10. Martin Solveig – Hello (Original Mix)

Listen:

Played During: Morgan Page @ Ditch Fridays Palms Pool (opening DJ), Afrojack @ Encore Beach Club (Opening DJ), and pretty much every hotel bar we walked into.

Why it was an Anthem: One of the most noticeable songs in pop culture today is going to generate a quality reaction from fans of other genres of music. Combine that with all the crazies from EDM culture and you get the adrenaline levels at a high. This song also adds a certain value because the catch is very easy to sing – “I just came to say HELLO!”.

9. Medina – You & I (Deadmau5 Remix)

Listen:

Played During: Every opening DJ’s set at a pool party (Ditch, Liquid, Encore Beach, Tao)

Why it was an Anthem: Isn’t this song old? Why is this on the list? Here is why – every opening DJ pulled this out during his set when people started to pour in. The time period is from 11:30 AM – 1 PM and people are slowly coming in after waking up from the mayhem of the night before. Medina’s beautiful vocals combined with the soothing bassline gets every bikini clad female swaying underneath the rays of the sun.

8. David Guetta ft. Flo Rida – Where Dem Girls At (Afrojack Remix)

Listen:

Played During: Afrojack @ Encore Beach Club, Afrojack @ XS, Calvin Harris/Steve Aoki @ Surrender Night Club

Why it was an Anthem: Another mainstream tune that gets a dose of Afrojack-ness. Remember, Vegas is all about mass appeal. Going by that standard this track gets the job done it was well received everywhere we went.

Side Note: The original mix was also played a bunch of times throughout our stay in Vegas. Definitely a DJ weapon to get the ladies moving.

7. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem (Original Mix)

Listen via YouTube:

Played During: Afrojack @ Encore Beach Club (Opening DJ), Morgan Page @ Ditch Fridays, Afrojack @ XS (Opening DJ), and EVERY random bar/restaurant in Nevada.

Why it was an Anthem: LMFAO has a sneaky way of going under the radar for a while and then creating an absolutely massive track. The Kim Fai remix of this track was very solid, but who doesn’t like the original? You know what else is interesting? You know a song is big when the lyrics are “Everyday I’m Shuffling” and then every male in their mid 20′s decides that they should shuffle whether or not they really know how. One of the funnier moments of Vegas – when the collective group of bro’s next to our lily pad at Encore Beach Club decided to dance to this track and some girl (I’ll avoid inserting her name here) shoves one into the pool mid-shuffle. Needless to say she made a fan out of us.

6. The Wombats – Techno Fan (Afrojack Remix)

Listen:

Why it was an Anthem: Afrojack productions usually drop fast and HARD. This track fuses the bleepy dutch drop with a slight muffle on the end of it. Las Vegas is filled with partier’s who are not necessarily EDM fans, this is perfect for everyone who was listening at Encore Beach Club and XS. Girls dig the emo vocals meshed with the upbeat house vibes. Definitely a stand out track for our successful trip.

5. Diddy-Dirty Money ft. Skylar Grey – I’m Coming Home (Dirty South Club Mix) vs. Green Velvet – Flash (Nicky Romero Remix)

Listen:

I’m Coming Home (Dirty South Club Mix)

Flash (Nicky Romero Remix)

Mashup!

Played During: Kaskade @ Encore Beach Club (Opening DJ), Dirty South @ Tao Beach, Morgan Page @ Ditch Fridays

Why it was an Anthem: Ok fine. We cheated, we incorporated three songs and made them all number 5. Whatever you forgive us. We heard all of these equally, everyone knows them by now, and like always we go NUTS! Big drops, noticeable lyrics, and fist pumping. Cameras ready prepare to flash!

4. Laidback Luke & Steve Aoki ft. Lil Jon – Turbulence (Sidney Samson Remix + Original Mix)

Listen:

Sidney Samson Remix

Original Mix

Played During: Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki @ Surrender Night Club, Afrojack @ XS, Laidback Luke @ Marquee Night Club our hotel room and yelling it in the plane during our flight to Vegas.

Why it was an Anthem: Let’s admit it, secretly Lil’ Jon is a genius. He made millions of dollars off one word – “Yeah!” (think Usher). Now he is killing the EDM world with “We hit Turbulence” and guess what? It is catchy as hell. Sidney Samson’s remix was also played because the drop is huge. Whether you pick the original or Sidney’s you cannot go wrong.

3. Swedish House Mafia – Save The World (Original Mix)

Listen:

Played During: Every opening DJ’s set. People were humming it on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Why it was an Anthem: Is this arguably the biggest song of the year? Every time this song was dropped everyone sang along. The Swedish House Mafia have marketed themselves so well that everyone knows about them. It was warm during the pool parties, but this track managed to put chills down my spine.

2. Calvin Harris – Bounce (Original Mix) + Awooga (LMFAO Vocal Mix)

Listen:

Bounce (Original Mix)

Awooga (Original Mix)

Awooga (LMFAO Vocal Edit)

Played During: It was played everywhere. All hours of the day and night. If you did not hear this song in Vegas you were either deaf or too inebriated to realize that music was playing.

Why it was an Anthem: Kelis’ vocals are so sexy in Bounce. Calvin Harris is wild live. The US government should have held a conference determining whether it should have been released to the public, because it is a certified BOMB. Watch the Awooga video posted above, the crowd was going NUTS during the LMFAO Vocal edit. Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Lil Jon were going wild because we were going wild. It is safe to say that this was one of the many “I am glad to be alive today” moments we had during our visit to the city of sin.

1. Rebecca Black – Friday (Original Mix)

Played During: Friday

Why it was an Anthem: Relax people I was only bullshitting you. Look below for the real number one.

The ‘real’ Number One Track of Las Vegas Memorial Day Weekend!

1. Avicii – Levels (Original Mix)

Listen:

Played During: If I listed all the places that I heard this song in Vegas you may actually still be reading this for another day and a half.

Why it was an Anthem: This song is an Anthem because Avicii is a God. There I said it. When I hear this so many mixed emotions go through my mind. Option A – Should I just start jumping up and down like a crazy Avicii fanatic? Option B – Should I embrace the person right next to me because I am so uncontrollably happy that I need to share the moment with someone? We went with Option C – Shower everyone with our beers on the dancefloor. If you are a DJ and you need a song to get the crowd engaged in your set…you need to drop “Levels”. I guarantee you it is more clutch than that 7 foot German who plays for the Dallas Mavericks.

1. Skrillex – Reptile’s Theme

2. Journey – Dont Stop Believin (Felix Voya Remix)

3. Boys Will Be Boys (Tiësto, Angger Dimas & Showtek) – We Rock (Original Mix)

4. Axwell – Heart Is King (Original Mix)

5. Chris Brown feat. Benny Benassi – Beautiful People (Disco Fries Remix)

6. Tim Mason – The Moment (Steve Angello Edit)

7. Steve Angello vs. Diddy Dirty Money – Knas Is Coming Home (Marco V Mashup)

8. NERO – Innocence (Feed Me Remix)

9. Diddy-Dirty Money feat. Swizz Beatz – Ass on the Floor (Zedd Remix)

10. Crookers pres. Dr. Gonzo & Savage Skulls – Bust ‘em Up

15. Swanky Tunes – Oh Yeah (Original Mix)

Listen:

As played by: Norman Doray @ Starphazing

Why it was big: Russian House Mafiosi Swanky Tunes have been all over the place in 2011. So many of their productions are just spot-on, and their frequent collaborations with fellow Russians Hard Rock Sofa more often than not culminate in killer tracks. We wish that we heard this track more than we did.

14. Bart B More – Brap (Original Mix)

Listen:

As played by: Boys Noize @ UMF, Boys Noize Recs @ Sunday School

Why it was big: This song cannot merely be appreciated in just a regular setting. The bass only truly works to its full potential in a huge concert atmosphere. For references check out this video of Boys Noize dropping Brap at EDC 2010. Notice how the crowd goes from relative calm to craziness at the drop at around 1:45. Brap!

13. Ferry Corsten – Punk (Sidney Samson Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Sidney Samson @ UMF

Why it was big: Sidney Samson reworks this already massive track and puts a Dutch spin on it.

12. Armin Van Buuren feat. Laura V – Drowning (Avicii Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Avicii @ UMF, Avicii @ Mansion

Why it was big: The original was good, but Avicii takes this song to a whole new level. This is a song for anyone with a heart.

11. Avicii – Seek Bromance (Vocal Edit)

Listen:

As played by: Avicii @ UMF

Why it was big: The token tune of brotherly love, Seek Bromance incorporates a sing-songy chorus with that fancy Avicii packaging we’ve come to know and love.

10. Above & Beyond – Sun & Moon (Kim Fai Remix)

Listen: 

As played by: Swedish House Mafia @ Masquerade Motel

Why it was big: You won’t usually see A&B in a list like this, because most of the time their tracks are so soothing they appeal to the listener rather than to the dancer. Not so with this Kim Fai mix, who, representing Size Matters, makes it an ear-pleasing, body-shaking club banger.

9. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Otherside (Benny Benassi Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Norman Doray @ Starphazing

Why it was big: A favorite of Oakenfold in his live sets, this song is probably the ultimate pop/rock remix: instantly recognizable lyrics plus Benassi on remix duty equals massive track.

Update: We’ve received some comments that Doray has been playing the Jus Jack remix. You can listen to it here.

8. Junior Sanchez, Harry Romero, & Alexander Technique – Where You Are (Steve Angello Edit)

Listen:

As played by: Harry Romero @ Size Matters, Jr. Sanchez @ Size Matters

Why it was big: Released late in 2010, this track avoided the booming systems of major festivals…until now. Given its time to shine, the track flaunts its differentiated drops that bounce to an irresistible beat and a smashing vocal.

7. Diddy-Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey – Coming Home (Dirty South Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Dirty South @ Masquerade Motel

Why it was big: This track is a sneaky one. Some listeners brushed it off at first, citing the disappointing drop. But these are people who haven’t heard it on a loud sound system at a club or festival. It bumps.

6. Pendulum – The Island (Steve Angello, Max Vangeli, & AN21 Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Max Vangeli @ Size Matters, Steve Angello @ Size Matters, Avicii @ UMF

Why it was big: Receiving support from DJs across the board, the echoing omen of “what are you waiting for” builds and builds into a welcome sonata of synth stabs, all before descending into a destructively dirty drop.

5. Calvin Harris – Awooga (Original Mix)

Listen:

As played by: Calvin Harris @ Masquerade Motel, Tiesto @ UMF

Why it was big: Awooga! Awooga! Calvin Harris’s long-awaited solo production leads to instantaneous fist-pumping. And if you’re not into that, subconscious head bobbing.

4. Green Velvet – Flash (Nicky Romero Remix)

Listen:

As played by: Tiesto @ UMF, Bingo Players @ Juicy Beach, Steve Angello @ Size Matters, Swedish House Mafia @ Masquerade Motel

Why it was big: A solid yet simple big-room house track, almost every DJ and his/her mother played this track. It works for DJs of many genres.

3. Congorock – Babylon (Original Mix)

Listen:

As played by: Steve Angello @ Size Matters

Why it was big: This by no means a new track, but every time we heard it in Miami, it was both apt and fresh. There’s something about that Congorock sound that defies aging.

2. Swedish House Mafia – Save the World (Original Mix)

Listen:

As played by: Swedish House Mafia @ Masquerade Motel, Steve Angello @ Size Matters

Why it was big: Opting to go a different route than their notable hits “One”, “Leave the World Behind”, and “Miami 2 Ibiza”, SHM embraces the rock anthem in a winning way. Though it’s yet unreleased, everyone was singing along.

1. Tim Mason – The Moment (Steve Angello Edit)

Listen:

As played by: Norman Doray @ Starphazing, Swedish House Mafia at Masquerade Motel, Steve Angello @ Size Matters

Why it was big: An absolute bomber track, dark horse producer Tim Mason has come up with the anthem of all anthems. Unheard of dance moves were witnessed in Miami upon exposure to this masterpiece. Size label boss Steve Angello puts a glossy touch on it all. Check Dancing Astronaut on April 6th, when we’ll have the full track posted.

1. Armin Van Buuren feat. Laura V – Drowning (Avicii Remix)

Welcome to the fifth and final installment of Dancing Astronaut’s top 50 tracks of 2010. I hope all of you are out having an incredible New Years (I’m personally raging at TAO as this is being posted). It’s been an incredible year for both Dancing Astronaut and the EDM world. Our readership has grown larger than we could have ever expected, and you can all look forward to even bigger and better things in 2011. Make sure to check out 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50. Without further ado, the top ten tracks in 2010.

1. Swedish House Mafia – One

Let me start off by saying we know this is a controversial pick. We understand there are going to be plenty of people who believe we are taking the easy way out. The reality is, behind the scenes, there was plenty of discussion about what should be termed the #1 track of 2010, with different people supporting different tracks. However, when we really considered the criteria we used to create this list (support from major DJs, quality of production, etc.), “One” became the obvious choice.

From the Miami WMC on, no song featured in more festival sets than “One.” Add in the fact that the Congorock remix lengthened the life of the track in many ways, allowing for the tune to be played in more than just house and progressive house sets, and “One” is the clear track of the year. Most likely, we will all look back on 2010 as SHM’s year. Their essential mix was just named “Radio 1’s Essential Mix of the Year.” A documentary about the group came out. The only question is, will they continue their world domination in 2011?

2. Afrojack feat. Eva Simons – Take Over Control

There is no question that Afrojack cemented his arrival at the top of the EDM world in 2010. No track better highlighted Afrojack’s ability to mix back and forth between Dutch and Progressive sounds within the same song than “Take Over Control.” Add in Eva Simons’ beautiful vocals and you have easily one of the best tracks of the year. Overall, while 2010 may have been SHM’s year, we will also look back at this past year as the true arrival of Dutch house. More car alarms and bleeps await us in 2011.

3. Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand

Within a week of A-Trak dropping “Barbra Streisand” at Ultra, a blog frenzy had begun. Videos of the song in concert popped up everywhere. Fake remixes became commonplace. While it took all the way until September for the track to finally drop, it did not disappoint.* Easily the most addicting and danceable tune of the year, “Barbra Streisand” has quickly crossed over into the mainstream. Sampling from Boney M’s classic hit “Gotta Go Home”/ Nighttrain’s “Hallo Bimmelbahn,” A-Trak and Armand Van Helden stuck to winning formula to create “Barbra Streisand.” To make the track even better, it came with a great music video, featuring an impressive array of cameos.

(* It is worth mentioning that the only negative aspect of the track was the frustratingly long wait. While it was most likely a result of difficulty in getting samples cleared, it certainly took some of the luster off the track once it finally dropped. I’m worried that this trend will continue well into future of Electronic Dance Music. Stay tuned for our “where the fuck are these tracks?” post within the next few weeks.)

4. Wynter Gordon feat. David Guetta – Dirty Talk (Laidback Luke Remix)

Laidback Luke. Laidback Luke. Laidback Luke. There really isn’t anything else to say. Luke had yet another massive year and “Dirty Talk” was the highlight. It has everything: impressive vocals, a great buildup, and a ridiculous drop. In my opinion, the most consistent producer out there right now. He easily produces around 10 good tracks every year, while simultaneously throwing down epic sets all across the world. Hall of Famer all the way.

5. Congorock feat. Mr. Lexx – Babylon

It says a lot about this electro track that it dropped in January and one of the best progressive house producers, Avicii, dropped it in his DECEMBER essential mix. The only track to rival “One” for worldwide DJ support and universal appeal, everyone from A-Trak to Steve Aoki to Benny Benassi to David Guetta to the Swedish House Mafia featured “Babylon” as a centerpiece of their sets at some point in 2010. Basically everyone. Containing an almost reggae feel at times, the track is led by a thumping hi-hat and bass all leading up to an epic drop that showcases Congorock’s unique sound (almost sounds like an electronic didgeridoo…). This track absolutely jumps out of the speakers at you. Easily one of my favorite producers at this point, Congorock is my producer to watch for in 2011.

6. Tim Berg – Bromance (The Love You Seek) (Avicii’s Extended Vocal Mix)

My favorite progressive house tune from the year, Bromance highlighted an unbelievable year for Tim Berg aka Avicii. The original was unbelievable, but when the vocals were added, it really took the track to a new level. The track even came with its own hilarious music video. If Avicii’s essential mix was any indication (I’m thinking specifically of the two new tracks between the 32nd and 38th minutes), we can expect an even bigger 2011 for Avicii.

7. Dennis Ferrer – Hey! Hey! (DF’s Attention Vocal Mix)

While I don’t consider myself a deep house fan by any measure, there is something incredibly addictive about Ferrer’s huge club hit. The track was so popular that, at its height, it reached number 1 on the UK’s top 40 dance singles, something often reserved for pop house hits. Pretty impressive for the New York/New Jersey based producer and founder of Objektivity record label.

8. Boys Noize – Yeah (Original Mix)

My personal favorite producer in the world, German producer Boys Noize had yet another impressive year in 2010. Released in combination with “1010” as Boys Noize Records 50th Anniversary Release, “Yeah” is as happy and addicting a song as any released in 2010, enjoying support from producers such as Wolfgang Gartner, Fake Blood, and many others. In addition, with “Yeah”, Boys Noize aka Alex Ridha is poised to possibly win the Beatport award for best Indie Dance/Nu-Disco track after getting second (“Jeffer”) and third (“Waves”) last year. In addition, he also has a good chance to win the Beatport award for best Indie Dance producer for the second year in a row. If you are ever given the opportunity to see him live, take it. He puts on some of the most energetic and fun sets around.

9. Wolfgang Gartner – Illmerica (Extended Mix)

After 3 weeks and 300 hours of work, Wolfgang Gartner finally dropped the highlight of his 2010 work in October. More than any other producer, in my opinion, Gartner aka Joey Youngman from San Francisco (yup yup) works hard to build upon his melodies throughout the track. There is no wasted space. Minute 3 is as good as minute 5, while managing to sound similar and different at the same time. Illmerica is one of the few songs I’m willing to play for nearly five minutes straight in a DJ set without worrying that the crowd is going to get bored.

10. Axwell feat. Errol Reid – Nothing But Love (Axwell vs. Daddy’s Groove Remix)

Let me be the first to say that anything Axwell touches turns to gold. You want to know how talented this guy actually is? Every time you hear “In The Air” is that not the highlight of the set you are listening to..or close to it? Most of the time we describe tracks as “bangers” or “huge”..however Axwell’s tracks are festival pleasers. We had a hard time deciding whether his “Teenage Crime” or “Nothing But Love 4 You” should be his top song, however after seeing the likes of Dave Aude, Sebastian Ingrosso, Avicii, David Guetta, Cedric Gervais, Jared F, and Nima G drop this track consistently…it became a clear cut no brainer to close our top 10 out with this one.

Sky walker’s Honorable Mentions:

Harvard Bass & Bart B More – Listen to This

One of my favorite tracks of the year, this gem somehow missed sneaking into the top 50. In my opinion, this track has the best drop of the year and it makes crowds go crazy.

Aniki – Lesbian Bondage Fiasco

I’d never heard of Aniki before fellow editor Zeyad introduced me to him earlier this year. This track quickly jumped to the top of my most played. It is also a longshot to place in the top three of the Beatport awards for best Indie Dance/Nu-Disco track of the year. I’m definitely keeping my eye on Aniki in 2011.

There’s only one day left till New Years, and as we get closer to ushering in the close of a decade, these top tracks are only getting better and better. 2010 has been a fantastic year for house music. The house veterans (read: Martin Solveig, Benny Benassi, etc.) pumped out bangers that took all comers. And we gobbled up with enthusiasm the offerings of some fresh faces, like the talented Porter Robinson. This melange of old and new has kept things fresh, putting EDM fans in an enviable position heading into the new year.

11. Armin van Buuren – Not Giving Up on Love (Original Mix)

With all this talk of “artist reinvention”, it’s tempting to overlook possibly the biggest Cheshire cat in the industry, Armin van Buuren. While some lamented his more mainstream-leaning music, many more welcomed it with open arms. The number one DJ in the world has been hard at work in 2010, with an LP, Mirage, taking the dance world by storm.

12. Adrian Lux – Teenage Crime (Axwell & Henrik B Remode)

The original was good – this remix is fantastic. Axwell has been on fire this year. His eye for great production has been spot on, giving the most plebeian of tracks a royal makeover. This progressive gem has enjoyed the support of rising star Avicii, who seems to like playing it in his sets. Be on the lookout for more of Axwell later on in our Top 50.

13. Afrojack – Replica (Original Mix)

We took a gamble putting Replica in the top 15 because it’s still relatively new and we’re not sure how long it will get played. We expect it to get played at every NYE party and if it’s still getting thrown into sets at ULTRA then it will be worthy of top 15. Replica shows Afrojack’s accelerated and continued evolution (a la Chuckie’s remix of “Bumpy Ride”, with its dubsteppy wobble). He’s adapted his sound from what he’d been producing not even half a year ago. It makes us all the more excited for what’s to come.

14. Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano (Original Mix)

Here it is, in all its glory: a track that has transcended age groups, musical preferences, and regional tastes like no other in recent memory. First, two questions: who’s ever heard of Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP? And what was it about this song that warranted its being picked up by mainstream Top 40 radio? When you hear a dance track sandwiched between a Katy Perry track and an Usher track, you know something’s up. While we can’t answer the first, we can say a few things about the second. A looped sample in a language that the majority of listeners are unable to understand (much less identify) does its dance with a catchy melody. It’s memorable and gets the head bobbing. Basically, the song is a simple pleasure, and if it’s to be loved for anything, it ought to be for its simplicity.

15. Swedish House Mafia feat. Tinie Tempah – Miami 2 Ibiza (Original Mix)

Writing about this track, it’s tough not to make comparisons. Frankly, it’s probably not the epitome of SHM production. And the track sounds inspired by “One.” But what makes it most notable is its function, rather than its sound. Tinie Tempah’s vocal work brings a hip-hop flavor to electronic music, and it’s an impressive thing. In doing so, Swedish House Mafia bridged the gap between the two crowds – between the two worlds, in some cases. In 2010 we’ve seen the beginnings of hip-hop tracks adopting a more electronic sound. It is a trend, it seems, that will more fully blossom in 2011.

16. Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek (Afrojack Remix)

Afrojack makes yet another appearance on our Top 50 with this absolute banger of a track. The song starts off innocuously enough, with Heap’s familiar ethereal vocals. Before long, though, a distinct “Afro-drop” smashes you in the face (in a good way). The track made waves when he dropped it at the Size Records pool party at WMC 2010. All in all, a solid, no-nonsense Afrojack remix.

17. Steve Angello – KNAS (Original Mix)

There’s something I have to admit: I didn’t like this song when it first came out. It sounded too tame to be any good. Then I heard it played on loud speakers -  and everything made sense. KNAS is a dancefloor destroyer. It’s been the subject of countless edits, remixes, mashups, and bootlegs. For an especially good one, check out the Inphinity & Kalendr bootleg “KNAS D.A.N.C.E.”, a favorite of Kaskade in his live sets. The 14th-ranked Angello’s been keeping busy lately, both with his solo productions and remix work, on top of a loaded tour schedule. A busy man, but we have yet to see his business diminish the quality of anything he does.

18. Dirty South feat. Rudy – Phazing (Original Mix)

Remember this from your summer playlists? It’s a spectacular number that put Dirty South on the map once again. The ultimate cruising song, Phazing’s irresistible guitar riff and catchy vocals still sound fresh. It’s been picked up by Tiesto and Norman Doray and given the remix treatment, resulting in some interesting takes on an already interesting song.

19. Alex Gaudino – I’m In Love (I Wanna Do It)

From the moment this song was released, it became all the more clear that it was destined for greatness. Incorporating poppy, Rihanna-esque vocals over a more progressive backdrop, it’s a song that fails to exhaust the ears. Gaudino had clearly been biding his time for this one; his hits “Destination Calabria” and “Watch Out” exist hazily in the memory. We’re thankful for the refresher, though.

20. Chuckie, Hardwell feat. Ambush – Move It 2 The Drum (Promise Land Remix)

“I like the way you move it to the drum.” With these words, and an infectious beat to boot, Chuckie and Hardwell unleashed a beast of a tune that would quickly become Dirty Dutch canon. This particular mix of the song combines an uplifting piano melody with the rawness of the original beat. It was released officially on Chuckie’s Dirty Dutch vol. 2 compilation, available here.

Here it is! As the days count down to the new year, we get one step closer to finding out the best track of 2010 on Dancing Astronaut. Sifting through the multitudinous assortment of hits from this year has not been an easy task, but these are the tracks that made it to spots 21-30. These singles are referred to in our vernacular as bangers, anthems, massive, and even some treasures, but popular nomenclature calls them what they really are: huge, huge hits. Enjoy the list, and don’t forget to check out 31-40 and 41-50 if you missed them!

21. Calvin Harris – You Used To Hold Me (Laidback Luke Remix)

I can’t believe this track came out this year – it’s been on every playlist for so long that by now it feels like a classic (it was released in February.) Following up on the success of his first album – I Created Disco in 2007 – the Scottish mastermind took a track from his newest, Ready For The Weekend, and gave us what was easily one of this year’s biggest hits. No new albums in 2010 definitely does not mean it was a slow year for Mr. Harris. Apart from massive touring playing with artists such as Afrojack, Tiesto, and Major Lazer, he released his L.E.D. Festival mix in July through Mixmag. He was also embroiled in controversy in October when it became apparent that Chris Brown had ripped off his hit single “I’m Not Alone” for Brown’s “Yeah 3x.” No need to worry, though: “I’m Not Alone” won Harris the Best Progressive House Track of the Year for 2010 on Beatport and he made his first appearance on DJ Mag’s Top 100 at #94. “You Used To Hold Me” itself climbed all the way to #4 on the UK Dance Chart, so you can tell that it’s quality.

22. Tiesto ft. Diplo – C’Mon (Original Mix)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone to see either of these artists or this song on here. Tiesto and Diplo have two very different styles of music, but somehow they were able to come together to create a huge electro track that’s been tearing up the charts all year. This single has been played anywhere from festivals to dancefloors to sporting events here in the US to pump up the energy. And why not? Tiesto was voted in as the #3 DJ in the world this year by DJ Mag (though Diplo was, oddly enough, snubbed by the chart.) Needless to say, this collaboration has left us all hungry for the prospect of more team efforts between the two legendary artists.

23. Afrojack & David Guetta – Louder Than Words (Original Mix)

This is how you can tell it’s been a great year in House – Afrojack and Guetta’s hit collaboration is only clocking in at 23 in this year’s top 50 chart. For reference, Guetta made it to #2 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 and Afrojack stormed the chart by landing in spot #19 as a new entry. Asked about their collaboration on Louder Than Words, Guetta remarked “For me, the most exciting artist right now is Afrojack. He’s a fantastic producer, he has a sound that’s his sound — and he’s so young. I’m like, ‘What’s going to happen in 10 years, man?’ ” That’s a damn good question – hopefully over the next 10 years we’ll witness Afrojack continuing to reinvent himself as a house artist like he did this year, moving between his ‘boop boop’ sound and other experimental styles that have earned him a whole slew of singles and top tracks for the year.

24. Uffie feat. Pharrell – ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)

You have heard this song by now. Probably numerous times. Probably from all directions, all types of music outlets, in all formats. Uffie’s ADD SUV was a major hit when it came out, debuting in top spots across UK, France, and Luxembourg’s music charts and at #1 on The Hype Machine. Armand van Helden, who also had a huge year, sexified this song further with his amazing vocal remix. I’m still really at a loss for words with this track, but I guess the song says it all itself: Banger.

25. Tristan Garner & Gregori Klosman – Fuckin’ Down (Original Version)

This song was huge when it came out in March and it remains huge today. For reference, it’s been included in two of our podcasts, featured in spot #1 from Episode 13. This has not been a slow year for Tristan Garner; the French DJ came out with other huge hits such as “Fallin” (with a great dub mix) and remixes of Nadia Ali’s “Rapture” and Max Vangeli’s “Look Into Your Heart” that turned a lot of heads. Klosman himself has been busy cranking out singles such as “Freak,” “Space Banana,” and of course “Mutfakta,” his huge collaboration with Chuckie. It’s no wonder these two talented DJs share a top spot in our countdown of 2010 with their joint release.

26. Martin Solveig & Dragonette – Hello (Original Mix)

If anything, Solveig should win the award for longevity in the genre. His first single, “Satisfied,” was in 1996. That makes him almost a dinosaur in the fast-pace and quick-moving world of House. Since then, he’s had on average one or two singles a year – for 14 consecutive years. “Hello,” his newest gift to all EDM lovers, even came packaged with an awesome video, featuring a tennis match for the ages between Solveig and Bob Sinclar, and with a cameo from the greatest tennis player to ever live, Novak Djokovic. If you missed it, Solveig also now has his own mini-series, Smash, chronicling the tumultuous trials of the start DJ/tennis pro. And yes, if you’re still not convinced that “Hello” was one of the best tracks of 2010, let me qualify it by adding that it helped Solveig land spot #55 on the all-mighty DJ Mag Top 100 that I keep invoking.

27. Wolfgang Gartner & Deadmau5 – Animal Rights (Original Mix)

The jury is still out on whether Wolfgang Gartner is the greatest or second-greatest Wolfgang in the history of music (apparently some Austrian guy named Mozart who relies too heavily on keyboard drops is challenging him.) Regardless, “Animal Rights” made a huge splash when it dropped (as did the subsequent Kids At The Bar Edit.) Gartner, who debuted at #70 on the DJ Mag Top 100, has had a huge year on his own with other huge singles (some of which may or may not be yet to come on this list). His collaboration with Deadmau5, however, really showcases both artists at the height of their creative powers.

28. Miike Snow – Silvia (Sebastian Ingrosso & Dirty South Remix)

Were you aware that there is nobody in the group Miike Snow named Mike (or Snow)? Anyway, the Swedish group released Silvia this year to critical acclaim, as it made its way all the way up to #16 on the UK Dance Chart. With a little help from Ingrosso and Dirty South – you remember, they made that little single “How Soon Is Now?”, which paved the way for the formation of Swedish House Mafia – this track became an instant classic.

29. Afrojack – Pacha On Acid (Original Mix)

Yes, we do have another Afrojack song on the list. And something tells me that this won’t be the last. As Calvin Harris told MTV news this year: “Afrojack is really killing it at the moment — any number of his tunes can be a huge tune.” In China this may be the Year of the Tiger, but here at Dancing Astronaut this is definitely the Year of Dirty Dutch, with Afrojack leading the way.

30. Deadmau5 – Some Chords (Original Mix)

I’ve got a feeling this won’t be the last time you see Deadmau5 on this list either. A quick refresher on the year in Deadmau5′s world: he was named the most influential, relevant, and forward-thinking artist (aka the best DJ) of 2010 by Beatport Music Awards, earned the #4 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100, and released his huge new album, 4×4=12, which was leaking more over the past year than a sinking ship. Here’s one of the biggest singles off of that album, which should hopefully be a part of your arsenal by now. Wobble wobble wobble.

Nik’s Top 50 Snubs:

Following Senthil’s lead, I need to mention a couple more huge releases this year that should have been featured on this list. Developing a carefully prepared top-50 list is a delicate feat, but one that often leaves certain notable entries without any recognition. Two tracks stand out in my mind when it comes to unforgivable snubs from the top 50:

Hagenaar & Albrecht – Won’t Let You Down

You remember that scene in E.T. when he and Elliott fly a bike through the sky? I don’t because I never saw the movie, but it was named one of the most magical moments in cinema. If there were a house version of that scene, it would be this song. I would venture a guess that if Shakespeare were alive today he would slap himself for failing to write something this good. Rumor also has it that an early leak of this song singlehandedly ended the 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka. Leaving it off the top-50 list is like calling David Copperfield’s magic simply ‘tricks’ – the man performs illusions; tricks are something a whore does for money. And this song is too damn good to be left out.

Mark Ronson and the Business INTL – Bang Bang Bang (The Count & Sinden Tribal Horn Remix)

This song made it onto Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Songs of 2010″ list too – at number 12. It was the only house song to even make the list. Just listen to this track – how could it not be a top 50 song? I could watch Schindler’s List, The Green Mile, Life Is Beautiful, and The Notebook (nah) all back to back, then turn this song on and feel like I’m on top of the world. That’s just how good it is.

Our top 50 continues with track’s 31-40. These tunes just get tougher to pick as we go deeper into the rankings..however as usual Dancing Astronaut never fails. We would love to hear your comments and thoughts about where songs should go in the top 50 and why you think that way. Make sure to check out 41-50 too.

31. Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

2010 brought us our homecoming for dubstep’s entrance into the Electronic Dance Music world. Sonny Moore aka Skrillex managed to sky rocket his way to the top due to his debut EDM album (also named after the song) ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’. This was the first song off the album (released on Mau5trap) and the one that sat atop Beatport’s top 10 list. Tracks from the album, at one point, occupied 8 spots in Beatport’s top 10 list…a feat that has never been achieved by any artist. Arguably the best dubstep song of the year from one of the biggest album’s of the year deserves a spot in our top 50.

32. Nadia Ali – Rapture (Avicii’s Next Generation Remix)

The original ‘Rapture’ was a classic dance song from IIO, a New York based dance duo (that included Nadia Ali), in 2001. Tristan Garner and Gareth Emery came out with excellent remixes of Rapture but they fell short of Avicii’s masterpiece. At the ripe young age of 21, it is unbelievable how we identify songs by saying they have an “Avicii feel” to them. For someone who has not been in the scene for all that long..he sure has made a stamp on the house world.

33. Kelly Rowland – Commander (Chuckie & Neve Remix)

The original mix of Commander had all the makings of a super remixable song when it was released. It had a poppy” sound to it, but definitely had David Guetta’s touch all over the chorus. The hard part with putting this track in our top 50 was not actually identifying where it should be placed, but determining which remix deserved the spot. Ironically, many of the Dancing Astronaut favorites remixed this song…they include: Sidney Samson, Afrojack & Bobby Burns, and David Guetta’s ‘FMIF’ Remix. However, when Dancing Astronaut saw Chuckie live at Ruby Skye he happened to drop this song three times (the first three times we had ever listened to the song). After each time we took one look at each other and instantly knew it would be one of the most played jams of the year.

34. Robyn – Hang With Me (Avicii Exclusive Club Mix)

I happened to be attending many of the pool parties in Vegas at the end of the summer and heard several songs I was mildly surprised to hear. A little background information on Vegas…they are going through a transition right now where they are slowly ‘Phazing’ out hip hop and incorporating more EDM into their club scene (especially at the pool parties). Point is, when you hear a house track played multiple times at parties in Vegas, you know its an absolute BOMBER. The incredible part about this track was I heard it played over 10 times during my short stay there, even though it has just been released. You can catch a taste of it in our year end podcast mixed by Jared-F.

35. Laidback Luke ft. Johnathan Mendelsohn – Till Tonight (Original Mix)

Here is how I know that Laidback Luke himself is in love with this track. I have seen LBL perform 3 times (in person) and have listened to numerous live performances from him…I have yet to hear a mix of his that does not include ‘Till Tonight’. A good batch of remixes came out with for this track as well…you can check them out here. Chris Kaeser’s remix got a good amount of airplay but Dancing Astronaut concludes that the original mix takes the cake.

36. Prok & Fitch – Walk With Me (Axwell vs. Daddy’s Groove Remix)

All of Axwell’s collaborations with Daddy’s Groove have been absolute bombs. Their remix of ‘Walk With Me’ blends powerful vocals with their normal progressive sound..however what sets this track apart is the amazing drop right in the middle of the track. In the last several years, a large portion of Axwell’s tracks have been incredible. It is time to start giving this guy some serious ‘Producer Of The Year’ consideration.

37. Pendulum – The Island (Steve Angello, AN21 & Max Vangeli Remix)

The original mix of ‘The Island’ was a catchy electro-pop tune. Tiesto gave us a solid remix to this track which you can listen to here. I n-joyed Tiesto’s remix, however, let’s be serious…this one blew Tiesto’s out of the water… and when you destroy a Tiesto remix (I don’t care what song) you know you have just created a masterpiece. When Dancing Astronaut heard this during Sebastien Ingrosso’s performance I was almost brought to tears at how wonderful this sounded…and when you make Senthil cry..you REALLY know you have created a masterpiece.

38. Everything But The Girl – Missing (Fedde Le Grand Remix)

British pop duo ‘Everything But The Girl’ created this classic in 1994, and at the time set a record for the longest charting song on the Billboard US Top 100. Fedde Le Grand’s remix peaked at number one on the Beatport top 10 (and is still sitting there at the moment) it was also the highlight of Fedde’s live set when Dancing Astronaut went to go see him. Deciding where to put this track on our countdown wasn’t easy. Since the track is relatively brand new we have no idea how high the track will truly ascend. If it spends a few more weeks at the top spot on Beatport and gets played in every NYE set, then maybe it deserves to be higher. For the moment, I think we have it placed just right.

39. Kaskade & EDX ft. Haley – Don’t Stop Dancing (Original Mix)

Kaskade is one of the biggest names in the EDM world (this is a fact..and is not up for argument or discussion). His album ‘Dynasty’ was absolutely HUGE. Don’t Stop Dancing, our favorite track off the album, has timeless vocals and a smooth progressive feel that make it a no-brainer hit. Keep in mind that the epicness of the  Justin Michael & Kemal remix further contributes to this track’s spot in our Top 50 list. When you are (arguably) the best track on Kaskade’s signature album, you belong among the best.

40. Kelis – 4th of July (Calvin Harris Remix)

An awesome build up and a huge Calvin Harris funky electro drop equals a BOMB. As a Dancing Astronaut favorite Calvin Harris deserves to be in the top 50 (and he is twice!). This track appeals to both the electro house fans and the disco house fans. It is very interesting to see how unique Calvin’s style is with bangers such as ‘Flashback‘ and ‘Century“. All of them have a different flavor yet they are all huge successes. Let us just agree that he is an amazing human being.

Senthil’s Top 50 Snubs:

Nervo – Irresistible (Original Mix)

Huge progressive sound with amazing vocals. Not to mention that two beautiful girls (the duo that makes up Nervo) produced this song. On top of that there were anthem remixes such as Chuckie & Gregori Klosman’s as well as TV Rock’s. The original is still the best, that is how good it seriously is. Still in shock that this did not make it (just like Vernon Davis did not make the NFC pro bowl roster).

Harry Romero, Junior Sanchez & Alexander Technique ft. Shawnee Taylor – Where You Are (Steve Angello Edit)

I had a hard time deciding which was more of a snub..the Steve Angello edit or the original mix. Both sound quite similar…but the build up just does it for me on the Angello edit. I honestly feel like this song was one of the biggest in 2010, just an amazing drop..the best part is it sounds even better live. Disappointing.

It’s a daunting task but we owe it to you to write about the best 50 songs of 2010. All countdowns are controversial, and you might disagree with some of the rankings but the Dancing Astronaut team got together and did our best job to represent your favorite songs of the year. We took many criteria into consideration such as reception on this blog, support from major DJs, success on Beatport, and of course quality of the song! We’ll post 10 songs a day until we get to #1 on New Years Eve. 2010 was an AMAZING year for electronic dance music. From all of us at Dancing Astronaut, N-joy!

41. Afrojack – Bangduck (Original Mix)

Many DJs had breakout years in 2010 but Afrojack rose to the top of the world this year. Last year he was an aspiring producer from the Netherlands who had a relatively small yet religious following. As he was starting to round the corner, he posted this studio preview of Bangduck on his Youtube page on January 13. The melodies, drum rhythms, and synths were far beyond Afrojack’s years and frankly far beyond most other people’s talent. With Bangduck, Afrojack showed the entire world that he was Dance Music’s Picasso when it came to pure creativity. During the week in March that Bangduck was finally released, you couldn’t go to any blog without seeing it – no matter what sub genre of dance music they blogged about.

42. Carte Blanche ft. Kid Sister – Do! Do! Do! (Laidback Luke Remix)

Laidback Luke creates dance floor rattling drops but his largest talent production-wise might be his incredible melodies. In his remixes, Laidback Luke takes a catchy vocal verse and surrounds it with vibrant drums and synth patterns that take it to a new level. Laidback Luke is certainly on his way to the Dancing Astronaut hall of fame and judging by how bad you guys want tickets to see him at Ruby Skye, you can’t possibly disagree.

43. Wolfgang Gartner & Mark Knight – Conscindo (Original Mix)

Two of 2010′s heavy hitters, Mark Knight and Wolfgang Gartner, teamed up to create this summer anthem. One of the early hits from the Miami 2010 WMC, the track was finally released in July and received strong support from the likes of Axwell, Tiesto, and many others. Watch out for the massive breakdowns, first at 2:00, then again at 3:20. Oddly enough, the track was actually named through an online contest. “Conscindo” means “tear to pieces” in Latin, which is exactly what both these producers did to dance floors all year.

44. Mohombi – Bumpy Ride (Chuckie Remix)

When Chuckie released Bumpy Ride it became clear that he was destined to stay at the top for a long time. Why? Chuckie had a breakout year in 2009 with massive hits like Let The Bass Kick in Miami Bitch, the Sexy Bitch Remix, and the One Love Remix. These tracks all had a common theme of hard hitting jungle drums and hypnotizing Dutch bleeps. Those songs will always be hits and don’t get old, but if Chuckie hadn’t changed up his style, then he would have gotten old. Bumpy Ride was a significant step forward in Chuckie’s production style. He added progressive house influenced sounds to the chorus and unleashed the biggest surprise with the drop… is that a dubstep wobble?!! This guy can do it all!

45. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up (AN21 & Max Vengeli booty)

Sometimes the best things are free. One of the largest DJ anthems of the summer was AN21 and Max Vangeli’s bootleg of Smack My Bitch Up. If you went to a house music festival that did not play this song over the summer then please sign up for the lottery right now because you have a predisposition for anomalies. These disciples of the Swedish House Mafia are on their way to success.

46. Avicii & Sebastien Drums – My Feelings For You (Original Mix)

Before releasing several notable masterpieces in 2010, Avicii and Sebastien Drums released My Feelings for You in March of 2010. This song was evidence of what was to come from Avicii, a young producer who can be compared to famous composers of the Romantic Era. My feelings for Avicii and Sebastien Drums have always been real.

47. Kaskade ft. Haley – Dynasty (Dada Life Remix)

Before producing some very popular originals in the second half of 2010, Dada Life was most known for their nasty electro remixes. This remix of Kaskade’s Dynasty is particularly impressive because they were able to blend the smooth and graceful style of Kaskade and Haley’s angelic vocals with one of their signature hard hitting aggressive drops. If you go to see a Dada Life performance (Together As One folks, a portion of the Dancing Astronaut crew will certainly be posted up at the Dada Life show) don’t expect a non-contact sport.

48. Sidney Samson – Fill U Up (Original Mix)

I consulted my thesaurus to help explain this one to you.

Enigma. Noun. “How it works is an enigma to me”: MYSTERY, puzzle, riddle, conundrum, paradox, problem, quandary; a closed book; informal poser.

Yes, the reception of this song is a total enigma to us at Dancing Astronaut. Many of us would have this song in our personal top 20 list. I have this song rated with 5 stars in my iTunes, an honor which I rarely bestow upon any song. This is the best song Sidney Samson has ever made IMO. It is an utter masterpiece. Every note is in the right place. One couldn’t possibly complain about any part of this song. Why then has it not gotten the attention it deserves? Beats me.

49. Benny Benassi ft. Kelis & APL & Jean-Baptiste – Spaceship (EDX Remix)

Benny prolonged his career with this song. He will still get gigs anywhere because he was one of the early champions of Electro House, but he hasn’t been producing tracks at the same rate he once did. Early this summer he showed that he’s still got it when he produced Spaceship. We may have published 3 different posts of Spaceship remixes and we could have posted more, but we figured we would never be able to keep up with this track at the rate it was getting remixed. While there were many excellent mixes of the track, including the original, the EDX mix stands out as the most refined in our minds. EDX, Benassi’s Italian countryman, reminds us what a perfectly produced Progressive House song sounds like.

50. Bart B More – Brap (Original Mix)

If you were one of the few who was fortunate enough to hear this track played out by the likes of Boys Noize, Laidback Luke, Crookers, or even Bart himself, then you know how epic this song is. The track is characterized by a lengthy buildup punctuated by a consistent “Brap!” leading up to one of the most massive baselines of the entire year. Brap was the highlight of an incredibly strong year for Bart B More. We at DA are expecting big things from the young Dutchman in 2011.

1. Deadmau5 – Sofi Needs A Ladder
2. Pendulum – The Island (Steve Angello, AN21 & Max Vangeli Remix)
3. Daft Punk – Derezzed (Original Mix)
4. Roger Sanchez & Far East Movement feat. Kanobby – 2Gether (Sidney Samson Remix)
5. Black Eyed Peas – The Time (Dirty Bit) (Alvaro Remix)
6. Duck Sauce – Good 2 Me (LLR Edit)
7. Staygold – Video Kick Snare (Dada Life Remix)
8. Robyn – Indestructible (A-Trak Remix)
9. Carte Blanche feat. Kid Sister – Do! Do! Do! (Laidback Luke Remix)
10. Laidback Luke feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn – Timebomb (Instrumental Mix)

As always, some of the links are downloads and other are links to their releases on Beatport.