The 12 best dance songs of the summer

This top 12 list compiled by theGrio will have you sweating on the dance floor of any party, event or function.

June is Black History Month, and theGrio has compiled several top 12 lists for all your summer needs. Usually, we try not to break a sweat during the summer, but here are a dozen dance songs guaranteed to get you shaking your hips.

12. “Touch” by Omarion

There’s something about this song that will stick in your head. It’s been 19 years since this single came out, but it’s hard not to picture Omarion dancing down the street trying to get the attention of his leading lady. “Touch,” produced by the Neptunes and written by Pharrell, was the second single from Omarion’s debut album, O.

11. “Drop” by Timbaland and Magoo feat. Fatman Scoop

Two things come to mind when this song plays: “You Got Served” and it’s time for a dance competition. Timbaland is known for making the most iconic beats in history, but this single is from Timbaland and Magoo’s collaborative album, Indecent Proposal, released in 2001. Who would have thought that 23 years later, this song would be the source of countless dance competitions?

10. “Hey, yeah!” by Outkast

This iconic song has people saying “Shake it like a Polaroid picture” since 2003. “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move” were the first two singles from Outkast’s fifth album, Speakerboxx/The Love Below. In 2021, this song was ranked number 10 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Do you think this song is Outkast’s most famous song?

9. “Jump” by Tyla feat. Gunna and Skillibeng

New to the scene but making a big splash thanks to TikTok is Tyla’s single hit “Water”. The 22-year-old’s single “Jump” is the perfect fusion of Afrobeats, dancehall and hip-hop. Tyla starts the song off strong, but the chorus will have you swinging your hips as the South African singer does it effortlessly.

8. “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid

“Cupid Shuffle” is perhaps the ultimate dance song. No matter how old you are, as soon as this song starts, you’re likely to hit the dance floor. Bryson Bernard, known professionally as Cupid, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest line dance in 2008, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Of all the line dance songs, is this one your favorite?

7. “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét has been writing for some of your favorite artists for years (Ariana Grande, Coco Jones, Brandy, and more), but “On My Mama” gave her the commercial breakthrough she deserved. The 2023 single was popularized by its nostalgic music video, which pays homage to early 2000s culture. With the success of “On My Mama” and Monét’s sold-out Jaguar tour, things can only get better for the talented artist.

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6. “Lose Control” by Missy Elliott feat. Ciara and Fatman Scoop

When Missy Elliott and Ciara are on a song together, you can’t go wrong, and “Lose Control” may be their best work yet. When this song plays, you can’t help but emulate the choreography from the famous music video. Between Elliott rapping, Ciara on the chorus, and Fatman Scoop pumping you up, it’s hard not to get into it when this song comes on.

5. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar

When Kendrick Lamar wrote this diss track, it’s hard to say if he intended for it to be a hit, but people just can’t help but dance when this song plays. Some say this track was the one that secured Kendrick’s victory in his 2024 feud with rapper Drake. No matter whose side you’re on, it might be hard to stand still when Kendrick screams “OV-HO.”

4. “Get Me Bodied” by Beyoncé

Beyoncé is used to creating memorable choreography for some of her songs, but “Get Me Bodied” is something that anyone can get into. During the song’s break, the “Renaissance” singer calls out dance moves that you can copy and make your own. Fun fact: One of the women in the music video is a lead actress in another of the songs featured above. Can you guess which song it is?

3. “Be Your Girl” by Teedra Moses and Kaytranada

If you’re not familiar with Canadian artist Kaytranada, his remix of “Be Your Girl” is a great place to start. The 2013 track breathes new life into Teedra Moses’ 2004 single of the same name. Many of Kaytranada’s songs will have you lost in a trance to the beats, but “Be Your Girl” will have you dancing from start to finish.

2. “Back That Thang Up” by Juvenile feat. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne

As soon as “Back That Thang Up” starts, people rush to the dance floor. Juvenile’s 1999 single has to be one of the most historic beats of the ’90s. Whether you’re dancing with a partner or solo, you’re guaranteed to “Back That Thang Up” with this song.

1. “Candy” by Cameo

“Candy” feels like the ultimate family reunion in song form. The 1986 track is the second single from Cameo’s album Word Up! Over the past few decades, “Candy” has become a popular line dance song, often introducing the electric slide. This iconic song has been sampled by Will Smith, 2pac, Mariah Carey and others, and has been heard in films such as The Best Man and Death at a Funeral.

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