NIGHTMARE ON M STREET BAR CRAWL : 10.26.19
DCCLUBBING AND LINDY PROMO PRESENT:
NIGHTMARE ON M STREET BAR CRAWL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH | 1PM-9PM
Halloween is here and that means it’s time for Lindy Promotions 21st Annual Nightmare on M Street Bar Crawl! You read that correctly – Nightmare on M Street has been boozing up our nation’s capital on your favorite bloodcurdling holiday for 21 strong years – and we have no plans to slow down the party, DC. Sip, spook, and celebrate at DC’s nightlife icons like Rewind, Dirty Bar, Dirty Martini, Rosebar, City Tap, Blackfinn Ameripub, and Eden. Are you ready? Because this is it what it means to bar hop.
Halloween with Lindy’s goes day and night around Dupont Circle without any signs of slowing down – expect prizes and giveaways and local watering holes that have the best staff in DC. Spirited bartenders will pour shots of thrill and each stop is cover-free and more hair-raising than the last. Per usual, all participating hotspots have promised to deliver thirst-quenching drink specials that keep your drink and wallet full. Follow the crowd or carve your own path – this Halloween bar crawl is the best time you’ll have in Washington, D.C. Prepare to people watch, because DC knows what it means to wear a costume, and we expect you to bring your best.
Every Halloween Lindy Promotions pulls out this legendary bar crawl where saints and sinners gather and we bring you the most terrifyingly delicious night of the year. You’ve heard the stories – now experience it for yourself and find out what it feels like to be on a heart-pounding, mind-thrilling bar hop through the most haunted city in the country. Spine-chilling cocktails and supernatural company await you, DC dwellers – ready to redefine All Hallows Eve?
Don’t wait for the sun to set to party – head to Decades to register between 1pm-7pm, pick up your wristband and map, and hit the road on this creepy cocktail tour.
Cory In The House : Decades Edition
DCClubbing x Decades Presents:
Cory In The House
Thursday November 8, 2018 | Doors 9:00pm | 18+
Decades • 1219 Connecticut Ave NW • Washington, DC
VIP and Venue Information – 202.271.1171
🚨 CALLING ALL 90’s BABIES 🚨
Washington DC will never be the same, it’s Cory, Cory, Cory In The House! Disney Channel’s very own Kyle Massey is taking over Decades !
Kyle Massey — of That’s So Raven and Cory In The House fame — spent the last two decades being one of America’s most beloved teen icons! Welcome him, appropriately, to Decades on November 8th, for a night of fun, excitement, and entertainment.
Heated for the Holidays : TBT at Decades Rooftop
Just in time for the Holiday Season! Decades DC and DCClubbing present Heated for the Holidays!
Decades heats up it’s rooftop time machine while staying rooted in modern vibes for a premium
Thursday Night Rooftop Party Experience. #TBT highlights the finest in classic and current rap and
EDM, plus offers deals on drinks, bottles, and more! Also offering an array of exclusive holiday themed
drink specials inlcuding :
The Orange Creamsicle Fizz : Stoli Orange, Orange Juice, Whipped Cream, and Champagne
Pomegranate Mimosa : Champagne, Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate Moscow Mule : Tito’s Vodka, Pomegranate Juice, Ginger Beer, Lime Juice
Apple Pie Cocktail : Fireball, Apple Pucker, Pineapple Juice
From The 90s To…The 90s Floor: DJ Jon Paul Keeps The Decades Spirit Alive
Here’s what could be a shocking fact to many of you reading this article: Decades has existed in Washington, DC prior to 2016. In fact, from 1997-1999, a nightclub called Decades playing the best hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s on multiple floors existed in a space one block south of the square footage occupied by Ultrabar on 9th and F Sts. NW. Amazingly enough, as the current four-level Decades at 1219 Connecticut Avenue NW spins beloved hits from the 90s, 2000’s and the modern day, it’s DC Metropolitan area nightlife veteran Megawatt DJ Jon Paul who amazingly has, and currently does, spin at both the classic and current Decades locations! When describing how he has viewed his work as a disc jockey in the DC in a career that literally spans “between the Decades,” the veteran mixer notes that he enjoys “delighting and exciting crowds with outstanding performances.” If the sweat-drenched and hoarse-voiced bodies leaving Decades’ 90s floor on most any Saturday night when Jon Paul is behind the decks are any indication, he’s definitely achieving his goal. The secrets to his success and his thoughts about old versus new Decades? Well, they’re right here for you to enjoy! Retro is new again (and again)!
So, when did the old Decades open as a party, how long did it run, what exactly was the concept behind the old idea Continue reading “From The 90s To…The 90s Floor: DJ Jon Paul Keeps The Decades Spirit Alive”
Michael Jackson’s Top 10 Club Ready Hits
It’s rather easy to state that Michael Jackson had no other option in life but to be Michael Jackson. That’s a lot of why, for many, he’s unarguably the best pop star of all time. It can also be argued that Michael gave his life to music, and in devoting the entirety of his being to being the ULTIMATE pop icon, he became a timeless and epic representation of our emotional connection to music. Especially in the 25 year era between 1970-1995, there may have been no better artist at making club-ready dance music. Given that Decades Nightclub is in the Panorama Productions family of clubs, and that were observing the eighth anniversary of his untimely demise, we decided to compile a list of his most impacting and club-ready pop hits.
10. Jacksons – Enjoy Yourself (1976)
Once Michael and the rest of his musical brothers left Motown for Epic Records in 1975, the quintet moved in a decidedly more disco-oriented direction with their sound. The blend of pop melodies as well as Michael’s angelic voice allowed for “Enjoy Yourself” to hit the top ten of the pop charts, top five of the R & B charts, and was written by the Philadelphia-based iconic disco production pair Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
9. Michael & Janet Jackson – Scream (1995)
20 years after singing backup vocals on the aforementioned “Enjoy Yourself,” “Scream” is a duet between Janet and Michael Jackson. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had a hand in numerous hits for Janet, but for Michael this was their first hit creation for the “King of Pop.” This one is both intriguing and notable because it’s one of the few times in Michael’s career that he actually addressed the stress associated with his stardom.
Quincy Jones produced a song about zombies that features Michael Jackson as the lead vocal and a rap from noted horror movie actor Vincent Price. On the surface this seems like the most ridiculous idea ever. In actuality, the execution was so cinematic in scope that it deserved the 14-minute short film-as-video which accompanied its release. If you know the video’s related choreography (and you know the choreography), you’re certain to do it as much as possible.
7. Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine (1974)
The Jackson brothers’ final massive Motown hit was a song that actually inspired Michael Jackson as a choreographer inventing the robot. Celebrating a woman whose moves are “automatic and systematic,” (which we should assume means “amazing”), this is a timeless jam that really strikes at the heart of soul, disco, and pop in an unmistakably “Jackson”ian way.
Following up 1984’s Thriller was quite the task for the “King of Pop,” and in a manner similar to “Beat It,” “Bad” blends rock guitars and dance-ready funk in an exciting manner for what was the follow up to the mega successful Thriller album’s first number one single. As well, the full scale ensemble gang dancing is again similar to “Beat It,” as across the board, Jackson used established standards to re-set his own bar for excellence.
Disco and soul combine magnificently on the biggest hit from MJ’s 1979 breakout album Off The Wall. Less crossover aimed and more R & B market driven, the song has endured the decades and is one of the more beloved dance-ready ballads of all time. Feeling the heat, riding the boogie, and sharing the beat of love…timeless notions that have endured.
Quincy Jones on production. Van Halen’s lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen with a blistering solo. A video that features a full scale choreographed gang fight. “Beat It” is remembered for many things, its pioneering style allowing it to win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1984. Literally a song that was nearly a top-ten hit worldwide, it’s another example of a song that’s set a standard that will likely never be equaled.
Epic Records refers to Michael Jackson’s 1991 hit as “a rock ‘n’ roll dance song about racial harmony.” The song’s pop appeal was immediate, as 40% of the top 40 radio stations in America immediately added the song to constant peak-hour rotation, and worldwide, the song was a #1 smash in 20-plus countries. As far as dance-friendly Jackson songs, it’s again another rock-soul heater that impressively eclipsed the previous success of “Beat It” and “Bad.’
2. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough (1979)
There’s Michael Jackson fanatics who will gladly argue that Off The Wall is a better album than Thriller. One of the key pieces of this argument involves believing that “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” is a better-sounding single than “Thriller” and “Beat It,” two singles that it actually bests on this list. As far as a grooving club jam, this one could also represent MJ at his disco era best, moreso than anything else on this countdown.
The Moonwalk. The bassline. The Pepsi commercial. The fact that the song has a groove that is unmistakably from the 80s, but timeless because it arguably represents the best work of that or any era.
DECADES asks the question…Who Was Better, Biggie or 2Pac?
As Decades — our retro-themed nightclub — inches closer to its three month anniversary of opening, we’ve decided that it’s time to maybe put to bed one of the most frequent arguments that has been had in our fair club since its opening. No, not “less filling” versus “tastes great,” but rather, who was the better rap artist, The Notorious B.I.G. or 2Pac. Yes, if you come up to our “Decades of Hip Hop” floor, there’s epic photos of both of them in our “Bling VIP” area. As well, if you hang out on the 90s floor, their songs have an undeniable popularity. However, once and for all, we’re going to solve the question. How? Well, with facts and data, of course. Plus, we might throw in some opinions, too, just to make sure all of our bases are covered.
2Pac’s career as a mainstream artist started three years before Biggie’s with his guest appearance on Digital Underground’s (of Humpty Dance fame’s) single “Same Song.” As well, it has also continued long after his death with well over 100 verses recorded before dying appearing on numerous other projects. However, for what Biggie lacked for time in the spotlight prior to his untimely demise, he roughly matched 2Pac in overall album sales (Biggie hovers at 22 million while Tupac sits pretty at 24 million overall) over a career that was, while alive, three years and three albums shorter.
Biggie was a juggernaut built for pop mega-stardom from the start. By comparison, Tupac Shakur was far more of an “artist” in the sense that he was, at the time of his demise, in the third stage of a career that had evolved from party rapper, to sensitive thug, to outlandish gangster emcee. Sean “Puffy” Combs produced BIG, so, as is the case surrounding Diddy, he rapped over massive party-rocking soul samples that endeared him to pop listeners. “Juicy” samples James Mtume’s 1982 hit “Juicy Fruit,” while “Big Poppa” samples the Isley Brothers’ 1983 R & B smash “Between The Sheets,” “One More Chance” uses DeBarge’s 1983 song “Stay with Me,” while “Hypnotize” samples jazzman Herb Alpert’s 1979 hit “Rise.”
Samples were a part of Tupac’s rise too, but largely his career was based much more around words than the interplay between words and music. Biggie’s easily one of the best rappers to ever rap, but ‘Pac’s one of the few rappers to ever have a book of their poetry made available for worldwide release. There’s something for more orchestrated about Biggie’s rise that’s ultimately important. Biggie’s debut single was the aforementioned “Juicy,” which came out on August 9, 1994 and was slain on March 9, 1997. This means that BIG’s mainstream career ultimately lasted UNDER 1000 days. The level of talent and execution it takes to go from selling zero records to being able, with 1997’s “Hypnotize,” to sell 1.4 million singles on a number one Billboard album is astounding.
For as much as we laud Biggie’s 1000 day supernova rise to fame, there’s equally enough room to discuss 2Pac, who had 20 top ten singles in six years and also was such a charismatic figure that he had critically acclaimed roles in seven films including Juice, Above the Rim, and Poetic Justice. Ultimately, what Biggie did for rap music, 2Pac did something similar for hip-hop culture. Famously, it was KRS-One who said that “hip-hop is something that you live, and rap is something you do.” While yes, Biggie’s lifestyle affiliation with hip-hop culture is important, there’s a great argument to be made that 2Pac’s development into a braggadocios rapper-ternt-actor in mainstream movies likely introduced so many non-stereotypical music fans into rap music and hip-hop culture fanatics.
There’s a great conversation to be had that 2002’s Jay Z and R. Kelly’s 2002-released Best of Both Worlds album would’ve been 1000x better than that lukewarm-recieved venture had it been a Tupac and Biggie collaboration. By 2002, ‘Pac could’ve been an Academy Award-winning actor and Grammy winning rapper. As well, Biggie could’ve been a mega-star MC and the CEO of a spinoff of Bad Boy Records, and more. The two of them meeting for one mega-release in an era in rap that coincided with the production wizardry of Dr. Dre. Just Blaze, Kanye West, and more…along with the Bad Boy “Hitmen” crew that piloted Puff Daddy’s success following Biggie’s death, is amazing to consider.
So who’s the best, Biggie or Tupac? In under 1000 days, the Notorious B.I.G. accomplished the same level of hit-potential musical output as 2Pac, plus directly aided in launching the careers of Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, Jay Z, and many more. Comparatively, 2Pac literally embodied the pop ego of rap music to pop culture for roughly the same amount of time that BIG had a career, and set a standard that could easily be met by the likes of 50 Cent, Ja Rule, and an entire generation of charismatic and muscle-bound rhymers with swag to burn.
Ultimately though, this is a conversation about music and culture, which both of these artists affected worldwide, forever. For the purposes of nightclubs, the answer, though worthy of deeper and greater argument, is Biggie. As Canibus says on his 1998 LL Cool J diss track “Second Round KO,” “the greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th.” Given that he had only merely scratched his creative and artistic potential before his death, and the idea that he could’ve easily succeeded in the same artistic realms that 2Pac already had, we have to give the nod to the Notorious B.I.G.
Top 25 NYC Rap Hits of 1996-2006 aka “the Jiggy Era”
Not just at Decades, but at all of the clubs in the Panorama/DC Clubbing family, there’s a true love for legendary New York-based rappers as well as their most iconic hits. We’ve also noted that for as many things may feel different as of late, one of the more exciting vibes may be the idea that the idea that we may see a resurrection of the “jiggy era,” aka the time when the street-meets-club-meets-pop vibe of rap stars including the Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, Puff Daddy/P. Diddy, Ja Rule, and more. Therefore, we’ve gone through Billboard charts and numerous critical reads and countdowns about this amazing era in rap and compiled the best of the best.
NUMBERS 25 TO 16
25. Jay Z – Dirt Off Your Shoulder (2004) (PURCHASE)
24. LL Cool J – Loungin’ (1996) (PURCHASE)
23. Puff Daddy – Been Around The World (1997) (PURCHASE)
22. Lil Kim – No Time (1997) (PURCHASE)
21. Jay Z – I Just Wanna Love You (Give It To Me) (2001) (PURCHASE)
20. Puff Daddy – Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down (1997) (PURCHASE)
19. Busta Rhymes – Woo Hah (Got You All In Check) (1998) (PURCHASE)
18. Terror Squad – Lean Back (2002) (PURCHASE)
17. Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule – Ain’t It Funny (2001) (PURCHASE)
16. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Always On Time (2001) (PURCHASE)
TOP 15
15. 50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg – 21 Questions (2003) (PURCHASE)
50 Cent followed up his immediate pop smash success with another song we’ll re-discover later on in this countdown with a duet featuring left-coast legend Nate Dogg. A peerless rap-love ballad that still holds a near and dear spot in the hearts of all who never forget it, it continues to set a standard of excellence.
14. Nelly feat. P. Diddy and Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather (2003) (PURCHASE)
The soundtrack for 2003-released film Bad Boys II created the perfect moment for St. Louis’ Nelly to get the swaggerific East Coast co-sign from none other than P. Diddy himself. The result was a hip-shaking hit that still packs dancefloors to the present day.
13. Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It! (2005) (PURCHASE)
The surge of Cam’ron, Jim Jones, and the Dipset was a rap radio phenomenon that eventually surged through to the pop charts. Key to this surge was the acclaim of Juelz Santana, who impressively went from Dipset lieutenant to crossover pop icon to Grammy nominated artist. This Chris Brown song created massive success for both Brown and Santana.
12. Fat Joe feat. Ashanti – What’s Luv (2001) (PURCHASE)
By 2001, Fat Joe had spent a solid decade in the rap industry without truly hitting crossover success. However, in blending with Murder Inc.’s lead pop diva Ashanti he achieved the greater acclaim that he arguably had long deserved.
11. P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine & Loon – I Need A Girl (Part 2) (2002) (PURCHASE)
The second generation of Sean Combs’ hip-hop career was highlighted by a change in name from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy, but the hits — as always — couldn’t and wouldn’t stop. Though not dependent upon an 80s pop sample for its success, this danceable ballad still was a Bad Boy hitmaker.
10. Notorious B.I.G.- Mo Money Mo Problems (1997) (PURCHASE)
Biggie’s most significant posthumous hit was his single “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Spurred on by one of his own quotes about the issues attached to making so much money so soon in one’s career, this is a cautionary tale with significant pop appeal.
9. Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize (1997) (PURCHASE)
Herb Alpert’s jazzy 1979 hit “Rise” provided the perfect backdrop for Biggie Smalls going in on big upping not just Brooklyn — as always — but himself, as well as how his friends in, yes, DC, prefer wearing Versace. It’s likely one of his most instantaneously iconic songs from his career.
8. Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule – I’m Real (PURCHASE)
Ja Rule’s ability to seamlessly blend rap and R & B flavor took him from being a street flavor-favoring hardcore emcee to being one of the Billboard charts’ favorite rappers of the early 2000s. Similarly to “Ain’t It Funny,” this increased the crossover success garnered by the earlier mentioned J-Lo and Ja Rule collaboration.
7. 50 Cent feat. Olivia – Candy Shop (2005) (PURCHASE)
Following the success of his debut album, 50 Cent returned in 2005 with The Massacre, his sophomore release. Clearly, 50 was not guilty of hitting a “sophomore slump,” as this album kicked things off for a second 50 Cent album that went on to achieve 15 million copies in global sales.
6. Mariah Carey feat. Ma$e and The Lox – Honey (1997) (PURCHASE)
Mariah Carey’s been NYC rap-affiliated since going back “like babies with pacifiers” with the Ol’ Dirty Bastard. However, on her 1997 album Butterfly, her collaboration with Bad Boy’s Ma$e and The Lox is a perpetual pop-rap pleasure point.
5. Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes – Don’t Cha (2003) (PURCHASE)
Maybe the greatest success of the influence of the “jiggy rap” era was that Vegas showgirl concept-turned-pop music act could blend with Busta Rhymes’ long-established dominance as a key contributor to the “jiggy” era and rocket to pop superstardom.
4. (tie) 50 Cent feat. Snoop Dogg and G-Unit – P.I.M.P. (2003) (PURCHASE)
The idea that 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo can all be on the same track discussing the fine arts of money and seduction is astounding. Steel pan meeting boom bap and rhythmic swing makes for a next level musical experience.
4. (tie) 50 Cent – In Da Club (2003) (PURCHASE)
Celebrating parties in the club? Pretty much par for the course behavior, and thus, it definitely could deserve an anthem. But, this anthem probably exceeds any expectation anyone could have for a song just discussing popping bottles and getting it in on a weekday or weekend nightlife evening.
3. Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans and 112 – I’ll Be Missing You (1997) (PURCHASE)
Celebrating the life and times of the Notorious B.I.G. could appear to be a cause for a less than entertaining song. However, in classic 1997 Puff Daddy fashion, it’s the sample from The Police’s 1983 smash “Every Breath You Take” that makes it a sing-and-dance-along classic.
2. Nas feat. Lauryn Hill – If I Ruled The World (1996) (PURCHASE)
By 1996, Lauryn Hill’s star had exploded via singing Roberta Flack’s 1974 hit “Killing Me Softly” on her rap trio The Fugees’ cover hit on the same name. Singing the hook of Kurtis Blow’s 1985 hit “If I Ruled The World” allowed for Nas to achieve a similar to Blow level of mainstream success and renown.
1. Beyonce feat. Jay Z – Crazy In Love (2003) (PURCHASE)
A decade before they were married, Jay Z and Beyonce were still very much an item. Impressively, it was because of Jay’s New York rap swagger that Beyonce was able to increase her crossover appeal. A match made in heaven long before it was literally a match made in heaven at the altar, this one is significant on many levels.
DECADES presents…The Top 20 Club-Crushing Dance Songs Of The 1990s
At our club Decades, we have a VERY soft spot in our heart for the unique throwback vibes on all three of our floors. However, if you really stop and think about it, there may be nothing more special than the retro vibes sparked by hearing dance songs from the 1990s. In one ten-year period, dance music exploded worldwide (again). However, aside from disco and electro, it was disco, electro, house, techno, hip-house, Hi-NRG, happy hardcore, Eurodance, trance, and so many more genres that gained in popularity. Therefore, in one 20 song list, you’re likely to find as many underground club smashes as tracks that can bring arenas and stadiums to their feet to this day. Now, imagine coming to one floor of a nightclub and experiencing ALL of that energy (and more), as if time were standing still. We’ll see you soon!
NUMBERS 20-11
20. Black Box – Everybody Everybody (1990) (PURCHASE)
19. Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love (1994) (PURCHASE)
18. Tori Amos – Professional Widow (Armand van Helden Remix) (1996) (PURCHASE)
17. Captain Hollywood Project – More And More (1992) (PURCHASE)
16. Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right But It’s Okay (Thunderpuss Club Mix) (1998) (PURCHASE)
15. Bucketheads – The Bomb (1995) (PURCHASE)
14. Ultra Nate – Free (1997) (PURCHASE)
13. Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart (1990) (PURCHASE)
12. Madonna – Ray of Light (1998) (PURCHASE)
11. Crystal Waters – Gypsy Woman (1991) (PURCHASE)
10. Whitney Houston – I’m Every Woman (1992) (PURCHASE)
1978 disco queen Chaka Khan sang the original version of this female empowerment, but it’s Whitney Houston’s version of it that can be found on the soundtrack of her film The Bodyguard which became one of our most beloved dance songs of the 1990s
9. Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You (1998) (PURCHASE)
Before he was one-half of Daft Punk, French producer Thomas Bangalter crafted a seductive worldwide hit single with this massive and iconic house hit.
8. Faithless – Insomnia (1996) (PURCHASE)
DJ and producer-wise, this UK smash is in-arguably one of the most influential dance songs of all time. A number one hit in both Europe and America, it’s a worldwide hit that was re-released 20 years later as remixed by none other than Avicii.
7. C & C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat (1991) (PURCHASE)
Rapper Freedom Williams and vocalist Martha Wash combine two eras and styles of dance music mastery on Robert Civiles and David Cole’s (the C & C in C & C Music Factory) freestyle, house, and hip-hop fusion pop platinum seller.
6. La Bouche – Be My Lover (1995) (PURCHASE)
German Eurodance pop hit “Be My Lover” is so deeply connected to the 1990s and dance music culture that it has been featured in everything from films like A Night At The Roxbury and Romy and Michelle’s High School Wedding to Saturday morning programs like Bill Nye The Science Guy and more.
5 (tie). Haddaway – What Is Love? (1993) (PURCHASE)
Speaking of A Night At The Roxbury, the film’s ultimate success is based around the use of Haddaway’s single to key Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan’s incessant headbobbing and body-thrusting “mating dance” of sorts. In fact, if you were to walk up to pretty much anyone who is old enough to remember the sketch and the movie, it actually triggers memories of the entire Eurodance-as-American pop era of music.
5 (tie). Snap – The Power (1990) (PURCHASE)
America’s hip-house movement was just under five years old when German-based duo Snap took American rapper Chill Rob G’s original version of this track and gave it a nitro-powered boost to the top of the global dance charts. Pair this one back-to-back with Snap’s other huge hit “Rhythm is a Dancer” and it’s an epic one-two punch of epic 90s excitement.
4. Deborah Cox – Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here (Hex Hector Remix) (1999) (PURCHASE)
Soulful house, rhythm and blues and masterful remixing converged when Canadian pop vocalist Deborah Cox’s end of the 90s crossover surprise chart-topper was remixed to great success by Hex Hector.
3. Madonna – Vogue (1990) (PURCHASE)
It’s an ultimate showcase of what makes Madonna the star that she is that she was able to mix New York City’s underground dance culture with pop songwriting and create a song that not only topped the charts on the dancefloors, but on the radio, too.
2. Los Del Rio – Macarena (1996) (PURCHASE)
There’s the “Electric Slide,” the “Cupid Shuffle,” and the “Cha Cha Slide.” However, none of those songs have had the massive pop success and longevity of Spanish duo Los Del Rio’s catch smash “Macarena.” How a song about a seductive woman who *really* loves to dance is one of the most identifiable songs of 90s dance is anyone’s best guess, but is unequivocally is.
1. Cher – Believe (1999) (PURCHASE)
Cher. Yes, no matter what you think about music or entertainment in general, you definitely have an opinion. Cher singing an entire dance song in auto-tune? If it were probably any other iconic vocalist, it’s a horrible idea. But there’s something about Cher, maybe in her mix of fashion, cheese, and undeniable talent that just makes all of this come together. Some seven million singles sold and worldwide #1 success later, and it set the 90s standard for dance excellence.
Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Club-Ready Songs Of The Modern Era
As dance music and pop culture in general continues the trend of turning back the clock (at clubs like our own beloved Decades), it’s probably a good time to sit down and think about those guilty pleasure songs that we’re probably going to be hearing a great deal moving forward. For as much as some of us cringe when we hear certain one-time hits, there’s something about some songs that allow them to still retain their classic appeal forever. From rap, to rock, to electronica, teen pop, and more, there are some songs that, though our eyes may roll when we hear them are still impressively get people moving, even right now. In a list compiled from everything from Billboard charts to numerous journalistic and DJ perspectives, here’s the top 10 biggest guilty pleasure club songs of the modern era.
1. Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) (1997) (PURCHASE HERE)
The Backstreet Boys are unquestionably the greatest-selling boy band of all time. However, from an over-the-top video that features the band in a haunted house, plus signature whoops, hollers and more on the track itself, it’s one of the most unavoidable radio and MTV hits of its era. When your song is so massive that it finds its way into everything from Finding Nemo to the “Howard Stern” show, to being covered by “Weird Al” Yankovic, it definitely is going to get a response. With 12 million singles sold and being a top ten hit in 23 countries worldwide, it set a standard for hit songs that very few club-ready jams may ever meet or exceed.
2. Spice Girls – Wannabe (1997) (PURCHASE HERE)
The Spice Girls sold seven million copies of their hit song “Wannabe” in 1997 ALONE. A number one hit in 22 nations worldwide, there’s a mix of mass commercial marketing, good looking women, undeniable “girl power” feminism and extremely sing-able hooks that allow it to appeal to huge crowds in nightclubs forever. The songs that appealed to teenagers and college students in the late 90s appealing to 40-something mothers and professionals in the current age is where there might be a twinge of guilt in screaming about how in order to be your lover, a guy first has to be friends with ALL of your friends, but one “zigga zig uh” later, and all is forgotten.
3. Haddaway – What Is Love (1993) (PURCHASE HERE)
German electronica artist Haddaway being so completely impassioned about understanding the definition of love makes this song a hit, but in retrospect might cause someone to pause and think, too. A stomping and pulsing wave of synth-driven electronic bliss, the vocal track adds significantly to its appeal, and ultimately really drives home to many what the early ‘90s both sounds and feels like. Guilt here might be that moment when you come to realize that it’s having a hook and beat that lock in perfect step that makes the biggest pop impact.
4. 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up (DJ Miko Remix) (1994) (PURCHASE HERE)
Remixes are the easiest way to both change a song’s appeal as well as extend its shelf life from pop radio into the nightclub. In the case of Italian DJ Miko’s cover remix of 4 Non Blondes’ 1993 hit grunge ballad, adding a hardstyle-like rave effect to the original’s yearning vocal-driven performance created significant crossover excitement. Miko became somewhat of a Eurodance superstar because of the remix, also taking a crack at The Knack’s 1980 smash “My Sharona” and 1982 Buggles hit “Video Killed The Radio Star” and more. Outside of a nightclub, a song feeling like it’s drumming deep into your soul might sound horrifying. However, at 1 AM on a Saturday night, there’s no better feeling in the world.
5. Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me (2000) (PURCHASE HERE)
There’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to guilty pleasure songs. Songs that are actually describing things that are real-life guilty pleasures likely have a much better time of having a longer-lasting appeal. Thus, Shaggy’s big-time 2000 hit about a case of mistaken identity during a mate’s potential cheating episode absolutely fits the bill. Add in a sing-song hook, party-ready raps and reggae-fusion production and it’s an ideal blend.
6. Ace of Base – Don’t Turn Around (1994) (PURCHASE HERE)
1994’s most top-of-the-charts impacting pop act were Swedish quartet Ace of Base. Reaching as far back as the age of ABBA, Sweden’s had an undeniable cheesy-yet-top-selling effect on the American music marketplace. Many of the same elements that made ABBA great, from dance-ability to a two-man/two-woman dynamic are present here. Similar to what allowed “Dancing Queen” to conquer the charts 20 year prior to “Don’t Turn Around,” it’ impressive that 25 years later, both songs are equally beloved.
7. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – Time Of My Life (1987) (PURCHASE HERE)
Most anyone who’s familiar with the soundtrack of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey star vehicle film Dirty Dancing has a very particular opinion about the song that accompanies the film’s ultimate dance sequence. The only Grammy and Academy Award-winning song on the list i this one though, which certainly speaks to one level of the song certainly being pleasurable. As far as the guilt in guilty pleasure, maybe there’s something in the film’s finest moments including lines like “never put baby in a corner” that has more to do with it than the clear excellence of the song itself.
8. Miley Cyrus – Party In The USA (2009) (PURCHASE HERE)
Though not exactly Miley Cyrus proclaiming herself to be “Naughty by Nature like I’m ‘Hip Hop Hooray’” on her 2013 song “23,” “a Jay Z song was [definitely] on” for Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter on 2009’s “Party In The USA.” One of the best-selling singles of all time, there’s something in Hannah Montana going “Hip-Hop” Montana that isn’t quite as seamless here as it was four years after this song’s release that makes it possibly one of the guiltiest pleasure songs of the past decade.
9. Len – Steal My Sunshine (1999) (PURCHASE HERE)
As an era, rap-metal spawned a ton of material that from Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie” to Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba” and more, doesn’t exactly have unlimited appeal for the average dance floor. However, if you were to tune down the thrash and say, insert a looping melodic hook from Andrea True Connection’s cheekily seductive 1976 disco hit “More More More,” you’d have Len’s guilty pleasure one-hit wonder “Steal My Sunshine.” It’s the mix of rap, disco and pop-metal awkwardly coming together that multiple layers of guilty pleasure pop connectivity.
10. The Cardigans – Lovefool (1996) (PURCHASE HERE)
Swedish radio pop that blends bossa nova style and massive hooks defines The Cardigans’ 1996 single “Lovefool’s” guilty pleasure appeal. Add onto the song’s success the fact that it was included on the soundtrack of melodramatic teen-aimed reboot of the film version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as well as sexy teen romp Cruel Intentions, and there’s something about the song that truly speaks to the awkward and shy ‘90s mall-rat in all of us. However, when publications as vaunted as Pitchfork rate the song as one of the 100 best of the 90s it overcomes any guilty association and can be revelled in pleasurably on the dance floor.
TOP 10 R & B TO POP CROSSOVER HITS OF THE ’90s, 2000s, AND 2010s
Nightlife in the past 20 years without soulful and hip-hop flavored crossover pop hits would be quite the different scene. This is especially true at our nightclub Decades, where a ton of the songs that were hugely popular during this era dot our DJ’s setlists. Most intriguingly regarding these songs, Drake’s 2016 single “One Dance” was streamed one BILLION times this year making it statistically quite possibly the number one R & B-to-pop crossover hit of all time. Alongside Drake’s huge hit, here’s nine other essential tunes that always fill the dance floor both at Decades and nightclubs worldwide.
10. Next – Too Close (1997) (PURCHASE HERE)
Nothing quite says a night at the club like slow grinding on the dance floor with a member of the opposite sex. That’s the magic of Next’s late 90s R & B to pop crossover hit. Impressively, the song has had a recent revival via 2015’s popular “Why You Always Lying” internet meme. Also interesting about this #1 dance and pop single is that it was produced by none other than Naught By Nature’s DJ, Kay Gee.
9. Dru Hill – In My Bed (1996) (PURCHASE HERE)
Though Dru Hill’s lead singer Sisqo is likely better known for his love of singing about “thong, th-thong thong thongs,” his breakout moment came alongside his three Baltimore-based buddies with whom he’d been singing since high school. “In My Bed” was remixed by legendary So So Def Records boss Jermaine Dupri, and the result was an instant club smash. The song that chronicles concerns about a cheating mate is still a heater that, when dropped at the right time, excites an entire dance floor.
8. R. Kelly – Ignition (remix) (2003) (PURCHASE HERE)
The infamous and self-proclaimed “pied piper of R & B” has released 17 albums in his 25-year mainstream recording career. Those albums have sold 50 million copies, and spawned 30 top 10 singles. Of those 30 singles, easily the biggest club groover is “the remix to Ignition.” The original version of “Ignition” was released in 2002, but it’s 2003’s remix, that’s on the updated version of Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time in 2010 at number 494, and listed at #19 on Pitchfork Media’s top 500 songs of the 2000s.
7. Usher – You Make Me Wanna (1997) (PURCHASE HERE)
Usher’s had an incredible career insofar as massive singles. But the song that’s most responsible for leading him to the heights he’s reached with the likes of David Guetta, Diplo, Lil Jon and more is 1997’s “You Make Me Wanna.” Produced by Jermaine Dupri, the song spent 46 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts between 1997 and 1998, and is one of Billboard’s Top 100 All-Time pop hits.
6. Pharrell – Happy (2013) (PURCHASE HERE)
The only Grammy and Oscar-nominated single on this list, Pharrell’s evolution from being the New Jack Swing-style producer of Wrecks-N-Effect’s “Rumpshaker” to making retro-soul anthem “Happy” 20 years later is nothing short of truly impressive. What makes “Happy” stand out is just how deceptively simple in style and breezy in feel it is. A song that pretty much allows for everyone to feel comfortable on the dancefloor, of Pharrell’s many hits, this one is undeniably the statistical best.
5. Beyonce – Single Ladies (2008) (PURCHASE HERE)
If you’re “[u]p in the club, just broke up, and doing your own little thing,” this is your favorite song. When you break down what makes Beyonce’s biggest songs her biggest songs, it’s that they have such far-reaching and timeless appeal that makes them important. Being newly single and ready to mingle is totally an emotion that so many can understand. In an honor that’s absolutely deserved, it’s one of tne of the best-selling singles of all time.
4. Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain – Blame It (On The Alcohol) (2008) (PURCHASE HERE)
The only Academy Award winner for Best Actor on this list, Jamie Foxx crossed entertainment genres in 2008 and released Grammy’s Best R & B Performance honors. Key as well to this song’s massive success is the appearance of T-Pain’s autotune enhanced vocals. The computerized voice alteration software was a huge part of many hits of this era of R & B-to-pop crossover, this one being the most significant chart topper.
3. Rihanna – Diamonds (2012) (PURCHASE HERE)
When Sia, Benny Blanco, Stargate, and Rihanna joined forces to create a song, there were a combined total of 81 hit singles created between the members of the quartet. Thus, it’s not at all surprising that the soulful, yet breezy tropical pop jam that resulted occurred. “Diamonds” topped music charts in over twenty countries, has sold nearly 11 million total singles, has a remix featuring Kanye West, a video viewed nearly one billion times on Youtube, and numerous other honors.
2. Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines (2013) (PURCHASE HERE)
Though quite controversially inspired by Marvin Gaye’s 1974 disco hit “Got To Give It Up,” that didn’t stop Robin Thicke from having a huge crossover hit with his TI and Pharrell-featuring funk single. At its height, it was played nearly 230 million times in one week on American radio stations alone. Selling roughly as many singles as Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” unlike RIhanna’s hit, it’s easily Thicke’s most pop culture impacting single-to-date, and quite possibly, ever.
1. Drake – One Dance (2016) (PURCHASE HERE)
Having sold five million copies and having been streamed countless billions of times, Drake’s 2016 R & B-to-pop jam of the year is actually one of the most statistically dominant pop songs of all time. Tropical, yet soulful in sound and style, it’s a song all about going out to the club, and, similar to Next’s #10 song “Too Close,” all about that crowning achievement of having just “one slow grinding dance with a member of the opposite sex. In blending dance, dancehall, Afrobeat, and hip-hop into a potent combination, this one is truly an all-time super jam from the modern age.
