Dance Mode! is the second soundtrack album of the Australian animated television series Bluey, which was released on 21 April 2023 by Demon Records. Most of the soundtrack's music was composed and performed by Joff Bush, the composer for the television program, alongside a team of musicians.
The soundtrack was released through Demon Music Group, a subdivision of BBC Studios, who hold global rights to release the show's music. The first single, "Dance Mode", was released on 27 January 2023.
At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the album won Best Children's Album.
Background and composition Joff Bush serves as the primary composer of Bluey, writing half of the television show's score himself and leading a group of additional composers, including David Barber. Bush graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, where he met executive producer Daley Pearson, and before Bluey, worked on series such as The Family Law and Australian Survivor. Bush has stated that each episode has its own unique musical style, and he likes to become involved in the episodes as they are scripted; he regularly has detailed discussions with series creator Joe Brumm. Live instruments are regularly played for the recordings. Every episode of Bluey is individually scored, a decision made by Brumm, who was inspired by the original compositions for Charlie and Lola while working on the series in the United Kingdom.
Bush recorded a soundtrack for the first series of the program, titled Bluey: The Album, which was released on 22 January 2021. The soundtrack debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart in February 2021. It was recognised as the first children's album to reach the top of the charts in Australia. It won Best Children's Album at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, and an APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album in 2021.
Dance Mode! features songs from the first, second and third series of Bluey. The first half of the album contains upbeat songs, while the second half contains quieter and reflective tracks. "Dance Mode" is described as an upbeat, EDM style song, while "Army" and "Grandad" lean into the bluegrass genre with banjo and whistle instrumentation.
Release It was reported in January 2023 that the soundtrack, entitled Dance Mode!, would contain 17 songs and be released in 2023. The first single, "Dance Mode", was released on 27 January 2023.
The album was officially announced on 27 January 2023, with pre-orders opening on the same day. The album was released on 21 April 2023 on CD, streaming services, and orange vinyl. The album was also released on a limited edition zoetrope vinyl picture disc for Record Store Day on 22 April 2023.
Track listing All songs written and produced by Joff Bush except where noted.
Personnel
Joff Bush & The Bluey Music Team Joff Bush – guitars, melodica, percussion, accordion, keyboards, bass, vocals, organ, synths, ukulele, Mellotron, piano Daniel O'Brien;– piano, percussion, guitars, vocals Craig Parry;– beats Stephen Peach – keys Marly Lüske – synths, bass, percussion, guitar Jazz D'Arcy – vocals, guitars Meg Washington – vocals Pluto Jonze – guitars, piano, drums, bass, harmonica, vocals
Additional performers
Andrew Scrivens – guitar, banjo Julia R. Anderson – drums Julian Schweitzer – drums Carolyn Morris – cor anglais, oboe Christopher Pearson – bass David Orr – guitars Rose Parker – vocals Joseph Roberts – clarinet, flute, baritone, tenor & alto sax Katherine Philp – cello Pru Montin – trumpet Robert Schultz – trumpet Youka Snell – violin & vocals Saul Burrows – banjo Anthony Garrett – drums Dave Murtough – trombone Thomas Melohn – guitar David Barber – guitar & bass Rowan Hamwood – flute, piccolo, tin whistle Joe Brumm – drums & vocals Tiptoe Giants (Meg Lipworth & Vee Couper) – vocals Justine Garcia de Heer, Erik Williamson, Layla Collie and everyone else on the album – additional vocals ("Cat Squad!")
Technical Marly Lüske – mixing, mastering Daniel O'Brien – assistant composer Erik Williamson & Rose Parker – recording / assistant engineers Uncle Stripe – sound design Costa Kassab & Joe Brumm – cover artwork
Charts + Chart performance for Dance Mode! Chart (2023) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 7US Top Album Sales (Billboard)51US Independent Albums (Billboard)41US Kid Albums (Billboard)1US Soundtracks (Billboard)6
References