The best swing songs are classic tunes that inspire listeners to dance the night away. This swing songs list includes some of the most iconic songs in American popular music history, performed by equally iconic artists ranging from the Glenn Miller Band to Duke Ellington to The Andrews Sisters. Â
The soulful, jazzy music of swing came to prominence in the mid-1930s, ushering in a style of music known for its carefree, upbeat tunes. At the height of its popularity, swing music – which remained popular through the early 1940s – was everywhere, encouraging Americans to jump, jive, boogie, Lindy Hop, and jitterbug.
You’ll notice that many of these famous swing songs are by artists associated with big band music. This style also rose to prominence during the swing era. That’s why you’ll find big band icons like Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw, and Tommy Dorsey listed here. Large orchestras were assembled to perform swing music, and while technically it can be considered jazz, there is much less improvisation going on.
Take a listen to these top swing songs, and enjoy the videos. You’ll likely find it’s hard to sit still. Get up, cut a rug, and then come back and vote for all your favorite songs!
Over 1.1K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Very Best Swing Songs
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