Ubisoft had a problem back in 2014. The Wii was dying, the Wii U was a ghost town, and the "new" consoles—the PS4 and Xbox One—were still trying to prove they weren't just expensive Netflix boxes. Then came the Just Dance 2015 song list. It was loud. It was neon. It was unapologetically obsessed with 2014 radio pop in a way that feels like a time capsule now.
You remember that year. Everyone was wearing high-waisted shorts, Pharrell's "Happy" was playing in every grocery store in America, and we actually thought the Kinect might have a future. Honestly, looking back at the tracklist for Just Dance 2015, it’s wild how many of these songs are still "the" songs people request at weddings.
The Just Dance 2015 Song List: A Massive Pivot to Pop
Most people think these games are just a collection of whatever is on the Billboard Hot 100. Kinda, but not really. The 2015 edition was the first time the developers really leaned into the "Community" aspect. They introduced the World Dance Floor and the Community Remix, but none of that mattered if the music sucked.
The core Just Dance 2015 song list featured 45 tracks at launch. It was a massive swing. They had the heavy hitters like Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus. But they also threw in some weird stuff—the kind of tracks that make you say, "Wait, why am I dancing to a tetris theme?"
The Heavy Hitters You Definitely Played
If you owned this game, you danced to "Bang Bang." There’s no avoiding it. The trio of Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj was the peak of 2014 energy. The choreography was high-energy, demanding, and arguably one of the best "Trio" dances Ubisoft ever designed.
Then you had "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry. It wasn't just a song; it was a visual experience. The Egyptian-themed backdrop and the sharp, robotic movements captured exactly what the music video was trying to do. It’s a perfect example of how the Just Dance team stopped just making "dance moves" and started making "performances."
Other massive radio hits included:
- "Happy" by Pharrell Williams (The song that simply wouldn't die)
- "Problem" by Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea and Big Sean
- "Diamonds" by Rihanna
- "Burn" by Ellie Goulding
- "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" by Ylvis
That last one? Pure chaos. But it worked. Just Dance thrives on the "party" vibe, and nothing says "party" like four adults in a living room pretending to be foxes while a Norwegian comedy duo screams in the background.
🔗 Read more: Why the GTA Vice City Hotel Room Still Feels Like Home Twenty Years Later
Breaking Down the Genre Variety
It wasn't all just Top 40. Ubisoft has always been weirdly good at picking "legacy" tracks that bridge the gap between kids and their parents who are forced to play during Christmas break.
Take "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by The Bench Men (a cover of Bobby McFerrin). It’s slow. It’s almost boring if you’re looking for a workout. But as a cool-down track? It was essential. Or look at "Walk This Way" by Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith. It brought that 80s rap-rock energy that provided a much-needed break from the synthesizers.
Then there’s the international flair. "Papaoutai" by Stromae is a masterpiece. Most American players didn't know the lyrics, but the choreography—mimicking a mannequin—was haunting and brilliant. It showed that the Just Dance 2015 song list wasn't just about American pop; it was a global curated list.
The Weird Stuff Nobody Talks About
Let's talk about "Tetris." Yes, the theme from the Game Boy game. Ubisoft literally had dancers dressed as Tetris blocks. It’s one of those tracks where you realize the developers were probably having way too much fun. It’s also surprisingly difficult because the timing is so rigid.
And "Mahna Mahna." You know it from The Muppets. Is it a "dance" song? Absolutely not. Is it hilarious to watch your cousin try to follow the movements of a fuzzy puppet creature? 100%.
Technical Shifts: Why 2015 Felt Different
Just Dance 2015 was a turning point for the tech. This was the year the "Just Dance Controller App" really took off. You didn't need a Kinect or a PlayStation Camera anymore; you could just hold your smartphone.
This changed the song list's accessibility. Suddenly, you didn't need a $100 peripheral to play. This meant the songs could be more complex because the tracking was based on the accelerometer in your hand rather than a camera trying to see your legs in a dark living room.
💡 You might also like: Tony Todd Half-Life: Why the Legend of the Vortigaunt Still Matters
The DLC Factor
While the base game was solid, the DLC (Downloadable Content) was where things got interesting. You could snag "Break Free" by Ariana Grande or "Papaoutai" (the alternative version). The 2015 era was the last gasp of the "buy a song forever" model before "Just Dance Unlimited" turned everything into a subscription service in 2016.
For many fans, this is the gold standard. You bought the disc, you bought a few songs, you owned them. No monthly fees. Just pure dance.
The Full Tracklist (The Non-Boring Version)
If you're looking for the complete breakdown, it's a wild ride. You’ve got "4x4" by Miley Cyrus for the country-pop fans and "Best Song Ever" by One Direction for the boy band enthusiasts.
Here is the vibe of the main list:
- The "I'm a Diva" Tracks: "Black Widow" (Iggy Azalea), "It's My Birthday" (will.i.am), and "Me And My Broken Heart" (Rixton).
- The "Let's Get Weird" Tracks: "Built For This" (Becky G), "Holding Out For A Hero" (Bonnie Tyler), and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Dead or Alive).
- The "Classic" Vibes: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) and "I Love It" (Icona Pop).
- The "Wait, This is Hard" Tracks: "Love Is All" (The Sunlight Shakers) and "Speedy Gonzalez" (Los Polyglots).
Honestly, the variety is what keeps 2015 in the conversation. It didn't feel as "sanitized" as some of the later entries. There was a bit of grit to it.
Why 2015 Still Matters in 2026
We're over a decade out from this release. In the world of gaming, that's ancient history. But the Just Dance 2015 song list persists. Why? Because it represents the last moment before the "TikTok-ification" of dance. These were full choreographies, not just 15-second loops designed to go viral.
When you play "Addicted To You" by Avicii (another 2015 banger), you’re getting a full routine. It feels like a workout. It feels like a performance.
📖 Related: Your Network Setting are Blocking Party Chat: How to Actually Fix It
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think Just Dance 2015 was just a "rehash" of 2014. That’s just wrong. 2014 was great, sure, but 2015 refined the UI and fixed the scoring lag that plagued the earlier Xbox One and PS4 versions. It was the first "modern" feeling Just Dance game.
Also, people complain about the "Fox" song being in there. Look, I get it. It’s annoying. But in a party setting? It’s the highest-voted song almost every time. Ubisoft knows their audience. They aren't making a game for "serious" dancers; they’re making a game for people who want to laugh at themselves.
Actionable Takeaways for Modern Players
If you're looking to revisit this era, you have a few options, though it’s getting trickier.
- Check the Legacy: Most of the 2015 hits are now available on the modern "Just Dance+" subscription service. If you have the newest game, just search for "2015" and most of these will pop up.
- Find the Physical Disc: If you still have a Wii U, Xbox 360, or PS3, the physical discs are dirt cheap at local game stores. This is the only way to get the exact original UI experience without a subscription.
- The Phone App: Don't bother looking for the 2015 specific controller app—it's been updated a dozen times. Just use the current Just Dance Controller app; it's backwards compatible with most versions of the game.
- Master the "Trio" Dances: If you want a real challenge, grab two friends and learn the "Bang Bang" choreography. It’s still one of the most technically rewarding routines in the franchise’s history.
The 2015 song list wasn't just a list of tunes. It was a cultural snapshot. It was the year we transitioned from the old way of gaming to the new, connected, smartphone-driven era. And it did it while making us dance like idiots to a Tetris theme. You can't ask for more than that.
To get the most out of these tracks today, focus on the "Extreme" versions if you're a veteran. "It's My Birthday" and "Bang Bang" have alternate choreographies that will absolutely destroy your quads if you're not careful. Start with the standard versions to get the rhythm, then move up once you've stopped breathing like a marathon runner.
Check your local used game store for a copy of the disc if you want the native experience. The Wii version is surprisingly common and still holds up if you have a CRT or a good upscaler. For those on modern hardware, the Just Dance+ subscription is your best bet to access these tracks without digging a console out of the attic.