Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody | Throwback Vibez

In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, performed by Whitney Houston.

via GIPHY

“Oh, I wanna dance with somebody / I wanna feel the heat with somebody / Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody / With somebody who loves me.” Woo, that’s #ICONIC!!! She just wants to dance and be in love with someone, sigh (understandable and relatable). The late, great Whitney Houston sadly lived a brief life with its share of demons.  One of music’s all-time greatest vocalists succumbed to those demons, aged 48, in 2012 .  Despite an untimely death, her musical legacy endures, given a catalog filled with hits, including the beloved “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”.  “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” written by Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill, graces Houston’s sophomore album, Whitney, released in 1987.  Spending two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is one of 11 no. 1 hits, and 23 top 10 hits by Houston. Impressive!    

It goes without saying that “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is an incredibly fun and infectious listen.  It is up-tempo, and the minute the song begins playing, it is instantly recognizable.  One of the quintessential numbers of the 1980s, it never loses its luster beyond the decade, which is a testament to its legendary, classic status. As excerpted, the chorus is the centerpiece – the crème de la crème.  Houston shows off her immense musicianship, singing with ample energy, showing off an incredible personality, and most of all, wowing with THE VOICE.  Beyond the elite singing, and the chorus, the verses, and the pre-choruses are memorable too, setting up that magnificent chorus. In the second verse, she asserts, “I’ve been in love and lost to my senses / Spinnin’ through the town / Sooner or later, the fever ends / And I wind up feelin’ down.” Again, relatable – who doesn’t want to find love to rid of loneliness? The sound is also marvelous, featuring arranging and production by the great   Narada Michael Walden.  All told, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” speaks for itself – a true pop classic. Honestly, “Don’t you wanna dance? Say you wanna dance…” C’mon, baby!

via GIPHY

Appears in :

• 15 Songs Where SOMEBODY Is in the Title (2018)

Whitney Houston • Whitney • Arista • 1987 

Whitney Houston, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”: Throwback Vibez No. 94 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]