Songs with their own dance routine

Songs with their own dance routine

Throughout music history, artists have created songs that featured iconic dance choreography. And no matter how old the song gets, people still flock to the dance floor to show off their best moves. In addition to the dance routines from music videos that people love to imitate, songs sometimes have their own line dance.

From “Macarena” to “Swag Surfin’,” here’s a list of songs that have inspired classical dances.

1 of 20

“Macarena” by Los Del Rio

“Macarena” by Los Del Rio

John Parra/Getty Images for Univision

In 1993, Spanish pop duo Los Del Rio released their smash hit “Macarena.” Thanks to choreographer Mia Frye (who also stars in the music video), the dance is fairly simple and fans tend to perform it in close unison. Even if listeners don’t know the translation of the song, they learn the dance quickly.

2 of 20

“The Twist” by Chubby Checker

“The Twist” by Chubby Checker

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“The Twist” was originally released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and two years later Chubby Checker released his cover version. Ballard was inspired to write the song after seeing teenagers doing the twist dance, a move in which people rotate their hips and their arms and legs soon follow. Checker’s version of the song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

3 of 20

“Gangnam Style” by PSY

“Gangnam Style” by PSY

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In 2012, you couldn’t get away from PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” People either loved the song for its catchy production or absolutely hated it because it was played too often. The song became popular because of the dance featured in the video, and eventually people all over the world were seen performing the dance, from parties to flash mobs.

4 of 20

“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy

“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

In 2007, a new dance trend emerged when Soulja Boy released his debut single, “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” It was around the time that the snap era of Atlanta music was gaining popularity. The “Crank That” dance included everything from footwork to snaps to a Superman pose, so much so that people started uploading their dance videos to YouTube.

5 of 20

“YMCA” by The Village People

“YMCA” by The Village People

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One of the most popular songs from the disco era comes from The Village People and their 1978 hit “YMCA.” While the dance mostly consists of cheerleading hand movements that form letters, the routine was not developed by the group. The Village People performed on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and noticed children doing the hand movements, so they decided to incorporate them into their performance.

6 of 20

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyoncé

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyoncé

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood

In 2008, Beyoncé was ready to unleash her alter ego with her third solo album I am…Sasha Fierce. She teamed up with The-Dream and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart to release the iconic song “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” The music video may be one of Bey’s simplest visually, but it’s the dance routine that gets people excited when they hear the song. So put on your leotard, grab some friends, and wave your left hand.

7 of 20

“Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid

“Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid

Erika Goldring/Getty Images

In 2007, singer Cupid took dance floors and events by storm with his hit song “Cupid Shuffle.” Because of his simple line dancing instructions, this is the type of dance that people of all ages can participate in. As he says in the verse, “They’ve got a brand new dance / You gotta move your muscles / A brand new dance, it’s called the Cupid Shuffle / It don’t matter if you’re young or old / We’re gonna show you how it’s done.”

8 of 20

“Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)” by Marcia Griffiths

“Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)” by Marcia Griffiths

Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic

Not many artists can claim to have popularized a line dance that is danced to various songs, but Marcia Griffiths can. In 1983, Griffiths released her hit “Electric Boogie,” which popularized the Electric Slide dance. Today, people dance the Electric Slide to various songs, including the hit “Before I Let Go” by Maze and Frankie Beverly.

9 of 20

“Thriller” by Michael Jackson

“Thriller” by Michael Jackson

Pete Still/Redferns

If there’s one artist who can make zombies look cool while dancing, it’s Michael Jackson. Granted, Jackson has a number of music videos that feature dance routines, but “Thriller” stands out with its iconic horror theme. The video may be a little scary for some viewers, which is probably why the song is popular around Halloween, but people still like to show off how good they are at the zombie dance routine.

10 of 20

“Cha Cha Slide” by DJ Casper

“Cha Cha Slide” by DJ Casper

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Anyone who has ever attended a birthday party or wedding reception knows that guests always love a fun line dance. In 2000, DJ Casper released his hit “Cha Cha Slide,” which became one of the most popular dances at events around the world. In the song, Casper gives everyone instructions on how to spin, and makes the moves a little more fancy.

11 of 20

“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silento

“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silento

Christopher Polk/Getty Images

In 2015, rapper Silento released his hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” The music video begins with clips of people dancing before Silento comes into the frame and also raps and dances. He appears in a school gym with people of all ages, especially many children, who are also dancing. It’s no wonder the song was more popular with children’s groups.

12 of 20

“Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson

“Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson

Gie Knaeps/Getty Images

When you think of Janet Jackson’s iconic videos, one song tops the list: her 1989 hit “Rhythm Nation.” With the song and video, Jackson wanted to show that people are stronger when they are united. From the black and white shots to the dancers in military fatigues to the dance routine with clean and sharp movements, it’s a routine that many Jackson fans love.

13 of 20

“Swag Surfin’” by FLY

“Swag Surfin'” by FLY

Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

In 2009, Fast Life Yungstaz released their debut single “Swag Surfin’.” The dance routine in the video features additional moves that depict swimming and wave motion. The “Swag Surfin'” dance has also become very popular in the culture of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).

14 of 20

“Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp

“Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp

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Sometimes dance moves are named after everyday objects, such as Dee Dee Sharp’s 1962 hit “Mashed Potato Time.” But Sharp wasn’t the only artist whose song was inspired by dance; soul singer James Brown also had a song aptly titled “(Do the) Mashed Potatoes.”

15 of 20

“Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC

“Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC

KMazur/WireImage

In the 90s and 2000s, the world of boy bands experienced a boom, one of which was *NSYNC. The group released their second album No conditions, led by the hit single “Bye, Bye, Bye.” Although the song is popular because of its lyrics, it is the dance routine choreographed by Darrin Henson that takes it to a whole new level.

16 of 20

“Stanky Legg” by GS Boyz

“Stanky Legg” by GS Boyz

Bennett Raglin/WireImage

In 2008, the hip-hop trio GS Boyz came out with their debut single “Stanky Legg.” One of the things that made the song so popular was the dance that went with it. The “Stanky Legg” dance involves stretching out one leg, turning it in a circle, and then performing the same movement with the other leg.

17 of 20

‘Walk It Out’ by Unk

'Walk It Out' by Unk

Jemal Countess/WireImage for BET Network

In 2006, rapper Unk wanted to show his fans a different way of walking with his hit song “Walk It Out.” Unk is from Atlanta and when he released his debut single, it was around the time when several artists were releasing dance-inspired songs. It’s not a line dance per se, but the “Walk It Out” dance is the cooler way of walking that people need to practice before performing it on the dance floor.

18 of 20

“Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District

“Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District

Vivien Killilea/WireImage

Hip-hop group Cali Swag District wanted to show people a new dance with their 2010 debut single, “Teach Me How To Dougie.” Not only is the production enticing to any listener, but as people learn the dance, they realize that much of the movement occurs in their arms and shoulders, while the rest of the body follows.

19 of 20

“The Hokey Pokey” by Ray Anthony

“The Hokey Pokey” by Ray Anthony

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There is no doubt that “The Hokey Pokey” is probably one of the most popular and simplest line dances ever invented. Thanks to band leader Ray Anthony, he had participants moving their right and left feet back and forth while vigorously shaking their bodies.

20 of 20

‘Wobble’ by VIC

'Wobble' by VIC

YouTube

In 2008, rapper VIC released his hit song “Wobble.” Over the years, the song has been quite popular thanks to its line dancing at events. However, there are conflicting stories about who actually invented the “Wobble” line dance.

Mya Singleton is a freelance music journalist and social strategist based in the Bay Area with experience covering R&B and hip-hop. Her reporting has appeared in several publications including Yardbarker, The Sports Fan Journal, AXS and Hollywood Unlocked. In her career spanning over a decade, she has covered concerts all over the West Coast and interviewed some of the leading figures in entertainment including Anderson .Paak, Nonstop Da Hitman, Laurieann Gibson and Floyd Mayweather. You can find her on Twitter at @MyaMelody7 talking all things music and sports.

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