# Best high-energy upbeat songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890 "2009-01-31T18:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Why\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@The\_Why\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Why_Bird)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/1 "2009-01-31T18:45:49Z")
…Preferably kid friendly! I’m currently teaching a kids drama class and like to start the lessons with some energetic music as background to the warm up. We also use them occasionally for the kids to choreograph their own dance routines. I am running out of fresh ideas and don’t want to keep playing the same things; any suggestions? Any and all genres are welcome, with the only criteria being that it has a fast/energetic beat and no ‘inappropriate’ content to the lyrics. I am not too worried about swearing because you can get censored versions of most songs, but nothing with huge amounts of bad language or overtly sexual/violent themes. Throwing this out to the masses because I am stuck in a rut. What always makes you want to dance? Some examples I have already used: Alicia Dixon- the boy does nothing T Rex- we love to boogie The Beach Boys- I get around The Contours- Do you love me? Kiss- I wanna rock and roll all night Ting Tings- that’s not my name And a number of things by Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx and Mika ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/2 "2009-01-31T18:54:37Z")
Desmond Dekker’s [King of Ska](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPIW-J1kMQI)? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/3 "2009-01-31T18:58:49Z")
Outkast - Hey Ya! ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/4 "2009-01-31T18:59:36Z")
Katrina and the Waves, [“Walkin’ on Sunshine”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmxSL6H2QEg) > [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Outcast - Hey Ya! This song great, but definitely is not kid friendly. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/5 "2009-01-31T19:08:19Z")
Junior Senior - [Move Your Feet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7qchOx4oQc) (The song is perfectly kid-friendly, but the video is…a little unsettling in some points. Probably go over kids’ heads, though.) OK Go - [Here It Goes Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI) and [Do What You Want](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAQZ_uui1SY) ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/6 "2009-01-31T19:08:45Z")
Deceptacon ~ Le Tigre Celebration ~ Kool and the Gang Harder Better Faster Stronger ~ Daft Punk [One Big Holiday ~ My Morning Jacket](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-5gipOwIbM) [Beach Party ~ Air France](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLEHMxXa7fA) Ride the River ~ Eric Clapton/JJ Cale ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/7 "2009-01-31T19:47:01Z")
> [@Caprese](#): > > Deceptacon ~ Le Tigre In lyrical content, this is probably not the most kid-friendly. But I thought of another one, I think it’s at least PG, if not G: [Bust A Move by Young MC](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy4FXhkm6Nw) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/8 "2009-01-31T20:09:45Z")
[Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEc-RazQlY&feature=related) - Jerry Lee Lewis There’s some double entendre there, but it should sail right past the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/9 "2009-01-31T20:11:53Z")
Cascada’s “[Everytime we Touch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK0GmiSMNGI)” is great for high-energy activity, but the song is about a relationship and refers to kissing and touching throughout. I’m not sure that it would be considered inappropriate, so [here](http://www.metrolyrics.com/everytime-we-touch-lyrics-cascada.html) are the lyrics if you want to decide for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/10 "2009-01-31T20:24:54Z")
[Our House](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEdZrV0j6zM) - Madness ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/11 "2009-01-31T20:31:29Z")
_Tarzan Boy_ by Baltimora _Take on Me_ by A-ha _I Don’t Feel Like Dancing_ by The Scissor Sisters _Jump_ by The Pointer Sisters ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/12 "2009-01-31T21:43:10Z")
[Godhopping](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m00wD_mHhJo) by Dogs Die in Hot Cars. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/13 "2009-01-31T22:12:15Z")
Here are my suggestions: Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Aint Nothing Wrong With That KT Tunstall - Hold On Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) TeddyBears – Cobrastyle Fefe Dobson - Watch Me Move Kiki Dee Band - I Got the Music in Me Erick Morillo - I like to Move It The Afters - Never Going Back to Okay Lillix - Sweet Temptation Grandmaster T - Too Much Booty in the Pants (too risque for kids?) Amerie - Gotta Work All Time Low – Dear Maria, Count Me In Bonnie Tyler - Holding OUt for a Hero +44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating Keesha Turner - Bounce With Me Metro Station – Shake It We the Kings – Check Yes Juliet The Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life Baha Men - Move It Like This Shakira - Wherever, Whenever Paramore – Crushcrushcrush ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/14 "2009-01-31T22:38:55Z")
I tried to pick out a few kid friendly songs. I put a youtube link for each one in case you weren’t familiar with them. I don’t think the lyrics are too painful, but make sure you listen to them to see if you are comfortable. Shake that Body - Technotronic. There are a couple of YouTube entries that you can listen to, but the best is from [Let’s Go To Prison](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNFoWJE6Jb8&feature=related) Good Vibrations - Marky Mark [Good Vibrations](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJgXxQpsUhY&feature=related) Too Funky - George Michael [Too Funky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4kCuY95ag4) You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy [You and Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXAY5EN4Hyg) Mirror in the Bathroom - The English Beat - [Mirror in the Bathroom](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNpaaPHENE&feature=PlayList&p=2BD49ED678021BDB&playnext=1&index=2) Fly - Sugar Ray [Fly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpklL2_GQ-U&feature=PlayList&p=1480415C0B1294C3&playnext=1&index=32) ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/15 "2009-01-31T23:01:17Z")
Can it get any more exciting than watching records [spin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj6jEPNkBq0)? ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/16 "2009-02-01T01:39:35Z")
Pearl Jam - Big Wave Pearl Jam - Leavin Here The Polyphonic Spree - H-O-O-P-S Yes! Reel Big Fish - Trendy Reel Big Fish - Sell Out Save Ferris - Come on Eileen Scissor Sisters - Paul McCartney The Sounds - 7 Days a Week ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/17 "2009-02-01T03:28:22Z")
“Neutron Dance” and “I’m So Excited”–both by the Pointer Sisters ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/18 "2009-02-01T04:43:08Z")
**We Are The Pipettes** by the Pipettes is almost entirely uptempo bouncy songs. Indeed it sounds like a brilliant recreation of Ronettes/Supremes style girl groups. The only songs that are questionable lyrically are “Sex”, “One Night Stand”, and “ABC 1-2-3”. Even those are mild; for example “Sex”'s most daring line is actually “rest your pretty head on me”. **Electrified** by Dressy Bessy is a more rock oriented (in the power pop sense) album. There’s a line in “Side Two” that goes “my little dress is a little bit untied”, but the rest is about as lyrically daring as Herman’s Hermits. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/19 "2009-02-01T04:51:54Z")
**Queen of Town** recommends Save Ferris’s version of **Come On Eileen** but why not the original? As the video suggests, it’s a great song for both skipping AND clapping! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Why\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@The\_Why\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Why_Bird)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890/20 "2009-02-01T10:12:21Z")
Wow thank you guys. A few here that I already knew and missed (how could I forget the Spice Girls?) and some I have never even heard of. All fantastic though. Other suggestions still welcome, as I’d like to build up a big library of songs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-high-energy-upbeat-songs/483890.md?page=2)