300 Best Dance Songs of the ‘90s
I have been an online writer for over six years. I am passionate about books, philosophy, music, and the music industry.
Dance music purists consider 1990–1995 to be the golden era of Eurodance.
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The ‘90s were a defining moment in music. The urban dance flavor found its way through numerous dance genres in the decade. The decade brought alive dance music trends that became the blueprint of modern dance sounds of the future. The ‘90s opened new pathways in music that laid the foundation for new dance genres. While the decade is long gone, dance songs from that nostalgic era continue to captivate heart and mind on the dancefloor.
The list below showcases an epic collection of dance songs of the ‘90s. If you are a dance music buff you will have a lot to say. Feel free with your views, opinions, or song suggestions in the comments section.
Top 10 Best Dance Songs of the ‘90s
1. “Believe”—Cher
2. “What Is Love”—Haddaway
3. “Vogue”—Madonna
4. “Beautiful Life”—Ace of Base
5. “It’s My Life”—Dr. Alban
6. “Boom Boom Boom”—The Outhere Brothers
7. “Another Night”—Real McCoy
8. “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)”—Scatman John
9. “Bailamos”—Enrique Iglesias
10. “Coco Jambo”—Mr. President
Dance-Pop in the ‘90s
Dance-pop continued its dominance in the ‘90s. A number of emerging young artists incorporated stylistically slick rhythm structures that became the signature dancefloor sound of the decade. The catchy tunes brought to life with producer-driven techniques became hugely popular with youth. Artists associated with dance-pop started combining diverse influences of disco, contemporary R&B, hip hop, synth-pop, and post-disco in their scheme of things.
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This combination resulted in an aesthetically driven dance sound that became commercially viable for record producers. A great number of dance-pop artists had phenomenal success on charts with their glitzy pop driven R&B and dance grooves. Female artists asserted their superiority in the realms of dance-pop with their club-friendly dance sounds. Alongside, dance-pop and teen pop, genres such as new jack swing, hip hop, house, and techno, garnered tremendous mainstream popularity.
#11—20
11. “Macarena”—Los del Rio
12. “Be My Lover”—La Bouche
13. “Everybody Everybody”—Black Box
14. “Baby Got Back”—Sir Mix-a-Lot
15. “U Can’t Touch This”—MC Hammer
16. “Rhythm Is a Dancer”—Snap!
17. “No Limit”—2 Unlimited
18. “Mr. Vain”—Culture Beat
19. “Ooh Aah…Just a Little Bit”—Gina G
20. “I Like to Move It”—Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman
Eurodance in the ‘90s
A genre of electronic dance music, Eurodance, which originated in Europe in the ‘80s became immensely popular in the ‘90s. The melodic hooks fused with dynamic synth sounds and hypnotic bass rhythms formed the centrifugal dance sound of this style of music. A great number of Eurodance acts of the ‘90s combined diverse elements of techno, Hi-NRG, Hip-hop, Euro disco and house in their cutting-edge dance songs.
Dance music purists consider the period from 1990-1995 as the golden era of Eurodance. A number of dance artists from European countries changed the dynamics of dance songs with their club-ready dance grooves. Numerous acts had chart-topping success on the dance club songs charts. A number of Eurodance songs became the definitive dance anthems of the ‘90s bringing the techno-dance sound to mainstream. Although the popularity of the genre lost steam towards the end of the decade, the classic Eurodance sound transitioned into a new form of progressive house.
#21—40
21. “The Power”—Snap!
22. “All That She Wants”—Ace of Base
23. “More and More”—Captain Hollywood Project
24. “Barbie Girl”—Aqua
25. “Rhythm Nation”—Janet Jackson
26. “Groove Is in the Heart”—Deee-Lite
27. “Children”—Robert Miles
28. “Good Vibrations”—Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway
29. “Insomnia”—Faithless
30. “This Is How We Do It”—Montell Jordan
31. “Getting’ Jiggy wit It”—Will Smith
32. “Free”—Ultra Nate
33. “2 Legit 2 Quit”—MC Hammer
34. “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!”—Vengaboys
35. “Strong Enough”—Cher
36. “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”—C+C Music Factory
37. “Push the Feeling On”—Nightcrawlers
38. “Sandstorm”—Darude
39. “Mr. Wendal”—Arrested Development
40. “I’m Too Sexy”—Right Said Fred
House Music in the ‘90s
The characteristic four-on-the-floor beat of house music became epic in the ‘90s. DJs and music producers built an underground club culture with different styles of house and gradually incorporated these styles into mainstream pop. House music that came into prominence in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, became a worldwide phenomenon in the ‘90s. The deep basslines and synthesizer riffs accompanied with 4/4 rhythms, off beat hi-hats, bass drums, snare drums, snaps, and claps became the signature sound of numerous dance house acts of the decade.
The sensually crafted vocal cycles at the chorus, verse, and midsection built around bass heavy loops became the trademark identity in production and layering sounds. House became hugely popular on the club dance scene in the ‘90s. Some of the most eclectic rave and acid house styles were played at parties in the ‘90s. Rave culture that mushroomed through the house scene became widespread in the decade. Dance songs with house influences became excessively popular with teens and young adults. Towards the end of the ‘90s, DJ’s and producers in the underground club scene in France started experimenting creatively with filter and phaser effects which characterized the birth of the French house movement.
#41—60
41. “In the Closet”—Michael Jackson
42. “If”—Janet Jackson
43. “Whoomp! (There It Is)”—Tag Team
44. “Livin’ la Vida Loca”—Ricky Martin
45. “The Rockafellar Skank”—Fatboy Slim
46. “My Love Is Your Love’—Whitney Houston
47. “Dreamer”—Livin’ Joy
48. “Sun is Shining”—Bob Marley and the Wailers
49. “Canned Heat”—Jamiroquai
50. “Jump Around”—House of Pain
51. “Twilight Zone”—2 Unlimited
52. “This Is Your Night”—Amber
53. “Show Me Love”—Robin S.
54. “Born Slippy Nuxx”—Underworld
55. “Tootsee Roll”—69 Boyz
56. “God Is a DJ”—Faithless
57. “Kernkraft 400”—Zombie Nation
58. “17 Again”—Eurthymics
59. “Up and Down”—Vengaboys
60. “Red Alert”—Basement Jaxx
Electronic Dance Music in the ‘90s
With the ‘90s taking a huge leap in innovation, computers, and technology, the cost of music equipment and studio production reduced considerably. This enabled a great number of musicians to produce different styles of electronic music with a pocket-friendly budget. A number of artists started self-producing music designed for the club scene and parties. Certain musicians started experimenting with a slower paced musical style which gradually came into being known as Electronica.
This form of music was designed purposefully for relaxation sections and chillout rooms at clubs with slow grooving and mindful listening being the criteria. Electronic sounds became magnanimous at raves and trance parties. Gradually, different styles of electronic dance music started emerging in notable dance genres of the ‘90s. Suddenly, electronic dance songs became the quintessential flavor of dancefloors across the world. Different electronic styles of the decade laid the foundation for the EDM sound of the 2000s. A great number of electronic dance artists had crossover success with their dance hits.
#61—80
61. “Finally”—CeCe Peniston
62. “Music Sounds Better With You”—Stardust
63. “Frozen”—Madonna
64. “Da’ Dip”—Freak Nasty
65. “Honey”—Mariah Carey
66. “Found a Cure”—Ultra Nate
67. “Oye”—Gloria Estefan
68. “Rendez-Vu”—Basement Jaxx
69. “Sunchyme”—Dario G
70. “That’s the Way Love Is”—Ten City
71. “Moving On Up”—M People
72. “Together Again”—Janet Jackson
73. “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”—Whitney Houston
74. “Sing it Back”—Moloko
75. “Jackie’s Strength”—Tori Amos
76. “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…”—C+C Music Factory
77. “Who Is It”—Michael Jackson
78. “Queen of the Night”—Whitney Houston
79. “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)”—Rozalla
80. “It’s Over Now”—Deborah Cox
Techno and Trance in the ‘90s
Genres of electronic dance music, both techno and trance had phenomenal success in the ‘90s. The creative use of music production technology defined the techno aesthetic. A sonic blend of techno artists emerged through the house scene of the ‘90s. In the US, the Detroit Techno scene and Chicago house scene influenced a new breed of techno musicians that incorporated their sounds in mainstream dance music. While techno acts from Germany stamped their authority in the ‘80s, the ‘90s, witnessed the new techno movement spread all across Europe. Science fiction and dreamscape themes employed articulately with the sounds of sequencers, synthesizers, and digital audio workstations mesmerized dance music fans. Techno beats in dance songs of European acts became hugely popular in the ‘90s.
Trance came into its own deriving influences of musical styles such as house, techno, tech house, chill-out and ambient. The ‘90s trance scene was known for merging progressive musicality with pop-centric styles. The build up and release in a number of instrumental trance songs were often associated with heightened consciousness and hypnotism. Certain trance songs played at trance festivals in the decade were known to induce an emotional high, feeling, and euphoric uplifting rush among listeners. As trance grew in popularity, a number of dance music artists started employing the trippy and psychedelic sounds in their songs. This resulted in the creation of stylistic dance-trance songs that became a rage with dance music fans globally.
#81—100
81. “Fever”—Madonna
82. “New York City Boy”—Pet Shop Boys
83. “We Like to Party”—Vengaboys
84. “Get Ready for This”—2 Unlimited
85. “A Deeper Love”—Clivilles and Cole
86. “Tradicion”—Gloria Estefan
87. “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”—Backstreet Boys
88. “Scream”—Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
89. “What You Need”—Powerhouse
90. “Big Time Sensuality”—Bjork
91. “Dreams”—Gabrielle
92. “All Or Nothing”—Cher
93. “So in Love With You”—Duke
94. “Fable”—Robert Miles
95. “Open Your Heart”—M People
96. “Keep it Comin’ (Dance Till You Can’t Dance No More)”—C+C Music Factory featuring Q-Unique and Deborah Cooper
97. “Beautiful People”—Barbara Tucker
98. “Situation”—Yazoo
99. “Go Deep”—Janet Jackson
100. “Never Gonna Fall”—Lisa Stansfield
Best Dance Songs of the ‘90s #101—200
101. “Space Cowboy”—Jamiroquai
102. “Gypsy Woman”—Crystal Waters
103. “Deeper and Deeper”—Madonna
104. “Circles”—Atlantic Starr
105. “Waiting for Tonight”—Jennifer Lopez
106. “Stay”—Sash! Featuring La Trec
107. “Love Is the Healer”—Donna Summer
108. “Off the Hook”—Jody Watley
109. “Dreamlover”—Mariah Carey
110. “Step By Step”—New Kids on the Block
111. “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here”—Deborah Cox
112. “Fun”—Da Mob
113. “Get Up”—Byron Stingily
114. “Heartbreak Hotel”—Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price
115. “Get Get Down”—Paul Johnson
116. “Discotheque”—U2
117. “The First Night”—Monica
118. “Do You Wanna Get Funky”—C+C Music Factory featuring Martha Wash, Zelma Davis and Trilogy
119. “Caught in the Middle”—Juliet Roberts
120. “Needin’ U”—David Morales Presents the Face
121. “It’s Over Love”—Todd Terry featuring Shannon
122. “Never Miss the Water”—Chaka Khan
123. “I’m Every Woman”—Whitney Houston
124. “Pennies From Heaven”—Inner City
125. “100% Pure Love”—Crystal Waters
126. “Secret”—Madonna
127. “Get Up Stand Up”—Phunky Phantom
128. “Sadness (Part 1)”—Enigma
129. “I Don’t Know Anybody Else”—Black Box featuring Martha Wash
130. “Here We Go Again”—Aretha Franklin
131. “Bring Me Your Love”—Deee-Lite
132. “Luv 4 Luv”—Robin S
133. “That’s the Way Love Goes”—Janet Jackson
134. “I Miss You”—Bjork
135. “Just a Touch of Love”—C+C Music Factory
136. “Lucky Love”—Ace of Base
137. “Joy”—Staxx featuring Carol Leeming
138. “Blue Skies”—BT featuring Tori Amos
139. “Someday”—Mariah Carey
140. “Don’t Call Me Baby”—Madison Avenue
141. “I’m in the Mood”—CeCe Peniston
142. “One Night in Heaven”—M People
143. “A Rose Is Still a Rose”—Aretha Franklin
144. “Misled”—Celine Dion
145. “Nothing Really Matters”—Madonna
146. “Love Is All We Need”—Mary J. Blige
147. “I’m Leavin’”—Lisa Stansfield
148. “The Right Kinda Lover”—Patti LaBelle
149. “Da Funk”—Daft Punk
150. “Pressure”—Sunscreem
#151—200
151. “Anytime You Need a Friend”—Mariah Carey
152. “The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind)”—The Bucketheads
153. “Runaway”—Nuyorican Soul
154. “Around the World”—Daft Punk
155. “(I Wanna Give You) Devotion”—Nomad featuring MC Mikee Freedom
156. “You”—Staxx
157. “Beautiful Stranger”—Madonna
158. “One More Try”—Kristine W
159. “When You Talk About Love”—Patti LaBelle
160. “Something Goin’ On (In Your Soul)”—Todd Terry featuring Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown
161. “Relax”—Crystal Waters
162. “That Sound”—Pump Friction
163. “Don’t You Want Me”—Felix
164. “Too Close”—Next
165. “I’m Gonna Get You”—Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown
166. “Encore une fois”—Sash! featuring Sabine Ohmes
167. “It’s No Good”—Depeche Mode
168. “One and One”—Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler
169. “Regret”—New Order
170. “Change”—Lisa Stansfield
171. “Feel What You Want”—Kristine W
172. “LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)”—The Shamen
173. “Move”—Moby
174. “Erotica”—Madonna
175. “Carry On”—Martha Wash
176. “I Believe”—Sounds of Blackness
177. “Everybody Dance (The Horn Song)”—Barbara Tucker
178. “Hyperballad”—Bjork
179. “We Got a Love Thang”—CeCe Peniston
180. “Comin’ Back”—The Crystal Method
181. “Ecuador”—Sash! Featuring Rodriguez
182. “Ride on the Rhythm”—Little Louis Vega featuring Marc Anthony
183. “Before”—Pet Shop Boys
184. “Love U More”—Sunscreem
185. “Din Daa Daa”—George Kranz
186. “Are You Ready to Fly”—Rozalla
187. “Ghetto Day/What I Need”—Crystal Waters
188. “Keep it Together”—Madonna
189. “Power of Love”—Deee-Lite
190. “Hello”—Poe
191. “Tease Me”—Chaka Demus & Pliers
192. “Got Myself Together”—The Bucketheads
193. “Plastic Dreams”—Jaydee
194. “Not Over Yet”—Grace
195. “Dub Be Good to Me”—Beats International featuring Lindy Layton
196. “Runaway”—Deee-Lite
197. “When You Made the Mountain”—Opus 3
198. “Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)”—Donna Summer
199. “Anthem”—N-Joi
200. “Lifted By Love”—k.d. Lang
Best ‘90s Dance Songs #201—300
201. “Strike it Up”—Black Box
202. “Move Any Mountain”—The Shamen
203. “Go to Get It”—Culture Beat
204. “Cotton Eye Joe”—Rednex
205. “The Colour of Love”—The Reese Project
206. “Alright”—Janet Jackson
207. “Can You Forgive Her?”—Pet Shop Boys
208. “Drunk on Love”—Basia
209. “Sadness (Part 1)”—Enigma
210. “Lemon”—U2
211. “You Bring Me Joy”—Mary J. Blige
212. “Let the Beat Hit ‘Em”—Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
213. “Give it Up”—The Good Men
214. “Call Me”—Deee-Lite
215. “Took My Love”—Bizarre inc. featuring Angie Brown
216. “Always”—MK
217. “Don’t You Love Me”—49ers
218. “Wrong”—(Everything But the Girl)
219. “Salva Mea”—Faithless
220. “Keep on Walkin’”—CeCe Peniston
221. “Who Do U Love”—Deborah Cox
222. “Tres Deseos”—Gloria Estefan
223. “C’mon and Get My Love”—Cathy Denis with D Mob
224. “The Child (Inside)”—Qkumba Zoo
225. “You’re Makin Me High”—Toni Braxton
226. “Mindflux”—N-Joi
227. “Pump That Body”—Mr. Lee
228. “Turn it Out”—Labelle
229. “Give It to You”—Martha Wash
230. “Living in Danger”—Ace of Base
231. “The Pressure Part 1”—Sounds of Blackness
232. “U R the Best Thing”—D-Ream
233. “Happenin’ All Over Again”—Lonnie Gordon
234. “Take Me Higher”—Diana Ross
235. “Your Loving Arms”—Billie Ray Martin
236. “Another Sleepless Night”—Shawn Christopher
237. “The New Anthem”—Reel 2 Real featuring Erick More
238. “People Hold On”—Lisa Stansfield and The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
239. “Star People”—George Michael
240. “Makin’ Happy”—Crystal Waters
241. “Got a Love For You”—Jomanda
242. “People Are Still Having Sex”—LaTour
243. “Bedtime Story”—Madonna
244. “3 a.m.”—Eternal
245. “Love You All My Lifetime”—Chaka Khan
246. “I Get Lifted”—Barbara Tucker
247. “Comin’ On Strong”—Desiya featuring Melissa Yiannakou
248. “Lost in Music”—Stereo MCs
249. “Sex Drive”—Grace Jones
250. “I’ve Been Thinking About You”—Londonbeat
251. “Phorever People”—The Shamen
252. “Saved My Life”—Lil Louis & the World
253. “For an Angel"—Paul van Dyk
254. “Land of the Living”—Kristine W
255. “Fantasy”—Mariah Carey
256. “Little Bird”—Annie Lennox
257. “Take me Back to Love Again”—Kathy Sledge
258. “I Want You”—Juliet Roberts
259. “Get Off”—Prince
260. “Wiggle It”—2 in a Room
261. “Hold On”—En Vogue
262. “Leash Called Love”— The Sugarcubes
263. “How to Dance”—Bingoboys featuring Princessa
264. “Don’t Lose the Magic”—Shawn Christopher
265. “Hit By Love”—CeCe Peniston
266. “Kiss (When the Sun Don’t Shine)”—Vengaboys
267. “Such a Good Feeling”—Brothers in Rhythm
268. “It’s a Fine Day”—Opus 3
269. “House of Love”—Smooth Touch
270. “World (The Price of Love)”—New Order
271. “Excited”—M People
272. “Heartbeat”—Jimmy Somerville
273. “Surrender Yourself”—The Daou
274. “Deep in My Heart”—Clubhouse featuring Silver Pozzoli
275. “Professional Widow”—Tori Amos with Armand van Helden
276. “If I Were You”—k.d. Lang
277. “Justify My Love”—Madonna
278. “Gotta Know (Your Name)”—Malaika
279. “Hear the Music”—Todd Terry
280. “Livin’ in the Light”—UK Blak
281. “Jump”—Kriss Kross
282. “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll)”—C+C Music Factory
283. “Turn Me Out”—Praxis featuring Kathy Brown
284. “Strobelite Honey”—Black Sheep
285. “Gonna Catch You”—Lonnie Gordon
286. “Things Just Ain’t the Same”—Deborah Cox
287. “Club Lonely”—Lil Louis & the World
288. “That’s the Way of the World”—D Mob featuring Cathy Dennis
289. “Back to My Roots”—RuPaul
290. “Doin’ the Do”—Betty Boo
291. “(Can You) Feel the Passion”—Blue Pearl
292. “Nothing Can Stop Us”—Saint Etienne
293. “Chic Mystique”—Chic
294. “Side on the Rhythm”—Arizona featuring Zeeteah Massiah
295. “Born to B.R.E.E.D.”—Monie Love
296. “No More “I Love You’s””–Annie Lennox
297. “Kiss You All Over”—No Mercy
298. “Everlasting Love”—Gloria Estefan
299. “Come and Get Your Love”—Real McCoy
300. “Ain’t Nobody”—Jaki Graham
© 2022 Ansel Pereira
