Honestly, looking back at 2016 and 2017, it felt like a weird fever dream. Fidget spinners were everywhere, and we were all obsessed with finding a Charizard in a local park. But in the middle of that chaos, Ubisoft dropped Just Dance 2017, and it arguably became one of the most stable, "reliable" entries in the entire franchise.
It wasn't just another yearly update.
This was the first time the series landed on the Nintendo Switch. It was also the era where "Just Dance Unlimited" started becoming less of a gimmick and more of a massive, essential library. But even if you never paid a dime for the subscription, the core Just Dance 2017 song list was a fascinating time capsule of mid-2010s pop culture mixed with some genuinely unhinged choices that only Ubisoft could pull off.
The main tracklist: Pop royalty and "Wait, what?" moments
The base game launched with about 41 songs. Most people remember the heavy hitters. You couldn't walk into a grocery store in 2017 without hearing Sia’s "Cheap Thrills" or Justin Bieber’s "Sorry." Naturally, those are front and center here.
But what makes the Just Dance 2017 song list stand out isn't just the Billboard Top 100 stuff. It’s the sheer variety. One minute you’re doing the "Whip/Nae Nae" (which, let’s be real, we all regret now), and the next you’re trying to keep up with the frantic movements of Hatsune Miku in "PoPiPo."
Here is what the standard rotation looked like:
The Global Megahits
If you bought the game, it was probably for these. We’re talking "Into You" by Ariana Grande, "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd, and "Lean On" by Major Lazer and DJ Snake. These routines weren't necessarily the hardest, but they were the ones everyone knew the words to during a house party.
The Weird and Wonderful
This is where the game gets its soul. Have you ever tried to dance to the "William Tell Overture"? In this version, you’re basically a jockey. Or "Oishii Oishii" by Wanko Ni Mero Mero, which is just... a lot. And we can’t forget "Ghost in the Keys," a spooky, ragtime-ish track that felt more like a theater performance than a dance routine.
The Throwback Gems
Ubisoft usually sprinkles in some classics to keep the parents happy. Queen’s "Don’t Stop Me Now" is a legitimate cardio workout disguised as a song. You also had Earth, Wind & Fire’s "September" (covered by Equinox Stars) and "What Is Love" by Haddaway (under the pseudonym Ultraclub 90).
Regional Exclusives and Hidden Tracks
It’s worth noting that depending on where you lived or how you played, the list changed slightly. For example, "Imya 505" by Vremya i Steklo was a Russian exclusive initially.
Then there were the Ubisoft Connect (formerly Uplay) rewards. If you had enough points, you could unlock "Let Me Love You" by DJ Snake and Justin Bieber. It felt like a little secret club for the dedicated fans.
Why the choreography in 2017 felt different
In earlier games, the tracking was... let's say "generous." By 2017, things felt a bit more refined, even if the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons still let you "cheat" by just waving your arm from the couch.
But the choreography itself reached a new level of "prop" usage and storytelling. Take "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira. There’s a Sumo version. Yes, a Sumo version. It’s ridiculous, but it shows the developers weren't afraid to be silly. On the flip side, "Worth It" by Fifth Harmony had a very sleek, urban choreography that felt like something you’d actually see in a music video.
The game also introduced the Just Dance Machine. It was this bizarre mode where aliens captured you and forced you to dance to different styles—ballet, flamenco, dubstep—to charge their battery. It was weird, but it meant the "song list" technically included dozens of tiny snippets of genres that usually don't make it into a pop-centric game.
Breaking down the full song list by style
Instead of just a boring A-Z list, let's look at what you actually got for your money.
- The Latin Explosion: "Bailar" by Deorro ft. Elvis Crespo and "La Bicicleta" by Carlos Vives & Shakira. These were high-energy and usually the first ones to get everyone sweaty.
- The Internet Culture: "DADDY" by PSY and "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone. If you lived through the early YouTube era, these were nostalgic gold.
- The "I'm a Professional" Tracks: "Titanium" by David Guetta ft. Sia. The routine for this one was actually quite elegant and required a bit more coordination than the average "Watch Me" arm-flailing.
Just Dance Unlimited: The 200+ song elephant in the room
You can't talk about the Just Dance 2017 song list without mentioning Unlimited. This was the subscription service that effectively killed the need for "Best Of" discs.
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At launch, it gave you access to over 200 songs from previous games. If you missed "Timber" from JD2014 or "Rasputin" from JD2, you could just stream them. For many, the base 41 songs were just the appetizer. The real value was in that subscription, though it did start the trend of "pay-to-play" that some fans still grumble about today.
What experts say about this specific lineup
Gaming critics at the time, like the folks at IGN and Shacknews, were a bit torn. On one hand, the tracklist was undeniably "current." On the other hand, some felt the game was becoming a "placebo effect" machine. You feel like you're dancing, but are you really?
But for the average person? It didn't matter. The consensus was that Just Dance 2017 had one of the most balanced lists in years. It wasn't too heavy on the "kiddie" songs, and it didn't lean too hard into obscure techno that nobody knew. It was a "Goldilocks" tracklist—just right.
How to get the most out of these songs today
If you’re digging out your old Wii U, PS4, or Switch to play this, here is some honest advice.
- Don't skip the "Mashups": Some of the older games had these, but 2017 really refined the "Alternate" versions. The "Extreme" version of "Scream & Shout" is actually a great way to learn some real footwork.
- Use the Controller App: If you don't have enough Joy-Cons or a Kinect, the phone app is surprisingly decent. Just... please hold onto your phone tightly. I’ve seen more than one screen shattered during "Cake by the Ocean."
- Check for the "Gold Edition": If you're buying it used, look for the Gold Edition. It usually came with three months of Unlimited, and sometimes those codes actually still work if they haven't been scratched off.
The Just Dance 2017 song list might be nearly a decade old, but in the world of rhythm games, good music doesn't really age. Whether you're doing it for the cardio or just to laugh at your friends failing "Tico-Tico no Fubá," it’s still a solid lineup that holds its own against the newer, more bloated versions of the game.
If you're looking for a specific routine to master first, I’d suggest starting with "September." It’s a classic, the moves are intuitive, and it’s almost impossible to be in a bad mood while playing it. Once you've got that down, go ahead and tackle the Sumo version of Shakira—just make sure you have enough floor space.