2014 was all about Festivals. With every DJ and artist boosting their fan base with the lure of high-production outdoor arenas, everyone walked away in 2014 happy. So many festivals added so many different dimensions in order to stand out as unique and creative. However, it always comes down to the music – for its at the festival that we embrace the true spirit of Dance Music as we find love and happiness in the people around us and in the music encompassing us.
As part of our ongoing series where we count down the best in 2014, we take a look at the best Festival anthems of the year. Here are the #Beatsof2014 and the Top Festival Anthems of 2014.
10. Bastille – Pompeii (Audien Remix)
That ‘Pompeii‘ was one of the years most adored tunes is a fact everyone can accept. For the festival attendees who were looking for a romantic euphoria, Audien did oblige. His impressive remix for Bastille‘s anthemic single is perhaps one of the most emotive festival tracks in the year and on this list.
8. Axwell /\ Ingrosso – Something New (Club Extended Mix)
Everyone wanted the Swedes to reunite. So when 2/3rds of the legendary Swedish House Mafia decided to join forces, we knew chart toppers would be expected. A fantastic world tour followed by an innovative DEP/\RT\/RES strategy of unveiling new tracks through their live performances, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso proved an unstoppable force in 2014. Their festivious ‘Something New’ caught plenty of television attention before it became a fan and festival favourite.
7. David Guetta feat Sam Martin – Dangerous (Original Mix)
In a year of extreme highs and lows, David Guetta kept it all about his music. A phenomenal artist album, mammoth collaborations and of course, ‘Dangerous‘. The popularity of the track can sum up Guetta’s year as it became the go to track for DJs when they saw their audiences dwindling at the festival performance. Guetta, in all sense of the word, is back!
6. Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike & Martin Garrix – Tremor (Original Mix)
Based on the number of times ‘Tremor‘ was dropped in festivals around the world, one may just conclude that this track had to make this list! The Belgian superduo or Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike joined forces with man-of-the-moment Martin Garrix to unleash one of the biggest tunes of the year – a track the Belgian brothers may have played more than their own curated Tomorrowland anthem!
5. Armin Van Buuren – Ping Pong (Original Mix)
Trust the king to give an unforgettable performance. The true beauty of this track lies in its visual experience, had you bore witness to any Armin performance this year. The wild waving of the arms, the oscillating ball as part of the visuals and the definitive acid break! ‘Ping Pong‘, as Armin would politely put, was a track curated for the festival experience and a magical one it was as at those colourful drops, everyone was ready with their arms raised, readily bouncing them around with glee on their faces.
4. Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman x Steve Angello – Payback (Original Mix)
2014 was a big year for SIZE Records. The record label celebrated its 10th year anniversary, released a host of some brilliant singles and won accolades all over for the quality of the music they’d been churning out. And one of the finest highlights of 2014 for SIZE was Payback. Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman were given a helping hand by SIZE bossman Steve Angello himself to produce a massive single that would go on to festival mainstage sets all over. The single was one of most Shazam-ed tracks at Tomorrowland 2014, and was a part of countless mashups that lit up festivals all around the world.
3. DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn Down for What (Original Mix)
Trap as a genre has been apprehensively accepted by Dance music purists, but if anyone showed its true spirit as an equal measure of any other genre under the EDM umbrella, it would be DJ Snake. His collaboration with hip-hop mogul Lil Jon ‘Turn Down For What‘ was undeniably one of the years biggest anthems, with countless memes and remakes! The track was followed by an even more insane music video, which only shower the intense power that the breakdown unleashed – and rightfully so, nobody is going to turn down from a dancefloor showdown. A consistent presence on the festival circuit, this monster cements its position on this list at number 3.
2. ZHU – Faded (Original Mix)
An artist who rose literally from obscurity to take the Dance music universe by storm, ZHU’s exceptional year can be summed up by the phenomenal success of ‘Faded‘. The choice to remain faceless and draw all the attention to his alluring music, the future-house garage-funk Nightday EP was one of the years unexpected highlights with praise coming from fans and critics alike. Ending the year with a fantastic sold out performance, it was those ultra-romantic bass stabs of ‘Faded‘ that will make this year, the year about ZHU.
1. Calvin Harris – Summer (Original Mix)
There really was no challenger here. Calvin Harris has just had one of those years, dreams are made of. A massive album release, a record breaking streak, becoming the highest earning DJ and property on Beverly Hills – 2014 couldn’t have been more promising for the Scottish powerhouse producer. His summer anthem, of the same name, proved to be the years top track as it was played profusely over sets at every festival. Its unique sound style fit it into a celebratory Festival set or an easy going progressive house performance as well, ‘Summer‘ was Harris‘ ultimate dominion over Dance floor supremacy, as the legendary producer notched up high praise and acclaim from his legion of fans across the world.
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