With football season finally kicking into full gear, the inevitable event follows for high schoolers: Homecoming. Cheesy decorations and spending exorbitant amounts of money on dinner and attire all leads up to the dance. What makes or breaks the night is the music that plays there. Whether it’s a well-known song, dance-able, or too slow are all factors I took into consideration when ranking these songs. And here we go…
10. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
This one really is an earworm. Widely popular for the catchy lyrics, you can be certain it’ll pop up at homecomings in the years to come. “I threw a wish in the well/Don’t ask me I’ll never tell/I looked to you as it fell/And now you’re in my way” are the opening lines and I think they are ingrained in every memory of kids in my generation.
9. I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
I have to admit, this isn’t one of my favorite songs but it certainly is a favorite of many. The Black Eyed Peas have a knack for creating songs with a good beat and this certainly one of them. The repetition of “And do it/Let’s live it up” gets people feeling invincible and feeling like it’s the last night of their lives. I rank it a 10/10 it terms of dance-ability and it’s a must have.
8. Party In The U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
Post-Hannah Montana Miley Cyrus shines through in this song and soon became a staple. It helped that the music video was on Disney Channel 24/7 as well as the fact that movements described in the song can be easily copied. Without Miley, it just isn’t a party.
7. Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex
Major throwback to fifth grade when my whole class had to learn this dance in music class, but I guess it paid off. I am successfully able to wow everyone with my sweet dance moves every time this plays (and I mean every time at every dance like ever). The spin and clap routine is just one of many group dances that gets the mood right.
6. Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) by Silento
Although fairly new, this has already swept through the masses and become a classic among teens. Cheers usually erupt when this starts playing, followed by some dance circles and some pretty scary dabbing *shudders* and questionable moves no matter how hard everyone tries.
5. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
I felt obligated to include one slow song, and here it is. A classic 80’s hit, it is the least cringe worthy and cheesy of all. It has a good message and is the perfect love song to play for homecoming. It has a relaxed tempo that allows for awkward slow dancing and isn’t too sappy. Oh, young love.
4. Macarena by Los del Rio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBYM6g8Tck
One of my personal favorites, this was popular in the mid-90’s and has remained that way to this day. Its good groove gets everyone to move, even the more leery of those attending. Everyone can catch on pretty quickly and without this song it really just isn’t the same.
3. The Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
“It’s time to get funky” is the opening line that indicates everyone should be shuffling around on the dance floor to get in to lines. DJ Casper obviously had dancing in mind, because the infectiousness always seems to have everyone dancing until the end. One dance move in particular that goes along with this song though still confuses me – the Charlie Brown.
2. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce
Queen Bey never disappoints, and this is where homecoming would really be a disaster. “Single Ladies” is a staple not just at homecoming, but in life. This would be the moment where the DJ says “All the ladies on the floor!” I would be lost if this wasn’t played.
1. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Here we are at number one. The most iconic song of homecoming and pretty much all dances or big events. Everyone knows the lyrics and sings along, for better or for worse. Memories that last forever are made at homecoming, and happen most during this song. It defines human hope and without getting too deep, is simply an uplifting song.