20 of the 21st Century’s Best Party Songs
Get ready to shake your rump to the funk ... and disco and hip-hop and R&B and pop!
A proper list of party anthems has been on my list of must-do topics for a while now, and with New Year’s Eve celebrations soon us, it seemed like an excellent time to push it to the front of my publication queue.
However, the broad idea comes with a nuanced twist. I’ve previously discussed some of my favorite disco and house tracks in this newsletter, so I thought I’d change it up and set some era-specific boundaries instead. I’m still looking back at the classics, but this time, we’re discussing some of the best bangers from the 21st century.
Keep scrolling, get your streaming platform or music collection prepped off to the side, and get ready to get up and dance. Just make sure you hit that subscribe button if you haven’t already done so and want posts like this sent directly to your inbox.
It’s party time!
1. “Yeah!” by Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris (2004)
I’ve written at length about this song before, but considering the theme, it would be a massive oversight not to include it here. For as of-its-time as some of the production choices are (looking at you, crunk stylings of yesteryear), the verbal and instrumental hooks are timeless party staples.
Seriously—is it possible to hear those opening horn blasts and not think the good vibes have increased by several thousand percent?
2. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (2003)
The Killers may originally be from Las Vegas, but their global success came courtesy of the UK’s obsession with “Mr. Brightside.” On that side of the Atlantic, it’s one of the biggest-selling songs of all time and owns the record for most weeks spent on the British singles chart at over 408 weeks (that’s nearly eight years).
Despite never peaking at No. 1 in Britain or the US, “Brightside” has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and, depending on who you ask, should replace the incumbent as the UK’s official national anthem.
3. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (2014)
I first heard “Uptown Funk” long before it became a No. 1 hit. I was working as an evening host for a pop radio station in my hometown and it came through as one of several names that had been added to the rotation that week by our program director. Bruno Mars was popular but not quite the global pop sensation he’d become. Mark Ronson was considered a bit of a has-been.
But then I heard the track and was immediately aware I was in the presence of a future smash hit. About two weeks later, I’m watching Saturday Night Live at home, and the crowd’s reaction during the breakdown confirms my suspicions. 15 million copies sold and billions of streams later, it’s still as irresistible as it was initially.
4. “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO (2011)
When “Party Rock Anthem” began climbing the pop and dance charts worldwide, no one could’ve predicted that the duo would call it quits the following year. Before that happened, they secured a substantial bag, with the high-energy single selling nearly 10 million copies globally.
In many ways, it represents the first 2010s anthems that feel intrinsically linked to the decade’s always-on and always-drunk partying ethos. The shuffle dance (originally popularized by his Lordship MC Hammer), the dorky outfits, the bright colors, the earworm of a beat drop, and, of course, that catchphrase. Every day I’m shufflin’, indeed.
5. “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z (2003)
Pop culture takes Beyoncé for granted now, but it’s easy to forget how eye-opening “Crazy in Love” was when it dropped in Spring 2003. Before its release, Bey was known primarily as one-third of Destiny’s Child and (lol) the woman Jay-Z was dating. Oh, how times have changed.
With hindsight, her sound and persona are impressively full-formed on this track. The bright, retro soul sample, an infectious groove, and swagger to spare—all the hallmarks of what makes her music great today were on full display. The fact that she’s been slaying non-stop for more than 20 years shouldn’t go unacknowledged.
6. “Toxic” by Britney Spears (2004)
Besides being an excellent choice to test your speakers’ treble fidelity, “Toxic” proves you can craft a decade-defining pop song out of unexpected elements. You hear surf rock guitar chords that sound like they were sampled for a Quentin Tarantino film and high-pitched string loops taken from an early-80s Bollywood song. Standard pop fare they are not.
Then there are the breathy, seductive vocals from Britney, who, by then, is on her fourth studio album cycle and is one of the biggest stars in the world. The extended metaphor of boy-toy-as-addictive-substance has been ripped off so many times in the years since that you could argue “Toxic” is one of the most influential pieces of music from this century.
7. “Low” by Flo Rida ft. T-Pain (2007)
Okay, let’s put the actual song to the side for a second. It’s a classic. We know this. More than 6 million copies sold, peaked at No. 1 in the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries, blah blah blah. Not a secret or anything. What I really wanted to know before writing this post was simple: What exactly are Apple Bottom jeans?
For years, I thought the name referred somehow to a specific cut or physical style, like bell bottoms or mom jeans (I honestly couldn’t tell you what makes the latter distinct from other jeans either, but that’s just my idiot brain talking). Turns out, Apple Bottom Jeans is a brand that was recently resurrected by another 2000s fossil, Nelly. The more you know, the more you know.
8. “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas (2009)
As a one-two punch with another hit single, “Boom Boom Pow,” the Black Eyed Peas’ run of dominance to close out the 2000s was unprecedented. Once “I Gotta Feeling” debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100, they became one of only 11 artists to have singles simultaneously occupy the first and second positions.
From there, the runaway train just kept chugging and chugging. It later became the biggest-selling non-charity single of the iTunes era and one of the longest-running Hot 100 staples of all time. On Nile Rodgers’ podcast, will.i.am said the song was inspired by artists as varied as Earth, Wind & Fire, U2, and the Talking Heads. Learning from the best has its perks.
9. “We Found Love” by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris (2011)
If there’s a single track that sums up the club sound I came of age listening to, it would be “We Found Love.” Those rolling synth loops, the thumping four-to-the-floor bass, and Rihanna’s iconic vocals deliver an undeniably euphoric dance track. That central refrain about finding love in a hopeless place may also be aging way better than anyone expected.
“It changed absolutely everything,” Harris has said about the single’s global success, which saw it top the pop charts in over 25 countries, including the US, UK, and Canada. “Career-wise it was the best thing that could ever have happened.” EDM consumers overwhelmingly share that sentiment.
10. “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis (2008)
Talk about roaring out of the gates to start your pop career.
Lady Gaga’s debut single, “Just Dance,” is both very of its moment (see: those cheap-sounding opening keyboards) and representative of a crucial Big Bang moment in dance music. It’s easy to let Gaga’s omnipresence cloud one’s memory, but, at the time, this track was a lightning bolt from a complete unknown. No one knew who she was, but everyone was suddenly paying attention.
Four months later, she dropped the accompanying album, The Fame, which generated multiple hits and Grammy nods for the budding superstar. The rest, as they say, is history.
11. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake (2016)
After a massive 128-show world tour supporting his 20/20 Experience albums, Justin Timberlake took the next logical step to get himself back atop the Billboard Hot 100: he starred in and served as the executive music producer for the Trolls movie.
Joking aside, “Can’t Stop the Feeling” was an inescapable bop in 2016, selling over 10 million copies across physical and digital media. In Timberlake’s words, it’s a “modern disco song,” complete with snappy hi-hats, a funky bassline, and irresistible vocal hooks throughout. Even if you’re not JT’s biggest fan, there’s no denying this track delivers some of the decade’s best vibes.
12. “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd (2019)
Clearly an homage to mid-80s synth-pop gems like “Take On Me,” the Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” added new, fascinating dimensions to the R&B mainstay’s sonic palette. He’d scored a couple of hits with retro-leaning sounds before (see: “Can’t Feel My Face”), but this single marked the first time he’d led with an unabashedly bright, romantic pop sound.
The payoff was almost immediate. Publications like Billboard and Variety named it one of the best songs of 2020, with the latter underscoring how the record came to symbolize “triumphing over adversity” at a time when many of us needed that extra boost. Once we could all party together again, it’s no surprise that “Blinding Lights” continued to set dancefloors on fire worldwide.
13. “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams (2013)
I’ve alluded to a 2010s disco and funk revival a few times already, but no song exemplifies this renewed appetite for shimmering, groove-centric pop quite like “Get Lucky.” At the time, it was seen as a drastic departure for Daft Punk, as they were more known for slick house music. But, when you bring Nile Rodgers, one of disco’s premier practitioners, into the fold, you’re setting yourself up for success.
The track didn’t come easy, however. Despite its apparent simplicity, it took over 18 months to finish. Originally, “Get Lucky” was going to be a Wurlitzer-based cut, but after Rodgers laid down that iconic rhythm guitar, everything started to click into place. Couple that sumptuous groove with lyrics describing the best (physical) connection ever, and you’re trafficking in truly transcendent territory.
14. “Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake & Lil Jon (2013)
When I was still working consistently as a DJ, “Turn Down for What” was one of the most versatile tracks in my repertoire. Need to take your peak hour energy from good to great? You got it. Feel the energy lagging and want people to rush the dancefloor with reckless abandon? Done. Want to make the tension before the beat drop almost unbearable? Pause it at the right moment for one or two seconds, and you’ll blow a few minds.
For as much credit as I’m giving the production by French superstar DJ Snake, an equal amount should be heaped on Lil Jon, the Atlanta-based rapper/producer I’ve covered before in this newsletter. The track wouldn’t be anywhere as effective or exciting without Jon’s flair for the dramatic. Shouts to him for taking an all-time party anthem to the next level.
15. “In Da Club” by 50 Cent (2003)
There aren’t many rap songs that took over pop culture to the degree that “In Da Club” did over 20 years ago. Yes, he had all-important Eminem and Dr. Dre co-signs (the latter produced this record for 50, and you can tell), but he also oozed the kind of masculine, authoritative charisma that the pop and hip-hop charts craved back then.
A staple of retro party playlists worldwide, “In Da Club” is the track you put on when you want to feel like you’re on top of the world. The song has become so synonymous with that sensation that its famous refrain—”we’re gonna party like it’s your birthday”—is permanently etched in our collective rhetorical language. How many other rappers have managed that?
16. “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (2017)
If we’re talking international reach, few party records were bigger in their heyday than “Despacito.” It’s smooth, sexy, and, interestingly, an example of one of the many mid-decade recycling jobs artists like Luis Fonsi undertook to capitalize on the growing demand for (ugh, forgive the term) “Latin pop.”
Originally written and nearly abandoned in 2015, it was Puerto Rican multihyphenate Daddy Yankee to give it a more pop-ready sound. Along with producers Andrés Torres & Mauricio Rengifo, who purposely went for a bright, true-to-their-roots feel, Fonsi helped broaden reggaeton’s reach significantly and, in the process, craft one of the most enduring summer songs of all time.
17. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby (2020)
After hearing “Levitating” for the first time, I was struck by how era-agnostic it was. What I mean by that is you could just as easily tell someone it was an early-80s disco hit, a glittering 90s club jam, or a late-2000s Gaga-adjacent single. Any of those could work sonically as a label for this track. Instead, it’s become Dua Lipa’s calling card.
Another underrated fact about “Levitating” is how quickly it ascended to the realm of all-time pop party anthems, partly due to its sheer chart stamina. It spent 41 weeks in the Hot 100’s Top 10 and 77 weeks on that list overall, making it one of the most successful releases in Billboard history. In less than a half-decade, it’s become clear we’ll be hearing Dua Lipa’s music on repeat for many years to come.
18. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift (2014)
Remember when Taylor Swift made legitimately great pop songs?
I’m not talking about the hits that have come her way as a result of her cultural omnipresence. I speak of songs like “Shake It Off” that, unlike her most recent work, were glossy, upbeat affairs that had hooks to spare. There’s also the knowing empowerment angle at play, where Swift sings about how she really doesn’t care what haters like me think of her or her work.
Does it sound reminiscent of various pop hits of yesteryear, including Toni Basil’s bubbly “Hey Mickey?” You could make that case. But, and I speak only of my personal experience, that aspect of the song has never dampened my enjoyment of it, lawsuits be damned.
The more interesting question for me is this: Has Taylor Swift reached the point where the economics of her brand mean that making more music like this is no longer a sound business decision?
19. “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn (2010)
Of all the party anthems on this list, Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” may be my favorite. It’s also maybe the best example of sad, weary lyrics often making strong bedrocks for songs that coax you into an emotional detox on the dancefloor.
In my review of Robyn’s album Body Talk, I wrote this about its most well-known single:
She blends feelings of abject loneliness that come with watching your ex roll up to the same club—with another woman—with a popular notion that goes back to her disco forebearers: that giving yourself to the music and the dancefloor will be her salvation.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Music, like all other art forms, still has the power to change (and save) lives—not to mention start dance parties in the New York City subway.
20. “Mi Gente” by J Balvin ft. Willy William (2017)
Let’s cap this list off with another banger that continues to enjoy a massive global audience: J Balvin’s “Mi Gente.”
With over 5 million copies sold, its infectious reggaeton-inspired production has made it a staple at parties all over the world. I say “inspired” because the instrumental comes by way of French DJ/producer Willy William’s track “Voodoo Song.” The backstory, involving a remix of a twerking turkey promotional video, is as wacky as it is convoluted, so I shan’t get into it here. All you need to know is that viral moment got William signed to Scorpio Music, the imprint responsible for merging his beat with J Balvin’s vocals to create “Mi Gente.”
The Beyoncé support didn’t hurt either, I’m sure.
Any party anthems to add to this list? Sound off in the comments.
Love that you had Luis Fonsi on here. He's terrific generally and this mash up was excellent. Also love that you went with the dash cam cop for shake it off.
Number 6 for me, every time.