If I’d set my mind to it, I might have compiled a list of the Top 100 Remixes of 2011. But to save my sanity (and yours), instead these are the 25 that stuck with me. These remixes moved me to keep moving, whether dancing by myself, working on my fitness, or otherwise traveling out and about in this wackadoodle world in which we live. (What’s really wackadoodle is that not all were made available for purchase or download.)

1. “A Year Without Rain” (Dave Audé Club Remix) – Selena Gomez & The Scene

Dave Audé hits all the right emotional notes on this remix for the Disney teen queen. Technically, this one came out at the end of 2010, but Selena Gomez & The Scene reigned supreme on the Billboard club chart in the first quarter of 2011 and Audé’s remix still has permanent residence on my iPod. [Original Post]

2. “Good Girl” (Freemasons Club Mix) – Alexis Jordan

Right alongside Dave Audé, Freemasons are my favorite current remixers, though their respective styles are different. The Brighton duo’s remix for Alexis Jordan’s second single (Audé did the first) has a fantastic smoothness to it, like being chauffeured on the most wonderful ride of your life. The breakdown that begins at 5:55 and runs for nearly a full minute is one of 2011’s best.

3. “Sunday” (Seamus Haji Club Mix) – Hurts

I’m sure to some this is sacrilegious of me to say, but Hurts’ album version of “Sunday” was musically all over the map for the lovelorn lyric — Pet Shop Boys upbeat in some sections while wholly Depeche Mode dark in others. Seamus Haji’s remix of “Sunday” is flawless because he picks one path, the latter (“Enjoy The Silence” in particular), and sticks to it.

4. “Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)” (Pete Hammond Remix) – Kylie Minogue

Kylie wisely commissioned this “80s-tastic” remix from former PWL cohort Pete Hammond, who returns to his Mixmaster role as if he’d never left, combining relentless sequencers, string swells, percussive punctuation, and loads of vocal repetition. The result is all so wonderfully SAW-meets-modern-day-Minogue. [Original Post]

5. “Disco Moment” (Fear Of Tigers Remix) – Bright Light Bright Light

Fear Of Tigers adds a chunky, funky strut to Bright Light Bright Light’s already stellar “Disco Moment.” Following a brilliant extended breakdown, the remix goes all Howard Jones’ “New Song” in the track’s euphoric final third (beginning at 3:52). And the robo-voiced “Fear. Of. Tigers.” bit gets me every time. [Original Post]

6. “Finish Line” (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) – Yasmin

If I was so inclined, I could probably have done a Top Remixes of 2011 post comprised solely of Freemasons mixes. While it took me a second or two to come around to the fast-slow-fast construction for Yasmin’s “Finish Line,” the Pegasus Club Mix now ranks as one of my faves Russell and James have ever done. Those Brighton boys sure know how to bring it, at whatever speed.

7. “Someone Like You” (Joe Gauthreaux & Brian Cua Big Room Anthem) – Adele

There were a ton of remixes for Adele’s solo piano ballad (most bootleg, few official), but Joe Gauthreaux and Brian Cua brought the drama to the dancefloor like no other mix did.

8. “Don’t Hold Your Breath” (Dave Audé Club Mix) – Nicole Scherzinger

Scherzinger’s best single since The Pussycat Dolls’ “I Hate This Part” gets remixed by the reliably stellar Dave Audé. The Coldplay “Clocks” bridge is an brilliant bit of pop cross-referencing.

9. “What You Do With What You Have” – Blawan

Blawan’s huge-sounding “What You Do With What You Have” is a deliciously dark trek through acid house that employs some Wax Trax industrial squirm. [Original Post]

10. “Born This Way” (Twin Shadow Remix) – Lady Gaga

Removing everything but Gaga’s vocal from the original track, Brooklyn’s Twin Shadow creates a fresh and funky bump-and-grind for “Born This Way.” Beginning with an opening that echoes Madonna’s “Borderline,” guitars that recall both Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” (shimmering in the chorus) and Purple Rain-era Prince (midway through), plus strings seemingly plucked from Scritti Politti’s “Perfect Way,” Twin Shadow’s revamp is a mix-and-match borne from ’80s pop. [Original Post]

11. “Frozen” (Monsieur Adi Remi) – Madonna

Over the course of five months in 2011, Monsieur Adi completed five remixes of classic Madonna songs (“Get Together,” “Frozen,” “Music,” “Erotica,” and “Beautiful Stranger”). “Remix” falls short as an accurate descriptor of what the upstart French producer accomplished with these familiar tracks, rebuilding and recontextualizing them as if Madonna had only recorded them today.

12. “Control” (Extended Version) – Blackroom

The ’80s were all about extended versions, rather than total revamps, which makes Blackroom’s “Control” a perfect candidate for such construction. Not only is there an unmistakable Pet Shop Boys influence at play on on the song, with opening synths reminiscent of Eurythmics’ “Here Comes The Rain Again,” the Norwegian three-piece didn’t forget to pack the sax. The Extended Version expands upon that ’80s gorgeousness, with the addition of disco claps a fun, unexpected bonus. [Original Post]

13. “Believer” (Club Mix) – Freemasons feat. Wynter Gordon

A completely original studio production from the can-do-no-wrong Freemasons, who helped Wynter Gordon realize her true disco potential. Listen to those strings. I’m a believer! [Original Post]

14. “Set Fire To The Rain” (Moto Blanco Club Mix) – Adele

Another English production duo I can’t get enough of, Moto Blanco takes Adele to the disco for her heart wrenching tale of love lost. It works because Bobby Blanco and Miki Moto never allow Adele’s vocals to get lost amid the swirling strings and funky bass. The bit at 4:45 is utterly transcendent.

15. “Talk About It” – Chris Malinchak

Talk about the most unexpected sample of 2011, Chris Malinchak lifts Helen Terry’s vocal cries and piano-chord progression from my all-time favorite Culture Club track, “Victims” to create this slice of chunky discofied funk. Delicious. [Original Post]

16. “Stuck On Repeat” (Dave Audé Club Remix) – Wanessa

Brazilian pop star Wanessa receives a club remix from Dave Audé, who accentuates the song’s chorus with drums and synth stabs straight out of the decade when Thunderpuss (Barry Harris & Chris Cox) ruled the dancefloor. It’s relentless in the very best way. [Original Post]

17. “Love You Like A Love Song” (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club Mix) – Selena Gomez & The Scene

DJ Escape and Tony Coluccio turn Selena Gomez & The Scene’s perfect pop song into a total peak-hour club stomper with loud-and-proud house overtones. Amazing. (And I keep hitting repeat-peat-peat-peat-peat.)

18. “Show Me” (Dave Audé Club Mix) – Jessica Sutta

Ex-Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta already had her dancing shoes on for the original version of “Show Me,” with Dave Audé amplifying the beat for his remix of her assertive debut solo single. Pay close attention to those synths, because like the remix above, house music is this track’s unshakable foundation. [Original Post]

.19. “Bitter Is The Sweetest Part” (Bremen Remix) – Vanbot

In its original form, Vanbot’s “Bitter Is The Sweetest Part” was already something of a dance ballad. Bremen brings what was already percolating to a full boil on this remix, fluidly moving from tension-filled sections with piano accents to synthtastic, hands-in-the-air catharsis. Irresistible. [Original Post]

20. “Sweet Suburban Disco” (Vince Clarke Remix) – Billie Ray Martin

Billie Ray Martin’s minimalist electro ode to a beat-loving lady (“Never the greatest dancer around”) who can’t resist hitting the club — crushed toes and countless blisters be damned — gets a pulsating rework courtesy of Erasure’s Vince Clarke. [Original Post]

21. “White Horse” (Tee’s Inbox Remix) – Jessica 6

Venerable DJ/producer Todd Terry picks a freestyle route for his tasty Tee’s Inbox re-do of Jessica 6’s “White Horse.” Let me see you dance, put you in a trance…

22. “What A Feeling” (Nicky Romero Remix) – Alex Gaudino feat. Kelly Rowland

The absolute joy in the original grooves of “What A Feeling” is palpable and unstoppable, but Nicky Romero’s brings an elastic bounce to his remix of Mr. Gaudino and Ms. Rowland’s blissful concoction that’s sure to put an even bigger smile on your face. [Original Post]

23. “Last Drag” (Razor N Guido Club Mix) – Traci Lords

The original mix of Traci Lords’ dancefloor comeback is super-catchy, but it’s Razor N Guido’s stellar re-do that had me utterly addicted to her “Last Drag.” [Original Post]

24. “If It Wasn’t For Love” (Razor N Guido Skribble Tribal Mix) – Deborah Cox

Released in late November (partly why it doesn’t rank higher), this track announced the oh-so-welcome return of Deborah Cox. Working together (for the first time?), Razor N Guido and Skribble have constructed a tremendous platform that matches the intensity of Cox’s vocal performance. [Original Post]

25. “Eyes” (Extended Mix) – Kaskade feat. Mindy Gledhill

Kaskade masterfully melds beauty and beats on “Eyes,” with Mindy Gledhill’s gorgeous vocals gliding over the track’s delicate musical ebbs and euphoric flows. The combination is utterly moving, and sure to plant a blissful smile on your face. [Original Post]

Honorable Mention: “Think” (Kraak & Smaak Club Mix) – Aretha Franklin

If Culture Club’s “Victims” provided 2011’s most unlikely dance sample (see #14 above), then Aretha Franklin is responsible for this year’s most unlikely remix. Dutch production trio Kraak and Smaak turned out a spectacular 21st century revamp of her 1968 hit, “Think,” that does the Queen Of Soul proud. [Original Post]

What are your favorite remixes from the year that was?