The millennium year brought us some of the most timeless dance records of the last two decades, a firm nod to dance music’s effortless ability of being nothing less than a timeless genre. As this year marks the 20th birthday of some of clubland’s most iconic records, and a few Defected classics, we thought it would only be right to take a look back at some of the most unforgettable tracks of the year 2000. 

Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

When Modjo burst onto the scene with their debut release on Maison Barclay’s Sound Of Barclay imprint, no one expected the far-reaching influence this 2000 classic would have. Still a regular on dancefloors every weekend, you can’t help but smile when this comes through the speakers.

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – Intro

A record you may not by name but will have certainly danced to more than a few times, the irresistible lilting beat and swirling vocals on 'Intro' are unmistakable. 

Daft Punk - One More Time

No introduction needed, perhaps one of the biggest cross-over club records of the last two decades.

ATFC featuring Lisa Millett - Bad Habit

The 1999 floor filler was part of the epitome of early 2000’s vocal house, sampling vocal elements from Chaka Khan’s 1981 ‘I Know You, I Live You’. 

Bob Sinclar - I Feel For You

Released at the beginning of the new millennium, Bob Sinclar’s disco-infused track ‘I Feel For You’ became an infectious hit, soaring into the UK top 10. 

Johnny Corporate - Sunday Shoutin’

When it comes to the real deal in underground club anthems, it doesn’t get more genuine than Johnny Corporate’s 2000 track ‘Sunday Shoutin’. 

Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)

A match made in house music heaven, Italian producer Spiller’s 2000 timeless anthem ‘Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)’ features the unmistakable vocals of Sophie Ellis-Bexter.

EBTG vs. Soul Vision - Tracey In My Room

When Everything But The Girl teamed up with Sandy Rivera and José Burgos’ Soul Vision outfit the pair were destined for house harmony, and few records since ‘Tracey In My Room’ have managed to capture the quintessential Balearic sound quite like this one.

Afro Medusa – Pasilda

Another house track with heavy Latin house influences, Pasilda is a record with a lifetime guarantee to get the floor moving and give the crowd goosebumps when the drop comes in.

Junior Jack - My Feeling

The irresistible disco track ‘My Feeling’ was Italian-Belgian house producer Junior Jack’s debut single, and went on to become nothing less than a club anthem.

Cleptomaniacs - All I Do

You’d have to be a cleptomaniac to mess with Stevie Wonder, but that’s exactly what the Soulfuric crew of Brian Tappert, John Julius Knight and Marc Pomeroy did with their cheeky 2001 remake of ‘All I Do’. 

King Unique - Love Is What You Need (Look Ahead)

The 2000 club-ready anthem, ‘Love Is What You Need (Look Ahead)’ showcased King Unique’s impeccable taste for classic house with a disco edge. 

Hatiras - Spaced Invader

Toronto Producer and DJ Hatiras demonstrates an effortless mix of energy driven house and disco in his anthem ‘Spaced Invader’, which features vocals from Basement Jaxx’s Slarta John. 

Ministers De La Funk featuring Jocelyn Brown - Believe

Released by Defected in 2000, the uplifting hit ‘Believe’ is an effortless blend of house and disco accompanied by the timeless vocals of none other than dance diva Jocelyn Brown. 

Black Legend - You See The Trouble With Me

Italian duo Black Legend’s 2000 anthem ‘You See The Trouble With Me’ combined house with an infectious soulful sound, paying homage to the late legendary vocalist Barry White. 

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Superfunk featuring Ron Carroll - Lucky Star

A groove-laden dancefloor gem, Ron Carroll’s soulful vocals take this record to the next level and cement its place in the dance music hall of fame.

Laurent Garnier - Man With The Red Face

Still one of the most essential names in dance music, Laurent Garnier offers a masterclass in production with the atmospheric subtleties of ‘Man With The Red Face’, still sounding modern and fresh 20 years since its release.

Barbara Tucker feat Darryl D'Bonneau - Stop Playing With My Mind

One of the most formidable powerhouse vocals of house music, Barbara Tucker has been delivering heavy doses of soul to club tracks throughout her entire career. With so many amazing mixes of ‘Stop Playing With My Mind’ it’s hard to chose just one, but here we’ve gone with the Full Intention boys’ storming club mix.

St. Germain - Rose Rouge

Taken from the critically acclaimed album ‘Tourist’, St. Germain’s ‘Rose Rouge’ unmistakable sax and horn breaks paired with an tension-building bassline and elegant percussion give the track its timeless quality. 

Derrick Carter - Do You Believe

With sounds as fresh as this, its hard to believe that ‘Do You Believe’ was produced two decades ago, but with Chicago master Derrick Carter behind the track, it all makes sense.

Ann Nesby - Love Is What We Need (Mousse T’s Love Remix)

A list of club classics would be incomplete without input from one of dance music’s most loved characters Mousse T., here turning his hand to Ann Nesby’s ‘Love Is What We Need’.

Africanism - Bisou Surcre

Two house music legends Bob Sinclair and DJ Gregory don their Africanism alias for ‘Bisou Sucre’, as expertly placed drum-breaks, lilting keys and a grooving bassline come together to make dancefloor dynamite. 

Kerri Chandler - Rain

Closing out with one of the greats, the deep, jazzy, soulful, ‘Rain’ is a record you can lose yourself in, an eight-minute masterpiece from an artist that still remains high-in-demand twenty years later.  

Words: Tayo Andoh & Lucy St John

Check out all these tracks and more in Defected's Best House and Club Track playlist on Spotify...