Main content

Your essential guide to the very best in dance and electronic music from the year 2008!

Join Pete Tong for another deep dive into the Essential History of Dance Music, rewinding to the year 2008 - when Beyoncé married Jay-Z, Breaking Bad hit TV screens and dance floors around the world were shaking to a brand new wave of electronic sounds.

Pete spins the biggest anthems and underground gems that defined the year. Expect memories from Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Maidstone, the rise of Indie Dance, and a special rewind to Deadmau5’s debut Essential Mix from 2008.

Plus, Pete’s top Essential New Tunes of the year, massive drum & bass moments from Chase & Status, Sub Focus and DJ Fresh, and the sounds that shaped the clubs, festivals and afterparties of a truly iconic era.

Produced by We Are Grape for BBC Radio 1 Dance.

11 months left to listen

2 hours

On radio

Tuesday18:00
BBC Radio 1 Dance

More episodes

Previous

The Year 2007

Next

The year 2009

See all episodes from Pete Tong's Essential History of Dance

Music Played

  • Eric Prydz

    Pjanoo

    • Data.

  • Kid Cudi vs Crookers

    Day 'N' Nite

    • Fool's Gold Records.

  • Utah Saints

    Something Good '08

    • Modular Records.

  • Dizzee Rascal

    Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome)

    • Dirtee Stank.

  • Pendulum

    Propane Nightmares / Slam (Live from Radio 1's Big Weekend Maidstone 2008)

  • Empire of the Sun

    Walking On A Dream

    • Walking On A Dream.
    • Virgin.
    • 2.

  • Justice

    The Party (feat. Uffie)

    • Ed Banger.

  • The Juan MacLean

    Happy House

    • DFA Records.

  • MGMT

    Kids (Soulwax Remix)

    Remix Artist: Soulwax.
    • Lektroluv.

  • Friendly Fires

    Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

    Remix Artist: Aeroplane.
    • XL Recordings.

  • Hot Chip & Jesse Rose

    Ready For The Floor (Jesse Rose Remix)

    • ITH (Defected In The House).

  • Pryda

    Rakfunk

    • Pryda Recordings.

  • Mark Knight & Funkagenda

    Man With The Red Face

    • Toolroom.

  • Benga & Coki

    Night

    • Tempa.

  • The Prodigy

    Invaders Must Die

    • Take Me To The Hospital.

  • Hercules & Love Affair & Frankie Knuckles

    Blind (Frankie Knuckles remix)

    • DFA/EMI.

  • SIS

    Trompeta

    • Sei Es Drum.

  • The Chemical Brothers

    Midnight Madness

    • Virgin.

  • DJ Mujava

    Township Funk

    • Township Funk.
    • Warp Records.
    • 1.

  • Afefe Iku

    Mirror Dance

    • Yoruba.

  • Little Boots

    Stuck On Repeat (Fake Blood Mix)

    Remix Artist: Fake Blood.
    • On Repeat.

  • DJ Fresh

    Gold Dust (feat. Ms. Dynamite)

    • Nextlevelism.
    • Ministry Of Sound Recordings Ltd.
    • 8.

  • Chase & Status

    Pieces (feat. Plan B)

    • RAM.

  • Sub Focus

    Timewarp

    • RAM.

  • John Dahlbäck

    Pyramid

    • Pickadoll.

  • deadmau5

    Faxing Berlin

    • Play Records.

  • Morgan Page

    The Longest Road (Acappella) (feat. Lissie)

    • Nettwerk.

  • deadmau5 & Kaskade

    I Remember

    • Mau5trap.

  • deadmau5

    Arguru (Piano Acoustic Version)

    • Songbird.

  • deadmau5

    Alone With You

    • Mau5trap.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 15 Nov 202519:00
    BBC Radio 1 Dance
  • Sun 14 Dec 202519:00
    BBC Radio 1 Dance
  • Tuesday18:00
    BBC Radio 1 Dance