The 10 Best Dance Hits For The Summer Of 2021

It’s been a while since we got to dance under a clear blue sky again. And now that the temperatures are rising and summer’s soon to set in, we’re all aching for a party or two to unload from all those hours spent indoors. You’d best prepare well for when that moment arrives, so here are 10 of the best dance hits to help you make the most of the summer of 2021.

[Spoiler alert: we bumped it up to eleven songs, simply because there's no such thing as 'too much summer flavor'!]

Dragonette, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano & Cat Dealers feat. Bruno Martini - Summer Thing
A song full of optimism and confidence, this delightful all-star link-up between Martina from Dragonette, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Cat Dealers and Bruno Martini is as gorgeous and captivating as the glow of the morning sun at an idyllic beach location. With playful vocals paying homage to summer love stories on an instrumental backdrop that brings warmth and excitement in equal parts, ‘Summer Thing’ is the perfect song to head into the summer with.

Tinlicker & Helsloot - Because You Move Me
Perfect for those precious moments of watching the sun set on a long summer night, ‘Because You Move Me’ was originally released in 2017 before picking up massively ahead of the 2021 summer season. Brought to you by Dutch duo Tinlicker and fellow countryman Thomas Helsloot, this is one of those songs that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Alesso & Armin van Buuren - Leave A Little Love
You just can’t go wrong with a collab of this magnitude. ‘Leave A Little Love’, the first-ever link-up between Swedish dance music superstar Alesso and five-time #1 DJ in the world Armin van Buuren, is simply overflowing with summer love nostalgia and bittersweet melancholy, ticking all the boxes of a bona fide summer anthem.

Kideko & Saffron Stone - The Music
Whether or not you’re old enough to recognize the influences of the 1981 original of U.S. R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples, this recent House banger from Brighton-born producer Kideko and East London rising star Saffron Stone is full of life. Confident, playful and delightfully groovy, this track sports this summer’s most important message of all: “don’t stop the music”.

ARTY - Take Your Time
Following on from ARTY’s #1 Billboard Dance charting collab with Audien and Ellee Duke called ‘Craving’, ‘Take Your Time’ is one of the most radiant and empowering songs gracing this list. Its positive message perfectly reflects the times we live in now, inspiring hope that good days will come again.

Loud Luxury feat. Thutmose - Red Handed
Not every song in this list errs on the fuzzy side, and this inclusion proves it. ‘Red Handed’, a cool collab between Canadian superstars Loud Luxury and Nigeria-born, U.S.-based rapper Thutmose, is an anthem for breaking free and not putting up with anyone’s lies and deceit. Its confident attitude and instant dance floor appeal makes it a great song to spruce up a summer party with.

Sian Evans - Hide U (Tinlicker Remix)
This is the second inclusion for Dutch duo Tinlicker, and for good reason too. Outfitted with strong melodic touches and a tidal wave of sonic flavor, their remix of Sian Evans’ 2011 song ‘Hide U’ is able to push any party to new heights, let alone those club nights you’re aching to frequent across the summer months.

Andrew Rayel - Silver Lining
Even in the dimmest of moments, there’s always a light to be found somewhere. That’s the core message of ‘Silver Lining’, the early-2021 single of Moldova’s Andrew Rayel. Stirring up memories of summer with its piano-infused breakbeats and radiant vocals, this song pairs really well with our hopes for a season spent dancing.

R Plus - Love Will Tear Us Apart
It may start off a bit moody, but the uplifting piano chords that symbolize a break in the cloud halfway in make ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ one of the best-fitting anthems for the summer of 2021. Drawing from Joy Division’s eternally tortured love song, this dance hit from London-based super producer Rollo Armstrong (under his R Plus moniker) is well worth a summer spent on repeat mode!

Duvall feat. bshp - Every Song
A sizzling, sure-fire summer anthem, ‘Every Song’ is the brainchild of Nathan Vincent Duvall, a founding member of platinum-selling DJ and producer trio Disciples, and rising vocal sensation bshp. Instantly catchy and undeniably addictive, ‘Every Song’ soundtracks that perfect summer night and that one person you haven’t been able to stop thinking of since.

Audien - Learn To Love Again
Not all summer flings end happily ever after, so this anthem to conquering heartbreak is definitely a welcome addition to the list. Decked out with empowering lyrics, honeyed vocals and the tantalizing melodies that typify every mind-blowing Audien creation, this gorgeous crossover single signals a chance to start anew and aim for a break in the clouds, all while wrapped in the pure instrumental bliss of the Grammy-nominated DJ and producer’s trademark sound.

Want to hear even more incredible dance songs? The Armada Today playlist is chock-full of today's finest dance hits, including many of the above summer smashes. Give the playlist a listen via the Spotify player to the left or by hitting the button below. Or check out our Top 10 dance hits for the summer of 2022.