It's not a dance off without these songs. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those tunes that, while not impossible to dance to, will surely keep you on your toes and test your creativity.
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00:00 I see a little silhouetto of a man.
00:02 Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the bandango?
00:06 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those tunes that,
00:10 while not impossible to dance to, will surely keep you on your toes and test your creativity.
00:16 Number 10. All Too Well. 10-Minute Version. Taylor's version from the vault. Taylor Swift.
00:28 Let's just start with the obvious hurdle here. This song is roughly 10 minutes long.
00:33 Think you have the stamina? Good on you. Okay, so you think you can keep your energy up for
00:45 the song's entire duration. Now, you close your eyes and sway along as you try to
00:50 envision what moves would best suit the rhythm.
00:57 Maybe you've choreographed the perfect contemporary routine.
01:00 Perhaps you're even dancing around the kitchen in the refrigerator light.
01:04 However, if you're anything like us, you probably got to the end of the 10-minute
01:15 track and realized that, actually, there isn't much more you can do than sway along.
01:19 Number 9. Hurt. 9-Inch Nails. A song called Hurt doesn't exactly invite you to the dance
01:26 floor now, does it? Let's say you're a big fan of the number, so when those opening bars play,
01:35 you spring up. Okay, now what? Do you awkwardly two-step because, well, you're already up? Or
01:41 do you sit back down, shut your eyes, and slowly nod along? Even that might be a challenge since
01:52 the slow tempo, heavy emotional content, and somber atmosphere do not lend themselves too
01:58 well to movement. Johnny Cash's cover doesn't exactly inspire us to lace up our dance shoes
02:02 either. We wouldn't fare much better with March of the Pigs, at least not without some serious
02:13 whiplash. Number 8. Fix You. Coldplay. We know what you're thinking. Most of Coldplay's discography
02:26 could easily fit the bill. However, Fix You stands out for its particularly challenging rhythm.
02:32 Seasoned dancers might revel in the endless creative possibilities of its ever-shifting
02:36 dynamics. However, novices or those who feel more at home with traditional choreography
02:47 might find the song a jeté or two hundred out of their comfort zone.
02:51 Remember, even if you try your best but you don't succeed, you deserve an A+ for effort. At most,
03:04 it allows you to explore your own unique rhythm. Or you can always switch to an artist with more
03:09 danceable tunes. That would be our move. Number 7. All You Need Is Love. The Beatles. Finding
03:22 moves that work with this song can feel like navigating a musical maze. With its alternating
03:27 time signatures, even the best choreographers might find it a mission. At a stretch, we could
03:39 see it as a foxtrot, perhaps? However, the track's rhythmic complexity can be tricky for solo
03:44 dancers. The verses, which largely follow a 7/4 time, bring an offbeat twist, making it harder
03:50 to find your groove. Most of the chorus features a more standard rhythm, 4/4 time, but it's slower
04:01 than you would think. Here Comes the Sun also offers a creative choreography challenge. So,
04:06 a simple head bop might be the best way to go. Number 6. Liability. Lorde. We don't know about
04:20 you, but we'd think twice before adding "liability" to our dance playlists. Its slow tempo,
04:32 emotional depth, and melancholic vibe don't exactly scream dance party. But if you find
04:37 yourself in a reflective mood, please don't let us stop you. Express your deepest emotions through
04:42 some sort of interpretive dance. If you still have some lingering feels, perhaps follow up with
04:56 another of Lorde's less danceable tunes, like Royals. Maybe your style leans more towards
05:05 swaying, contemplative gestures, and emotional catharsis through movement. In our opinion,
05:10 the overall mood and tempo of these songs are better suited for seated contemplation rather
05:14 than lively dance floor action. Number 5. Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen. Yeah, we know. When
05:27 we think of Bohemian Rhapsody, our minds immediately go to this too. But beyond that,
05:35 can you really bop to this bop? Perhaps open with a little contemporary or lyrical?
05:40 Transition into some jazz for the Galileo portion of the song?
05:43 Maybe match the building drama with ballet or modern dance? We think we're all set for the
05:54 headbanging rock segment, but then it all calms down again and then what? Go full circle and end
05:59 as we started? Or just feel the music until the end? The constantly changing sounds and tempos
06:11 here are enough to make your head spin. We think the Wayne's World crew had the right idea.
06:21 Number 4. Thousand. Moby. Where do we even begin? Firstly, that repetitive drum loop and distorted
06:35 guitar riffs might require some serious choreographic innovation to keep things interesting.
06:40 Secondly, Thousand clinched a Guinness World Record for the fastest tempo,
06:44 reaching about 1015 beats per minute. If you're not deterred, we can only wish you the best of
06:55 luck. But if that's too fast, maybe John Cage's Organ Squared as Slow as Possible is more your
07:00 speed? It's one of the longest compositions out there. In fact, one German rendition isn't set
07:05 to conclude until around the year 2640. Did we mention it started in 2001?
07:11 Organizers of the event said the performance is one of the slowest realizations of an organ
07:15 musical piece. Given its length of 639 years, that's surely one of the greatest ever understatements.
07:22 If you find those options too limiting for your creative freedom, there's always 4 minutes 33
07:26 seconds. No, that silence was not a technical glitch. Number 3. Everything in its Right Place.
07:41 Radiohead. While this song sticks to the typical beat heard in many tunes,
07:46 it lacks those catchy hooks that usually get people on the dance floor.
07:49 Everything in its right place.
07:56 Brace yourself for unexpected moments. Also, the usually vibrant drums take a backseat,
08:04 disrupting the regular rhythm. Tom York's vocals sway towards moody crooning rather than high
08:09 energy belting, creating an introspective mood. The dominating electronic textures and distorted
08:14 strings set an eerie atmosphere rather than a euphoric one. It's more about feelings than footwork.
08:19 We also don't see ourselves strutting our stuff to Pyramid Song anytime soon.
08:32 While it might spark some interpretive moves, it's not your typical dance banger.
08:37 Definitely more chill than thrill. Number 2. Sing, Sing, Sing With a Swing.
08:47 Benny Goodman and His Orchestra.
08:49 This song's upbeat start might make you wanna dance, but hold your horses. It is a marathon,
09:01 especially if you're playing Benny Goodman's nearly 9-minute version,
09:04 running at around 113 beats per minute.
09:07 Louis Prima's original recording is no joke either. We don't know about you,
09:19 but our legs feel tired at the mere thought, and we're already a little breathless.
09:23 Still, how can anyone resist that fun, inviting high-energy rhythm?
09:27 [Music]
09:34 Maybe pick a short section of the song to dance to. Or level up your stamina before giving it a go,
09:40 especially if you also wanna try some signature swing lifts and tricks. Alternatively, just sit
09:45 back, watch the pros take the floor, and imagine yourself in their dancing shoes.
09:50 [Music]
09:58 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
10:01 Schism, Tool. Would this list even be complete without something from the metal genre?
10:06 The Real Slim Shady, Eminem. Actually, we think we're gonna sit down for this one.
10:19 [Music]
10:26 Salisbury Hill, Peter Gabriel. The song's peculiar beat means dancing along is no easy task.
10:32 [Music]
10:39 The Ocean, Led Zeppelin. It's not impossible to dance to the parts in septuple meter,
10:44 but it might feel like navigating uncharted waters.
10:46 [Music]
10:55 Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush. If you ask us,
10:58 the singer's music video choreo is the only way to dance to this song.
11:02 [Music]
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11:24 Take Five definitely isn't your average dance track. While the tempo remains steady,
11:42 the melody has a mind of its own, throwing in intricate syncopation and accents.
11:46 [Music]
11:53 This means you're better off throwing the choreography rulebook out the window
11:57 and just letting the music move your body whichever way it sees fit.
12:00 The more you can let loose and let the creativity flow through you, the better.
12:04 Just trying to tap our fingers or bob our heads along makes us feel like those perpetually
12:08 offbeat clappers.
12:10 [Music]
12:17 You could try to take five and hope that inspiration eventually strikes,
12:21 but you will realize this song is probably best enjoyed sitting down.
12:25 [Music]
12:32 Which song would you say doesn't lend itself particularly well to dance?
12:35 Let us know in the comments and perhaps someone will take you up on that challenge.
12:38 [Music]
12:44 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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12:52 [Music]