A healthy mix of some classic, cheesy and cheerful tunes
Music taste is subjective but I’d wager that a few of these tunes have caused some of you to get up and dance as soon as you heard the first few chords.
Let us know if there’s anything that you think should be on this eclectic list.
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark
It’s always funny to spot those lads who’re so against the idea of dancing that it almost seems like they’re actively searching for the darkest corner in a club to loiter in.
Whilst in this little corner they’re visibly happy to scold at people dancing in a ‘Roy Keane-like’ death stare whilst sipping on their pint.
Watch their transformation though as soon as this song comes on.
Proof, if it was ever needed, that The Boss is a God among mere musicians who can turn craic-fearing people into the life of the party.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
The national anthem of Grungelandia is usually played in those clubs that want credibility from the cool kids or in bars around Ireland that haven’t had a new coat of paint on their walls since ’97.
You don’t need to gracefully dance in sequence when you can just thrash, mosh and jump around the room like a fish that’s just been thrown on dry land.
The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
An incredibly soulful and iconic track that made the world instantly stand up and take notice of one of the greatest talents, voices and performers in music history.
Tito Jackson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT586E9OUfg
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
In the interest of full disclosure, this writer absolutely despises this tune but I’ve a feeling that I might be the only Irish person amongst the 6.4 million people that live on the island who feels this way.
I’m so alone.
N-Trance – Set You Free
We had to include a cheesy and nostalgic ’90s track and while Gala – Freed From Desire, 2 Unlimited – No Limit and Snap – Rhythm is a Dancer all have their own qualities, we’ve opted for this.
Tag a mate who instantly stops what they’re doing on the dancefloor, throws their arms up towards the sky and sings the opening chorus of this tune at the top of their voice.
We all know one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18W9WYw9HaA
Sultans of Ping FC – Where’s me Jumper?
This JOE has fond memories of hearing Cork’s finest being played as the last song in my college bar.
What’s ironic is that I usually did have to go searching for my coat/jumper straight after which usually lasted longer than this actual tune.
Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious
JOE imagines that a girl could be holding a drink in their hands but they’ll happily throw it in the air and run to the dancefloor after hearing the opening notes of Destiny Child’s classic.
Just don’t get caught in the middle of the stampede of girls charging towards the dancefloor screaming at the top of their voice, ‘this is myyyyyyyyyyy song’.
The Killers – Mr Brightside
There are approximately seven seconds between the opening notes of this track and Brandon Flowers’ first vocals and in this short space of time we’ve actually seen people vanish. Just like this.
Westlife – When You’re Looking Like That
We said that there would be cheese. Hidden deep, deep, deep away in most men’s iTunes library lies a folder named ‘Unknown’ that’s filled with songs that they’re too afraid to admit they like.
This is one of them.
Truth be told, we were torn between this and World of Our Own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAol6Ej07X4
The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
If only all DJ’s took a leaf out of John Peel’s book and played the finest song to come out of Derry, after Dana ‘All Kinds of Everything’ of course, twice in a row on a Saturday night.
Mark McCabe – Maniac 2000
There are Irish people who would happily have this song played on a continuous loop for an entire night because they would probably still be dancing until the early hours.
Do you have a friend that was dragged off the dancefloor by a bouncer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY17nDW-CX0
House of Pain – Jump Around
We wager that this song has probably caused more scuffed shoes, bruised shins and hurt toes than a personal midfield duel against Patrick Viera and Roy Keane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaz7OqyTHQ
Steve Earle – Galway Girl
Leave a comment below if you are in fact the Galway girl that inspired this song, it had to be someone.
The lyrics wouldn’t quite sound the same if it was called ‘Westmeath Girl, ‘Tipperary Girl’ or ‘Fermanagh Girl’. Would it?
Larry Mullen/ Horslips – Put Em Under Pressure
We’ve heard rumours that Rolling Stone, NME and Pitchfork voted this as the ‘Greatest Song in the History of Time’ and they wouldn’t be wrong.
We’ve started a petition to have this declared as our national anthem.
The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
Hugs, dancing and singing around Christmas time. Awwwwww.
If you haven’t read it already, here’s our ten reasons why this song is amazing.
We’ve already had 15 songs that are guaranteed to make an Irish crowd lose their minds but what about an encore? There’s only one man, one song and one icon who’s fit for the task.
Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now
This JOE proudly knows all of the words to this anthem and can recite them off by heart, regardless of my ‘state’.
Everyone should be the same.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
