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Dance Again... the Hits
Dance Again... the Hits
Dance Again... the Hits
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Dance Again... the Hits
Greatest hits album by
Jennifer Lopez
ReleasedJuly 20, 2012 (2012-07-20)
Recorded1998–2012
Genre
Length52:07
LabelEpic
Producer
Jennifer Lopez chronology
Love?
(2011) 		Dance Again... the Hits
(2012) 		A.K.A.
(2014)
Singles from Dance Again... the Hits
  1. "Dance Again"
    Released: April 2, 2012

Dance Again... the Hits is the first greatest hits album of American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on July 20, 2012, by Epic Records, to coincide with the launch of her first world tour, the Dance Again World Tour. Lopez previously conceived plans for a greatest hits album in 2009, but instead opted to use the material recorded for her seventh studio album, Love? (2011), which was released by Island Records in May 2011 after her departure from Epic Records in 2010. As Lopez owed the label one last album to fulfill her contract, she began work on a new greatest hits album in November 2011. She later became unsure whether she wanted to go along with plans to release a greatest hits album or a new studio album, eventually deciding on the former.

Dance Again... the Hits comprises eleven previously released tracks, and two new recordings: "Dance Again" and "Goin' In". A deluxe edition of the album was also released, featuring three additional previously released tracks, and a DVD featuring a selection of eleven music videos. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised it as a reflection of Lopez's success. Some critics expressed their disappointment in the absence of several successful singles, but deemed this as impressive, noting that this may have been due to the large volume of hit singles she has released over the years. Dance Again... The Hits was a moderate commercial success, peaking within the top ten in fourteen national charts, and the top twenty in ten national charts.

Background and development

[edit]
L.A. Reid signed Lopez to Island Records after her departure from Epic Records. He then left Island to head Epic.

Following the commercial failure of her sixth studio album Brave (2007)—and while pregnant with twins Max and Emme—Lopez began working on new music for a future project in 2008.[1] The project was kept under wraps until February 2009 when a new song from the recording sessions titled "Hooked on You" leaked online.[2] Following the leak of "Hooked on You", "One Love" and "What Is Love?" were subsequently leaked online in May. The leaked songs were, at the time, meant to appear on a greatest hits album that later turned into a studio album.[3]

"Louboutins", a song written and produced by The-Dream and C. "Tricky" Stewart, was released as the lead single from her seventh studio album, Love?, in November 2009.[4] However, upon release, the song failed to garner enough airplay to chart, despite topping the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Lopez subsequently left Epic Records in February 2010, citing that she had fulfilled her contractual obligations and now wished to release Love? under a new label.[5] Her departure from the label temporarily halted production on the album, however upon signing a new contract with Island Records, recording resumed on the album.[6] The New York Daily News revealed that Lopez would be taking some of the records recorded under Epic Records to Island Records so that they could be included on the album.[7]

"On the Floor", Lopez's first single with the label, was released in February 2011. The song topped the charts across the globe, becoming one of the most successful singles of the year.[8] Following the release of "On the Floor", Love? produced two moderately successful singles: "I'm Into You" and "Papi", both of which topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Love? itself was a moderate commercial success and was viewed as a humble comeback from Lopez, as many had considered her recording career over.[9] It was announced in November that Lopez was again working on new material for a greatest hits album.[10][11][12] The following month, Lopez revealed that she had been playing some of her new music for L.A. Reid, who signed her to Island Records and left the label to become the CEO and chairman of Epic Records.[13] This led further speculation that Lopez had moved back to Epic Records, which was first reported in July.[14] The reports were later confirmed untrue, as Lopez was back with Epic Records because she owed the label one final album to end her contract, despite previously announcing that she had fulfilled her contract with them.[15]

New material

[edit]
Lopez begged Enrique Iglesias to let her record "Dance Again", telling him that it was "her song".[16][17]

Lopez began working on a "collection of songs" in 2011, unaware of what she was "going to do with them".[16] At the time, she was deciding whether she wanted to release a greatest hits album or a new studio album.[16] Lopez stated that when it comes time to make an album, she doesn't sit down and write for the entire thing. She revealed that she is always working on new music and that her albums "happen organically" when she has recorded enough material. Lopez explained: "I don't ever stop. I keep going with it. These records, like 'Follow the Leader,' [a collaboration with Puerto Rican duo Wisin & Yandel] they just kind of came about. It wasn't something like, 'Oh, I'm going to sit down and make a record right now.'"[15] Among the songs she recorded, two were chosen to be included on Dance Again... The Hits: "Dance Again" and "Goin' In".[18]

The album's title and opening track, "Dance Again", was written by RedOne, Enrique Iglesias, Bilal "The Chef", AJ Junior and Pitbull, who is also featured in the song.[18] After hearing a demo version of the track, she begged Iglesias to let her record the song, telling him that it was "her song".[16][17] Lopez, who was going through a divorce with Marc Anthony and the "breakup of a family", felt as if the song had come to her at the "perfect moment".[16][17] According to Lopez, the period was devastating because family is very important to her.[17] Lopez revealed: "I had to turn that into something better"; she thought: "I don't want to just survive it, I want to come out better than that." Lopez didn't want to be "the woman who stayed in bed for months".[17] "I knew I had to get through it. I'd dance every day, I'd work out, I'd say a little prayer and I still wouldn't feel any better. Then I'd go to bed and get up the next day and do it all again. It was a process, and it very gradually got a little easier ... I had to do it for my kids. I had to get through it for them."[17] She re-wrote parts of the verses to better relate to her experiences.[16] The song "helped lift her out of the darkness" and gave her hope again.[17] Looking back on the song in December 2012, Lopez stated that: "'Dance Again' became my anthem ... an expression of what I needed to do at that time in my life and for what I was taking on with [my career]. It was a beautiful metaphor that became my reality."[17]

Lopez's vocals for "Dance Again" were arranged by RedOne and produced by Kuk Harrell. They were recorded at Pinky's Palace. Pitbull's vocals were recorded by Al Burna at Al Burna Studios, Miami, Florida. Chris "Tek" O'Ryan and Trevor Muzzy handled audio engineering of the song, with assistance from Anthony Falcone and Peter Mack. O'Ryan and Trevor Muzzy were in charge of vocal editing. All instruments in the song were played and programmed by RedOne, who also produced the song. The song was later mixed by Trevor Muzzy.[18] In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Lopez revealed that she loved being able to collaborate with RedOne and Pitbull again. She stated: "We had a great chemistry the last time, and it was like 'We're going to have to do something again.' And this was the perfect song. I love the message of the song. That when something bad happens, your life is not over. You have to get up. You're gonna live. You're gonna to be okay. You're gonna dance again."[16]

"Goin' In" was written by Michael Warren, Jamahl Listenbee, Joseph Angel, Coleridge Tillman, David Quiñones and Tramar Dillard. Lopez's vocals were produced by Harrell and recorded at Pinky's Palace. Josh Gudwin and O'Ryan handled audio engineering of the song, with assistance from Falcone and Mack. The song features additional vocals from American rapper Lil Jon. GoonRock produced and later mixed the song alongside Kenny Moran at The House on the Hill Studios in Los Angeles, California.[18] Of GoonRock, Lopez commented by stating that he is "very forward with his sound". After recording her vocals for the song, Flo Rida recorded a rap verse for the song. Those involved in the production of the song were extremely happy with the song before Flo Rida's rap appeared on it, but once his vocals were on the song it "took it over the top top".[15] When choosing who she wanted to feature on the song, Lopez had several other rappers in mind, such as Big Sean. Lopez revealed: "We had a couple of people who said yes, that they would get on it, but [Flo Rida] just seemed like the perfect one." She further explained that the style of the song "really fit Flo Rida"; "It was half-dance, but half kind of hard too."[19]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[21]
Digital SpyStarStarStarStar[22]
Slant MagazineStarStarStarHalf star[23]
SputnikmusicStarStar[24]

Dance Again... The Hits received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on four reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[20] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote that the "most immediately striking thing" about the compilation is "just how many hits [she] has racked up over the years".[23] "So many, in fact, that there's a hefty handful of singles missing from the standard edition of the album", using her number-one single "All I Have" as an example of this.[23] He stated that Lopez's "output has been nothing if not on trend", and that Dance Again... The Hits plays not only as a chronicle of her music career, but of "pop music as a whole since just before the turn of the century", with genres spanning Latin pop, dance, and R&B.[23] According to Cinquemani, the album also serves as a "historical record" of who the rappers du jour were "over the last dozen years or so", from Big Pun, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, and Lil Wayne.[23] He concluded by stating that if the compilation "proves anything" it's that Lopez is, "if not the queen, then at least the duchess of reinvention and should never be counted out".[23]

Michael Cragg of BBC Music wrote that it's "surprising that she hadn't unleashed a hits collection before now given that she's what you might politely call a 'singles artist'".[25] He questioned the song choices, writing that the person who made the decision to not include "Papi" needs to have a "long, hard look in the mirror", although it's "hard to argue with most of what's on offer", Lopez "slipping effortlessly into different guises with each song".[25] He concluded by stating that: "A cipher for good songs rather than the reasons those songs are good she may be, but there are few that do it better".[25] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy too questioned the decisions of which songs appeared on the album, but wrote that: "the very fact that she can't fit all her classics on to one disc can be seen as nothing more than a testament to her enduring career".[22] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine pointed out that Lopez's other well or moderately charted songs such as "Play", "I'm Gonna Be Alright", "I'm Glad", and "Hold You Down" were not present on the compilation, while also writing that her older hits did not fit neatly with her newer songs and that its sequencing was "scattershot". Erlewine, nonetheless, said that "[the album] does have the familiar tunes, so it serves its purpose".[21]

Irving Tan of Sputnikmusic put Dance Again... The Hits into the category of a greatest hits album that "you get facial brickbat of moderate-to-raw disappointment at the discovery of how thin and forced the artist's discography really is".[24] He wrote that having another artist featured on nine of the thirteen tracks "gives the impression that as a product, having Jennifer Lopez alone is simply not enough".[24] He further criticized the decision to include the Murder remixes of "Ain't It Funny" and "I'm Real" over the original studio versions, stating that it was almost like "Sony Music held their hands up and admitted that the initial cuts that they published simply weren't up to scratch".[24] Tan concluded that for a greatest hits album, the track listing is "simply all over the place", with no indication that the record executives or Lopez "looked around for a logical start" or an "easy access ramp to her seven-album canon".[24]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Dance Again... the Hits enjoyed moderate commercial success in the United States, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard 200 the week of its debut with sales of 14,000 copies.[26] The album performed better on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums component chart, where it managed to reach number six.[27] After a month, the album had sold 38,000 copies in the United States.[28] As of December 2012, Dance Again... the Hits is Lopez's second lowest charting effort in the country; only The Reel Me achieved a lower chart position in 2003, peaking at number 69.[29] On the UK Albums Chart, Dance Again... the Hits debuted at number four with sales of 9,213 copies in its first week of release,[30] matching the peak of J to Tha L-O!: The Remixes in that country.[31] As of July 2020 the album has sold 126,000 Copies in the United States [32]

Overseas, Dance Again... the Hits performed well in most music markets, reaching the top ten in fourteen national charts, five of which were in the first five positions. Its highest position came from the Canadian Albums chart, where the album achieved number three.[33] The album reached the same peak on the Italian Albums chart.[34] Other countries where the album managed to score a high peak were Spain (number five),[35] the Czech Republic (number six) and Switzerland (number seven).[36][37] In France, the album debuted at number 12 and spent 10 weeks in the French Albums Chart, becoming her last studio album to miss the top ten until her last two studio albums, A.K.A. (2014) and This Is Me...Now (2024).[38] On the Australian Albums Chart, the album had a moderate commercial performance, reaching number 20;[39] her previous compilation album, J to tha L–O! The Remixes, achieved a higher position of number 11.[40] In Latin America, the album appeared on the Mexican Album chart, reaching a peak of number 10.[41]

Track listing

[edit]
Dance Again... the Hits – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Dance Again" (featuring Pitbull)
3:57
2."Goin' In" (featuring Flo Rida)
4:09
3."I'm Into You" (featuring Lil Wayne)
3:20
4."On the Floor" (featuring Pitbull)
  • RedOne
  • Kinda Hamid
  • Junior
  • Teddy Sky
  • Bilal "The Chef"
  • Perez
  • Gonzalo Hermosa
  • Ulises Hermosa
  • RedOne
  • Harrell[a]
4:46
5."Love Don't Cost a Thing"
  • Damon Sharpe
  • Greg Lawson
  • Georgette Franklin
  • Jeremy Monroe
  • Amille D. Harris
3:42
6."If You Had My Love"
4:25
7."Waiting for Tonight"
  • Wake
  • Jones
  • Dave Scheuer
4:06
8."Get Right" (featuring Fabolous)
  • Harrison
  • Rooney[c]
3:51
9."Jenny from the Block" (Track Masters Remix featuring Styles P. and Jadakiss)
3:09
10."I'm Real (Murder Remix)" (featuring Ja Rule)
4:18
11."Do It Well"
  • Rooney
  • Tedder
3:08
12."Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" (featuring Ja Rule and Caddillac Tah)
  • Irv Gotti
  • 7
3:51
13."Feelin' So Good" (featuring Big Pun and Fat Joe)
5:25
Total length:52:07
Dance Again... the Hits – Japanese edition (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Dance Again" (featuring Pitbull) (DJ Chus Iberican Mix)
  • RedOne
  • Iglesias
  • Bilal "The Chef"
  • Junior
  • Perez
  • RedOne
  • Harrell[a]
  • DJ Chusix[c]
7:56
Total length:60:03
Dance Again... the Hits – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."All I Have" (featuring LL Cool J)
  • Rooney
  • Ron G.
  • McPherson
4:17
15."Qué Hiciste"
  • Anthony
  • Reyes
4:58
16."Let's Get Loud"
3:58
Total length:65:20
Dance Again... the Hits – Japanese deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Dance Again" (featuring Pitbull) (DJ Chus Iberican Mix)
  • RedOne
  • Iglesias
  • Bilal "The Chef"
  • Junior
  • Perez
  • RedOne
  • Harrell[a]
  • DJ Chusix[c]
7:56
Total length:73:16
Dance Again... the Hits – iTunes Store deluxe edition (bonus videos)
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
17."Love Don't Cost a Thing" (music video)Dave Meyers5:07
18."If You Had My Love" (music video)Paul Hunter5:29
19."Feelin' So Good" (featuring Big Pun and Fat Joe) (music video)Hunter5:36
Dance Again... the Hits – Deluxe edition (DVD)
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Dance Again" (featuring Pitbull)Hunter4:27
2."On the Floor" (featuring Pitbull)TAJ Stansberry4:27
3."Love Don't Cost a Thing"Meyers5:08
4."If You Had My Love"Hunter5:30
5."Waiting for Tonight"Francis Lawrence4:10
6."Get Right"Lawrence5:05
7."Jenny from the Block"Lawrence4:05
8."I'm Real (Murder Remix)" (featuring Ja Rule)Meyers4:05
9."Do It Well"David LaChapelle3:19
10."Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" (featuring Ja Rule and Caddillac Tah)Cris Judd3:52
11."Feelin' So Good" (featuring Big Pun and Fat Joe)Hunter5:37

Notes

  • ^a signifies a vocal producer
  • ^b signifies an executive producer
  • ^c signifies a remixer
  • Despite the original On the 6 album version being used, "Feelin' So Good" is subtitled as a "remix" on Dance Again… the Hits.

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits for Dance Again... the Hits adapted from AllMusic.[21]

  • Josie Aiello – background vocals
  • Mert Alas – photography
  • Justin Angel – background vocals
  • Jim Annunziato – mixing, vocal engineer
  • Tom Barney – bass
  • Jane Barrett – background vocals
  • Scotty Beatz – engineer
  • Big Pun – vocals
  • B-Money – scratching
  • Al Burna – engineer, vocal engineer
  • Michael "Banger" Cadahia – vocal engineer
  • Caddillac Tah – vocals
  • Maria Christiansen – background vocals
  • Sean "Puffy" Combs – producer
  • Margret Dorn – background vocals
  • Ashanti Douglas – background vocals
  • Tony Duran – photography
  • Mikkel S. Eriksen – engineer, instrumentation
  • Fabolous – vocals
  • Fat Joe – featured artist
  • Jose Fernando – vocals
  • Flo Rida – vocals
  • Alessandro Giulini – accordion
  • Larry Gold – arranger, conductor
  • GoMillion – photography
  • GoonRock – mixing, producer
  • Irv Gotti – mixing, producer
  • Franklyn Grant – engineer
  • Josh Gudwin – engineer, vocal engineer
  • Kuk Harrell – producer, vocal arrangement, vocal editing, vocal engineer, vocal producer, background vocals
  • Shawnyette Harrell – background vocals
  • Rich Harrison – producer
  • Alexei Hay – photography
  • Tor Erik Hermansen – instrumentation
  • Dan Hetzel – engineer, mixing
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
  • Ja Rule – vocals
  • Jadakiss – vocals
  • Jim Janik – mixing
  • Rodney Jerkins – producer
  • Richie Jones – arranger, drums, mixing, percussion, producer, programming, remixing
  • Jennifer Karr – background vocals
  • Peter Wade Keusch – engineer
  • Eric Kupper – keyboards
  • Dave Kutch – mastering
  • Greg Lawson – arranger
  • Damien Lewis – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Lil Jon – vocals
  • Lil Wayne – featured artist
  • Jennifer Lopez – vocals
  • Peter Mack – assistant
  • Bill Makina – programming
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Milwaukee Buck – engineer
  • Chieli Minucci – guitar
  • Kenny Moran – mixing
  • Trevor Muzzy – engineer, mixing, vocal editing
  • Troy Oliver – drum programming, producer
  • Jeanette Olsson – background vocals
  • Chris "Tek" O'Ryan – engineer, vocal editing
  • Marty Osterer – bass
  • Julian Peploe – art direction, design
  • Wendy Peterson – background vocals
  • Marcus Piggott – photography
  • Pitbull – vocals
  • Poke and Tone – producer
  • Prince Charles – engineer, mixing
  • Rita Quintero – background vocals
  • Natasha Ramos – background vocals
  • RedOne – engineer, instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal arrangement, vocal editing, vocal producer
  • Julio Reyes – engineer
  • Cory Rooney – engineer, producer, remixing
  • Marc Russell – assistant producer
  • Dave Scheuer – arranger, engineer, producer
  • Brian Springer – engineer, mixing
  • Stargate – producer
  • Styles P – vocals
  • Bruce Swedien – engineer
  • David Swope – engineer
  • Phil Tan – mixing
  • Ryan Tedder – engineer, producer
  • Michael Thompson – photography
  • Ric Wake – arranger, producer
  • Miles Walker – engineer
  • Robb Williams – engineer
  • Thomas R. Yezzi – engineer

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] Gold 7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Platinum 300,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Edition Label Ref.
Germany July 20, 2012
  • Standard (CD)
  • deluxe (CD+DVD)
 Sony [65]
Netherlands [66]
France July 23, 2012 RCA [67]
United Kingdom [68]
Canada July 24, 2012 Sony [69]
United States Epic [70]
Australia July 27, 2012 Deluxe (CD+DVD) Sony [71]
Japan August 1, 2012
  • Standard (CD)
  • deluxe (CD+DVD)
 [72]
Australia September 28, 2012 Standard (CD) [73]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dance Again... the Hits

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dance Again... the Hits is the first greatest hits album by American singer and actress , released on July 24, 2012, by . The compilation includes twelve of her signature singles from throughout her music career, such as "On the Floor," "," "Love Don't Cost a Thing," and "," as well as two newly recorded songs: "" featuring Pitbull and "" featuring . Deluxe editions of the album also incorporate additional tracks like "All I Have," "Qué Hiciste," and "," along with a bonus DVD featuring eleven music videos. The album serves as a retrospective of Lopez's pop and dance hits, spanning her debut album On the 6 (1999) to her seventh studio album Love? (2011), highlighting her evolution as a dance-pop artist with Latin influences. "Dance Again," the lead single, became a commercial success, peaking at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top ten in several countries including Canada, while topping charts in countries such as South Korea. Similarly, "Goin' In" charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, underscoring Lopez's continued dominance in the dance music genre. Commercially, Dance Again... the Hits experienced moderate success worldwide, debuting at number 20 on the US with first-week sales of 14,000 copies. It reached the top ten in fourteen countries, including a peak of number 3 in and number 4 on the with initial sales of 9,213 units. By the end of , the album had sold over 141,000 copies in the and combined. Critics generally praised the collection for its energetic curation of Lopez's upbeat dance anthems, with Music noting it as an "overdue hits collection from the versatile, enduring New Yorker." Slant Magazine awarded it 3.5 out of 5 stars, commending Lopez's reinvention across her hits while critiquing the new tracks as somewhat formulaic. described it as a "pulsing" overview that effectively leads listeners through her chart-topping legacy.

Background and production

Development

Following her departure from in early 2010, as she transitioned to Island Def Jam for her seventh studio album Love? (2011), was contractually obligated to deliver one final project to Epic. This obligation, stemming from her long-term deal with Sony Music's Epic imprint since her debut in 1999, necessitated a greatest hits compilation to fulfill the terms and conclude her association with the label. Development accelerated in November 2011, aligning with early planning for Lopez's inaugural world tour, later announced as the . Vocal producer , who had collaborated with Lopez on prior tracks, confirmed receiving word from label executives around that time to begin assembling the project, emphasizing a focus on curating her career-spanning singles. Harrell anticipated involvement from producers and in the process, though the core effort centered on selecting and sequencing established hits. Producer RedOne played a key role in integrating new material into the compilation's framework, ensuring cohesion between archival tracks and fresh recordings. The album's track selection ultimately emphasized Lopez's dance-pop successes from 1999 to 2011, including staples like "If You Had My Love" and "Jenny from the Block," with the overall assembly completed in early 2012 ahead of its summer release. During production, two exclusive new songs were added to bookend the collection.

New material

"Dance Again" featuring Pitbull served as the for the compilation, released on April 2, 2012. Produced by , the song is a track centered on themes of empowerment and moving forward after heartbreak, inspired by Lopez's from . It topped the chart. The second original track, "Goin' In" featuring , was produced by and crafted in an electro-house style to convey high energy and self-assurance. Originally created for the soundtrack of the , it highlights themes of confidence and vitality through its pulsating beats and motivational lyrics. Both songs were recorded in late 2011 and early 2012 at studios in , including Henson Recording Studios. Positioned as the opening and closing tracks on Dance Again... the Hits, these new recordings act as thematic bookends to Lopez's career-spanning hits, reinforcing her signature blend of pop and dance elements that has defined much of her discography.

Release and promotion

Singles

The lead single from Dance Again... the Hits was "Dance Again", featuring Pitbull, which was released digitally on April 2, 2012. The track, produced by RedOne and Pitbull, debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number 17, spending 20 weeks on the chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Paul Hunter and premiered on American Idol on April 5, 2012, featured Lopez performing dynamic choreography amid colorful, abstract sets. As a promotional single tied to the soundtrack for the film , "Goin' In" featuring was released on June 8, 2012. The song, written by Joseph Angel, Sebastian Kole, and others, and produced by (Jamahl Listenbee), topped the Dance Club Songs chart, marking Lopez's 13th number-one hit on that ranking. Unlike "Dance Again", it did not enter the but contributed to the album's dance-oriented promotion. An official , directed by Ace Norton, was released on July 25, 2012, showcasing vibrant neon visuals and high-energy dance sequences. No further singles were issued from the compilation, with "Dance Again" and "Goin' In" strategically leveraged to drive interest and sales ahead of the album's July 2012 launch.

Marketing and tour integration

The release of Dance Again... the Hits was strategically timed to align with Jennifer Lopez's first solo world tour, the , which commenced in in June 2012 and continued through starting July 14, 2012, with the album's tracks serving as the core of the live setlist to boost visibility and sales synergy. Epic Records coordinated the promotional efforts to leverage the tour's momentum, including bundles of the album with concert tickets offered in select n markets to encourage fan engagement. Advertising campaigns featured television spots aired on major networks, highlighting Lopez's career highlights and new tracks like "Dance Again," alongside robust online promotions through official YouTube channels and social media, where lyric videos and behind-the-scenes content were shared to build anticipation. Lopez supported these efforts with high-profile media appearances, including a live performance of the lead single "Dance Again" on American Idol during its eleventh season on May 10, 2012, where she served as a judge, reaching millions of viewers to drive pre-release buzz. International promotion emphasized and , regions central to the tour's itinerary, with targeted campaigns via ' global affiliates to capitalize on Lopez's strong fanbase there. Release events included a launch showcase in the and promotional activities in , coinciding with European tour dates to integrate album sales with live attendance.

Release history

_Dance Again... the Hits was released by on July 24, 2012, in the United States in a standard edition comprising 13 tracks available in CD and digital formats. The deluxe edition, featuring 16 tracks along with a bonus DVD containing 11 music videos, was offered exclusively through select retailers such as Target. In , the album saw earlier releases, including on July 20, 2012, in for both standard and deluxe CD editions, and on July 23, 2012, in the United Kingdom for the standard CD version. International variations included digital-only availability in certain markets, while in some European countries it was bundled with merchandise from the concurrent . Later reissues appeared in select regions, such as in 2013, 2015, and 2019 on CD, and in 2017 on CD. The album has been available on major streaming platforms since its initial release, with ongoing under and .
RegionDateFormat(s)Edition(s)LabelNotes
July 24, 2012CD, digitalStandard13 tracks; deluxe CD+DVD at select retailers like Target
July 20, 2012CD, digitalStandard, deluxeDeluxe includes DVD
July 23, 2012CD, digitalStandardDigital release July 20
August 1, 2012CDStandardInitial release; reissues in 2013, 2015, 2019
Various international marketsJuly 2012Digital onlyStandardIncluding , ,
(select)July 2012CD bundled with merchandiseStandard, deluxeTied to

Content and credits

Track listing

The standard edition of Dance Again... the Hits contains 13 tracks, including two previously unreleased songs ("Dance Again" and "Goin' In"), selections from Lopez's earlier albums spanning 1999 to 2011, and a remix of "On the Floor". The compilation runs for a total length of 52 minutes and 43 seconds.
No.TitleFeatured artist(s)Length
1."Dance Again"Pitbull3:57
2."Goin' In"Flo Rida4:09
3."I'm Into You"Lil Wayne3:20
4."On the Floor"Pitbull4:46
5."Love Don't Cost a Thing"3:42
6."If You Had My Love"4:25
7."Waiting for Tonight"4:06
8."Get Right"Fabolous3:49
9."Jenny from the Block"3:08
10."All I Have"LL Cool J4:07
11."Let's Get Loud"3:59
12."Do It Well"Ludacris3:07
13."On the Floor (Low Bass Remix Edit)"Pitbull3:55
The tracks draw from Lopez's discography, with early hits like "If You Had My Love", "Waiting for Tonight", and "Let's Get Loud" originating from her debut album On the 6 (1999); "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and "Jenny from the Block" from J.Lo (2001); "All I Have" from This Is Me... Then (2002); "Get Right" from Rebirth (2005); "Do It Well" from Brave (2007); and "On the Floor" and "I'm Into You" from Love? (2011). The deluxe edition (primarily the US version) includes the same 13 audio tracks along with a bonus DVD featuring 11 music videos. Some international deluxe editions append additional tracks such as remixes or "Qué Hiciste", extending the runtime. The accompanying DVD (in the US deluxe edition) contains 11 music videos, spanning Lopez's career from "" (1999) through to "" (2012), including visuals for "", "", "Love Don't Cost a Thing", "", "", "", "", "I'm Real (Murder Remix)", "All I Have", "", and "".

Credits and personnel

The credits for Dance Again... the Hits encompass producers, engineers, featured artists, and other contributors across its compilation tracks, with particular emphasis on the three new recordings that open the album. The project was mastered by Dave Kutch at The Mastering Palace in . Jennifer Lopez served as an alongside , overseeing track selection and the integration of new material with her catalog of hits; Rooney also produced several classic tracks included on the album, such as "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and "."
  • Pitbull – vocals on "Dance Again" and "On the Floor"
  • – vocals on "Goin' In"
  • – vocals on "I'm Into You"
  • – vocals on "Get Right"
  • LL Cool J – vocals on "All I Have"
  • – vocals on "Do It Well"

Producers

New tracks were produced by contemporary hitmakers, while earlier hits retained their original production credits: Vocal production for the new tracks was handled by .

Engineers and mixers

Engineering and mixing credits for the new material were led by a team of Los Angeles-based professionals, with additional work on legacy tracks:

Recording locations

The new tracks were recorded at several studios in and , including Henson Recording Studios, , Al Burna Studios, and Pinky's Palace.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

Dance Again... the Hits debuted at number 20 on the US in the issue dated August 11, 2012, with 14,000 copies sold in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. It held that position for one week and also peaked at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This marked a lower debut compared to Lopez's prior compilation, J to tha L-O! The Remixes (2002), which entered at number 1 on the with 156,000 first-week units. Internationally, the album achieved stronger relative success, peaking in the top 10 across 14 countries. It debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart for one week. In Italy, it entered at number 3 on the FIMI Albums chart and spent 14 weeks in total. The release reached number 4 on the UK Official Albums Chart, where it charted for 6 weeks with one week in the top 10. In Spain, it peaked at number 5 on the Promusicae Albums Chart and remained for 17 weeks.
Country/ChartPeak PositionWeeks on ChartWeeks at Peak
Billboard 2002051
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums6-1
(Billboard Canadian Albums)381
(FIMI Albums)3141
(Official Albums)461
(Promusicae Albums)5171
(Schweizer Hitparade)7111
(Ultratop)981
(Irish Albums)1081
(AFP Albums)10111

Certifications and sales

In the United States, Dance Again... the Hits sold 126,000 copies as of July 2020 and has not received any certification from the (RIAA). The album was certified Platinum by the (BPI) in the , representing 300,000 units shipped, including sales and streaming equivalents.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Upon its release in July 2012, Dance Again... the Hits received generally favorable reviews from music critics, earning a Metacritic score of 72 out of 100 based on four reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. The compilation was praised for encapsulating Jennifer Lopez's evolution as a pop artist and her consistent output of dance-oriented hits over the previous decade, aligning with her career resurgence following the success of singles like "On the Floor." Critics highlighted the album's strong selection of uptempo tracks that showcased Lopez's prowess and enduring appeal. commended the collection for delivering her "familiar tunes," effectively serving as a of her chart successes and vibrant energy. Similarly, described it as "not just a chronicle of one artist’s career, but of as a whole since just before the ," emphasizing Lopez's role in shaping early trends through collaborations with artists like and Pitbull. noted the inclusion of career-reviving tracks like "" and classics such as "" and "," viewing the album as a testament to her lasting influence despite the limitations of fitting all highlights into one disc. The new tracks, including the title song "" with Pitbull, were seen as fitting extensions of her high-energy style, though they received mixed feedback on originality. Some reviewers offered criticisms regarding the track selection and overall depth. Sputnikmusic faulted the album for prioritizing "second-rate, filler radio pop" over more substantive material, pointing to the heavy reliance on remixes and collaborations as evidence of Lopez's perceived weaknesses as a solo performer, while noting the complete omission of her Spanish-language album Como Ama una Mujer. The Daily Express acknowledged the "solid, serious pop/dance tracks" infused with "Latino sexiness" but implied a superficiality in Lopez's pivot to music, rating it moderately at three out of five stars. Overall, the 2012 reviews positioned the greatest hits set as a celebratory marker of Lopez's pop dominance amid her multifaceted career revival.

Cultural impact and reappraisal

_Dance Again... the Hits solidified Jennifer Lopez's status as a icon by compiling her most enduring tracks from the late through the early , encapsulating her role in the music boom that reshaped mainstream pop. The album highlighted her fusion of Latin rhythms with electronic and R&B elements, influencing subsequent compilation releases in the that emphasized career-spanning dance anthems for streaming audiences. Lopez's contributions, as seen in hits like "" and "," helped elevate Latin influences in global pop, paving the way for artists such as and by demonstrating how bilingual, culturally rooted sounds could dominate charts. In the , the album has undergone reappraisal amid Lopez's high-profile performances, with retrospective media coverage praising its timeless energy and role in her enduring relevance. The 2020 Super Bowl LIV , co-headlined with , triggered an 893% surge in sales and streams for Lopez's overall catalog, reigniting interest in the compilation's tracks and underscoring its cultural staying power. This resurgence continued through appearances in documentaries like (2022), where Lopez reflected on her career trajectory, positioning the album as a cornerstone of her multimedia legacy. By 2025, individual tracks from the album, such as "" with over 253 million streams, reflect ongoing streaming vitality tied to these events. The compilation's singles have been celebrated in Lopez's broader career accolades, contributing to her recognition as a trailblazer without major album-specific honors. Tracks like "Waiting for Tonight" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording in 2000, while "Dance Again" received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Music Single – Female in 2012, highlighting their chart dominance and cultural footprint. In recent tours, including This Is Me... Live (2024–2025), Lopez has incorporated songs from the album—such as "Dance Again," "On the Floor," and "Get Right"—into setlists, reinforcing its influence on live pop spectacles and Latin crossover trends. Featured in media retrospectives during Hispanic Heritage Month, the album symbolizes Lopez's impact on amplifying Latin artists in pop, from reggaeton fusions to global stadium anthems.

References

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