Recorded in 2008, the song was initially scheduled to be released as the title track for the group's second studio album.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who favored its "funky pop" production as opposed to the group's signature electropop styles.

"[2] The group also performed it on their MBC comeback special, Girls' Generation's Romantic Fantasy.

"Dancing Queen" sold 139,344 copies after its first day of sales and went on to reach number eleven on the Gaon Singles Chart in its first week.

During the bridge, the members throw a party while dancing in groups of three while Tiffany approaches a DJ telling him to play a song.

At the end of the song, the time machine moves forward to 2013 as the words "Ayo GG" spoken by Sooyoung are heard, leading into the teaser for "I Got a Boy".

The first part of the teaser is met with audio using mid rock-synths and breaks down into dubstep as Tiffany says, "Ayo stop, let me put it down another way".