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The Best Roller Skating Songs of the 70s, 80s, 90s & Today

Covering The Best Roller Skating Music of All Time

Skating and roller skating music go hand in hand. Whether you are roller skating at a rink indoors or you strapped on a pair of outdoor roller skates or rollerblades and are skating outdoors with a pair of headphones, it’s highly likely that you are jamming to some good tunes.

I love a good mixture of both some new tunes mixed in with my favorite old school roller skating songs. So, in today’s article, I am going to break down some of the best roller skating songs of all time. I am going to give you my top 10 songs by decade hand-picked. There is so much great roller skating music out there, it was hard to choose just 10 from each decade.

70s roller skating girl listening to music.Pin

These tunes are designed to get you to put on those roller skates and get your feet rollin’.

Be sure to let me know your favorites in the comments below, because with only 10 per decade, I had to cut out a ton of good music!

Contents show

Top 10 Roller Skating Songs of the 70’s

The 1970s were when roller skating became most popular in the United States. Along with disco and the invention of poly-urethane roller skate wheels, new roller skaters were hitting their local rinks and dancing to some of the very best roller skating songs of the 70’s.

Lace up your roller skates, put on your bell bottoms, knee high socks, headbands and tie dye shirt and lets go over some 70s roller skating music!

1. Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey – 1978

This is one of my favorite roller skating songs of the 70s. It’s got a great bassline and an uptempo beat that will keep your feet moving on the floor. Boogie Oogie Oogie was released by A Taste of Honey in the summer of 1978.

Boogie Oogie Oogie was A Taste of Honey’s most popular song. The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and Top Dance Club Songs in 1978. The song crossed over to disco and became a popular song played at many rinks in the late 70s and early 80s. I still played it when I DJ’d in the late 80s and early 90s. It’s a really great song and one to add to your playlist.

2. September – Earth, Wind & Fire – 1978

Any list of the top 70s roller skating songs wouldn’t be complete without Earth, Wind & Fire’s awesome song September. Another great upbeat song that will have your feet moving and have you singing along.

September hit #1 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles in 1978. It also was ranked #8 in the Billboard Top 100 and #3 on the UK Singles chart. It is one of a number of Earth, Wind & Fire songs that I love. Others include Boogie Wonderland and Let’s Groove – both of which are awesome roller skating songs. I just like September best of those three.

3. That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band – 1975

KC and the Sunshine Band’s hit song That’s the Way is a 70’s roller skating music classic. I still hear it played often at my local skating rink here in town. Everyone loves skating to this classic hit. In 1975, this song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B Singles charts. It even hit #1 in Canada and the Netherlands of all places! 

When it was released, the song was considered rather risqué by some because of the lyrics and song title. Today, it seems quite tame in comparison to today’s tunes.

If you are looking for a few great roller skating songs from the 70s, then KC and the Sunshine Band are a good place to start. They also have classic hits like Get Down Tonight, I’m Your Boogie Man, Shake Your Booty and many, many more.

4. Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band – 1975

Get Down Tonight was KC and the Sunshine Band’s first ever song to hit #1. This is another great 70s roller skating song. It was released in 1975 and is a fast uptempo song that will keep your feet moving and have you singing along.

The song reached #1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles. It also reached #1 in Canada and made it onto the charts in Australia, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. The fast tempo and repeating lyrics make it one of my favorites from this era.

5. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry – 1976

One of my all-time favorite songs is Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. This song has an awesome funky baseline and just makes me want to boogie anytime I hear it. Released in 1976, this song was the only hit for Wild Cherry.

The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. It also #93 on Billboard’s All-Time Top 100 songs. I wouldn’t disagree. It’s one of my all-time favorites. Be sure to watch the video above and check out the trumpeter twirling his trumpet towards the end. Pretty cool.

6. Superstition – Stevie Wonder – 1972

Stevie Wonder is one of the all-time great musicians. And in 1972, Stevie released a funk masterpiece called Superstition. It’s one of my favorite roller skating songs of the 70s on my playlist. Every time it comes on, I just want to skate (and dance).

Superstition topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. It also reached #1 on the Soul Singles charts. In 2004, Rolling Stones magazine ranked it at #74 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. I’d have to agree. If you are looking for a great roller skating song of the 70s, then I’d add this one to your list.

Of course, Stevie Wonder has so many great songs to choose from. You could easily make a 2 hour long skating playlist of just Stevie’s hits. Sir Duke, Signed Sealed Delivered, Isn’t She Lovely, I Wish, I Just Called to Say I Love You, Part Time Lover, Living for the City, Master Blaster and the list goes on and on and on. Stevie is one of the best ever.

7. I Will Survive – Gloria Gayner – 1978

I Will Survive is an awesome up-tempo, disco, funk song that will have you singing along and skating all out anytime it plays. Gloria has an amazing voice and the lyrics of this song are perfect for anyone ever going through a breakup.

This hit roller skating song of the 70s sold over 14 million albums worldwide and went platinum. The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in both the US and the UK in 1979. It’s one of my favorite songs from this decade.

8. You Should be Dancing – Bee Gees – 1976

How could you have a list of 70s roller skating music without songs by the Bee Gees? This trio of brothers tore up the charts during the decade with a number of hit songs. One of my favorite roller skating songs from the 70s is their hit You Should Be Dancing. It was the first big hit by the Bee Gees and is still one of my favorites.

The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and #5 on the UK Singles Chart. If you’re looking for a great tune to get your feet going, this is a good one.

9. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees – 1977

Stayin’ Alive is one of the Bee Gees signature songs. Popularized in the movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta, this song was one of the Bee Gees best songs. It’s one of my favorites to roller skate to because it just gets me movin’!

Released in December of ’77, Stayin’ Alive became the 2nd song by the Bee Gees to reach #1. Other great roller skating songs by the Bee Gees include Night Fever, Jive Talkin’, How Deep is Your Love, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart and Too Much Heaven. Those last 3 songs in that list are good slow couple skate songs for those of you out there skating with your sweetie.

10. Rock with You – Michael Jackson – 1979

The king of pop makes an entrance in the 1970s with his hit song Rock with You. I love to roller skate to this song. While this song didn’t hit #1 until the 80s, it was officially released in 79, so it makes the 70s roller skating songs list.

This song hit #1 in 1980 on both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. It’s considered to be one of the last great disco hits as the 1980s rolled in and killed disco (which still kinda makes me sad). Roller skating and disco kind of were born together at the same time. It’s great that this hit song (his third #1) was the last one in our list of best roller skating songs of the 70s. It’s a great segway to the 1980s!

Top 10 80s Roller Skating Music

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The 1980s. The decade that brought us the one-hit wonder, big hair, big hats, hairspray, sequins gloves, MTV, parachute pants and neon also brought us some of the best roller skating music ever.

The late 80s is when I first started DJing at my local roller rink. I have a lot of fond memories of that first job. Spinning vinyl and a few cassettes, CD players had just come out and were still too expensive for our rink to use.

Roller blades start to hit the market in this decade in force and now you’d see people skating in either quad skates or inline skates at the rink.

Just like the 70s roller skating music top 10 list above, this list of 80s roller skating music was tough to whittle down. There is just so much great music in the 80s. If I forgot one of your favorites (or 10 of them), be sure to tell me about it in the comments below.

Here is the list of the best roller skating songs of the 80s.

1. Thriller – Michael Jackson – 1982

The king of pop is back in the decade that he just flat out dominated. I could easily make a top 10 list of just Michael Jackson songs for the 80s. He had so many great songs and music videos, but Thriller is for sure one of my all-time favorites. MTV wore this music video out back in the early 80s.

I was a huge Michael Jackson fan – red leather jacket, sequins gloves….yep, I had it all. Big time fan boy. And I still have this great roller skating song on my playlist whenever I’m skating. It’s a great song to skate to in the dark when the rink turns the lights down low.

Thriller hit #1 on every music chart in the world including in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, UK and of course here in the US. The song even hit #6 in Japan.

There are so many great Michael Jackson songs to choose from. I could have went with Beat It, Billy Jean, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ or Smooth Criminal just to name a few out of a dozen from this decade. But I wanted this list to be diverse, so you only get one.

2. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen – 1980

I am a huge fan of Freddy Mercury and Queen. One of the best lead singers and bands of all time. This is another band where you could easily make a top 10 list just of their music. One of my favorite Queen songs to skate to is Another One Bites the Dust. It has an excellent, funky bassline – a must in my book for a great roller skating song.

Another One Bites the Dust hit #1 in the US, Canada, Spain and Israel (an odd list). It only hit #7 in the UK, which is a bit odd. Regardless, it’s a great song to skate to and get down and boogie. 

Other great roller skating music by Queen includes Bohemian Rhapsody, One Vision (one of my all-time favorites for a fast skate song), Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Somebody to Love, Under Pressure, Fat Bottomed Girls, We Will Rock You and so many more.

Plus, this band had one of the greatest live performances ever. If you’ve never seen their set at Live Aid, you are really missing something.

3. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi – 1986

If the 80s was known for anything, it was definitely known for big hair. And no band symbolized that better than Bon Jovi. Livin’ on a Prayer takes a little bit of time to get going, but the bridge and chorus of this song are awesome. It also has a really cool synthesized background “ooo ooo ooo ahh ahh ahh” playing throughout the verses. It’s a good fast skate song and one on my playlist.

Livin’ on a Prayer hit #1 in the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Bon Jovi had a number of other hits including I’ll Be There for You, Bad Medicine, Wanted Dead or Alive and You Give Love a Bad Name, but Livin’ on a Prayer was their most iconic song.

4. Take on Me – A-Ha – 1985

One of my all-time favorite songs on and off the rink floor is A-Ha’s Take on Me. This song was huge in the MTV era. Still 35 years later, this is one of the coolest videos I’ve ever seen. The song has that classic 80s uptempo Casio keyboard sound. Add in a high-pitched falsetto lead singer (Morten Harket – I still can’t hit that high note) and you have a classic 80s one-hit wonder.

The song hit #1 all over the world including in the US, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and Sweden. The song and the video were both hugely popular.

And, if you’re looking for a slow skate version of this song, you can’t go wrong with the unplugged version sung by the band in 2017. This slower version was also featured in the movie Deadpool. It’s a beautiful remake, though, quite slower (like watching paint dry compared to the original version).

5. Push It – Salt-N-Pepa – 1986

I love, love, love skating to this classic 80s roller skating song. Salt-N-Pepa’s Push It is really one of the best songs to roller skate to of all-time. It’s got a great up-tempo beat. that’s funky, fun and takes me back to my days rolling around the rink. I can’t tell you how many times I spun this record at my rink. It was super popular.

This #1 hit topped the charts hit #1 in Belgium and the Netherlands of all places, but only hit the top 20 on the US charts. Push It also got tons of airplay at almost every rink I visited during the 80s and 90s. How can a song called Push It not be on the top 10 list of the best roller skating music ever? I mean, come on. Just get out on the floor and push it already!

6. Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order – 1986

Club music in the 80s was popular in roller skating rinks, too. One of the bands I got turned onto as a teenager while skating was New Order. One of my favorite up-tempo, club hits was Bizarre Love Triangle. The video above is the original radio cut. My favorite version of this song is the Extended Dance Mix and is the one I always played at my rink. I still listen to it every time I skate. It just takes me back to the 80s. Good stuff.

New Order was never very big when it comes to chart toppers. This song hit #4 on the US Dance Club songs, but I don’t care. This is my top 10 list and this is one of my favorites so it’s on the list. 🙂

7. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard – 1987

Next up is the hit song by English band Def Leppard, Pour Some Sugar on Me. This rock anthem of the 80s has a great drumline and an awesome power chorus. It’s one of my go-to songs when I want to speed it up on the rink floor.

This song was rated #2 on VH1s 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s and was #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. If you love a good rock song, then this is a great one for your playlist. Other good rock songs by Def Leppard include Animal, Armageddon It and Rocket. And, if you are looking for good slow songs, Hysteria and Love Bites are two good slow songs.

8. Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang – 1980

Some of the best roller skating music that exists is all about the funk. And The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight is a hit when it comes to great roller skating music. Credited as being one of the first popular rap songs ever, this song has a funky baseline that I just love to skate to every time I skate.

The song hit #1 in Canada and the Netherland and hit #3 in the US. It was #251 in Rolling Stones list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It’s a great, clean rap song. It’s just fun and it will make you move. Even if you don’t like rap music all that much (what’s wrong with you?), this one is hard not to like.

9. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith – 1981

“Give me a ho if you got your funky bus pass!” How many songs start with such a great lyric? I love to skate to this song. This is one of the best songs ever for shuffle skating. Anytime this song comes on at my local rink, people love it. Even if they have never heard before.

The song hit #1 on the US Soul Singles chart. While it may have never hit the mainstream, it was definitely popular at the roller rink. I have this song on my playlist and boogie down to it every Sunday. Is it silly? Of course! And that’s why I love it. We need more silly, especially when it’s that good and funky.

10. Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll – Vaughan Mason & Crew – 1980

I saved one of the best roller skating songs for last. This song is so much about roller skating that almost all of the YouTube videos I found featuring this song are roller skating videos. Videos jam skating, rhythm skating and people just boogieing down on their skates.

The song was never that popular outside of the roller rink. It was actually released in the summer of ’79, but it became popular in 1980 and hit #5 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

The best part of this song is the funky baseline. Whether you are into rhythm skating, shuffle skating, doing the Crazy Legs or Grapevine, this song will have you moving, dancing and skating anytime it comes on. This is a great roller skate song and one you’ll definitely want on your playlist.

Top 10 Roller Skating Music 90s

90s music collagePin

Moving right along with our top roller skating music of all time, we come to the 1990s. In this decade, I spent a few years DJing at my local rink before graduating high school in 1993. While I think most of the great roller skating music comes from the 70s and 80s, there are still some great roller skating songs in this decade, too. So, let’s check it out!

1. C’Mon ‘N Ride It (The Train) – Quad City DJs – 1996

I love “The Train”. I skate to this song almost every Sunday at the rink from my playlist. This great roller skating music from the 90s is one of my all-time favorites. It gets me skating and moving every time it comes on.

The song peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also ranked the #1 song of 1996 by Village Voice magazine. This was a one-hit wonder group, but I don’t mind. It’s a great song to get your groove on.

2. Ice, Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice – 1990

This song was one of the most popular roller skating songs of the 90s. This song was on the radio, MTV and played at the rink over and over again. The song has an awesome bassline – especially seeing as it was ripped from Queen’s song Under Pressure. I played this song as a DJ at the rink (and tried my hand mixing it with Under Pressure) too many times to count.

Vanilla Ice had a couple of other tunes, but “Ice Ice Baby” was his biggest hit. The song was the first ever hip-hop song to top the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also popular all over the world reaching #1 in the US, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

3. Jump Around – House of Pain – 1992

Jump Around is another great roller skating song from the 90s. It has a great beat and makes me want to “jump up, jump up and get down” every time I hear it. This song is always at the top of my playlist.

Jump Around hit #3 in the Billboard charts in 1992. The song also hit #8 in the UK. The song was picked as the 24th greatest song on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s and #66 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

4. U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer – 1990

MC Hammer was huge in the 90s. His biggest song was U Can’t Touch This. I loved this song so much. The baseline is great (another rip off of a great 70s song – Super Freak by Rick James). I remember mixing Super Freak and this song together at the rink often. It was fun.

This song is great to skate to and dance around the floor. Who can forget the awesome parachute pants? I had a pair. I know you did, too!

The song was so popular it won Grammys! Hammer won the Best R&B Song and the Best Rap Solo Performance. It was also the very first rap song to be nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 1991. 

It was also the Best Rap Video and Best Dance Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. The song was #1 in the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and on the charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the US.

5. This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan – 1995

This is How We Do It is a great dance song from the 90s. Another one that is on my playlist and a tune that I frequently listen to when I roller skate. It has a good up-tempo beat and is fun to listen to and dance.

The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for seven consecutive weeks. It also hit #1 on the R&B singles chart and sold one million copies in the US. The song also reached #1 in the UK and Canada. Jordan also was up for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his work on this song.

6. No Diggity – Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen – 1996

No Diggity has a great slow, funk beat that is great for rhythm and shuffle skating. It puts a nice steady groove in your skate and is just fun to dance to whenever it plays. Good roller skating music is all about the beat. And who doesn’t like a good rhyme from Dr. Dre? 

The song hit #1 in the US, UK, Canada, Iceland and New Zealand. It topped out at #9 in the UK. Rolling Stones and MTV ranked the song at #91 of the Top 100 Greatest Pop Songs of All Time. The song won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.  The song also ranked #32 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s.

7. Whoomp! (There It Is) – Tag Team – 1993

“Party People!!!” “Whoomp! There It Is” is just one of those upbeat, good-feeling songs. It’s silly and fun. Not at the top of my list, but every time I hear this song play at the rink, it always brings a smile to my face and gets me movin’.

The song was popular for a short period of time hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It also reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles list.

8. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor – 1990

For about a year, it seemed like every time I turned on MTV, Sinead O’Connor’s beautiful bald head was starting back at me. Nothing Compares 2 U was a song written by Prince that the Irish singer O’Connor made into a huge #1 hit all over the world. This song was so huge for awhile, that I got sick of it. We often played it when I used to practice artistic roller skating as one of our slow skate / couple skate songs. It is super slow.

When I say this song was huge everywhere, I’m not joking. The song hit #1 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and of course the US. It may have even hit #1 in Antarctica. I hear the penguins like to slow skate to it, too.

9. Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-A-Lot – 1992

After a sad mopey song at #8, I’ve got to get your feet moving again with something completely silly. Baby Got Back is one of those raunchy, upbeat, awesomely funny songs that I still love 30 years later. Everytime I hear it, I still laugh. It’s just fun to skate and boogie down. Some of you parents may not want your kids listening to it, but it honestly seems quite tame these days. When I was a teenager I never let that stop me from playing it at my rink. We always loved it because it was so obnoxious.

The song did fairly well on the charts. It hit #1 in 1992 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, it was the second best-selling song in the US – Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” was #1 (which also happened to be my high school’s graduating class song). VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop ranked it at #17.

10. Motownphilly – Boyz II Men – 1991

And last but not least, any list of the 90s wouldn’t be complete without Boyz II Men. Motownphilly introduced the acapella quartet to the world. The song hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. While the band has other #1 songs, all of them are slow. I like this song because it’s one of their better uptempo songs.

I always liked this group for their ability to sing acapella. In almost every one of their songs, they have some part of the song where the instruments cut out (minus a cowbell or drumline) and the four guys lay down a completely harmonious lyric.

Top 10 Roller Skating Music 00s-20s

All right, we now move into the next century of music. Everything listed above in the 70s, 80s and 90s was music that I played when I worked at my local rink. The songs below are some of the “newer” tunes that I have on my playlist that I like to skate to today. 

I merged the 2000s and 2010s together because most of what I listen to today is still from the previous three decades. But, with that said, there is still some great roller skating music these past couple of decades.

1. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – 2014

I love this song. Again, like so many songs on this list, Uptown Funk is….well…funky! It’s got a great beat and is fun to skate to whenever it comes on. It’s got an amazing trumpet / horn chorus. I just love to skate every time I hear this song. It’s a really good shuffle skating song. Anytime my rink plays it, I notice the speed of the floor pick up and you just see people smiling. It’s good stuff.

This song hit #1 in 19 countries and made the top 10 in 15 others. To say the song was huge is an understatement. The video above has been watched on YouTube over 3 billion times. Yes, that’s not a typo…billion.

This is a great song to have on your playlist.

2. Happy – Pharrell Williams – 2013

If you are like me, then one of the main reasons you roller skate is because it makes you happy. If that is you, then you need this song in your playlist. Sometimes, when I’m feeling down, I put this song on and it just brings a smile to my face. This uptempo, feel good, soul music will put even a grumpus in a good mood. Every time it’s played at my local rink, it always gets the floor clapping.

The song was popularized by being featured on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. The song was huge on the charts hitting #1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and 19 other countries. It was the best-selling song of 2014. It won a Grammy for both Best Pop Solo Performance and for Best Music Video.

3. Hey Ya! – Outkast – 2003

Another one of my favorite uptempo songs from the early 2000s is Hey Ya by Outkast. Featuring Andre 3000, this song is a great uptempo beat that will get you skating. It’s fun to dance to and get you moving.

The song hit #1 in the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Australia. Billboard named the song as the 20th most successful song of the 2000s. Another great song by this band is The Way You Move, known mostly for it’s funky beat and catchy chorus.

4. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas – 2009

One of my favorite songs from this decade is I Gotta Feeling from the Black Eyed Peas. This song was produced by one of my favorite DJs, David Guetta. Its a good uptempo, carefree song that will help you let loose. It’s a party song, and every time I hear this song it puts me in a good mood.

The song was huge on the charts. It hit #1 in 20 countries including the US, Canada and the UK. Billboard named it #5 on the Hot 100 Songs of the decade. I Gotta Feeling also won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. As of 2019, this song has been downloaded in iTunes the most out of any other song in history.

5. Toxic – Britney Spears – 2003

I’m not a huge Britney Spears fan, but I do love her song Toxic. It’s a great uptempo dance song that features a funky drumline, synthesizers and even a surf guitar. It’s also a heavily remixed song and I’ve heard a number of them that I like.

Toxic won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2005 and reached the top 5 in 15 countries. The song hit #1 in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, but only went as high as #9 in the US.

6. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO – 2011

If you can’t dance or get down to Party Rock Anthem, then something is wrong with you. This song and the corresponding video are great. This one will get your feet moving and get you out there skating. “Every day I’m shufflin’!” If you’re not a fan of the Party Rock Anthem, then maybe the dirtier (funnier) Sexy and I Know It is more your style. Both are good roller skating music in my book. I like silly and with a name like LMFAO, how can you go wrong.

Party Rock Anthem hit #1 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. It’s the all-time best selling song in Australia. Billboard ranks the song as the 6th most successful song of all time.

7. Wake Me Up – Avicii – 2013

I love good dance music. Some of my favorite music in the 2000s is from popular DJs like Calvin Harris, David Guetta and of course Avicii. One of the best songs of the past couple of decades is Wake Me Up. The song features a great uptempo beat that makes for an easy to skate to song.

Wake Me Up was a huge hit for Avicii. It hit #1 in 30 countries including the UK and the US. If you like this song, then you really should check out his other work. Other greats are Levels and Fade into Darkness.

8. We Found Love – Rhianna – 2011

Next up is another one of my favorites from this era. Rhianna’s We Found Love is a great, uptempo dance track created in coordination with one of my favorite DJs, Calvin Harris who wrote and produced the song. It’s a great song and I just love the dance club feel to the music. I’m a huge fan of Harris, just ask my kids. If I’m not listening to some of my older favorites, I’m usually listening to Guetta, Harris, Benassi or a similar DJ. The music is just fun, upbeat and good dance music.

This song hit #1 in 26 countries including the US, UK and Mexico to name a few. If you like this song, be sure to check out some of Harris’ other hits including Summer, This is What You Came For, Feels So Close and Sweet Nothing. All of them are great roller skating songs.

9. Titanium – David Guetta feat. Sia – 2011

This song could easily be #1 on my playlist. I love this song. I’m a big fan of Sia and David Guetta. The hook and chorus of this song are just powerful. I love the lyrics and the drop of this song. It’s just one of my all-time favorites. I also like the slower, live version of this song for a much slower skate.

Other top songs by David Guetta include Without You (featuring Usher), Hey Mama (featuring Nikki Minaj), When Love Takes Over (featuring Kelly Rowland). All 3 are good playlist songs and will keep you moving out on the floor.

10. Harlem Shake – Baauer – 2013

I like the Harlem Shake. Yes, I know it became popular from an Internet meme, but I don’t care. It’s got a good beat and is fun. The song hit #1 in the US, UK, New Zealand, Greece, Brazil and Australia.

Wrapping Up

I hope you all liked my list of the best roller skating songs of the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s/10s. What was your favorite song from the list above? Or, do you have a song that you think should be on the list? If so, tell me in the comments below.

If you are looking for more great music, be sure to check out my Spotify Playlist. I’m constantly adding new music to that list as I find it. If you are looking for great speed skating music – something to get a great workout and get your heart pumping – then be sure to check out my Top 11 Speed Skate Songs.

And, if you need a great pair of roller skates, be sure to check out my roller skates for men, roller skates for women and roller skates for kids pages.

If you are more into rollerblades or inline skates, then check out my rollerblades for men, rollerblades for women and rollerblades for kids pages.

And, thanks again for rollin’ by!

Interested in Skating?

I have a number of articles to help you get started roller skating. Check it out!

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Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone started the website RollerSkateDad.com back in 2015. The site specializes in roller skate reviews and advice about skates and all things roller skating. When Jeff isn't skating with his two daughters Lily and Violet, he enjoys writing code, cooking, watching movies and hanging out with his wife Claire and their german shepherd, Electra.

9 thoughts on “The Best Roller Skating Songs of the 70s, 80s, 90s & Today”

  1. OMG Jeff your roller disco playlist almost mirrors mine (blimey you even had Avicii!). Loved listening to these great tunes and can’t wait for my Skating Club Disco to open again. Might I suggest you consider these possible additions – all music genres, the only commonality is they’re great to skate to:- “Lola’s Theme” the Shapeshifters, “Feel it Still” Portugal the Man, “Adventure of a Lifetime, “Back in Black” or “Shoot to Thrill” ACDC, “Still Unbroken” Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen “Hammer to Fall” (how did you miss that Queen classic), “Can’t Stop the Feeling” Timberlake, “Sax” Fleur East, “So Good” Louisa Johnson, “Something in the Way you Move” Ellie Goulding, Daft Punk “One More Time”, “It’s Time” Imagine Dragons, “Good Time” Owl City and a catchy one I’ve only just discovered “Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro. Hope they make your list – Enjoy! Thanks for a great couple of hours – Helene, Chippenham, England – great skate music is universal ;-).

    Reply
    • Hi Helene – Thanks so much for rolling by and leaving your favorite tunes. What great additions! I love all of your suggestions. And, I agree with you that great skate music is universal. Thanks again.

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    • Hi J – Thanks for rollin’ by and dropping a link to your video. I love it! I’ll give you a share on Facebook, too.

      Reply
  2. This is an amazing list! I love it!!!
    My favorite rollerskating songs were Young Turks by Rod Stewart and Freeze Frame by J. Geils Band.

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  3. I spent my teen years going roller skating four times a week – I loved everything about it! When my kids grew up, I took them – although not nearly as often. Today, my grandchildren love going every now at then, For me, it was a passion! The songs that really bring me back to those days are Play that Funky Music, Hot Child in the City, Going to the Chapel, Saturday night (of course lol), Knock three times : ) among sooo many others!

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    • Hi, Cindy thank you for the comment on my dad’s article, we are very happy that the article brought you some nostalgia of what roller skating used to be. Now the music just sucks at most rinks ?.

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  4. Thank you, Mr Stone! What a perfect, concise, and totally accurate list. You Nailed it! I just want to add my 2….. the LOML and BF from 6th and 8th grade luckily got to couples skate ( in the 80s) to Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is and George Michael’s Careless Whisper. Bliss and sweaty hands.

    Reply

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