Suppose you had to represent all of American dance music in 5 songs

moultano

<div class="IPBDescription">to someone from India. What would you choose?</div>I'm actually in that situation at the moment. I was at a Bollywood dance party last night, and promised the host that I'd send her a set of great American dance songs. I've got some contenders but I'm interested in what the forum thinks. Focus on the classics, and things eminently representative of their genre. Also, I'm not concerned about representing swing/salsa/etc. in this (though I might include Sing Sing Sing.) What are your favorite songs that get the dance floor going?

pretty definite:
2pac - California Love
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Maybe?
House of Pain - Jump Around
Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Beegees - Stayin' Alive


Suggest more!

Xyth

N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye

locallyunscene

I can't read :-(

DiscoZombie

<!--quoteo(post=1686941:date=Aug 30 2008, 12:11 AM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Aug 30 2008, 12:11 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686941"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->jimi hendrix - star spangled banner
Sugar hill gang - rappers delight
Stevie Ray vaughn - cold shot
The doors - riders on the storm
aerosmith (collab with run dmc) - walk this way
OR
Eagles - hotel california<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
you must go to some strange dance parties :o

on topic, how about some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tYLo9FkqNc" target="_blank">Madonna</a>? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn2ugtMJF3o&feature=related" target="_blank">Moby</a>? sadly, most of the dance music I like is from Britain...

Drfuzzy

<!--quoteo(post=1686938:date=Aug 29 2008, 11:35 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Aug 29 2008, 11:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686938"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye
N'sync - Bye Bye Bye<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

seriously, that best represents the majority of the usa's population. lmao

eediot

e: deleted

Liku

<!--quoteo(post=1686936:date=Aug 29 2008, 09:06 PM:name=moultano)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(moultano @ Aug 29 2008, 09:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686936"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2pac - California Love<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What are you talking about? California love? No way in hell. Maybe Gin and Juice but that's a stretch.

Diana Ross - Love Hangover
Sylvester - You Make me Feel
A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie

All of the US' real dance music was Disco.

puzl

<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pcVdg3aZjGE"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pcVdg3aZjGE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>

One of the most historically significant songs in the development of both techno and house came out of Detroit in 1987. If you objective is to list the 5 dance songs you prefer, then maybe skip this, but I think if you want to accurately represent the contribution of the US to dance music then this should be on your list.

You could also consider Big Fun by Inner City.

<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/omfiVkkJ1OU"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/omfiVkkJ1OU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>.

Neither of these are among my favourite American dance music, but they have both been very influential. These two songs together influence the sound of English Acid House and the 4 innovators who developed the sound of Detroit Techno were all heavily influence by Disco but were heavily into the sound of synth music.

This perspective is an entirely European one. To me, Techno ( along with Hip-Hop) is one of the most important musical contributions from the US in a very long time.

Thansal

<!--quoteo(post=1687136:date=Sep 2 2008, 10:37 AM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(puzl @ Sep 2 2008, 10:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1687136"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Neither of these are among my favourite American dance music, but they have both been very influential. These two songs together influence the sound of English Acid House and the 4 innovators who developed the sound of Detroit Techno were all heavily influence by Disco but were heavily into the sound of synth music.

This perspective is an entirely European one. To me, Techno ( along with Hip-Hop) is one of the most important musical contributions from the US in a very long time.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That is a good question.

Do you want things that define the genre today?

Or things that caused the genre to evolve as we know it today?



Either way I know jack and squat about the genre so I am not saying much of anything.

Paranoia2MB

You just set yourself up for a trap man!

Now you have a load more of options to give this person.


On a lighter side:
F- Yeah! by Team America
lol

aNytiMe

I'm sure there is something here that might qualify as American dance music.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile_favorites?user=Domi2gud" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/profile_favorites?user=Domi2gud</a>


But yea, I agree with Paranoia. Good call.