During the summer of 2021, California and L.A. finally lifted all the Covid 19 restrictions and closures. So, my buddies and I promptly headed to West Hollywood’s popular video bar “Revolver” to celebrate the end of the pandemic by drinking lots and lots (and lots) of alcohol. In the middle of our revelry, Whitney Houston’s glorious I Wanna Dance with Somebody suddenly burst on the screen. And within seconds, everybody on that cramped dance floor clasped arms, jumping in wild celebration, singing along, and mostly drowning out Whitney’s perfect vocals. Of course, our jubilation was short-lived, thanks to the omicron variant, which promptly brought back all those coronavirus restrictions with a vengeance. But I digress; Ms. Houston made this proud “I never dance” gent bust a few (if very drunken) moves.
Whitney Houston’s catchy dance anthem was the lead single on her second album Whitney. In 1987 Houston was following the massive success of her self-titled debut that scored three number-one hits. I Wanna Dance with Somebody continued that trend, with Houston eventually becoming the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles. She managed to avoid the sophomore slump, with Whitney exceeding the sales firepower of her debut release. And her magnetic presence shined in the music video format, becoming the rare female artist of color put into heavy rotation on MTV.
For the music video, Houston reteamed with commercial director Brian Grant who had previously helmed her How Will I Know clip (and Olivia Newton-John’s Physical). The video starts with grainy black-and-white footage of Houston finishing a concert performance. Alone backstage, she wistfully gazes into the camera as color images explode with a dancing Houston sporting hair extensions with frosted-tinged tips. The video continues with Houston playfully dancing and interacting with various male dancers in primary-colored settings. It’s a cute piece, nothing groundbreaking, but it captures the spirit of the eternally danceable tune.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody would become one of the great 1980s pop hits of all time. Houston’s meteoric rise would continue in the 1990s, expanding her talents to Hollywood, where she enjoyed a successful (if brief) acting career. And her first big box office hit, The Bodyguard, co-starring Kevin Costner, would spawn her signature tune I Will Always Love You.
Sadly, Houston’s star power began to fade in the early 2000s as her troubled marriage to R&B singer Bobby Brown and struggles with drug addiction took their toll. Her tragic death in 2012, at the young age of 48, shocked the world. It was a sad end to a supremely gifted singer whose voice was described as the “eighth wonder of the world.” Thankfully we have videos like I Wanna Dance with Somebody showing Houston in her youthful prime, glowing with the promise of the legendary career she would eventually forge.
Check out the video below and let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
I think even though she went down a bad road towards the end of her life, her music, video, and film work endures and shines brightly. While the first thing one thinks of now when her name comes up might be how tragic her end was, that should soon be replaced by multiple thoughts of her brilliance, including this song. Music royalty to be sure.
You’re absolutely right. Houston burst on the scene during my high school years, and I was a huge fan. And was even more pleased that she moved into acting with “The Bodyguard.” So when I think of Houston, I always go back to my teenage years attempting (sadly) to dance to her music. I still haven’t seen the recent biopic film, but I may check it out this weekend. I’ve heard mixed reviews from my friends so far.