Fans Vote 'Stayin' Alive' by Bee Gees as History's Greatest Disco Song
Decades after the craze took the world by storm and then appeared to fade away, it now seems very clear that disco will never die. Since the genre is still deeply loved worldwide, fans have now had decades to passionately debate what the best disco song ever is. However, a fan vote named one 1977 track the greatest disco song of all time.
Who Ranked 'Stayin' Alive' by the Bee Gees as 'History's Greatest Disco Song?'
In September 2025, Ranker updated its article that allowed users to vote on what the best disco song is from a list of options that currently includes 85 tracks. Based on the results of that vote, "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees is "history's greatest disco song." Remarkably, it was followed by another Bee Gees song in the vote, "You Should Be Dancing."
It is very easy to see why the song won the vote since it undeniably is one of the most iconic disco songs ever released. In fact, it can easily be argued that it is among the most legendary songs of any genre. On top of that, "Stayin' Alive" has grown to define disco for many people, partially because Saturday Night Fever helped make it unforgettable. More importantly, the song has incredible harmonies, falsetto vocals that most listeners feel compelled to sing along with, and the perfect rhythm to strut or dance to.
In addition to Ranker users, other fans have also singled out "Stayin' Alive" as a true disco masterpiece. In May 2012, Rolling Stone reported that the song had won a poll of its readers to be named the "best disco song of all time." Similarly, a fan vote run by The Top Tens named the track the second "best disco song" ever.
Originally released on December 15, 1977, as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, "Stayin' Alive" became a huge hit. After debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 10, 1977, it hit No. 1 on February 4, 1978, and stayed on top for four weeks. Ultimately, the legendary track spent a total of 27 weeks on the chart.
Ranker Users' Top 10: "History's Greatest Disco Songs"
- No. 10 Donna Summer - "I Feel Love" (1977)
- No. 9 Chic - "Le Freak" (1978)
- No. 8 KC & the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)" (1975)
- No. 7 Michael Jackson - "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (1979)
- No. 6 Donna Summer - "Last Dance" (1978)
- No. 5 Bee Gees - "Night Fever" (1977)
- No. 4 Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive" (1978)
- No. 3 The Trammps - "Disco Inferno" (1976)
- No. 2 Bee Gees - "You Should Be Dancing" (1976)
- No. 1 Bee Gees - "Stayin' Alive" (1977)
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 2:50 PM.