Top Dance Club Songs of the Year Volume I | The Year’s Biggest Bangers! [Expanded]

Welcome to the 2024 Top Dance Club Songs of the Year Edition!

This annual wrap-up celebrates the biggest songs in dance and club music across all genres, showcasing the tracks that defined the dance floor in 2024. Among the highlights, the newest trend to capture the scene—Afro House—has sparked discussion. However, let’s set the record straight: Afro House is neither new nor always true to its roots. While one standout track in this year’s lineup genuinely fits the genre, much of what is labeled Afro House has been stripped of its African origins, replaced with slowed-down beats (120 BPM) and polished for mainstream appeal.

This critique isn’t about quality—many of these tracks are excellent—but longtime House aficionados will recognize the percussive elements as familiar territory. Like Nu Disco before it, Afro House is having its moment. Yet with so many producers relying on the same loops and software, the genre risks burnout before it can truly solidify. Credit is due to Rivo, whose rework of Disclosure’s “You and Me” ignited the trend earlier this year. This stellar remix skyrocketed to become one of the biggest electronic tracks of 2024.

John Summit: A Living Legend

John Summit continued his meteoric rise this year with the much-hyped “Shiver.” The track showcases his ability to explore new genres while maintaining his signature dark, ethereal, and moody style. At this point, Summit is reaching Avicii-level stardom, but his continued output of bangers suggests he’s handling the pressure with grace. Here’s hoping he finds the balance between delivering hits and taking time for himself.

PAWSA: From Underground to Mainstream

One of the year's most unexpected breakthroughs was the massive success of PAWSA. Though the London-based DJ has been active since 2014, 2024 was his breakout year. With “Too Cool to Be Careless” and “That Phone Track” dominating the Beatport Top 100 for months, PAWSA’s stripped-down House style became a dancefloor staple. Closing the year with a rework of Adventures of Stevie V’s 1990 classic “Dirty Cash,” he solidified his position at the forefront of modern House music.

Viral Revival: Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Mason vs. Princess Superstar

Two early-2000s tracks found new life in 2024 thanks to their inclusion in the streaming hit Saltburn. Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor” and Mason vs. Princess Superstar’s “Perfect (Exceeder)” went viral on TikTok, sparking interest from a new generation of fans. Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit and the 2007 mashup both surged in popularity, proving the timelessness of their dance-floor appeal.

Pop Meets Dance: Sabrina Carpenter’s Moment

The trend of pop stars invading the dancefloor continued this year, led by Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” A surprise summer earworm, it catapulted Carpenter into the spotlight after years of middling success. While fans clamored for official remixes, her label opted out, leaving bootleg remixes to fill the gap. Though remixing “Espresso” proved challenging, a handful of fan-made versions stood out, keeping the song buzzing in clubs and online.

Chappell Roan: A Rising Diva

Newcomer Chappell Roan broke through in 2024 with tracks from her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. After a slow climb, the infectious “Good Luck, Babe” reached the Top 10, and tracks like “Pink Pony Club,” “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” and “Hot to Go!” became unofficial dance-floor anthems. Roan’s growing gay following has led to countless remixes, cementing her status as a rising diva. Her label would do well to embrace this remix culture—it’s what the fans want.

Charli XCX and Billie Eilish: A Dynamic Duo

Charli XCX returned with “Brat,” a chaotic yet compelling album that took time to resonate. Tracks like “360” and “The Von Dutch” eventually found their groove, adding depth to the year’s dance scene. Charli’s duet with Billie Eilish, “Guess,” became an instant queer anthem. Eilish also had a stellar year, with “Lunch” and “Birds of a Feather” receiving fan-made remixes that elevated their club potential. Together, these artists blurred genre lines while owning their unique spaces in pop and dance music.

Looking Ahead: More to Come

This year in dance music has been so eventful that our wrap-up will span three, possibly four, volumes. We’ve adopted a new methodology for compiling the Top Dance Club Songs, which has expanded the list far beyond expectations. Stay tuned for the next volume dropping Monday, where we’ll dive deeper into 2024’s defining tracks and trends.

Until the next time...ENJOY!

"Lioness" by Swedish House Mafia was originally intended as the opening track for Volume II but didn't mesh well with anything that came after. So, I moved it back to its obvious placement in the mix on Volume I based on key.

Album: Top Dance Club Songs of 2024: Volume I
Genre: Dance Pop Afro House, House, Tech House
Year: 2024
Total Time: 02:07:04

1. Anyma (ofc) - Pictures Of You (Extended Mix)
2. Sonny Fodera, JAZZY, & D.O.D - Somedays (Extended Mix)
3. Alok & Bebe Rexha - Deep In Your Love (Extended Mix)
4. Madison Beer - Make You Mine (BKAYE Extended Remix)
5. Sonny Fodera feat. blythe - Mind Still (Extended Mix)
6. John Summit & Hayla - Shiver (Extended Mix)
7. RUFUS DU SOL - Music Is Better (Club Mix)
8. Chappell Roan vs. Sigala - Good Luck, Babe! (Andrew Marks Living Without You Edit)
9. The Blessed Madonna feat. Clementine Douglas - Happier (Extended Mix)
10. Tove Lo & SG Lewis - Heat (Extended Mix)
11. Becky Hill - Outside Of Love (Extended Mix)
12. Armin van Buuren & David Guetta feat. Aldae - In The Dark (Extended Mix)
13. Alesso & Nate Smith - I Like It (Sisco Kennedy Remix Clean)
14. Robin Schulz x Topic feat. Oaks - One By One (Extended Mix)
15. Kenya Grace - Strangers (Extended Mix)
16. Billie Eilish x Deadmau5 & Kaskade - Birds Of A Feather x I Remember (BYNX Edit)
17. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (John Summit & Silver Panda Extended Remix)
18. Hugel, Topic x Arash feat. Daecolm - I Adore You (Extended Mix)
19. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jamming (Fisher Extended Remix)
20. Beyonce - Texas Hold 'Em (Dave Aude Extended Remix)
21. Tommy Richman - Million Dollar Baby (Dave Audé Remix)
22. Billie Eilish - Lunch (Dashone & Felixx Remix)
23. Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy) (David Guetta Remix)
24. Nelly Furtado, Tove Lo & SG Lewis - Love Bites (Extended Mix)
25. PAWSA - To Cool To Be Careless (Extended Mix)
26. Kungs, IDavid Guetta & Izzy Bizu - All Night Long (Extended Mix)
27. Disclosure - She's Gone, Dance On (Extended Mix)
28. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor 2024 (Colin Jay Club Mix)
29. Diplo & The Outfield - Your Love (Diplo Extended Remix)
30. David Guetta & OneRepublic - I Don't Wanna Wait (Extended Mix)
31. Martin Garrix & DubVision feat. Jaimes - Empty (Extended Mix)
32. Swedish House Mafia feat. NIKI & The Dove - Lioness (Sisco Kennedy Club Mix)
33. Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence (CYRIL Remix)