy - The Weekend, with Daft Punk

Canadian phenom The Weekend has been burning up the charts for the latter part of the year and this mesmerizing tune is one big reason why.  Check out Starboy on John's Music World.

#47 - No Money - Galantis

Pure Eurodance, from the Swedish production duo that brought us 2015's Peanut Butter Jelly.  Silly, but catchy and fun!  Check it out... 

#46 - Ingrid Is a Hybrid - Dusky

The name of this one was what caught my attention at first, but once I took a listen, I loved, loved loved it!  Funky, housey, cool!  Check it out... 

#45 - By Your Side - Jonas Blue, feat. Raye

Jonas Blue is yet another deejay/producer making some nice noise out there.  Out of the U.K. and somewhat newish, I've got two Jonas Blue tunes in this countdown.  This one is pure pop/dance joy and if you close your eyes, you might just think that guest vocalist Raye is Rihanna.  Check out the vid on YouTube.   

#44 - Cake By the Ocean - DNCE

Joe Jonas' band DNCE burst onto the scene in a big way last summer with this pop anthem dedicated to "cake." Check it out here.

#43 - A-YO - Lady Gaga

The year 2016 saw the return of Lady Gaga to the main music stage.  Though surely many Gaga fans were likely hoping for the style of dance/pop music that she's had so much success with over the years, the new record is quite a departure from that.  No, there aren't any Judas's, Born This Ways or Poker Faces on Joanne.  Most of the tunes here sway more towards the countryish sounds of perhaps You and I or one of the many the standards she's performed over the past two or three years alongside crooner Tony Bennett.  There are, however, two songs on this one that qualify for dance-ish, and they're both on this countdown.  Here' the first, a finger-snapping, toe-tapping ditty she calls A-YO.  Check it out...

#42 - The Devil's Tears - On June, featuring Tesity (Sam Feldt Edit)

This relatively obscure tune was released in late 2015, but fell upon my ears towards the beginning of last year.  Though the original is a down-tempo ballad, this Sam Feldt edit turns it into a mid-tempo, chill masterpiece.  With a soothing background and exquisite vocals, The Devil's Tears is one of my favorite types of tunes.  Check it out in a February post on John's Music World.

#41 - On My Mind - Ellie Goulding

One of my surprise favorite albums of the year was Ellie Goulding's fantastic Delirium.  This album is packed with dance/pop gems from beginning to end, and here's the first of two tunes from the record to make it into my top 50 of 2016.  Check out On my Mind on John's Music World.

#40 - Side to Side - Ariana Grande, feat. Nicki Minaj

Ariana Grande had a big year in 2016, as well.  Check out this sultry jam featuring rap mistress Nicki Minaj here on John's Music World.

#39 - Bamboreea - INNA, feat. J-Son

It's really too bad that Romanian dance artist INNA doesn't get more attention here in the States.  I've been a fan for a few years now and her latest effort, 2015's eponymous album is full of great dance music, including this Latin inspired jam.  Soooo hot!  Check it out...

#38 - 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

Okay, so this one's pretty popular, and that's really the only reason I'm including this in the countdown.  Otherwise, I find this one a little too formulaic and way similar to Uptown Funk.  Meh! I did post it on here, so check it out.

#37 - Calm Down - Katy B, with Four Tet & Floating Points

Katy B is another dance artist I've been a fan of for quite some time now.  In 2016 she released a follow-up to her 2014 smash (well, at least in the U.K.) Little Red,  The new album, Honey, has a decidedly different vibe than the prior.  It's a bit more down-tempo, but still well within the dance music genre.  One of the earlier singles to come off of Honey is also one of my favorites.  Calm Down is a bona fide late night dance track, with a steady thumping bass to go right along with Katy's sultry vocals.  Check out Calm Down on YouTube.

#36 - Fragile - Kygo & Labrinth

Kygo is another artist who came into my music world in a bog way in recent years.  I'd first come across the Norwegian deejay/producer back in 15 with his chill smash Firestone, and that's the genre where most of the songs on his debut album, Cloud Nine, reside.  Fragile is one of many seriously well written and performed tunes to be had on this record and you can check this powerful tune out right here.

#35 - My Way - Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris' September release marked the first time since 2014's Summer that the superstar deejay/producer took the lead on vocals and the results are just what one would expect from a Calvin Harris production: lots of great dance beats playing up to some well written lyrics.  It's not great, but it's good.  Check out My Way...

#34 - Perfect Illusion - Lady Gaga

This was THE song everyone had been waiting for from Gaga, being the first single of of Joanne, and unfortunately though it is a good song, it's one of those tunes that takes time to seep in and appreciate. Check it out on John's World.

#33 - Good Intentions - The Chainsmokers, featuring BullySongs

Here's the first of several tunes on this countdown from The Chainsmokers.  As I said in a posting of this very song back in November, I have a hard time finding a Chainsmokers song that I do not like. This one's got a rougher edge to it, a little rock mixed in with great high energy dance beats.

#32 - Cool Girl - Tove Lo

Swedish singer Tove Lo made a reappearance on the music scene in 2016 with this fun, funky tune. Check it out here on John's Music World.

#31 - Call On Me - Starley

Here's a relatively recent discovery by an Aussie singer who calls herself Starley.  Call On Me is a really nice tune that's got a catchy chorus, and though I posted the original version here in November, you can catch the even groovier dance remix on YouTube.

#30 - Dust My Shoulders Off - Jane Zhang

One of the coolest songs on this countdown is a first foray onto American pop by Chinese pop/dance artist Jane Zhang.  When I first posted the song back in October, the tune was retweeted several times by Zhang fans on Twitter and garnered around 100 page views (That's a lot for one Song of the Day post!).  I loved the song so much I posted it again just last week and you can check it out right here.

#29 - Clumsy - Britney Spears

After a bit of a hiatus from recording new music, Britney Spears returned with her 9th studio album called Glory.  Though the biggest hit so far has come from a down-tempo tune, Make Me, the record has got plenty of classic Britney dance tunes to fill many a floor.  Here's one of my favorites...

#28 - All We Know - The Chainsmokers, featuring Phoebe Ryan

Our second Chainsmokers' tune to crack this countdown is the follow-up to the uber-popular Closer and is done in a very similar style to its predecessor, on the softer side, yet oh so irresistable.  Check out the audio version on YouTube.

#27 - Middle - DJ Snake

Back in August, French deejay/producer DJ Snake released his very first studio album, Encore, which is chock full of great dance tunes of many flavors.  This tune, found on the record, was actually released about a year before, and it's grown on me more and more ever since, getting a lot of airplay on my iPod in '16.  It's one of those chill tunes with some really nice dance beats mixed in.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#26 - Collide - EVVY

Now here's one of those tunes you will only find here on John's Music World.  The tune is called Collide and there's very little I could find online about the artist or the song, except that it was recorded in 2014 and she is based out of New York.  You can check out her Twitter account here should you find the song as good as I.  Regardless, I played this one A LOT last year for the great hook.  Check it out here.  Oh, and check out Collide.

#25 - That Girl Is Mine - 99 Souls (Destiny's Child/Brandy mash-up)

Love, love love this funky and unique mash-up of Destiny's Child's Girl and Brandy's That Boy Is Mine by British production team 99 Souls.  This one should have definitely gotten more airplay than I heard.  Check it out...

#24 - Not Above Love - AlunaGeorge

British electronic duo AlunaGeorge has been around for quite some time now, and in 2016 they released an album loaded with great tunes, including this throwback, in-your-face funky jam.  Check it out on John's Music World.

#23 - Something In the Way You Move - Ellie Goulding

Here's another gem from Ellie Goulding's Delirium.  Fun track!  Check it out here.

#22 - Real Love - Florrie

Florrie is a multi-talented British recording artist who recorded this oh so pop and dance friendly tune.  Every single person who heard it played on my iPod this year asked me about it..it's that good! Check out Real Love.

#21 - Here Comes the Night - DJ Snake, featuring Mr. Hudson

Here's a dramatic, chill tune from Snake's Encore that has really grown on me in recent months.  I love it so much I posted it a second time just the other day.  Check it out here.

#20 - Work - Rihanna, featuring Drake

Now, Rihanna's new Anti album was thusly titled because it was supposed to be different from anything she's ever done before, and that couldn't be truer.  Although this down n dirty jam is a bona fide dance track, it is the antithesis of the diva's more polished stuff.  Check out Work...

#19 - Work From Home - Fifth Harmony, featuring Ty Dolla $ign

One of the biggest hits of the year came from these ladies, with a little help from rapper Ty Dolla $ign.  Check out the slow, sexy Work From Home.

#18 - Stay - Kygo, featuring Maty Noyes

My absolute favorite song from Kygo last year was this melancholic dance tune.  Check out the oh so sweet Stay.

#17 - Perfect Strangers - Jonas Blue

I first discovered Jonas Blue back in November and the two songs of theirs I know, I absolutely love. Though By Your Side (see #45 above) is a good one, Perfect Strangers is great!  I always love a good crescendo at the chorus and this one definitely gets you going.  Check out the feel good island sounds of Perfect Strangers...

#16 - Revolution - Diplo, featuring Faustix & Imanos & Kai

Diplo's Revolution is one hard-driving dance jam that's had me dancing all year long.  Check out the fantastic Danny Diggz remix on YouTube.

#15 - Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake

Early in the summer, Justin Timberlake returned to the music scene with this feel-good tune from the movie Trolls.  For a moment there, it felt like we had the old JT back, but sadly we haven't heard anything from him since.  Check out Can't Stop the Feeling on John's Music World.

#14 - This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris, featuring Rihanna

The year 2016 saw a reunion of Calvin Harris and Rihanna, who recaptured a bit of their magic with this club tune that was a smash all over the place.  Not as great as their 2011 classic, We Found Love, but pretty darned good.  Check it out here.

#13 - More Than a Miracle - MNEK

Now here's another one of those tunes that you will not find on any other countdown for the year 2016.  First of all, this freestyle/R&B jam by obscure artist MNEK was released in 2015, but even then it didn't get much, if any, notice.  Believe me, though, I posted it a couple of times here on John's Music World, and for good reason.  More Than a Miracle is an uplifting throwback to the 80's and oh so danceable.  Thus, its high spot on my countdown.  Check it out...

#12 - Sometimes - Alle Farben, featuring Graham Candy

I first discovered Graham Candy's raspy voice on Robin Schulz's 4 Life, and then I heard him on this one.  German deejay/producer Alle Farben enlisted Candy for his tune Sometimes, and the song stands out as one of my favorites from the year.  Here's what I said about it when I posted the song in May:

I've been waiting awhile to post this song. I'd say that over the past few weeks it's been my favorite, and for several reasons. I love the music...the percussive beats and the piano/synth melodies are contemplative and head bopping at the same time. The singer on the tune is Graham Candy, the New Zealander with a voice that's soooo reminiscent of Macy Gray, and who's been popping up on this blog a lot lately. In this video you can see that his unique, raspy voice does not match his face at all, but I love it. Finally there's the lyrics. Check em' out...

Whenever you're feeling lonely in our vacuum world,

when all the lights go out, your own land starts to blurt,

when everything around you, seem to fall apart,

and all that's left is bare, your feelings start to storm

Sometimes you're feeling stronger

sometimes you're feeling week

sometimes you're feeling colder

but the light will bring the heat

Sometimes you're feeling lucky

sometimes you're feeling on

but if you don't start believing,

one day you'll reach the sun

oah oaaaah

reach the sun

Whenever you're feeling lonely

walking in the storm

close your eyes and tell me,

can you feel the warmth?

Sometimes you're feeling stronger

sometimes you're feeling week

sometimes you're feeling colder

but the light will bring the heat

Sometimes you're feeling lucky

sometimes you're feeling on

but when you don't start believing

one day you'll reach the sun,

oah oaaaah

reach the sun

reach the sun

ooh reach the sun

ooh reach the sun

Ooh, this is the perfect storm of songs to me! I've only owned it for a few weeks and already it's got almost 100 plays. It's the kind of song you can just put on repeat for a few times and never tire of. So, if you like songs with a nice message and some great chill vibes, then check out German deejay/producer Alle Farben and Graham Candy with their wonderful Sometimes... 

#11 - Hideaway - Daya

Daya is a fresh new star on the dance music scene, and though this, her debut single, came out in late 2015, it got lots of airplay in '16.  Check out the sweet Hideaway.

#10 - Ocean Drive - Duke Dumont

Duke Dumont is another bona fide star in the dance music scene and has been for some time.  Though I've been a fan for awhile, I never really loved his music until I heard this one, another throwback to the 80's and yet another tune that virtually everyone who heard it in my presence asked about. Yes, it's the kind of song that you can't help but love the first time you hear it.  So if you don't know Ocean Drive, now here's your chance...

#9 - Closer - The Chainsmokers, Featuring Halsey

I am sure this smash hit by The Chainsmokers, with a lil help from songstress Halsey, is probably their highest charting single to date, and I am also sure it's been on many a countdown of 2016's top dance hits.  Though I love the song, perhaps it was played too much for my taste, otherwise it might've finished higher than #9 here.  Besides, it's not really that dancey.  Check out Closer on John's Music World.

#8 - Don't Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers, featuring Daya

Now here's a hard-driving dance tune I can always get into!  With a mix of Daya's strong vocals and some really heavy club beats, this is among my favorite dance tunes of the year, for sure!  Check out Don't Let Me Down.

#7 - Turn the Music Louder - KDA, featuring Katy B & Tiny Tempah

I love Katy B, and I discovered this song on her latest album, Honey, though it wasn't recorded specifically for the record.  Instead, the tune was made for a project named KDA and features British rapper Tiny Tempah, and woof, the combination of a hard-driving dance beat mixed with Katy's strong vocal AND Tempah's smooth raps makes for one hell of a dance jam.  Check it out...

#6 - Let Me Love You - DJ Snake, featuring Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber scored two tunes on this chart last year with Where R U Now, with Skrillex, and his own Sorry, and this year he doubles the fun with two more dance tunes, both collaborations.  This one was one of the year's biggest hits anywhere and it is so deserving of a top ten spot here.  Check out Let Me Love You on John's Music World.

#5 - Gold - Kiiara

Here's a tune that I loved the very first time I heard it, even though I couldn't understand what the heck she was singing.  Check out Gold.

#4 - One Dance - Drake, featuring Kyla & Wiz Kid

One of the steamiest jams of the year came in the form of Drake's One Dance.  So hot!  Check it out...

#3 - Cold Water - Major Lazer, featuring Justin Bieber

Here is the other Justin Bieber collaboration, this time with dance music production group Major Lazer.  Though many prefer the previous tune, I think this one's a bit more, well, dancey.  Check it out on John's Music World. 

#2 - This Girl - Kungs Vs. Cookin' on 3

This song!  One of those tunes you hear and love, but you never quite know anything about.  Well, I'm here to tell you that if you've gone to any sort of club last year, you are sure to have heard this one.  Smooth vocals, island feel and the horniest and danciest of horns.  Check out This Girl...

#1 - Cheap Thrills - Sia

If anyone ever doubted Sia's prowess as a dance artist, well then this song shattered those myths.  The tune, from the singer/songwriter's This Is Acting album was reportedly written for Rihanna, who may regret turning it down.  Regardless, there's nothing about this tune that's not to like, so check out the awesome Cheap Thrills... Oh those opening notes!

Well, this took me long enough to compile, but there you have it, my picks for the best dance tunes of 2016.  I hope you found this post entertaining and I look forward to sharing more great music, especially dance music, in the coming year!

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.