Songs you can dance to around the campfire. A roundup of recommended tracks for dancing.
A campfire is essential for nights during camping and outdoor activities.
A campfire gradually grows from the start, reaches an exciting peak, and then settles into a calm mood toward the end—that transition is one of its true charms.
And it’s not just about watching the flames; people often sing songs and dance as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended songs to dance to around the campfire.
We’ve gathered classic campfire tunes, folk dance songs, and even popular J-pop hits—use this as a handy reference.
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Songs you can dance to around a campfire: Recommended dance tracks (21–30)
Let’s go hunt wild beasts.
A slightly heart-pounding “Let’s Go Hunt Wild Beasts” to play at camp.
Following the leader, everyone sings along at first while striking poses as if holding weapons to hunt the beast.
Partway through, when the leader suddenly cries out in surprise, the wild beast finally appears! After the shout, form teams with the same number of people as the number of syllables/characters in the beast’s name.
For example, if it’s “lion,” you’ll need a team of four.
If you fail to form a team and sit down in time, you get eaten by the beast and you’re out.
It’s a game that lets you enjoy both dancing and gameplay.
KICK&SLIDESandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
A track by Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS, who lead Japan’s dance and vocal group scene.
It serves as the theme song for the kids’ anime “KICK & SLIDE,” which features the group’s members as chibi-style characters.
It’s an upbeat dance tune that kicks off with whistling.
Be sure to check out the simple choreography video on YouTube, where member Naoki Kobayashi dances together with children! The moves aren’t difficult, so why not learn them with everyone and show them off around the campfire?
CharacterRyokushokushakai
A song by the four-piece pop-rock band Ryokuoushoku Shakai, released digitally on January 21, 2022.
It was also featured in a Morinaga in Jelly commercial and drew attention as a song cheering on exam takers.
The songwriting and composition were handled by all four members, resulting in a pop tune that directly conveys the message: everyone needs you, and it’s okay to love yourself.
Just hearing the intro makes your body move naturally to the upbeat rhythm! At the campfire, let each person’s character shine—dance and sing freely.
PERFECT HUMANRADIO FISH
RADIO FISH, the group behind the wildly popular EDM party tune loved at school sports festivals, delivers confident, addictive tracks that blend playfulness and humor into a new era of dance music.
Their powerful performances—crafted by a uniquely talented lineup—and their brisk, catchy lyrics make everyone from kids to adults want to get up and dance.
Released in December 2015, this song was performed at the 67th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen the following year, catapulting it to explosive popularity.
While portraying leader Atsuhiko Nakata as a flawless figure, it unfolds a poppy, comical worldview.
It’s the perfect track for getting a crowd hyped at sports days or dance events.
Move your body with full energy as one, and you’ll create wonderful memories filled with smiles!
MATSURIBAYASHIKEYTALK
MATSURIBAYASHI is an energetic, high-speed festival anthem by KEYTALK, a four-piece rock band from Shimokitazawa.
It’s the perfect track to boost the mood at a campsite or to heat up dance time around the campfire.
This song shines with each member’s unique flair colliding—despite being an all-out party tune, it’s packed with highlights like the twin vocals, bass lines, and guitar solos.
Learn the choreography for the so-called “BON DANCE,” a twist on the traditional Bon Odori, and hype it up with your friends at the campfire—you’re sure to make a summer memory to remember!
RydeenYellow Magic Orchestra
A masterpiece released by Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1980.
Although it’s an instrumental, its imaginative sound captivated listeners around the world and helped ignite Japan’s technopop boom.
You can feel YMO’s creativity everywhere—in the unique timbre of the A section, the horse-hoof sounds in the C section, and the sound effects.
The anecdote that the piece was born from a conversation around a kotatsu is also memorable.
The sound design using Haruomi Hosono’s Korg PS-3100 and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s ARP Odyssey is superb.
Composed by Yukihiro Takahashi and arranged by all the members, it boasts exceptional polish.
It’s a quintessential YMO track that every music fan should hear at least once.
Why not let yourself dance to it around a campfire? It’s sure to become a wonderful memory.
Oh! Susanna
If you want to dance lightly to a song with a Western vibe, “Oh! Susanna” is a great choice.
It was written by Stephen Foster, an American composer active in the mid-19th century, and is also known as a minstrel song that reflected society at the time.
The sound of the banjo, marked by a polka beat, rings out with a refreshing tone.
Its humorous, festive feel makes it perfect for camping with adults, too! Why not try a cheerful folk dance by the glow of the fire at night?
Matsuken Samba IIMatsudaira Ken
Matsuken—actor and singer Ken Matsudaira—performs the festive dance number “Matsuken Samba II” dressed in a feudal lord’s costume.
The song originally featured in Matsudaira’s kayō (popular song) shows and the stage version of “Abarenbo Shogun.” The glamorous costumes—like club-style mirror balls and glitter-adorned kimonos—became a hot topic and sparked a huge boom! It’s a fun number to sing and dance to in a big group, so it’s perfect for a campfire night.
The choreography isn’t too difficult, and anyone can enjoy dancing it!
paprikaFoorin
Paprika, a song by the elementary and middle school music unit Foorin produced by Kenshi Yonezu, became a social phenomenon.
Released on CD on August 15, 2018 as the NHK 2020 Support Song, it slowly gained popularity and went on to become a long-running hit in 2019.
Tons of dance videos have been posted, and it’s hugely popular because even little kids can dance to it easily! With its pop and cute vibe, sing and dance along to liven up your campfire night!
Haizuka
As an idea for enjoying the time waiting for a campfire to grow, I’d like to introduce “Haizuka.” Haizuka is a dance you do while waiting for the fire to get bigger.
The movements are simple: choreography where you raise one arm and move forward like hopping on the opposite foot, along with a dynamic motion of thrusting your fist upward.
You repeat these two movements while singing.
Dancing together builds a sense of unity, and it’s also perfect for warming up your body.
