I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston | Artist Essentials
First released: 1987 (year verified)
Original 1987 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: Begin with the bright pulse and the way the vocal keeps lifting the chorus.
YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1987 (year verified)
The original studio single was released in 1987 ahead of Whitney. Only the supported year is assigned.
Recording: Original 1987 studio recording
Credit: Whitney Houston
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody - official single catalog
The original Narada Michael Walden-produced single is dated in May 1987, before the Whitney album; later performances are separate. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Whitney - official original album catalog
Original 1987 album includes I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Didn't We Almost Have It All, So Emotional and Where Do Broken Hearts Go. The latter's 1988 video/single association follows the album recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
In the yearly lists
These are listening-list appearances, separate from the first-release date.
About Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston grew up in a musical family in Newark, New Jersey, with gospel as an early influence. Her self-titled 1985 debut and 1987 album Whitney established a repertoire of ballads and dance records. She also became a film performer, starring in The Bodyguard in 1992 and contributing its recordings of I Will Always Love You and I Have Nothing. Later projects, including My Love Is Your Love and I Look to You, place her voice in contrasting R&B and pop settings.
Artist background sources
Whitney Houston - official biography
Musical family and Newark background, gospel influence, early albums, film debut and The Bodyguard recordings. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
My Love Is Your Love - official original album catalog
Original November 1998 album includes It's Not Right but It's Okay, Heartbreak Hotel, My Love Is Your Love and When You Believe. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
I Look to You - official original album catalog
The original August 2009 studio album includes Million Dollar Bill and the solo title recording. Later music-video and compilation dates are separate. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Count on Me - Arista/Apple Music original soundtrack metadata
The original 1995 Waiting to Exhale item credits both Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans; this is the studio duet, not their separate live performances. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Heartbreak Hotel - official original release and guest credits
Identifies Faith Evans and Kelly Price on the original Houston recording and the December 1998 single, after the November album. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
When You Believe - official original duet catalog and personnel
The original 1998 Babyface-produced single is explicitly credited in the personnel to a duet with Mariah Carey; it is distinct from the animated film cast's performance. The page also documents original vocal single/album editions. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Continue listening
Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.