I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
| "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:Whitney 2.jpg | ||
| Single by Whitney Houston | ||
| From the album Whitney | ||
| Single Released | May ? 1987 (USA) ? May 1987 (UK) | |
| Single Format | CD Single Cassette Single 7" Single 12" Maxi Single | |
| Genre | Pop/Dance | |
| Song Length | 4:49 | |
| Record label | Arista | |
| Writers | George Merill Sherill Rubicam | |
| Producer | Narada Michael Walden | |
| Video Director |
Brian Grant | |
| Certification | Platinum | |
| Chart positions | #1 (USA) #1 (UK) #1 (Australia) #1 (Germany) #1 (Switzerland) #15 (France) | |
| Whitney Houston single chronology | ||
| "Greatest Love of All" 1986 |
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 1987 |
"Didn't We Almost Have It All" 1987 |
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is the first single from Whitney Houston's second studio album Whitney in May 1987.
Song information
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" was written by George Merill and Sherill Rubicam, who had previously written the #1 hit "How Will I Know" also for Whitney. The song was produced by Narada Michael Walden. The original arrangement of the song did not impress him, who saw the song as more of a country tune than a pop song, so he threw in faster beats and Carribean percussion to create the more familiar dance anthem.
Chart Information
As the first release from her second album, Whitney, the follow up to her record-breaking album Whitney Houston, so many felt the success of the album ultimately rode on the success of this single. Houston did not dissapoint, as the single rode all the way to number one of the Billboard Hot 100.
The song reached #1 on June 27, 1987 (the exact same date Houston's album Whitney debuted at #1, the first time ever by a female artist), and remained there for 2 weeks. It remained in the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks, a rather quick run. However, most singles in the 1980's had this same pattern, and until Nielsen SoundScan was implemented in the early 1990's, most singles would have rather short chart runs on the Hot 100. The song was ranked #4 on the Year-End Chart, making it one of the year's top hits.
The song was a well-rounded single, hitting #1 on the Hot 100 Single Sales chart for 2 weeks, and topping the Hot 100 Airplay chart for 3 weeks, Houston's longest run at that time, and becoming a huge radio hit. The song was also a milestone for Houston's career, as it eventually sold enough units to be certified platinum, Houston's first single to achieve the feat. It was also a hit with adult contemporary, topping the respective chart for 3 weeks, and reaching #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, widely successful for a song considered genuienly a dance/pop tune. Also, it followed "How Will I Know" to become Houston's 2nd #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart . A remix released in 1996 would become moderately successful in its own right, reaching #11 on the chart, but was easily outdone by its original.
Internationally, the song became a worldwide smash, becoming Houston's biggest single at that point. It sold over 3 million copies internationally, setting its sales record at over 4.2 million copies, and reached #1 in several countries, including the UK, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland, helping out the album Whitney reach the #1 position in all of the aforementioned countries.
Awards
- 1988: Grammy Award for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance"
- 1988: American Music Award for "Favorite Pop/Rock Single"
The song also won for "Best Music Video" at the First Annual Garden State (New Jersey) Music Awards. Houston hails from Newark, New Jersey.
Single Track Listing
1. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Album version)
2. 12" Remix
3. 12" Remix - Radio Edit
4. Dub Mix
5. Acappella Mix
6. Moment Of Truth
Music Video
The music video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" is one of Houston's more-recognized works to date. In this light-hearted video, Houston first performs in a black-and-white concert arena. She walks backstage, and the scene is intercut with more vivid, colorful images of Houston. The song then explodes into its beginning, with a myriad of locations, and dancers trying to impress Houston as she dances around, just having a good time.
In a 1999 interview, when asked if she regretted anything in her career, has cited the video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody", saying she hated the poor clothing and hair choices for the video.
Comprehensive Charts
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Debuted at #? on The Billboard Hot 100
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Was Ranked #4 on The Billboard Hot 100 Year End Charts (1987)
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Remained in The Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was Whitney's 4th #1 single on The Billboard Hot 100
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was Whitney's 3rd #1 single on The Billboard Hot 100 Airplay
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was Whitney's 4th #1 single on The Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was Whitney's 4th #1 single on The Billboard Adult Contemporary
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot 100 | #1 (2 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales | #1 (2 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | #1 (3 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #2 |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Adult Contemporary | #1 (3 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart | #1 (2 weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #4 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | UK Singles Chart | #1 (2 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | ARIA Singles Chart | #1 |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | German Singles Chart | #1 (5 Weeks) |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Sweden Top 60 Singles | #1 (4 weeks) |
| 1992 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | France Singles Chart | #15 |