10 Best Party Songs

Everyone's got their perfect party song playlist, full of tracks you play when company is coming and you not only aim to please, but you also want to get people singing along and dancing. When we asked AOL Radio listeners to rate their favorite party songs, we got tracks from all genres and eras -- featuring everyone from Michael Jackson to the Bee Gees. Check out the 10 Best Party Songs -- hopefully they'll give you inspiration for your next bash.

'Just Dance'

Lady Gaga

Our favorite-costumed pop star Lady Gaga released her first album in April of 2008 -- and it didn't take long for 'Just Dance' to quickly became the second best-selling digital song of all time.

'Sexy Back'

Justin Timberlake

Written by Justin Timberlake and produced by Timbaland, the party song classic has elements of Prince and David Bowie -- as well as influence from Bowie and David Byrne's cover of James Brown's 1970 'Sex Machine.' The song went on to win both a People's Choice Award and a MTV Video Music Award for Timbaland.

'The Way I Are'

Timbaland

Timbaland's second No. 1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, 'The Way I Are' features a sample from Salt-n-Pepa's 'Push It' sung by Keri Hilson.

'Baby Got Back'

Sir Mix-A-Lot

Causing controversy at its release, this outspoken hip-hop party favorite was actually banned by MTV for a brief time, before going to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks and even winning a Grammy in 1992.

'Stayin' Alive'

Bee Gees

Featured in the opening scene to 1977's 'Saturday Night Fever', this party song wasn't originally meant to be a single, but was subsequently released after fans called radio stations and RSO Records after hearing the song in the movie trailer.

'Don't Stop Believing'

Journey

An '80s classic and karaoke party favorite, 'Don't Stop Believing' is often belted by the worst of singers; but many don't realize that while the song references "South Detroit," there is, in fact, no such thing as South Detroit in Detroit.

'Pour Some Sugar on Me'

Def Leppard

The band's signature song and an MTV 'Say What? Karaoke' lyrical tongue twister, this song hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, going on to rank No. 1 in MTV's 'Top 100 Videos of All Time' as well as No. 2 in VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.'

'Livin' on a Prayer'

Bon Jovi

After the 9/11 attacks, Bon Jovi performed this song at 'The Concert for New York City' as well as 'America: A Tribute to Heroes.' It also previously beat out the No. 8 'Party Song' from this very list to hit be No. 1 in VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.'

'Thriller'

Michael Jackson

Featuring one of the most well-known dances of all time (and a perennial Halloween favorite), 'Thriller' is considered to be one of Jackson's signature songs.

'We Will Rock You'

Queen

Often sung back-to-back with Queen's hit, 'We Are the Champions' at sports games, this top party song features clapping and stomping effects recorded by the band that were overdubbed hundreds of times to create the effect of a stadium-sized crowd.

What Songs Would Get Your Party Started?

Let us know your favorite party hits in the comments. And for more theme-related lists, check out our collection of the best drug songs and drinking songs.

Listen to Party Hits Radio

Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Love the choices.. if you are going to be home tonight with a family party, check out the fun New Year's Eve party ideas here: Celebration Ideas Online at www.celebrationideasonline.com

Posted at 7:35AM on Dec 31st 2009 by Carol

2. Are you kidding me these songs all blow

Posted at 10:40AM on Dec 31st 2009 by Will Dickum

3. These songs are great if you are throwing a party for a bunch of gay transvestites.

Posted at 10:44AM on Dec 31st 2009 by Wilma Fingerdo

4. Don't forget I Love My TickleMe Plant!

(Http://tiny.cc/Ticklemeplant)

Posted at 12:04PM on Dec 31st 2009 by Tina

5. I think "Illegals in my yard" should be the #1 pick. This is the coolest tune I've heard in a while. I'll most likely play it more than once tonight!

Posted at 12:23PM on Dec 31st 2009 by mike ball

6. BARF!

Posted at 12:46PM on Dec 31st 2009 by snosbig

7. I would have thought for sure that Prince's Party like it's 1999 would be on here. It may be based on a single year, but it is all about the Party!

Posted at 12:50PM on Dec 31st 2009 by Wilddreaming

8. Where's Kool and the Gangs' Celebration?

Posted at 2:11PM on Dec 31st 2009 by Jason

9. Wow! A list that actually has some songs/albums that I recognize. MJ, Bee Gees, Journey and Queen.

Posted at 2:13PM on Dec 31st 2009 by John F.C. Taylor

10. i got to take a dump

Posted at 7:18PM on Dec 31st 2009 by tom

11. I have been a DJ for many many years and Karaoke has been part of my business since 1990 ... These songs are not by any means the top 10 party songs
although they are good songs to play at a party ...Not by any means the top 10 ... At least not in New York and New jersey !

Posted at 4:38PM on Dec 31st 2009 by djpanache115

12. Great list!

Posted at 9:33AM on Jan 2nd 2010 by Veera

13. I've been looking everywhere for this new song I just heard by Bone thugs n Harmony, Hey Tweekers! Does anyone know where i might find it?

Posted at 12:29PM on Jan 20th 2010 by Amy

14. ommmqq.thiss sonqq aree awsomeee

Posted at 12:13PM on Jan 26th 2010 by fRANNCiSCO!

15. Only good artists on this list:
-Bon Jovi
-Queen
-Journey
-Def Leppard

Posted at 8:18PM on Feb 3rd 2010 by amazon97

16. Garth Brooks, "I got friends in low places". Duh.

Posted at 8:13PM on Feb 14th 2010 by Say what?

17. Are you kidding!?!? HOW COULD YOU LEAVE OUT ANDREW WK!!!!???? Party Hard, Long Live The Party, Party Til You Puke, Party Party Party, etc. He is a party god that makes party music!! #EPICFAIL

Posted at 4:33PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Jaqob

18. What a god awful list. Seriously that was just terrible.

Posted at 2:20PM on Mar 14th 2010 by RicardoCabeza

19. The number #1 party song is
B52's LOVE SHACK
Don't take my word for it - bring a cd to a dead party and put that cd in and watch a dead party
ROCK!

Posted at 5:30PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Jim

20. wilma,
my friends and i are gay transvestites. this would def not be our list.
xoxo,
cici

Posted at 5:31PM on Mar 13th 2010 by CiCi

21. Hey, man you know your party music (but you're a party girl, not a party guy).

'We Will Rock You' is a great party song, but after winning a softball title, we play 'We Are The Champions' as we celebrate at our sponsor's bar. I am 68 and still play shortstop.

A couple good party songs from my era are 'Party Doll' by Buddy Knox and 'It's My Party' by Lesley Gore. I have the latter on 'Deja View' a great VHS from the sixties; it may be available on DVD by now - what great songs and the videos are awesome, like far out, man (eh, girl)!

Posted at 5:33PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Gary Mayer

22. Party songs? Are you shittin' me?If I ever walked into a party where they were playing anu one of those songs I'd grab a couple of beers and fill my pockets up with snacks and get the hell out of there.

Posted at 5:41PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Wayne

23. I would walk out of any party where they were playing stuff like this. But I would get up and dance (and I don't dance easily) if they put on almost anything by Bob Marley.

Posted at 6:07PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Fran

24. J-GEILS-AINT NOTHIN BUT A PARTY, IT AINT A PARTY WITHOUT SOME J-GEILS PLAYIN! ! !

Posted at 6:22PM on Mar 13th 2010 by angelo

25. "Stayin' Alive" instead of "You Should Be Dancin'" or "Night Fever"? And "Thriller" instead of "Billie Jean"? These choices suck out loud. Who picks this crap?

Posted at 6:26PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Susan Cole

26. No "You Make me wanna Shout", "Sweet Home Alabama" or "Hands to Yourself"? Oh, COME ON.

Posted at 6:34PM on Mar 13th 2010 by rosematt

27. Actually would agree with Thriller, Stayin' Alive and We Will Rock You. Depending on the party would really decide what I'd choose to play. Oldies fan hre, so I'd be digging out stuff by Beach Boys, C.C.R and Three Dog Night. Lots of 60s & 70s mixed bag stuff too.

Posted at 6:38PM on Mar 13th 2010 by John F.C. Taylor

28. I see I have once again been duped into an aol 'recycled' story, and an extremely dumb one at that. There isn't one of those songs that I would even remotely want to hear any time, party or no. They are garbage.. but then I guess I'm just not a 'party animal'.

Posted at 6:44PM on Mar 13th 2010 by MiserblOF

29. Eh, I hardly think of Journey as "party music." More like being home alone drinking and re-living the 80's in your mind....

Posted at 7:11PM on Mar 13th 2010 by David S.

30. KISS - Rock -n- Roll All Night

The ultimate party song is not on there. This is bs.

Posted at 3:47AM on Mar 14th 2010 by D

31. the worst song at an adult party is,Hanna montana Party In The USA.

Posted at 2:53PM on Mar 14th 2010 by robert

32. I don't see one tune for slow-dancing or taking a break and "listening" to. Non-stop frantic sucks!

Posted at 12:28PM on Mar 20th 2010 by ak

33. What no Donnie and Marie?? JK. But how bout, "hot, hot hot?", Cupid shuffle (or any line dance song), Some country songs always get a party going. If I heard Bon Jovi at a party, I know I am at the wrong party.

Posted at 12:53PM on Mar 14th 2010 by gina

34. Livin' on a Prayer I agree with...My list, however, would include some KISS, a couple of songs off of Waylon and Willie #1, Cinderella, Poison, Alabama, Dwight Yokam, and maybe throw in "Fight For Your Right-to Party" by Beastie Boys just for good measure, as far as older music...Modern stuff would have to include Sugarland, Theory, Gretchen Wilson, Nickleback, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, and Halestorm. It would actually all depend on the vibe going around.

Posted at 10:27PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Cowboy Rocker

35. How in the world could you forget "The Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett ?? That is THE party song of all time... Great great drinking song !! It is sacrilege to forget that great song !!!

Posted at 10:31PM on Mar 13th 2010 by Geegee Davis

36. These songs are mostly awful. Blech.

Posted at 10:47PM on Mar 13th 2010 by D

37. there is "hang on sloopy" by the mccoys then there is every other "party" record---tho idid notice a susan cole mentioning "shout" either by joey dee and the starlighters or the coasters

Posted at 11:00PM on Mar 13th 2010 by rgrant3700

38. How 'bout "I Feel Good" by James Brown?

Posted at 11:31PM on Mar 13th 2010 by RSBarney

39. These are horrible, horrible choices. What moron was allowed to write this drivel? Journey SUCKED. Their songs are so unmelodic, and they don't rock. And the rest have been played to death that no one in their right mind would want to hear them again.

Posted at 12:24AM on Mar 14th 2010 by mikey

40. All these songs are soooooo gay! Oh' so am I. Love them! Hater's go to bed!

Posted at 12:28AM on Mar 14th 2010 by Marty

41. I've been a DJ for 20 years, and I can tell you "Love Shack" has to be on that list, and number one for overall consistency of getting people dancing and just enjoying themselves. "Shout," "YMCA," "Hot Hot Hot," "Dancing Queen," and "I Will Survive" also have to be considered. The last two in particular appeal to the ladies, and it's always the women who dictate how much dancing there is -- as it always was, even when I was going to elementary school dances. Men/boys are often too self-conscious or "cool" (in their own minds) to dance, which is why most of the negative comments above are by guys -- and I know the territory; they're not going to dance anyway, so there's no point trying to please them. And despite the name (an inside joke), I'm a guy, so I'm not trying to dump on anyone. I just know that if you're going to DJ, you can't be a musical snob. If people love having fun to a song, that's fine with me.

Posted at 12:43AM on Mar 14th 2010 by gwenshack

42. Here's a song that been forgotten. "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant. A great party song.

Posted at 1:08AM on Mar 14th 2010 by Frank & Angela

43. HEY WHERE'S LOUIE LOUIE?

Posted at 11:13AM on Mar 20th 2010 by timbuk4

44. Livin in America James Browm
Pink caddilac The boss
Abracadabra Steve Miller
I like it I love it
Gimme a little sign
Knock three times
Hanky panky Tommy James
Hang on Sloopy McCoys
Bad case of lovin you Rock & Roll music C. Berry

Posted at 3:38AM on Mar 14th 2010 by Gene

45. Party? That list sounds like punishment. Also it must be for 12 yr olds. You want a list for a party?
Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive"
Huey "Piano" Smith's "Don't you just know it"
Audioslave "Shadow on the Sun"
Moby "Extreme Ways"
Steppenwolf's "Majic Carpet Ride"
Eagles "Sad Cafe"
Grand Funk's "Locomotion"
Santana "Samba Pa Ti"
Close it out with THe allman Bros "Just Ain't Easy

Posted at 3:56AM on Mar 14th 2010 by Randy

46. what about the Village people - YMCA?

Posted at 4:46AM on Mar 14th 2010 by suz

47. I know I'm dating myself...Sly and the Family Stone Dance To The Music OMG! Dorm on Saturday night...

Posted at 9:21AM on Mar 14th 2010 by Sprinkle Cookie

48. Nice lists! those are the party songs of all time

myradioworld

Posted at 5:52AM on Apr 6th 2010 by Sethdef

49. 7-10 are not from 2000 til now WTF

Posted at 7:05PM on Apr 26th 2010 by goaliehenrick

50. No,,,I'm thinking I'll stay home from this party.

Posted at 9:05AM on May 4th 2010 by jshamp

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