Dancing in the Dark is a 1984 song by Bruce Springsteen, released May 9, 1984 as the lead single from the album Born in the U.S.A. The 3:59 track blends dance-rock, synth-rock and pop, and was written in a single night after producer Jon Landau urged Springsteen to deliver a hit single, capturing his sense of isolation after The River era. It became the album’s biggest hit, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and helping Born in the U.S.A. become Springsteen’s best-selling album. The 12-inch Blaster Mix by Arthur Baker boosted club play, and the music video directed by Brian De Palma features Courteney Cox dancing on stage, winning MTV’s Best Stage Performance in 1985. The song earned Springsteen his first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1985 and is listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, with a later revival in 2024 when it re-entered the UK charts.
