Inevitably, September brings to mind visions of Trapper Keepers full of blank paper, freshly sharpened pencils, pep rallys, and of course, the homecoming dance. For generations, American high schoolers have walked in to their campus gymnasia to find them transformed from the sweaty spaces used for playing dodgeball into glittery ballrooms holding the promise of potential romance and boogying on the squeaky polished floor. And depending on the year on your class ring, the soundtrack to your night could have included anything from disco to EDM. Even if you aren’t headed back to school this Fall, these tunes will make you reminiscent for homecomings past.
“Disco Inferno” – The Trammps
Released: 1976
High school seniors in 1976 would have been hard-pressed to walk into a dance and not hear this disco anthem, and rightly so, as it is synonymous with dancing, thanks to a feature in the ultimate dance movie, Saturday Night Fever.
“I Could Fall In Love” – Selena
Released: 1995
You just know that high school sweethearts in the ’90s held each other tight and swayed to this song, vowing to be together forever.
“Gimme More” – Britney Spears
Released: 2007
No contemporary high school dance would be complete without a little Britney. The pop star has been a mainstay on DJs’ high school dance playlists since she burst onto the scene dressed as—wait for it—a high school student.
“Afternoon Delight” – Starland Vocal Band
Released: 1976
This song was popularized in the ’70s for its controversial and suggestive lyrics. It’s no wonder why hormone-heavy high schoolers around the globe gravitated towards this #1 hit record.
“Get Low” – Lil Jon & The Easy Side Boyz
Released: 2002
There is absolutely no doubt that anyone who graduated after 2002 has vivid memories of a gym full of people shouting “To the windoooooooow! To the walllllllll!” None.
“No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) – Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand
Released: 1979
These two divas provided the anthem for scorned high school girls everywhere who powered through their first breakups by dancing their heartache away.
“Suddenly Last Summer” – The Motels
Released: 1983
Memories of summer flings and fun were still fresh as homecoming rolled around, making this the perfect song to reminisce and reflect upon. With big teased hair, of course—it was the ’80s after all.
“Somebody Loves You” – The Delfonics
Released: 1969
Teenagers in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s no doubt slow-danced to this silky soulful track, as the lyrics made it easy for the jocks and nerds alike to profess their love to the sweethearts that caught their eye.