Released on , the song was a deliberate move by Clive Davis and Arista Records to give Houston a more upbeat, accessible sound following her debut album's success.
The track earned Houston the 1988 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance . Released on , the song was a deliberate
Far from just a club track, the lyrics depict a deeper yearning for a partner to do the "dance of life" with. It was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam (the duo behind "How Will I Know") and produced by Narada Michael Walden . It was written by George Merrill and Shannon
Directed by Brian Grant , the colorful video features Houston in her iconic pink dress and helped cement her status as a MTV staple. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
A quintessential 80s dance-pop anthem, the song features a synthesized arrangement that initially drew comparisons to Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is the signature hit from Whitney Houston's record-breaking second studio album, (1987) . The song transformed her from a powerhouse ballad singer into a global pop icon, eventually becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. The Iconic Single: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"