There are some problems in life that can only be solved by a dance party. Whether you’re grooving in your car, raising the roof at the club or tearing it up alone in your room, it’s been scientifically proven that moving to the beat releases dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins — aka, happy chemicals — in your brain. Basically, letting loose to a pulsing beat filled with major chords and bass drops is a form of self-care.
Don’t believe it? Take it from the experts. English DJ Jamie xx (who scored a song on this list) explained back in 2015 why he believes dancing to electronically charged music is essential. “It’s important to me because it just makes me happy,” he told Fader. “There’s not that many things that make me happy. I mean, that’s why it’s important to a lot of people. It can be something that you listen to on your own if you want, but really it’s something designed to make people happy, even if it’s a sad song. The act of dancing is a happy thing to do.”
Billboard has the perfect playlist for the next time in your life a dance therapy session is warranted — meaning all you have to do is put on your earbuds, crank up the volume and shake it out. From old school songs to modern day masterpieces, this list has something groovy for everybody, whether you love current pop hits, EDM originals from DJing geniuses like Dillon Francis, Skrillex and Calvin Harris, remixed versions of already dance-worthy tracks from Michael Jackson, Lizzo and Nelly or radio staples that make you feel a decade younger with just the push of a button.
From A (Avicii) to Z (Zedd), keep reading to see Billboard‘s top 50 feel good jams that’ll bring a smile to your face and put a spring in your step.
Hailee Steinfeld & Grey feat. Zedd - "Starving"
Peaking at No. 12 on the Hot 100, “Starving” marked Grey’s first entry on the chart and is Hailee Steinfeld’s best-charting track to date.“’Starving’ is a song about sort of knowing someone, or getting to know that certain someone, to [the point] where even though you were somebody before that person came along, they have given you this whole new outlook on yourself and on life,” Steinfeld told Nylon of the song in 2016. “It’s this idea that since you came into my life everything is different, and I didn’t know that it could be this different since you came into my life.”
Demi Lovato - "Cool for the Summer"
Produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami, “Cool for the Summer” served as the lead single for Lovato’s fifth studio album, Confident. Listen here.
Chris Malinchak – “So Good to Me”
This song was released in 2013, but if you sense that there’s a little bit of the 1960s sprinkled into it — you’re not wrong. Malinchak actually sampled Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “If This World Were Mine.” Listen here.
Skrillex feat. Pennybirdrabbit – “All I Ask of You"
“All I Ask of You” is one of the most pop-forward songs from Skrillex, who made his name producing addictive dubstep tracks. Listen here.
Major Lazer feat. NYLA & Fuse ODG – “Light it Up”
This track marked both NYLA and Fuse ODG’s very first entry on the Hot 100. Listen here.
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa - "One Kiss"
This was the first of two collaborations between the Scottish DJ and Dua Lipa, with the pair going on to release “Potion” together in 2022 with Young Thug. Harris and Dua appeared together on The Graham Norton Show in 2018 for a rare live performance of “One Kiss” before sitting down for an interview, where they joked about how the former had previously “slid into the DMs” of the latter to inquire about working together on the song.
Avicii – “The Days”
When looking for songs that’ll make you want to dance, you really can’t go wrong with Avicii. “The Days” served as one half of the Swedish DJ’s two-song 2014 EP The Days / The Nights. Listen here.
Dillon Francis – “I.D.G.A.F.O.S.”
This song — the title is an acronym for “I Don’t Give A F–k Or Sh-t” — was one of Francis’ breakout projects. Listen here.
Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - "Just Dance"
For a list of good songs to dance to, Lady Gaga’s debut single/breakout hit is honestly a no-brainer. “Just Dance” spent nearly an entire year on the Hot 100 and topped the chart for three weeks, the first of five No 1s in the pop star’s lengthy career. Listen here.
Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates – “Sugar”
This track very appropriately samples Baby Bash’s 2003 single “Suga Suga.” Listen here.
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey - "The Middle"
One of the first people to ever hear this hit was Billboardjournalist Chris Martins, for whom Zedd played the track while it was still in the works. No one could have predicted at the time that it would go on to hit the top 5 of the Hot 100 and give country artist Maren Morris her breakthrough into the top 40 pop landscape.
Avicii – “Dear Boy”
“Dear Boy” is more of an Avicii deep cut, first released on his 2013 recordTrue — which is famous for singles like “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother.”Listen here.
Alesso feat. Roy English – “Cool”
This Alesso track incorporates a sample of Kylie Minogue’s “Get Outta My Way.” Listen here.
Nicki Minaj - "Starships"
Nicki Minaj is best known as a trailblazing female rapper, but “Starships” is a dance song through and through. It followed close behind “Super Bass” as her second solo top 10 on the Hot 100. Listen here.
deadmau5 – “Hi Friend!”
“Hi Friend!” served as the friendly lead single for the Canadian EDM star’s fourth studio album,For Lack of a Better Name. Listen here.
The Wanted - "Glad You Came"
“Glad You Came” is by far The Wanted’s most well-known song, peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and spending 37 weeks total on the chart.Billboardranked it as the 35th best boy band song of all time, writing: “Any boy band song could light up a club for the sake of nostalgia, but there aren’t many that can do so without being completely obvious that it’s even coming from a boy band in the first place.”
Matoma & The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant – “Old Thing Back”
Can’t get enough of Biggie? Check out this remix of his single “Want That Old Thing Back,” remixed by Matoma after the legend’s death in 1997. Listen here.
Porter Robinson – “Language”
You might just recognize this tune from the video game Forza Horizon. Listen here.
Martin Solveig – “The Night Out”
The music video for “The Night Out” — a single off of Solveig’s album Smash — features an all-star cast of fellow DJs, with A-Trak, Dillon Francis, Sidney Samson, Laidback Luke, Madeon, Porter Robinson and Zedd each making appearances. Listen here.
Kesha - "Die Young"
Combining a soft-spoken electric guitar riff with a pulsing EDM synth beat, “Die Young” is one of the most summery tracks in Kesha’s extensive dance-driven discography. Listen here.
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - "Rain On Me"
Released just a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic, “Rain On Me” became the first all-female collaboration to debut at the top of the Hot 100. It was the fourth Hot 100 No. 1 for Grande and the fifth for Gaga, who wrote when the song came out: “One time I felt like I was crying so much it would never stop. Instead of fighting it, I thought bring it on, I can do hard things.”
Kygo & Conrad Sewell – “Firestone”
“Firestone” was one of Kygo’s breakthrough songs, becoming the Norwegian DJ’s first entry into the Hot 100 in 2015. Listen here.
Hot Natured feat. Anabel Englund – “Reverse Skydiving”
Can’t get enough of this one? Luckily, there are four remixes of “Reverse Skydiving” available on Spotify, from Deetron, Shadow Child and Robert James. Listen here.
Madeon feat. Kyan – “You’re On”
A single off of Madeon’s debut album Adventure, “You’re On” is a song the artist tweeted was “inspired by my love of pop music, cool chords and chopped up diva vocals.” Listen here.
Michael Jackson – “Love Never Felt So Good (Fedde Le Grand Remix)”
Released in 2014, Fedde Le Grand’s remix was on Jackson’s posthumous album Xscape. Listen here.
The Weeknd & Daft Punk - "I Feel It Coming"
“I Feel It Coming” was one of two Daft Punk guest spots on The Weeknd’s third studio albumStarboy, with their second collaboration serving as both the album’s title track and lead single. “Starboy” peaked at No. 1. on the Billboard Hot 100, meanwhile “I Feel It Coming” peaked at No. 4 several weeks after its debut.
ATB – “Don’t Stop”
Appearing on ATB’s album Movin’ Melodies, “Don’t Stop!” features vocals from Yolanda Rivera. Listen here.
Flo Rida feat. David Guetta – “Club Can’t Handle Me"
David Guetta and Flo Rida had long admired each other’s work before teaming up for “Club Can’t Handle Me” — in fact, the former had even begun incorporating the latter’s “Low” into his live DJing shows before the two ever came together. Listen here.
Bob Sinclar & Gary Pine – “Love Generation”
A single from Sinclar’s album Western Dream,“Love Generation” amassedhuge charting success across several European countries. Listen here.
Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX - "I Love It"
“I Love It” was both Icona Pop and Charli XCX’s first entry on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 7. Listen here.
Swedish House Mafia – “Don’t You Worry Child”
“Don’t You Worry Child” was Swedish House Mafia’s final single before famously splitting up in 2013, eventually reuniting for performances in 2018 and releasing new music once again in 2022.
Stardust – “Music Sounds Better With You”
The creation of Stardust is as mystical as its name suggests — producer Thomas Bangalter, DJ Alan Braxe and vocalist Benjamin Diamond formed in 1998, dropped “Music Sounds Better With You” and immediately disbanded without releasing anything else. Listen here.
Jai Wolf – “Indian Summer”
After already establishing himself as a pro remixer, Jai Wolf debuted his own original music with “Indian Summer” in 2015. Listen here.
The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes – “Roses”
Written by The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart and Rozes, “Roses” remains the latter musician’s only entry on the Hot 100. Listen here.
Pretty Lights – “Finally Moving”
A fan favorite off of Pretty Lights’ debut album Taking Up Your Precious Time, “Finally Moving” features a sample of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” by Etta James. Listen here.
Rihanna & Calvin Harris - "We Found Love"
“We Found Love” dominated the Hot 100 after its September 2011 release, spending 10 total weeks in the top spot. “I was looking for someone to sing on it — I wasn’t shooting for someone as high and amazing as Rihanna, but she heard it and she wanted it,” Harris once explained toFuse. “That’s how it happened. It was a risk for her, I think, ’cause it was a pretty full on record. It was different sounding at the time…but she makes her own decisions.”
Jamie xx feat. Young Thug, Popcaan – "I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
This track was released as a single from Jamie xx’s debut studio album, In Colour, “I don’t feel like I’m very good at making music, in terms of like the technical side of it — it’s more like trying stuff out until something that I love happens,” the DJ said in a Fader interview. “Sometimes I’ll be quite good at the first 10 seconds of a song, then I’m lost. ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’ was like that.” Listen here.
Frankie Knuckles – “The Whistle Song”
“The Whistle Song” is still one of the most loved songs produced by “Godfather of House Music” Frankie Knuckles, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 59. Listen here.
The Chemical Brothers – “Galvanize”
Featuring vocals by Q-Tip, “Galvanize” was released as the lead single off The Chemical Brothers’ fifth studio album, Push the Button. Listen here.
Eric Prydz – “Call On Me”
Using a sample of Steve Winwood’s 1982 track “Valerie” as its backbone, “Call On Me” remains one of Prydz’ best-known tracks. Listen here.
David Guetta & Usher - "Without You"
Constantly alternating between vulnerable ballad and EDM explosion, no one else was as perfect for the lead vocals on “Without You” as Usher, one of few artists who can fully deliver emotion and dance. In 2011, Guetta told Billboardthat it was “maybe the biggest song I’ve made in my life.”
Lizzo - "About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)"
After “About Damn Time” shot to the Hot 100 top 10 thanks to a viral corresponding TikTok dance, Purple Disco Machine added even more of a groove factor to Lizzo’s hit by making the tempo faster and plugging in computerized vocal lines. Listen here.
Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
Filled with several references to the King of Pop’s discography, “D.A.N.C.E.” is a tribute to Michael Jackson through and through. Listen here.
Oakenfold feat. Shifty Shellshock – “Starry Eyed Surprise”
Using a sample of Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin,'” “Starry Eyed Surprise” has a happy-go-lucky vibe that’s so addictive, it was the song of choice for 2000s commercials by Apple and Diet co*ke. Listen here.
Gorillaz feat. De La Soul – “Feel Good Inc.”
First released as the lead single from the Gorillaz’ second studio album Demon Days, “Feel Good Inc.” went on to take home the award for best pop collaboration at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Listen here.
David Guetta feat. Sia - "Titanium"
After Guetta shopped “Titanium” around to a few different lead vocalists — including Katy Perry and Mary J. Blige — it eventually went to Sia, whose striking vocals made the song an instant classic. Currently boasting more than one billion Spotify streams, it spent 66 weeks on the Hot 100 and peaked at No. 7.
Avicii – “Levels”
Built around a vocal sample from Etta James’ 1962 track “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” “Levels” topped the charts in several European countries and was certified platinum in the U.S. Listen here.
Calvin Harris - "Feel So Close"
Calvin Harris’ top 40 Hot 100 hit “Feel So Close” is one of few rare instances where the Scottish DJ can be heard using his own singing voice on one of his songs. Listen here.
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers – “Get Lucky”
The lead single off Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning album Random Access Memories, “Get Lucky” peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and marked the French duo’s first U.S. top 10 Hot 100 hit. Listen here.
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey - "Closer"
Not only was “Closer” the first Hot 100 No. 1 for both The Chainsmokers and Halsey, it also dominated the chart for a whopping 12 consecutive weeks. With more than two billion Spotify streams and counting, this song had pop radio in a chokehold back in 2016 and pretty much redefined what it means to be the song of the summer.
