Claim: Just Dance was a sleeper hit.

`` Just Dance '' is the debut single by American singer Lady Gaga . The song was produced by RedOne and co-written by RedOne , Gaga and Akon , while also featuring labelmate Colby O'Donis . It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga 's debut studio album , The Fame . The song was written by Gaga in ten minutes as `` a happy record '' . `` Just Dance '' also has influences of R&B and lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club .   The song received positive reviews from music critics , who complimented its club anthem-like nature and the synthpop associated with it . The song topped the charts in the United States , Australia , Canada , the Republic of Ireland , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom , as well as reaching the top ten in many other countries . In the United States , `` Just Dance '' was a sleeper hit , spending almost five months on the Billboard Hot 100 before finally reaching the summit of the chart in January 2009 , after being released in April 2008 . The single is among the best-selling singles of all time , having sold over 10 million copies .   The music video of the song portrayed Lady Gaga appearing in a party where she plays the song , prompting party-goers to start dancing in enjoyment . Gaga compared her experience of shooting the video with being on a Martin Scorsese set . `` Just Dance '' was performed by Gaga in a number of live appearances including all of her concert tours . In 2009 , the song received a Grammy nomination in the Best Dance Recording category but lost to electronic duo Daft Punk for their song `` Harder , Better , Faster , Stronger -LRB- Alive 2007 -RRB- '' .