3 Disco Songs that Continue to Have Us Dancing Until Dawn

Disco gets a bad rap. The popular musical genre from the 1970s, which was born of a diverse group of dancers and singers in city club scenes, was pigeonholed to be some vapid, whitewashed sound. But at the music’s heart, it is an inspiring, unifying art form that continues to get people off their chairs and onto the dance floor.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such offerings. A trio of tracks that not only get our hearts racing but continue to have an influence on culture. Three tunes that are as fun as they are lively—as energetic as they are necessary. Indeed, these are three disco songs that continue to have us dancing and sweating until dawn.

[RELATED: 3 One-Hit Wonders from the 1980s that Will Have You Singing Along Instantly]

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor from Love Tracks (1978)

Just mentioning the title of this song and your heart begins singing—no, belting—the lyrics. It is a disco mainstay not only for its sonic quality and pulsing vibe but for its lyrical content, which is about pushing forward through difficulty. Here, Gloria Gaynor sings about rising up and moving ahead after a devastating breakup. It’s the perfect enlivening number for a dance club. And on it, she offers,

At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Thinking I could live without you by my side
And after spending nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
And I learned how to get along

Now you’re back
From outer space
And I find you here
With that sad look upon your face
I should’ve changed that stupid lock
Or made you leave your key
If I’d’ve known for a second
You’d be back to bother me

“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson from Off the Wall (1979)

When Michael Jackson went solo after breaking onto the scene with his family band The Jackson 5, this disco song was one of his first hits. Jackson’s second solo single to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song is all about the idea of going and going and going. The world is yours, the night is yours. Go out there and get what you want from it—indeed, don’t stop until you get enough! On the song, a fresh-faced Jackson sings over a swath of strings and percussion,

Lovely is the feelin’ now
Fever, temperatures risin’ now
Power (oh power) is the force, the vow
That makes it happen, it asks no questions why (ooh)
So get closer (closer now)
To my body now
Just love me
‘Til you don’t know how (ooh)

“Night Fever” by the Bee Gees from Saturday Night Fever (1977)

This is how big and popular disco was: Before Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the soundtrack to the disco movie Saturday Night Fever was the best-selling album of all time. The soundtrack features several songs written by the brother trio the Bee Gees. “Night Fever,” which is rich with falsetto harmonies, is perhaps the cream of the crop. We all know the feeling: You have a fun night planned and when it’s about to begin, you get that buzz in your gut. Well, the Bee Gees took that feeling and made a career out of it, putting it to music. And on this track, the trio sing,

Listen to the ground
There is movement all around
There is something goin’ down
And I can feel it

On the waves of the air
There is dancin’ out there
It’s somethin’ we can’t share
We can’t steal it

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Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images