A Trip to Forgotten Tunes: Best Dance Songs of the '80s and '90s

Get down and dirty to these groovy dance songs of the 80’s and 90’s that were the highlight in the music world, with dance tracks that were both memorable and impactful…

The 80s was a time when people were getting used to the idea of going to discotheques and getting down to music that was melodic, rhythmic and above all entrancing. It was a very dance-oriented period with many musicians experimenting with music styles and sounds that gave people something to get their feet and bodies moving to. The dance songs of the 80s and 90s have been able to withstand time with many of them still making waves in weddings, birthdays and social gatherings to date. Those that were around during this time, will know that this was an epic time in dance music history.

The 80s was such a musically vibrant time, for those who loved to dance like there was no tomorrow, to what we now look back on as old school dance music. Tracks like Beat It by Michael Jackson, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, Like a Virgin by Madonna and Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves were just some in a pool of the best there was in dance music.

You can always immediately identify a song that’s been done in that golden decade with its electronically generated beats and the use of just regular instruments that didn’t take it to a complicated level but most definitely with that eudaemonic element to it. It was all about fun tunes that got you humming all day long or randomly busting a move when no one was looking. Whichever way people take to that time of dance music, it is a reminiscent era for both the old and young.

Dance Songs of the 80s and 90s

We’ve listed out here the best of the best when it comes to dance music that made not only an impression on those who possessed the first hand releases, on the young as we speak. Sometimes no matter what you may tune into at the end of the day, we still find ourselves reaching out for a track that was gold during its initial release period. You’ll find here dance songs of the 80s and 90s that were big back then, and now making a comeback with modern-day listeners.

Song Hits of the 1980s
Super Freak Part 1 – Rick James I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters Billie Jean – Michael Jackson Celebration – Kool and the Gang Jump (For My Love) – The Pointers Sisters Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics Walk Like An Egyptian – The Bangles 1999 – Prince Pump Up the Jam – Technotronic Give It to Me Baby – Rick James It Takes Two – Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls Our Lips Are Sealed – Go-Gos Wild Thing – Tone Loc Tainted Love – Soft Cell	Upside Down (Inside Out) – Diana Ross All Night Long – Lionel Richie Flashdance, What a Feeling – Irene Cara You Spin Me Around (Like a Record) – Dead or Alive Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club Word Up – Cameo Let’s Dance – David Bowie I Can’t Wait – Nu Shooz She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer Ride on Time – Black Box Material Girl – Madonna Footloose – Kenny Loggins Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – George Michael More Bounce to the Ounce Part 1 – Zapp	Rapture – Blondie Conga – Miami Sound Machine Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen Wanna’ Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats Let the Music Play – Shannon Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell Stompi – Brother Johnson Goody Two Shoes – Adam Ant Mickey – Toni Basil Venus – Bananarama Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant White Horse – Laid Back My Prerogative – Bobby Brown

Song Hits of the 1990s
Unbelievable – EMF Total Eclipse of the Heart – Nikki French Here Comes the Hotstepper (Heartical Mix) – Ini Kamoze Mr. Vain – Culture Beat Come on N’ Ride It (The Train) – Quad City DJs Tootsee Roll – 69 Boys The Power – SNAP! What is Love? – Haddaway Vogue – Madonna Get Ready for This – 2 Unlimited Strike It Up – Black Box Believe – Cher Gettin’ Jiggy With It – Will Smith Macarena – Los Del Rio Tom’s Diner – DNA feat. Suzanne Vega	Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) – Crystal Waters Whoomp! There It Is – Tag Team I Like to Move It – Real 2 Real feat. Martha Wash All That She Wants – Ace of Base Be My Lover – La Bouche Poison – Bell Biv Devoe Insomnia – Faithless Ooh Aah.. Just a Little Bit – Gina G. This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan Dreamer – Livin’ Joy Children (Dream Version) – Robert Miles If You Could Read My Mind – Stars on 54 Da’ Dip – Freak Nasty I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred Your Loving Arms – Billy Ray Martin	Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince Where Do You Go? – No Mercy Sweet Dreams – La Bouche Rhythm of the Night – Corona Beautiful Life – Ace of Base Around the World – Daft Punk Temptation – Corona Tonight in the Night – Le Click We Like to Party – Venga Boys Ray of Light – Madonna Push the Feeling On – The Nightcrawlers Sexual (Li Da Di) – Amber Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Blue Smooth – Carlos Santana Feat. Rob Thomas Together Forever – Lisette Melendez

These were just some of the best dance songs of the 80s and 90s that were topping off charts during their time, making it big among those who breathed and lived dance music. For more dance numbers, I suggest you also look into the 100 greatest songs of the 90s. Remember to tune into these tracks once in a while to relive the good old days or to rediscover a time in music history that you never looked into. Keep listening!