Electronic dance music first started gaining popularity in the 1980s and continued to grow into a fully formed genre in the 1990s, mainly made up of Eurodance groups, as the genre was less popular in the states.
In the new millennium, the dance music movement began reaching the US, launching a new era of dance-pop crossover hits.
DJs like David Guetta and Armand Van Helden began to come to the forefront of the dance genre, and the music industry as a whole.
A trend arose of dance DJs working with pop stars to produce catchy, upbeat dance tracks designed to electrify the dance floor.
Featuring world-famous DJs and pop stars, this is our list of the 50 best 2000s dance songs to come out of this glorious period in time.
1. “When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland
“When Love Takes Over” is a song by French DJ David Guetta, with vocals from American singer Kelly Rowland.
The song was released in 2009 as the lead single for Guetta’s fourth album, One Love.
Kelly Rowland rose to fame as part of girl band Destiny’s Child, alongside global pop star Beyonce.
Rowland said that the song inspired her to create more dance-orientated tracks for her next album, Here I Am.
2. “In For The Kill” by La Roux
La Roux is an English synthpop duo, consisting of singer Elly Jackson and record producer Ben Langmaid.
When the duo parted ways in 2012, Jackson kept the name as a solo artist.
“In For The Kill” was released in 2009 as their second single for their debut album.
It was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the Grammys that year.
3. “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters
“Lola’s Theme” is the debut single of English duo The Shapeshifters, featuring singer Cookie for the vocals.
The song remains the duo’s biggest hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles chart and topping charts worldwide.
In Australia, the song was the most successful club hit of 2004.
The song remains very popular amongst DJs today, often featuring in remixes and set lists.
4. “Where’s Your Head At” by Basement Jaxx
“Where’s Your Head At” features samples from Gary Numan’s songs “M.E.” and “The Wreckage”.
British electronic duo Basement Jaxx released the song in 2001, as a single for their second album, Rooty.
The song peaked at number 9 on the UK charts, but remains an iconic song of the 2000’s dance scene.
5. “I Found You” by Axwell, Max C
Axwell is a Swedish DJ, record producer and the owner of Axtone Records.
He teamed up with Max C to create “I Found You” in 2007, which went on to reach number 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
Axwell joined up with Steve Angello and Sebastien Ingross to perform for the first time as ‘Swedish House Mafia’.
6. “Disturbia” by Rihanna
“Disturbia” was recorded by world famous Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, the re-release of her Good Girl Gone Bad album.
The song is classed as an electro-pop or dance-pop song, described as having a ‘sizzling beat’.
The song was praised for its dark tone, lyrics and beat.
The lyrics describe an experience of anguish, anxiety and fear.
7. “Bonkers” by Dizzee Rascal
“Bonkers” is a song from British rapper Dizzee Rascal and American producer Armand van Helden, whose works appear a few times on this list.
“Bonkers” is an iconic British hit of the 2000’s.
It was released in 2009 as the single for Rascal’s fourth album, Tongue n’ Cheek.
It entered at the top of the UK Singles charts.
Apparently Dizzee Rascal was emailed the music and immediately saw its potential as a festival hit, and wrote lyrics accordingly in 25 minutes.
8. “Evacuate The Dancefloor” by Cascada
“Evacuate The Dancefloor” is an unmistakably noughties song, released by German group Cascada in June 2009.
The song peaked at number five in their home country, but reached number one in the UK charts.
The song was praised by critics, noting that it built on the Europop sound that Cascada pioneered.
9. “Technologic” by Daft Punk
French duo Daft Punk are synonymous with electronic music in the music industry.
Forming in 1993, they are considered one of the most influential acts in dance music history, achieving popularity in the late 90’s in the French house movement.
They experiment heavily with synths and drums, with “Technologic” being no exception.
The song has been sampled by many artists, including Busta Rhymes, Hannah Wants and Dua Lipa.
10. “Bulletproof” by La Roux
Another song from La Roux, “Bulletproof” is a synthpop song from their self-titled debut album.
The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart.
It reached the top ten in many countries, including the US, Austria, Australia and New Zealand.
Many critics have marked the song as La Roux’s best, noting that it is ‘insanely catchy’.
11. “One Love” by David Guetta, Estelle
“One Love” was the third single released by Guetta for his fourth album.
Guetta was voted the number one DJ in 2011 in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, achieving the title again in 2020 and 2021, showing his continued success.
Estelle is an award-winning singer from West London that works across numerous music genres and has collaborated with many world-renowned artists like Kanye West, John Legend, will.i.am and Chris Brown.
12. “Hotel Room Service” by Pitbull
Pitbull is known for his womanizing, world-traveling persona.
“Hotel Room Service” features a dance beat with the rapper rapping over the top.
The song samples “Push The Feeling On” by Nightcrawlers, Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love You” and Notorious B.I.G.’s “Nasty Girl”.
A few months later, a new version was released, featuring Pussycat dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger.
13. “Break Your Heart” by Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is a British singer and songwriter from London.
His debut album Departure achieved gold status in the UK.
“Break Your Heart” appears in his second album, Rokstarr.
The song features American rapper Ludacris, and was originally penned for Cheryl Cole before it was recorded by Cruz.
The song is an electropop song with dance-pop elements.
14. “All I Ever Wanted” by Basshunter
Basshunter is a singer, DJ and record producer from Sweden, who has recorded five albums.
“All I Ever Wanted”, like his previous song “Now You’re Gone”, is an English remake using music from a previous Basshunter track, with no lyrical connection.
The melody comes from a song called “Daddy DJ”, released by a French DJ act of the same name.
The song reached number three on the UK charts.
15. “The Whistle Song” by DJ Alligator
“The Whistle Song” is a track by Iranian-Danish DJ Alligator.
The tune samples the 1926 song “Singin’ In The Rain”.
It debuted in 2000 and went straight to the top of the Danish charts, staying there for nine weeks.
The song reached number five in the Irish charts but got stuck at number thirty-seven in the UK Singles Charts, finally making it to number five as a re-release titled “Blow My Whistle Bitch”.
16. “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk
Another iconic electro-dance song from one of the genre’s most influential artists, “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” was released in October 2001.
It won the Grammy for the Best Dance Recording that year.
The song is built around a ‘bouncy’ keyboard riff sampled from 1979 track “Cola Bottle Baby” by Edwin Birdsong.
It was famously sampled by Kanye West for his song “Stronger” on his Graduation album, released in 2007.
While the duo didn’t collaborate directly with West in the studio, two actors from Daft Punk’s Electrorama appear in the video for Stronger, and Daft Punk and West performed the song together at the 2008 Grammys.
17. “Romeo” by Basement Jaxx
“Romeo” is another song from Basement Jaxx’s Rooty album.
British R&B singer Kele Le Roc adds lead vocals on the song, while Corryne Dwyer sings the background vocals.
Many music critics thought that the song was one of the best dancefloor anthems to date.
The music features Indian dancers, a tribute to old 1960s and 70s Bollywood films.
18. “One More Time” by Daft Punk
“One More Time” was released as a single for Daft Punk’s second album, Discovery, in 2000.
The music video forms part of the 2003 anime film, Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.
The song reached number one in the duo’s home country France’s singles chart.
Many critics determined the song to be the best release of the year.
19. “Flowers (Sunship Remix)” by Sweet Female Attitude
“Flowers” was the debut single from garage act Sweet Female Attitude, made up of singer Leanne Brown, manager Mike Powell and DJ Shine MC.
The song peaked at number two after its release in 2000, but none of Sweet Female Attitude’s following releases managed to recreate the success of their first single.
It is often included on lists of the best UK garage songs.
20. “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada
“Everytime We Touch” is another anthem from German Eurodance group Cascada, who were hugely successful in the 2000s dance scene.
The song is composed with a pulsating synthesizer, jackhammer beat, and Europop lyrics.
Released in 2007, it remains an iconic sound of the 2000s to this day.
21. “Round Round” by Sugababes
Sugababes are a British band that is now composed of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy.
The lineup for the group has changed three times.
“Round Round” was released in 2002 and debuted at number one on the British charts.
The song, alongside “Sound of the Underground” by Girls Aloud, is thought to have changed the pop music scene in the UK.
22. “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” by Modjo
This song is the signature piece of French house duo Modjo, who formed in Paris in 1999.
The song was a major worldwide success and is frequently revitalized by DJs today.
“Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs in January 2001 and debuted at number one in the UK charts.
As of 2017, the song has sold two million copies worldwide.
23. “Ghosts ‘n’ stuff” by deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire
“Ghosts ‘n’ stuff” is an electronic dance song from electronic music producer Deadmau5, released as a single in 2008.
The song was re-released the following year, featuring vocals from Australian producer Rob Swire.
The latter version was included in Deadmau5’s album, For Lack of a Better Name.
The song apparently went through around ten revisions before being released.
It is one of the most well-known dance songs of the era.
24. “Satisfaction” by Benny Benassi, The Biz
“Satisfaction” was released in Italy by Italian DJ Benny Benassi in 2002, as the lead single for his album Hypnotica.
The song makes use of MacinTalk, a speech synthesis technology developed by Apple Inc.
It was Benassi’s debut single and saw international success, reaching the number two spot in the singles chart in the UK.
As of 2014, it was the 54th best-selling single of the 21st century in France.
25. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue found fame through her appearances as an actress in Australia TV Soap, Neighbours.
She transitioned from actress to international pop star in the 80s, creating dance-pop and bubblegum pop singles.
“Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is arguably her most well-known song, released in 2001 for her album Fever.
26. “Heaven” by DJ Sammy ft. Yanou & Do
“Heaven” was a song originally released by singer songwriter Bryan Adams in 1983, which reached the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song was influenced by Journey’s song, “Faithfully”.
“Heaven” was revived in 2001 by Spanish DJ Sammy and German Yanou, with vocals by Dutch singer Do.
This version reached the number one spot in the UK Singles chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
27. “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem
“All My Friends” was released by American electronic rock band LCD Soundsystem, as a single for their second album, Sound of Silver.
It was released in 2007 and was written by Pat Mahoney, James Murphy and Tyler Pope.
B-sides for the single included covers of the song by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand and former Velvet Underground member John Cale.
Pitchfork named the song their top song of 2007.
28. “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
“Bad Romance” is an electro pop and dance pop song from Lady Gaga with a spoken verse.
It is inspired by German house and dance music, adding a pop twist.
The lyrics are about Gaga’s tendency to go for unhealthy romances.
The song was critically acclaimed for its chorus, beat and hook.
It topped the chart in more than 20 countries.
29. “Titanium” by David Guetta ft. Sia
David Guetta reigned supreme over the dance genre in the 2000s, appearing once again on this list.
The song features vocals from Australian singer and songwriter Sia.
It originally featured American singer Mary J. Blige, in a version that was leaked ahead of release.
“Titanium” is a pop song with heavy house and dance influences.
30. “Something” by Lasgo
“Something” is the debut single of Belgian house group Lasgo.
The song was successful across many countries in Europe, reaching number 4 in the UK singles charts.
The group made a music video for the single, featuring shots of the Prague main railway station.
31. “Around The World (La La La La La)” by A Touch of Class
“Around The World” was the debut single of German Eurodance group ATC, also known as A Touch of Class.
The song is a cover of a previous Russian hit, called “Pesenka”.
This version uses the melody of “Pesenka” with additional English lyrics over the top.
“Around The World” was released in 2000 and became their most successful hit.
32. “Emerge” by Fischerspooner
“Emerge” is considered to be an ‘electrocrash’ song, a genre that combines 80s electronic, tech-pop and new wave sound with 90s dance, techno and electro pop.
The song was originally released in 2001, but was released again in 2002 and 2003 through different record labels.
The song has since been used frequently for film soundtracks, DJ sets and remixes.
33. “Strict Machine” by Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electro pop group that formed in London in 1999, consisting of Alison Goldfrapp (vocals) and Will Gregory (synthesizer).
“Strict Machine” was released for their second album, with lyrics describing laboratory rats in science experiments.
The song’s tune has been compared to Donna Summer’s 1977 disco song, “I Feel Love”.
It received positive reviews from critics, dubbing it a ‘future S&M club anthem if ever there was one’.
34. “Shiny Disco Balls” by Who Da Funk
“Shiny Disco Balls” is a song from Who Da Funk, featuring vocals from Jessica Eve.
Jessica Eve is the wife of Harry Romero, better known as Harry “Choo Choo” Romero, an American DJ and record producer.
The song reached number 15 on the UK Singles chart and topped the UK Dance chart for two weeks.
35. “We Are All Made Of Stars” by Moby
Moby is an American electronica musician, who is considered to have been one of the most influential dance artists of the 1990s.
He is also known for his work as an animal rights activist, owning two vegan food establishments in the US.
“We Are All Made Of Stars” is a single from his sixth album.
It was written after the 11th September attacks, to convey a hopefulness for the world following a time of despair.
36. “With Every Heartbeat” by Kleerup, Robyn
“With Every Heartbeat” is a dance song from Swedish record producer Kleerup and Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn.
The song remains Kleerup’s most well-known, but Robyn went on to continue creating international hits, such as “Dancing On My Own” and “Hang With Me” in the 2010s.
“With Every Heartbeat” was released in 2007 in Sweden as the second single of Robyn’s fourth album.
37. “My My My” by Armand Van Helden
Armand Van Helden is an American DJ, record producer and songwriter.
Originally from Boston, he is one of the most recognised house music DJs, with a career spanning three decades.
Van Helden is also part of the duo Duck Sauce, known for their song “Barbra Streisand”.
“My My My” samples “Comin’ Apart” by Gary Wright.
38. “Now You’re Gone” by Basshunter, DJ Mental Theos Bazzheads
“Now You’re Gone” was a product of the work of Swedish DJ Basshunter and DJ Mental Theos Bazzheads.
The single uses the same music as “Boten Anna”, Basshunter’s major 2006 hit across Europe.
The lyrics are about the break up of a young couple, with the singer realizing what they had when they lost it.
39. “Touch Me” by Rui Da Silva
Rui Da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ.
Following the trend of many house songs, this song features a house tune created by a DJ, with female vocals over the top.
In this song, the vocals are provided by British singer-songwriter Cassandra.
The song gained popularity in UK dance clubs in 2000.
Such was its popularity, the song reached the number one spot in the UK Singles chart.
40. “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” by LCD Soundsystem
Appearing again on this list, LCD Soundsystem prove their influence on 2000s electronic music.
This is their fifth official single, released in 2005.
The accompanying music video paid humorous homage to Daft Punk’s iconic videos for “Da Funk” and “Around The World”.
The song reached number one in the UK Dance music charts.
41. “Let’s Get It Started” by Black Eyed Peas
“Let’s Get It Started” was released as a single by Black Eyed Peas for their fourth album, Elephunk.
The song is a reworked version of a previous song, “Let’s Get Retarded”, which was re-imagined for the 2004 NBA Play-offs.
Because it is more politically correct, “Let’s Get It Started” went on to officially replace the earlier version.
42. “Pon de Replay” by Rihanna
“Pon De Replay” was the debut single of internationally famous Barbadian singer, Rihanna.
The song was released in 2005 as the lead single for her debut album, Music of the Sun.
The song is a dance-pop track, featuring reggae and R&B elements.
It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
43. “Toxic” by Britney Spears
Britney Spears is a name that is synonymous with the 2000s music industry.
She is often referred to as the Princess of Pop.
“Toxic” is a dance pop and electro pop song, with elements of bhangra music, a form of Punjabi music associated with the Punjabi diaspora in the UK.
It is accompanied by high-pitched Bollywood strings.
It won Best Dance Recording at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, making it Spears’ first Grammy win.
44. “Flashing Lights” by Kanye West
“Flashing Lights” is a song from Hip-Hop artist Kanye West, featuring R&B singer Dwele.
It was released as the third single for West’s third album, Graduation.
West dabbled with synthesizers and electronic music in this album, venturing away from his ornate, soul-based sound to create the anthems of Graduation.
Graduation debuted at number one in the Billboard album charts.
It was named by many publications as one of the best albums of the year.
45. “Day ‘N’ Nite” by Kid Cudi
“Day ‘N’ Nite” is a song from American rapper Kid Cudi, created with the help of his longtime collaborator and friend, Dot da Genius.
It was Cudi’s debut single, released in 2008.
The song has sold over 2 million digital downloads in the US, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song is about Cudi’s experience of being angry at an uncle that had kicked him out while staying with him, who sadly passed away without Cudi being able to make reconciliations.
46. ‘Celebration” by Madonna, Benny Benassi
“Celebration” was recorded by American singer Madonna for her third greatest hits album, also titled Celebration.
Madonna was often referred to as the ‘Queen of Pop’, noted for her versatility and continual reinvention, as well as her explorations of religious and sexual themes in her music and videos.
The song was remixed by DJ Benny Benassi, and this version was used for the music video.
It reached the top of many charts, but only reached number 55 on the US Billboard chart.
47. “Release Me” by Agnes
Agnes is a Swedish artist that rose to fame after winning Idol 2005 when she was only seventeen.
She was then signed to Sony Music and released her self-titled debut album.
Agnes then moved away from Sony Music and signed with an independent label, releasing her third album, Dance Love Pop.
“Release Me” was released as a single for this album, garnering international acclaim.
48. “Fever” by Cascada
“Fever” was released by Cascada for their Evacuate The Dancefloor album.
The song was released following the success of the lead single, “Evacuate The Dancefloor”.
The entire album was produced by Yanou and DJ Manian.
The album marks a move from their original Europop sound, to more of an electronic dance style.
49. “Low” Flo Rida ft. T-Pain
“Low” is an iconic song of the 2000’s.
It was American rapper Flo Rida’s debut single, released in 2007 for his debut album Mail On Sunday, and features American rapper and singer T Pain.
The song featured on the film Step Up 2: The Streets.
The single was a worldwide success and was the longest-running number one of 2008 in the US, spending ten consecutive weeks in the number one spot.
50. “Memories” by David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi
David Guetta makes yet another appearance on this list, as does Kid Cudi.
The song was released as a single for Guetta’s fourth album, One Love.
The single was an international success, with a music video filmed in Miami featuring Kid Cudi.
Critics noted that the song makes use of Guetta’s signature style with the addition of Kid Cudi’s nonchalant and mellow vocals, but noted that the song feels a bit too ‘familiar’.
51. “Kids” by MGMT
MGMT are an American indie rock band that frequently make use of experimental and synthesizer styles.
“Kids” was released as the third and final single for their debut album Oracular Spectacular, which was released in 2007.
The lyrics can be interpreted as being about the over-consumption of natural resources, with the lyrics urging the listener to ‘control yourself / take only what you need from it’.
The track was nominated for the ‘Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group With Vocals’ at the 52nd Grammy Awards.
52. “Murder On The Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Baxtor
“Murder on the Dancefloor” was written and released for British Ellis Baxtor’s debut album, Read My Lips.
The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles charts, staying on the charts for twenty three weeks.
The song reached the number one spot on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales charts, and was reported to be the most played song in Europe in 2002.
53. “Veridis Quo” by Daft Punk
“Veridis Quo” is a song from Daft Punk’s hugely popular Discovery album, released in 2001 by Virgin Records.
The album marked a move away from the Chicago house sound of their first album, into a more disco or post-disco style.
Band member Thomas Bangelter described the album as ‘experimental’, delving into different musical forms and song structures, as opposed to the ‘raw electronic’ sound of their first album.
The song’s title is a wordplay on the latin phrase “Quo vadis?”, which roughly translates to, ‘where are you going?’
54. “Temperature” by Sean Paul
“Temperature” is the third single from Jamaican musician Sean Paul’s third album, The Trinity.
The song makes use of the dancehall ‘riddim’, “Applause”.
‘Riddim’ is a Jamaican form of instrumental accompaniment to a song, synonymous with the rhythm section.
If a riddim becomes popular, it can be used in hundreds of different songs.
“Temperature” reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2005.
55. “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi ft. MGMT
Both Kid Cudi and MGMT appear again in the final entry on this list.
The song was released by Cudi as the third single for his debut album, Man On The Moon: End of the Day.
The song was produced by electronic rock duo Ratatat and features lyrics from American neo-psychedelic rock band MGMT.
The song is often thought to be about the glamourising of a carefree and crazy lifestyle, but the lyrics actually tell the story of drinking and driving, and the regret and pain associated with drug abuse.
Best 2000s Dance Songs – Final Thoughts
This list features a mix of all that falls into the dance music genre, from electronic rock songs to pop stars delving into more electronic-heavy tunes.
The 2000s is when dance became a globally beloved genre of music, with many of these tracks serving as iconic sounds of the decade.
According to Spin, Daft Punk’s appearance at Coachella in 2005 was a real tipping point in making electronic music mainstream.
Whether you prefer songs that lean more towards a raw electronic sound or those that make use of upbeat pop melodies, there is something for everyone in this list.
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