February 10, 2010

scars jaxx

scars jaxx

scars jaxx

Best Pop Dance Songs of the Year 2009 Pt. 1

At the end of the decade, and especially in late 2008 and 2009, artists like LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, T-Pain, and many others working inside and outside of popular music, brought dance back again. If you listen to any outer-rim dance music you’ll hear the huge influence that disco has had on much of the new music being made. Some say that after the towers fell, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economic collapse, people just wanted to let loose with abandon—they wanted to escape with dance…as corny as that sounds. Here is a list of the best dance songs of 2009.

Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”

I’m not going to lie, this song never really clicked for me (I still thought “Paparazzi” was the better single) until I heard that huge, epic chorus drop in a club setting and everyone go nuts. There is something powerful about that sing-a-long chorus when it hits, with the synths and drums reaching new heights and Gaga’s almost universal chant reaching the masses. My only complaint is that the song structure is a bit odd for a pop song and could have even more impact if it structured itself more around the chorus than the verses, which are the weakest part of the song.

Major Lazer feat Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze – “Keep It Goin’ Louder”

Major Lazer is the reggaton collaboration between hit makers Diplo and Switch, known for their work with M.I.A. (“Paper Planes”) and their in-demand work as remixers. The most immediately commercial track on their wonderfully titled album “Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do” is a heavy mix of euro-club synths, regeatton beats and the ubiquitous auto-tune vocal effect. Major Lazer make the elements all come together wonderfully for a hugely catchy club track that is perfect for rolling with the Mustang hood drop top down and the wind in your hair.

Basement Jaxx – “Raindrops”

The fifth studio album from innovative dance/electronic duo of Basement Jaxx, “Scars” wasn’t the huge game changer people expected from these two but it was nevertheless another steller entry into their discography, led by the great single “Raindrops,” one of the best singles the duo have ever released. At the disco heart of the song is a newfound psychedelic and hip-hop root, with even a prog-rock like synth arpeggio breakdown near the midway point. The beauty of a Basement Jaxx song is that you never know exactly where it is going to go but it’s always an enjoyable trip.

About the Author

Alan McGee is a freelance writer from MN.

Basement Jaxx - Scars (ft. Meleka, Kelis & Chipmunk) - Video by Jan van Nuenen