Which Are the Best Dance Floor Fillers Ever Created?
To determine the best dance floor fillers, BonusFinder created a seed list of over 80 notable songs, compiled from reputable articles and Spotify playlists. We then used Spotify API to gather data on:
? Popularity
? Danceability
? Valence (positivity)
? Energy
? Tempo
All songs were awarded a score out of 100 for each of these categories. We were then able to allocate a ‘floor filler score’ based on these findings to reveal the best dance floor fillers ever made.
The 10 Best Dance Floor Fillers Ever Made
In order to ascertain the best dance songs ever made, we devised a floor filler index score made up of each track’s popularity, danceability, positivity, energy, and tempo. The following songs emerged with the highest scores.
1. We Like To Party! (The Vengabus) – Vengaboys
At the top of our list of the best dance floor fillers ever made is We Like To Party! (The Vengabus). This iconic dance-pop anthem by Vengaboys was created in 1998 and has been filling up dance floors ever since.
We Like To Party! achieved an exceptional overall score of 81.7 out of a possible 100, scoring highest in positivity (98.8).
2. Toxic – Britney Spears
Toxic by Britney Spears is another mesmerising anthem that is guaranteed to have all your guests rushing to the dance floor. This 2003 production not only achieved massive commercial success but also critical acclaim, earning Britney a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Toxic is second place on the list of the best floor fillers ever made, scoring 80.5. This dance floor classic earned its highest scores in positivity and tempo at 86.9.
3. Hey Ya! – Outkast
Hey Ya! by Outkast is a vibrant pop-hip-hop fusion that took the world by storm upon its release in 2003 and continues to do so 20 years on. The song’s exuberant energy features infectious handclaps, lively guitar riffs, and an upbeat melody.
This hit received an excellent total score of 78, scoring highest in positivity (94.2) and lowest in tempo (2.4).
4. Wannabe – Spice Girls
More than 25 years since it was first played in 1996, Wannabe by Spice Girls remains one of the best dance floor fillers ever created.
With attention-grabbing lyrics and a catchy chorus, this song slides into fourth place, scoring 76.0. Wannabe earned its highest score in danceability, at 84.5, followed by positivity at 82.1.
5. Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) – Mark Ronson
Our fifth-best party song of all time is Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) by Mark Ronson. This track is a funk-infused pop sensation that took the music world by storm upon its release in 2014.
Achieving a strong overall floor filler score of 75.7, this isn’t a song you’d want to leave off your party playlist. Its highest score was earned in danceability, totalling 94.
6. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson is an electrifying pop masterpiece that continues to draw crowds onto the dancefloor decades after its release in 1982. This classic tune has a distinctive bassline that is impossible to resist.
Scoring an impressive 73.3 in the overall score, this chart-topping anthem is our sixth-best floor filler. Billie Jean achieved its highest score in danceability with 98.8, the highest out of all the tracks studied.
7. We’re Going To Ibiza! – Vengaboys
We’re Going to Ibiza is the second song from Dutch Eurodance group Vengaboys to enter our top 10 best dance floor fillers ever. With its bouncy melody and sing-a-long chorus, this song has the power to fill a dancefloor after the first few beats.
This track achieved a remarkable overall score of 73.1. We’re Going To Ibiza! performed best in the positivity category, receiving a score of 97.6.
8. Pump Up The Jam – Technotronic
Pump Up The Jam is a timeless dance anthem by Technotronic that burst onto the music scene in 1989. This track has a driving bassline and energetic drum beat that compels party guests to take to the dance floor, as is reflected in its exceptional danceability score of 95.2.
Despite a strong danceability score, lower scores across positivity, tempo, and popularity drag down the overall floor filler score to 68.0, placing this anthem in eighth position.
9. Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper
DJ Casper cha-cha-slides into ninth place in the best dance songs ever made. The simple and repetitive lyrics to the Cha Cha Slide guide dancers through a series of dance moves and instructions, which quickly helped it become a party favourite.
This iconic dance floor sensation achieved an overall floor filler score of 66.4 and its highest figure was, of course, in danceability where it scored 92.9.
10. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
The final song to make its way onto our top ten best dance floor fillers is I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston. This song has been moving hearts and inspiring dance floors since 1987 when it was first released. To this day, the catchy song remains a timeless anthem that is guaranteed to get people moving.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody achieved a final score of 65.1, peaking in the popularity category with 84.5.
Top Genres for the Ultimate Party Playlist
When it comes to filling the dance floor and keeping the party vibes alive, dance and electronic music emerges as the undisputed champion. This genre has captured the hearts of partygoers worldwide, and it’s no surprise that 31 of the songs we studied hail from the realm of dance and electronic music.
Pop music, with its catchy hooks, cheerful melodies, and relatable lyrics, is the second-best genre for filling up a dance floor and accounts for 19 of the songs studied. This genre has the ability to captivate listeners from all over the globe and get them moving.
The third-best genre for encouraging your guests to dust off their dancing shoes is rock music. Ten of the songs studied emerge from this category, and it covers a broad range of sub-genres including soft rock, hard rock, and pop rock — so there’s something for everyone!
The Most Danceable Floor Fillers
Danceability stands as a crucial element in defining the ultimate party tunes. It is the driving force that fills the dance floor, and without danceability, the atmosphere would lack its vibrant energy and movement. Here are the most danceable floor fillers.
The ultimate danceable floor filler was our sixth-best overall hit, the iconic Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, scoring 98.8.
Coming in a close second was the dance track Put Your Hands Up For Detroit by Dutch electronic dance music (EDM) producer Fedde Le Grand. This track achieved a danceability score of 97.6.
In third place was We Speak No Americano by Australian duo Yolanda Be Cool. This eclectic dance track fuses classic Italian melodies with contemporary electronic sounds to create a dance floor anthem that will go down in history. We Speak No Americano achieved another impressive danceability score of 96.4.
Our eighth-best overall floor filler also makes its way onto our top five songs for danceability. Pump Up The Jam by Technotronic scored a remarkable 95.2 in this category.
Taking fifth spot on our list was Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) by Mark Ronson, with a score of 94.0.
Which are the Most Popular Floor Fillers?
Another key to getting party guests up and dancing is to fill your ultimate party playlist with instantly recognisable tracks. Here are our most popular party songs.
In joint-first position is classic rock anthem Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. This iconic 1986 track received an outstanding popularity score of 98.8, solidifying its status as an enduring classic in the realm of party floor fillers.
Sharing first place with Bon Jovi is Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. This timeless rock ballad also achieved a popularity score of 98.8.
Third place goes to the beloved anthem by The Killers, Mr Brightside. Continuing to captivate listeners with its infectious energy and relatable lyrics, this song has left its mark on the hearts of music lovers around the globe and received a popularity score of 97.6.
In fifth place, with a popularity score of 96.4, is the soulful and uplifting Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye. This position is shared with ABBA‘s iconic Dancing Queen.
The Party Floor Fillers with the Highest Energy
Looking to invigorate party guests and ignite the dance floor at your wedding? Playing high-energy tracks is paramount. Without further ado, here are the songs that achieved the highest scores in the ‘energy’ element, guaranteed to keep the party alive.
Taking the top spot as the highest-energy party floor filler is the lively dance hit Stupidisco by Italian-Belgian producer Junior Jack. Released in 2004, this track achieved an impressive score of 98.8, confirming its reputation as an electrifying anthem that keeps the party-energy at its peak.
Following closely behind is the energetic dance-pop hit All I Ever Wanted by Basshunter, with a score of 97.6.
In third place was Everytime We Touch by Cascada. This emotional and lively dance anthem gained another outstanding energy score of 96.4.
Hey Ya! by Outkast holds fourth position, with a score of 94, followed closely by Timber (feat. Ke$ha) by Pitbull, scoring 92.9.
The Most Positive Songs
Playing positive and uplifting songs is not only essential for any party but holds even more significance when it comes to selecting the best wedding floor fillers. These are the iconic tracks that were found to be filled with more positive vibes than any other tracks.
Vengaboys are dominating our list of positive floor fillers, achieving first and second place with the tracks We Like To Party (The Vengabus) and We’re Going To Ibiza. These tracks earned 98.8 and 97.6 respectively.
In third place was Hey Ya! by Outkast, scoring 95.2 in positivity, followed by Wigfield‘s Saturday Night with 94.
In fifth place was Happy by Pharrell Williams, scoring 92.9. This uplifting anthem was originally written for the film Despicable Me 2 but went on to achieve massive commercial success globally.
The Floor Fillers with the Best Tempo
Tempo refers to the speed or pace at which music is played, usually measured in beats per minute (BPM). A faster tempo leads to a lively dance floor, and as such, this factor was taken into consideration when studying the best party floor fillers.
The party song with the best tempo was Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…) by Lou Bega, scoring 98.8. This track was released in 1999 and has been filling up dance floors ever since with its catchy melody and lively bassline.
In second place was Footloose by Kenny Loggins. This energetic rock song was originally written for the film of the same title, inspired by the world of dancing. Footloose achieved a tempo score of 97.6.
Peter Andre‘s 1995 hit Mysterious Girl is no stranger to getting people on the dance floor. On top of the catchy melody and bouncy rhythm, the tempo of this song is just right to get people dancing, achieving a score of 96.4.
In fourth place was Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, scoring 95.2, followed by Happy by Pharrell Williams with 94.
The Best Year for Floor Fillers
The best year for producing party-starting floor fillers was 2008. This year produced 5 of the classic anthems we studied:
? All I Ever Wanted – Basshunter
? Release Me – Agnes
? Show Me Love (feat. Robin S.) – Steve Angello
? Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
? Infinity 2008 (Klaas Vocal Edit) – Guru Josh Project
While looking at trends across the years, we were also able to determine which decade boasts the most songs guaranteed to fill the dance floor. We did this by further analysing the data and dividing it into different decades. We then calculated the average floor filler score for each decade as a measure of comparison.
The 1990s achieved the highest average score of 53.9. This was followed incredibly closely by the 2010s with 52.7, then the 1980s with 49.4.
Methodology
1. BonusFinder performed the following research in order to identify the best dance floor fillers through the analysis of song audio features such as danceability, energy, positivity, tempo and popularity.
2. Initially, a seed list of over 80 notable floor fillers was first compiled from reputable articles and Spotify playlists.
3. Subsequently, each song in our playlist was located on Spotify, and the Spotify API was employed to gather data on their popularity, danceability, valence (positivity), energy, and tempo.
4. Following this, an aggregate normalised score was computed, considering both the audio features and popularity ratings. Danceability was assigned a higher weight to effectively rank the most suitable floor fillers.
