I’ve never really used reference tracks, and it’s a shame. I’ve been trying to more lately.
What’s your favorite?
I always come back to:
This one works pretty much every time for me for keying in certain frequencies, and dealing with reverbs in space.
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This is also perfect for tuning a sound-system.
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I like “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk. It’s a great mix. The only “problem” is it sounds good on pretty much any speaker (because it’s a great mix). 
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I used this to test monitor speakers at a store in my area. In direct comparison it was astonishing how much better it sounded to me on the Neumann KH120A than on cheaper speakers.
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I almost created another thread, but found this thread. Here’s a few that I always go to:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4EHH1oSkKtQ&si=rPxV9CREe_IRGfPc
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=nmOBO4hU_U0&si=Fbzkgy-zOTg-w6pu
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xq01W1BOlP0&si=pFSyQiNCYX3TcJ_M
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=vI_VVizSRjo&si=h3o5EuPAZei-EYjc
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KEKuOrACc0o&si=Box0QSJiBj49n3ec
Some of these are for specific items, such as stereo spread, compression/dynamics, or eq.
It would be amazing to see other folks add to this thread, as I’m also curious.
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If I do use a reference track, it isn’t any one particular song. Every song I produce is different, especially since I often work in different genres, for and in collaboration with other artists. I also sometimes ghost produce for DJs/electronic artist and need to pay attention to their sounds and what they already released.
I’m currently working with a DJ who has released other tracks, travels extensively and has a residence in Vegas. But they want my special sauce on some new tracks. Their style normally leans toward very groovy mid-energy UK Garage, but I’m creating some new tracks that pump up the energy to smack harder, more like prime-time underground club music, but keeping that UK Garage roll and groove. I’ve finished up one track and I’m well along on the next, so it’s going well. The trick is making it still sound like them, so I regularly refresh my ears with their older tracks as reference, but I don’t have it sitting in the Live project to A/B. I just periodically listen away from the DAW.
For my own music, I might get inspired by some music I’m listening to, but day-to-day, I rarely use a reference track, just my ears. I listen to and mix so much dance music in the studio, in the clubs and at bigger events that the sounds and mixing styles are pretty much ingrained.
Okay, all that out of the way, I do listen to a lot of music released on InStereo because those kinds of mixes are what I hear a lot of in the local LA club scene.
I also like Purple Disco Machine mixes. They’re always very VERY clean and polished.
Okay, one song? Jauz - “Goodiez” is a good tight thumping club mix.
I’m not an expert at this side of production but I have friends who are very experienced with mixing.
It’s less about one, grand reference to compare all to and having a collection of multiple tracks in different styles, levels of intensity and whatever other levers you need to pull with your music.
The philosophy I jive with is that they are more of a reality check. You bring them up during a session as a pallet cleanser and to assist with your brains ability to adjust to whatever mix you are working on over a long period of time.
That aside.
It’s this for me 100%. The way the drums punch but don’t overpower. The mix of electronic and traditional rock instrumentation. The way the mid range builds up and drops out with coming and going instruments over time. Lots of texture coming and going keeps things interesting.
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