Western party songs: popular party tunes recommended even for party-scene beginners

Cheers (Drink To That)Rihanna

Rihanna – Cheers (Drink To That)

Raise your glass and celebrate tonight! The perfect song for that mood is Rihanna’s party anthem.

Featured on her 2010 album Loud and released as a single in August 2011, it peaked at No.

7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Its catchy hook—sampling Avril Lavigne’s “I’m with You”—sticks in your head and begs to be sung along to.

The groove of the guitars blends seamlessly with Caribbean heat in the beat, letting you feel the weekend’s freedom with your whole body.

With its message of forgetting the bad stuff and toasting the night away, it’s an ideal pick to amp up a birthday party.

It’s also great when you want a chic, grown-up vibe or a lively celebration with friends!

BIRTHDAY DANCEJosh Levi

Josh Levi – BIRTHDAY DANCE [Official Music Video]

If you want to make a birthday bounce a little more, how about this number from Josh Levi? The Houston, Texas native first drew attention with his appearance on The X Factor USA Season 3, and he’s since become known for his multifaceted talent across singing, dancing, and acting—performing in a boy group and even lending his voice to the fictional band in Pixar’s Turning Red.

This track was included on his 2023 EP DISC TWO (SCRATCHED UP), and it spread widely on social media following the release of its music video in February 2024.

It’s a light, sparkling R&B dance tune that gives you a nudge to forget the reasons to dance—today’s a day to have fun.

Perfect for party background music or a surprise moment.

Cartooney Tunes (Incl. Happy Birthday)Video Kids

Video Kids – Cartooney Tunes (Incl. Happy Birthday)

Video Kids is a Dutch pop unit born from the wave of Euro disco that took Europe by storm in the 1980s.

They gained popularity with a distinctive style that blended light, synth- and drum machine-driven sounds with cartoonish comic sound effects and chants.

This track is included on their debut album, The Invasion of the Spacepeckers, released in December 1984, and its biggest charm lies in the incorporation of the famous birthday song phrase into its playfully cartoon-like melody.

The sparkling electronic tones—like spilling out the contents of a toy box—perfectly evoke the excitement of a birthday.

This piece is perfect as background music for a child’s birthday party, and is also recommended for anyone looking to liven up the atmosphere with a slightly unique song choice.

Japan 88Famous Dex, Keith Ape, Verbal

Famous Dex, Keith Ape, Verbal – Japan 88 (Official Music Video)

This unstoppable Chicago–Korea–Japan collab track comes from the label 88rising.

Verbal, as in the MC from m-flo! Famous Dex is a rapper who’s been on a roll in the US lately, and Keith Ape is a standout who made a name for himself through his collaboration with KOHH.

Wake Me UpAvicii

Avicii – Wake Me Up (Official Video)

A single released in 2013 by Swedish DJ Avicii.

It reached number one on the singles charts in more than 20 countries worldwide and ranked high on many nations’ year-end singles charts, making it one of the best-selling songs of 2013.