Drums / Beat is key.
To often artist stick with standard 4/4 and snare on 2. When they do change it up its still in 4/4. I get that 4/4 is most appealing to ears and its easy to dance to, but it is far from imposable to dance to other times. 4/4 is just easy mode.
Break downs and changes.
Ok I get it, your song is Uber Epic with distorted strings playing through a break down. I don't understand the fear by (some) artist to replace those distorted pad strings with, I don't know say... a distorted guitar? or bass? or even by recording the sound of a rubber band being plucked. The scene is loosing originality, and is that not what has drawn most of us to it, the originality? Be original in break downs and changes then leave what has been done in the past.
Lyrics / Vocals / Samples
Samples are tricky, I myself can not really get out and dance to a loony toons sample, but I see others do it every week. Find obscure samples to use or record your own. When it comes down to lyrics and vocals, you have it or you don't.
Songs on a whole,
If a song just has that thing, you know it...you like it...you dance to it..
Melody's compliment bass riffs and the drums emphasize the emotion of the song.
Lyrics and vocals should act not only as the story of the song, but also as an instrument within it.
This is simply my opinion, it is true for me, for some it will not be true.