Top 20 Techno Songs Ever

One of my fondest memories when I visited Europe many moons ago was hearing European electronic dance music. It completely grabbed my attention, which is something hard to do. Next thing you know all I wanted to do was dance. There's something about the beats, rhythms, and its unique electric sound. One of my local radio stations has a program every Saturday night called WFLZ's House Party where they play all genres of EDM (electronic dance music). Whenever I get the chance I crank it up and dance the night away.

Many people clump the genre of techno with many other similar sub genres such as Trance, Tech House, and IDM (Intelligent Dance Music). The mother of all genres with this type of music is EDM. Think of it as the equivalent of Rock music and all of its genres: Pop Rock, Heavy Metal, Punk Rock, and Country Rock when you specifically classify it. Techno's stylistic origins are from electronic dance music, which then created its own sub genres and fusions.

There is no precise method of categorizing EDM into its genres that is recognized by musicologists. That is why you see a marriage of so many EDM genres into a song. However, for the purpose of this list I will be focusing on techno songs in the genre of Techno and those others from its origins. There is a way to distinguish the genres from one another by tempo measurements in the form of bpm or beats per minutes. Techno songs and their music is measured at 135-155 bpms, with a flat line to it.

I am aware that best song lists of artists and songs are subjective as well as open to interpretation. Everyone will certainly have a different opinion. The rationale for my Best Techno Songs list is based on songs with the greatest impact, influence, commercial appeal, and longevity. Several of the songs will pay homage to this genre's beginnings in Detroit, Michigan during the mid to late 80's. Now sit back and enjoy.

20.) Praise You - Fatboy Slim (1999): A very different kind of song with voice and cartoon theme song samplings. It sounds like there is interaction going on. The music video is crazy with its street savvy filming. You wonder if it's for real or staged.

19.) Gia - Despina Vandi (2004-US): I love the hypnotic Mediterranean and Middle East influence. Despina is certainly a beautiful woman and vocalist. The music video is stunning. This techno song has the distinction of being the first foreign-language Dance recording to reach Number One on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart.

18.) Ray of Light - Madonna (1998): Not a fan of her music whatsoever, but this song I do like. It is catchy, pulsating, and escalating. The opening strings, as well as further into the song when it slows down for a change, are used extensively in television commercials. Ray of Light reminds me of Donna Summer's disco/ early techno hit song "I Feel Love".

17.) Phuture 2000 (Hybrid Remix) - Carl Cox (1998-single): One of techno's most noted artists. The optimism in the song, which is about the turn of the millennium, is what I like about it. I'm glad to have some positive energy in music.

16.) Halcyon + on + on (Remix) - Orbital (1993-1993): It has a very slow, but beautiful, opening in the song. I found it to be quite somber at times, which was an interesting change of pace. You've heard portions of it in films such as Mortal Kombat, Mean Girls, and Hackers.

15.) Computer Love - Kraftwerk (1981): If you want to know exactly what techno music is in its purist form look no further than to Kraftwerk. Writer Kodwo Eshun once wrote "Kraftwerk are to Techno what Muddy Waters is to the Rolling Stones, the authentic, the origin, the real." I love Kraftwerk's distinctively bold music, which this is. The melody and chords from this song were used in Coldplay's, "Talk".

14.) Block Rockin' Beats - The Chemical Brothers (1997): Enjoy hearing the guitar rhythms, along with the repetitive title in the lyrics. It is one of those infectious types.

13.) Good Life - Inner City (1988): Reminds me of the typical late 80's and 90's R&B songs you hear on the radio. Someone commented at Youtube there are more songs coming out with this sound now in dance clubs. I can see why, because I like its easy sound, feel good vibe, and positive energy.

12.) One More Time - Daft Punk (2000): This is an interesting funky song with auto-tuning vocals. It fits extremely well in techno, but I don't like auto-tune in pop songs.

11.) Suffer Well - Depeche Mode (2006): Great guitar and space like music as well as the video telling a story. The song has been released via digital download on iTunes.

10.) Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers (2002): The music video makes you feel like you are right inside the speeding train passing by one piece of scenery after another, which reminds me of the trains I took in Europe and Japan. My favorite part of the song is the fading in and out sound. There's just something about it I like.

9.) Southern Sun - Paul Oakenfold (2002): What a beautiful song and the vocals are amazing. It's nice once in a while to hear a techno song like this. It's also a very interesting music video too.

8.) World (The Price of Love) - New Order (1993): A very nice B&W music video set in the French Rivera of Cannes. The addictive rhythms in this song are what I love about it. It placed on numerous U.S. Billboard charts, ranking Number One on its Hot Dance Club Play.

7.) Move (You Make Me Feel) - Moby (1993): Another great catchy, rhythmic song that was Number One on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.

6.) I Feel Love - Donna Summer (1977): An influential pre-techno song that was a first for disco music by using an entirely synthesized backing track. I stated earlier this song reminds me of Madonna's "Ray of Light". Donna Summer has great powerful vocals giving it that hypnotic sound. The robotic bass line actually makes me feel relaxed while listening to it.

5.) Born Slippy .NUXX - Underworld (1996): I'm still humming this song in my head as I write. The relentless pounding rhythms and shout-out lyrics do grab your attention. If you've seen the film "Trainspotting" the song is featured in its final scene.

4.) Absurd - Fluke (1997): There are some amazing rhythms in this very addictive song. It has been featured in the films "Sin City" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider".

3.) Clear - Cybotron (1983): You'll hear a lot of the Kraftwerk-Krautrock influences in it. This is the old school techno sound written and produced by Juan Atkins, who's been credited as the originator of techno music. The recognizable loop in the song has been used by many Rap and Hip hop artists.

2.) Right Here, Right Now - Fatboy Slim (1999): If you have seen the music video you'll know what I mean by its rather attention-grabbing, yet controversial, evolution that takes place before our eyes. The countless comments on Youtube are rather heated. Aside from that, I love it for the song's very evocative music at times, which is appropriate for the video's subject matter. The song was used during the Pittsburg Steelers Super Bowl game appearances as their pre-kickoff intro.

1.) Connected - Stereo MCs (1992-1993): Now we've come to my favorite techno song ever. I never get tired of hearing it. This is as good as it gets. To me it personifies the 90's when listening. It has a fabulous groove that wants to make me move in time with it. "Connected" has been on various Billboard charts. You may recognize the song from its placement in a variety of films, TV shows, and TV commercials.

All of these songs can be purchased, either as an MP3 download, CD single, CD album format, or vinyl, at amazon.com, a great place for all your one stop shopping needs. Another place is iTunes. Many of these techno songs have a history of being successful in clubs, on the radio, and in films or television. They have also stood the test of time, which is what these top 20 best techno songs are all about.

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_dance_music

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno_music

http://www.synthtopia.com/Articles/ElectronicMusicStylesTech.html