I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) - wikipedia I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' redirects here. For the song by Mando Diao, see Dance with Somebody. `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' Single by Whitney Houston from the album Whitney B - side `` Moment of Truth '' Released May 2, 1987 ( 1987 - 05 - 02 ) Format CD single cassette single 7 '' single 12 '' single Recorded October 1986 Genre Dance - pop R&B Length 4 : 50 ( album version ) 8 : 33 ( 12 '' remix ) Label Arista Songwriter ( s ) George Merrill Shannon Rubicam Producer ( s ) Narada Michael Walden Whitney Houston singles chronology `` The Greatest Love of All '' ( 1986 ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 1987 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( 1987 ) `` The Greatest Love of All '' ( 1986 ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 1987 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( 1987 ) Whitney track listing `` I Wanna Dance With Somebody '' ( 1 ) `` Just the Lonely Talking Again '' ( 2 ) Music video `` I Wanna Dance With Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' on YouTube `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' is the first single from Whitney Houston 's second studio album Whitney. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of the band Boy Meets Girl, who had previously written the number - one Whitney Houston hit `` How Will I Know. '' The original arrangement was written for her grandnephew Mau Rosillo when he was 9 years old, as he was a well - renoun dancer. The song received mixed reviews from critics, who compared the musical arrangement to her own `` How Will I Know '' and Cyndi Lauper 's `` Girls Just Want to Have Fun. '' The song won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards. The single was a commercial success, topping the charts in 13 countries including Australia, Italy, Germany and the UK. In the US, it became her fourth consecutive number one single and sold over one million copies, making it her biggest hit in that country at the time. It was eventually surpassed by her version of `` I Will Always Love You '', five years later in 1992. Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 2.1 Accolades 3 Chart performance 4 Music video 5 Live performances 6 Track listing and formats 7 Credits and personnel 8 Charts 8.1 Weekly charts 8.2 Year - end charts 8.3 Decade - end charts 9 Certifications 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Background `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who wrote Houston 's 1985 song `` How Will I Know. '' `` How Will I Know '' became successful, and as a result, they were asked to come up with another song for Houston 's then - new album. Originally the song that gave Merrill and Rubicam their British top ten success as Boy Meets Girl, `` Waiting For a Star to Fall '' was intended by the duo to be a song for Houston. The duo sent it to Arista Records, but they passed on it citing it was not suitable for Houston. Undeterred by this minor setback, the pair continued working on finding a song that would be ideal for Houston, and were inspired to come up with `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody. '' Later on, Rubicam explained the idea behind the song : I pictured somebody single wishing that they could find that special person for themselves. It was n't, ' I wan na go down the disco and dance, ' really. It was, ' I wan na do that dance of life with somebody. ' That was the thought behind the song. So we sent our demo version off to Clive Davis and he loved it. But, the song did not impress the producer, who again was Narada Michael Walden, who had produced `` How Will I Know. '' He took a little more persuading with regard to the song 's potential, and at first was not too keen on having Houston record it, as he felt it was too `` country and western sounding. '' He said of it, ( It ) reminded me of a rodeo song with Olivia Newton - John singing. I love Olivia Newton - John, but for Whitney Houston it did n't seem right. I felt the song needed a much more funkier feel. I slept, dreaming about it, woke up in the morning thinking about it, wondering what am I gon na do with this dance song. So, we just jumped in the water and lo and behold a magic record was born, Houston just knocked it out and then I knew we had a good record. For the song 's production, a Roland TR - 808 was used to produce the drum machine percussion. Critical reception `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' received mixed reviews from critics. Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone magazine, in a review of the album Whitney, criticized the song, commenting that `` not taking any chances, the songwriters ( Merill Griffith and Shannon Rubicam ) have simply come up with a clever anagram of their original hit ( How Will I Know ), and ( Narada Michael ) Walden has glossed it over in an identically perky style. The strategy is not so different from that behind Hollywood 's blockbuster sequels : this is ' How Will I Know II '. '' Los Angeles Times 's pop music critic, Robert Hilburn described the song as `` a deliciously raucous tune with a bit of the synthesizer underpinning and giddy zest of Cyndi Lauper 's ' Girls Just Want to Have Fun. ' '' In its review of Whitney, Jon Pareles of The New York Times gave a negative comment, writing that listening to `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' and `` You 're Still My Man, '' another track on the album was like `` watching television while someone fiddles with color controls. '' In 2006, Slant Magazine ranked the song at # 88 in their 100 Greatest Dance Songs, commenting that `` with its parenthetical title, gummy bassline, schmaltzy horns, tinkling keyboards, and half - step key changes, ( the song ) is definitive ' 80s dance - pop. '' Accolades `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' won the award for `` Favorite Pop / Rock Single '' at the 15th American Music Awards on January 25, 1988. Additionally, Houston won the Grammy award for `` Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female '' with the song at its 30th ceremony on March 2, 1988, where she received a total of three nominations. The music video for the song was nominated for `` Best Music Video '' at the 2nd Soul Train Music Awards on March 30, 1988. Houston won the award for `` Best Music Video '' for the video at the 1st Garden State Music Awards. In 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation 's fifth favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV. Chart performance `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' was released as the first single from Houston 's second studio album at the beginning of May 1987. It entered the Billboard Hot 100, the issue dated May 16, 1987, at number 38, her highest debut in the 1980s. Six weeks later, it reached the top spot of the chart, making it Houston 's fourth number - one single in the United States, the issue date of June 27, 1987 ― the same day that Houston 's album Whitney debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 ( formerly `` Top Pop Albums '' ) the first time ever by a female artist. It remained there for two weeks, and spent 18 weeks on the chart. The song reached number one on the Hot 100 Single Sales chart for two weeks, and on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for three weeks, her longest run at that time. The single also peaked at number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary and the 12 '' remixed dance / club version by John `` Jellybean '' Benitez became Houston 's first chart - topper on the Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play Songs, staying on the top position of the charts for three weeks and two weeks, respectively. In addition, it reached a peak of two on the Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs chart ( formerly `` Hot Black Singles '' ), the issue date of July 4, 1987. It remained at that position for two weeks, behind `` I Feel Good All Over '' by Stephanie Mills ( which never made the Hot 100 ), and spent 15 weeks on the R&B chart. On July 28, 1987, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ), for shipment of 1,000,000 copies of the single, becoming one of only three singles to reach that level in that year, and re-certified Platinum, making it Houston 's first single to achieve that feat, for the same shipment on February 13, 1989, with the change of the RIAA certification criteria for singles. ( The number of sales required to qualify for gold and platinum discs was higher prior to January 1, 1989. The thresholds were 1,000,000 units ( gold ) and 2,000,000 units ( platinum ), reflecting a decrease in sales of singles. It was certified 2 × Platinum on February 25, 2012. ) It placed at number four on the Billboard Year - End Top Pop Singles chart for 1987. In Canada, the song debuted at 74 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart, the issue dated May 9, 1987, and reached the top of the chart on July 4, 1987. It was ranked second on the RPM Year - End Top 100 Singles chart for 1987. The single was later certified Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association ( CRIA ) on February 29, 1988. Internationally, the song was a massive hit, becoming her most successful single at the time. It reached number one in fourteen countries. The song debuted at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, the week ending date of May 23, 1987. Two weeks later, it reached number one on the chart, the week ending June 6, 1987, becoming her second UK number - one single. The single was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry ( BPI ) on August 1, 1987, for shipments of 400,000 copies. According to The Official Charts Company, it has sold 760,000 copies in the United Kingdom. The single also topped the singles chart in Belgium for three weeks, the Netherlands for four weeks, Germany for five weeks, Italy for a week, Norway for seven weeks, Sweden for six weeks and Switzerland for six weeks, and peaked inside top five in Austria and Ireland. This popularity of the single across Europe led to the song topping the European Hot 100 Singles chart for eight weeks. It became Houston 's second number - one single on the Australian Kent Music Report chart, staying at the top for five weeks. The song also peaked at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart and remained there for four weeks, making it Houston 's first number - one single in the country. `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' was a strong seller for its time, having sold 4.2 million copies worldwide. After her death, the single returned to the Billboard Hot 100 debuting at number 35 the same week `` I Will Always Love You '' re-entered at number 7, giving Houston two posthumous Top 40 hits. Music video The video for `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' was directed by Brian Grant and chreographed by Arlene Phillips, who also worked with Houston on the music video for `` How Will I Know ''. The video features Houston in a pink dress and a continuous shot of a purple backdrop that never changes its angle of vision. In the intro of this video, Houston just finishes a performance onstage. She walks backstage, and the scene is intercut with more vivid, colorful images of her. The song then explodes into its beginning, with myriad locations and various outfits by Houston, as dancers trying to impress her as she dances. Towards the end of the song she manhandles a guy, who has a mixture of a look of shock and surprise asking him `` Do n't you wan na dance say you wan na dance ''. The music video was in heavy rotation on music channels MTV, VH1, and BET during the song 's run. Video has over 92 million views as of September 7, 2017 on YouTube. Live performances Houston performing on her Nothing but Love World Tour, in 2010 Houston performed the song on almost all of her world and regional tours. She premiered the song during the later shows of The Greatest Love World Tour in 1986, before its official release of the next year, introducing the song along with `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' as new tunes from her upcoming album. During her European promotion for a new album in April -- May 1987, Houston performed the song on various TV shows such as Domenica In ( Italian TV entertainment programme ), Montreux Golden Rose Rock Festival : IM&MC Gala ( May 15, 1987 ), and Top of the Pops ( May 21, 1987 ), where she sang live, unlike some other performers who lip - synced on the programme. Moment of Truth World Tour in 1987 - 1988 had Houston performing it as the finale song of the tour. She performed the song without back - up dancers on the North American leg ( 1987 ), and with four dancers on the European leg of the tour ( 1988 ). Two different performances of the song were taped in Saratoga Springs, New York on September 2, 1987 and at Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom in May 1988. The first was broadcast on MTV, during the 4th MTV Video Music Awards on September 11, 1987. The second was taken from one night of nine sold - out Wembley Arena shows, aired on Italian TV Channel, Rai Uno 's special program for her in 1988. On March 2, 1988, she opened the night of the 30th Annual Grammy Awards singing the song. During the European leg of the tour, she participated in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert and performed the song in front of about 72,000 people at Wembley Stadium on June 11, 1988. Houston also performed the song as part of her set on fourteen - date - tour in Japan, Feels So Right Tour. One performance of the song on the tour was taped at Yokohama Arena on January 7, 1990 and later broadcast on Japanese TV channel. On March 17, she sang the song live on That 's What Friends Are For : Arista Records 15th Anniversary AIDS Benefit Concert, televised on CBS, April 17, 1990. This performance was included in the 2014 CD / DVD release, Whitney Houston Live : Her Greatest Performances. In 1991, she opened I 'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour with `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ). '' Three different performances of the song were taped and broadcast. The first is in Yokohama, Japan on March 15 and the second is in Norfolk, Virginia, the concert titled Welcome Home Heroes, televised live on HBO, March 31 and later released as the video of the same name. The third is in A Coruña, Spain on September 29, broadcast on Spanish TV channel and later featured on the select setlist on This Is My Life, her first hourlong TV special, aired on ABC, May 6, 1992. The song was also performed The Bodyguard World Tour ( 1993 -- 1994 ). On the tour, five different performances of the song were taped and televised ; four was on the South American leg of the tour in 1994 ― Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela ― and one was in Johannesburg, South Africa, broadcast live via satellite on HBO, November 12, 1994 ; the concert titled `` The Concert for a New South Africa. '' Houston performed the song at a 25 - minute pregame show of the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final at Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, broadcast in more than 180 countries on July 17, 1994. `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' was included in the setlist on two regional tours, The Pacific Rim Tour ( 1997 ) and The European Tour ( 1998 ). During the 1999 My Love Is Your Love World Tour, the remix version of the song was performed as a part of `` 1980s Dance Medley '' along with `` How Will I Know. '' One performance of the song on the tour was taped in Sopot, Poland and broadcast live on Polish TV channel TVP1 on August 22, 1999. In 2000, she performed the song as a similar version of ' 99 tour 's on Arista Records 25th Anniversary Celebration, taped at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 10, and broadcast on May 15 on NBC. Track listing and formats US 12 '' vinyl single ( Version 1 ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix ) -- 8 : 33 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Single version ) -- 4 : 52 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix Radio edit ) -- 4 : 51 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Dub Mix ) -- 6 : 48 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( A cappella ) -- 5 : 18 US 12 '' vinyl single ( Version 2 ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix ) -- 8 : 33 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Single version ) -- 4 : 52 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Dub Mix ) -- 6 : 48 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( A cappella Mix ) -- 5 : 18 `` Moment of Truth '' -- 4 : 38 UK 7 '' vinyl single `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' -- 4 : 52 `` Moment of Truth '' -- 4 : 39 UK promo VHS single `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Music Video ) -- 5 : 15 UK 5 '' maxi - CD single `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix ) -- 8 : 32 `` Moment of Truth '' -- 4 : 36 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Dub Mix ) -- 6 : 48 US 5 '' promo maxi - CD single `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Single version ) -- 4 : 52 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix Radio edit ) -- 4 : 51 `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 12 '' Remix ) -- 8 : 36 Credits and personnel Writer ― George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam Producer, arranger ― Narada Michael Walden Vocal arrangement ― Whitney Houston Drums ― Narada Synths ― Walter `` Baby Love '' Afanasieff Bass synth ― Randy Jackson Guitar synth ― Corrado Rustici Percussion programming ― Preston Glass Alto sax ― Marc Russo Simmons ― Greg `` Gigi '' Gonaway Synth horns ― Sterling Background vocals ― Jim Gilstrap, Kitty Beethoven, Kevin Dorsey, Myrna Matthews, Jennifer Hall, Whitney Houston Recording, mixing ― David Fraser Assistant engineer ― Dana Jon Chappelle Additional engineers ― Lincoln Clapp, Gordon Lyon, Jay Rifkin, Ken Kessie, Maureen Droney Additional assistant engineers ― Gordon Lyon, Stuart Hirotsu, Paul `` Goatee '' Hamingson, Noah Baron, Bill `` Sweet William '' Miranda, Ross Williams, Rob Beaton Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 1987 -- 2015 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( VRT Top 30 ) Canada ( RPM ) European Hot 100 Singles ( Music & Media ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) 15 Germany ( Media Control Top 100 ) Iceland ( RÚV ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( Musica e dischi ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) New Zealand ( RIANZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) South African Singles Chart Spain ( AFYVE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 25 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 70 Canadian Hot 100 ( Billboard ) 33 France ( SNEP ) 31 Ireland ( IRMA ) 32 Israel ( Media Forest ) 7 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 42 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 17 Scotland ( The Official Charts Company ) 18 South Korea International Singles ( Gaon ) 193 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 28 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 28 UK Singles Chart ( The Official Charts Company ) 20 UK Dance Singles ( The Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 25 Chart ( 2017 ) Peak position Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) 47 Year - end charts Chart ( 1987 ) Position Australian Singles Chart 11 Austrian Singles Chart 14 Canadian Singles Chart Finnish Singles Chart Dutch Singles Chart Italian Singles Chart 10 South African Singles Chart Swiss Singles Chart UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 US Black Singles 24 US Adult Contemporary Singles 9 US Dance / Club - Play Singles 14 Decade - end charts Chart ( 1980 -- 1989 ) Position Dutch Top 40 43 UK Singles Chart 81 Certifications Country Provider Certification Date Shipments / sales Australia ARIA Gold 35,000 Austria IFPI Gold March 1, 1993 15,000 Canada Music Canda Platinum 10,000 Germany BVMI Gold 250,000 Italy FIMI Gold 2017 25,000 Netherlands NVPI Gold 70,000 New Zealand RIANZ Silver 10,000 Sweden IFPI Gold 25,000 United Kingdom BPI Platinum August 1987 600,000 United States RIAA 2 × Platinum January 12, 1989 2,000,000 Worldwide 8,000,000 See also List of best - selling singles List of number - one singles in Australia in 1987 List of Top 25 singles for 1987 in Australia Nummer 1 - hits in de BRT Top 30 in 1987 List of RPM number - one singles of 1987 Dutch Top 40 number - one hits of 1987 List of European number - one hits of 1987 List of number - one hits of 1987 ( Finland ) ( in Finnish ) Number - one hits of 1987 ( Germany ) List of number - one hits of 1987 ( Italy ) List of number - one singles in 1987 ( New Zealand ) List of number - one hits 1987 ( Norway ) List of Swedish number - one hits List of number - one hits of 1987 ( Switzerland ) List of number - one singles from the 1980s ( UK ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1987 ( U.S. ) List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1987 ( U.S. ) Number - one dance hits of 1987 ( USA ) References Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston 's 20 Biggest Billboard Hits : A Look at Her Legendary Chart Career ''. ^ Jump up to : Seal 1994, pp. 22 -- 23 Jump up ^ `` Roland TR - 808 : The drum machine that refused to die ''. 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Finland : Otava. p. 161. ISBN 951 - 1 - 21053 - X. Jump up ^ `` '' I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' on the French Singles Chart ``. lescharts.com. August 29, 1987. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston Chart History ''. RÚV. Retrieved May 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` '' I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' on the South African Singles Chart ``. Springbok Radio. June 20, 1987. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. p. 670. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston -- Chart history '' Billboard Adult Contemporary for Whitney Houston. Retrieved April 23, 2017. 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Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` 2012 - 02 - 25 Top 40 Scottish Singles Archive ''. Official Charts. February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2014. Jump up ^ `` South Korea Gaon International Chart ( Week : February 12, 2012 to February 18, 2012 ) ''. Gaon Chart. January 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' Canciones Top 50. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ Grein, Paul ( February 23, 2012 ). `` Week Ending Feb. 19, 2012. Songs : Women Take Charge ''. Yahoo ! Music. Retrieved April 30, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles of 1987 in Australia ''. Kent Music Report. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles of 1987 in Austria ''. austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ Pennanen, Timo ( 2006 ). Sisältää hitin : Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland : Otava. p. 42. ISBN 951 - 1 - 21053 - X. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl - Jaaroverzichten - Single 1987 '' ( in Dutch ). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 2, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The best - selling single of 1987 in Italy ''. hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987 in South Africa ''. Top 40. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Swiss Year - End Charts 1987 ''. swisscharts.com. Retrieved September 25, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Chart Archive - 1980s Singles : Top Hits of 1987 ''. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 1987 Year - end Charts - Top Black Singles ''. Billboard. December 31, 1987. Retrieved January 15, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 1987 Year - end Charts - Top Adult Contemporary Singles ''. Billboard. December 31, 1987. Retrieved January 15, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 1987 Year - end Charts - Top Dance Club Play Singles ''. Billboard. December 31, 1987. Retrieved January 15, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 - Decenniumlijst : 80 's ''. Dutch Top 40 ( in Dutch ). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved June 2, 2011. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Charts : The ARIA Report week commencing 20 February 2012 -- Issue # 1147 '' ( PDF ). Pandora Archive. Retrieved May 30, 2016. Jump up ^ Austrian certifications ifpi.at Archived February 1, 2010, at WebCite. Retrieved December 24, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( ' I Will Always Love You ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 22, 2017. Jump up ^ Dutch certifications nvpi.nl. Retrieved December 24, 2008. Jump up ^ Nick Robertshaw ( August 9, 1986 ). Houston Attains Global Stardom. Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2010. Jump up ^ Swedish certifications Ifpi.se Archived May 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine... Retrieved December 24, 2008. Jump up ^ `` BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for Whitney Houston ( page 2 ) ( from bpi.co.uk ) ''. Imgur.com ( original source published by BPI. Retrieved May 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Whitney Houston -- I Wanna Dance ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 24, 2008. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Bibliography Seal, Richard ( 1994 ), One Moment in Time : Whitney Houston, Britannia Press Publishing, ISBN 0 - 9519937 - 8 - X External links I Wanna Dance With Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) at Discogs Preceded by `` Slice of Heaven '' by Dave Dobbyn with Herbs Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart number - one single June 15 -- July 19, 1987 ( 5 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Respectable '' by Mel and Kim Preceded by `` Hold Me Now '' by Johnny Logan Belgian VRT Top 30 Chart number - one single July 4 -- 24, 1987 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I Want Your Sex '' by George Michael Preceded by `` You Keep Me Hangin ' On '' by Kim Wilde Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart number - one single July 4 -- 10, 1987 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Always '' by Atlantic Starr Preceded by `` You Want Love ( Maria, Maria ) '' by Mixed Emotions Dutch Top 40 number - one single June 20 -- July 17, 1987 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I Want Your Sex '' by George Michael Preceded by `` La Isla Bonita '' by Madonna European Hot 100 Singles Chart number - one single June 20 -- August 14, 1987 ( 8 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' by Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett German Media Control Top 100 Singles Chart number - one single June 15 -- July 19, 1987 ( 5 weeks ) Succeeded by `` It 's a Sin '' by Pet Shop Boys Preceded by `` Let It Be '' by Ferry Aid Italian Musica e dischi Singles Chart number - one single June 13 -- 19, 1987 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Let It Be '' by Ferry Aid Preceded by `` Real Wild Child ( Wild One ) '' by Iggy Pop New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number - one single June 28 -- July 25, 1987 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Respectable '' by Mel and Kim Preceded by `` Let It Be '' by Ferry Aid Norwegian VG - lista Top 20 Singles Chart number - one single 22nd week -- 28th week, 1987 ( 7 weeks ) Succeeded by `` The Living Daylights '' by a-ha Preceded by `` Ever Fallen in Love '' by Fine Young Cannibals South African Singles Chart number - one single August 29 -- September 11, 1987 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Wild Horses '' by Gino Vannelli Preceded by `` You 're the Voice '' by John Farnham Swedish Singles Chart number - one single June 3 -- July 28, 1987 ( 6 weeks ) Succeeded by `` It 's a Sin '' by Pet Shop Boys Preceded by `` Let It Be '' by Ferry Aid Swiss Singles Chart number - one single June 14 -- July 25, 1987 ( 6 weeks ) Preceded by `` Nothing 's Gonna Stop Us Now '' by Starship UK Singles Chart number - one single May 31 -- June 13, 1987 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Star Trekkin ' '' by The Firm Preceded by `` Head to Toe '' by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart number - one single June 27, 1987 -- July 10, 1987 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Alone '' by Heart Preceded by `` In Too Deep '' by Genesis US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Chart number - one single July 4 -- 24, 1987 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Moonlighting '' by Al Jarreau Preceded by `` In Love with Love '' by Debbie Harry US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play Chart number - one single July 18, 1987 -- July 31, 1987 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Strangelove '' by Depeche Mode Whitney Houston Discography Videography Tours and concerts Awards and nominations Songs Studio albums Whitney Houston Whitney I 'm Your Baby Tonight My Love Is Your Love Just Whitney... One Wish : The Holiday Album I Look to You Soundtrack albums The Bodyguard The Preacher 's Wife Live albums Whitney Houston Live : Her Greatest Performances Extended plays Whitney : Dancin ' Special Exhale Whitney : The Unreleased Mixes I Did n't Know My Own Strength : The Remixes The Remixes I Look to You : The Remixes Million Dollar Bill : The Remixes Compilation albums Whitney : The Greatest Hits Love, Whitney The Ultimate Collection I Will Always Love You : The Best of Whitney Houston Concert tours The Greatest Love World Tour Moment of Truth World Tour Feels So Right Tour I 'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour The Bodyguard World Tour The Pacific Rim Tour The European Tour My Love Is Your Love World Tour Soul Divas Tour Nothing but Love World Tour Notable concerts & appearances Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston The Concert for a New South Africa Whitney : Brunei The Royal Wedding Celebration Classic Whitney : Live from Washington, D.C. VH1 Divas Live ' 99 Achievements Chart records and achievements Grammy awards history American Music Awards history Related articles `` Dance with Somebody '' The Bodyguard ( musical ) Being Bobby Brown The Houstons : On Our Own Bobby Brown ( ex-husband ) Bobbi Kristina Brown ( daughter ) Cissy Houston ( mother ) Whitney ( film ) Book Category Portal Whitney Houston singles Whitney Houston `` Hold Me '' `` Thinking About You '' `` You Give Good Love '' `` All at Once '' `` Saving All My Love for You '' `` How Will I Know '' `` Greatest Love of All '' Whitney `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' `` So Emotional '' `` Where Do Broken Hearts Go '' `` Love Will Save the Day '' `` I Know Him So Well '' I 'm Your Baby Tonight `` I 'm Your Baby Tonight '' `` All the Man That I Need '' `` Miracle '' `` My Name Is Not Susan '' `` I Belong to You '' `` We Did n't Know '' The Bodyguard `` I Will Always Love You '' `` I 'm Every Woman '' `` I Have Nothing '' `` Run to You '' `` Queen of the Night '' Waiting to Exhale `` Exhale ( Shoop Shoop ) '' `` Count On Me '' `` Why Does It Hurt So Bad '' The Preacher 's Wife `` I Believe in You and Me '' `` Step by Step '' `` My Heart Is Calling '' My Love Is Your Love `` When You Believe '' `` Heartbreak Hotel '' `` It 's Not Right but It 's Okay '' `` My Love Is Your Love '' `` I Learned from the Best '' Whitney : The Greatest Hits `` Could I Have This Kiss Forever '' `` If I Told You That '' `` Fine '' `` Same Script, Different Cast '' Just Whitney... `` Whatchulookinat '' `` One of Those Days '' `` Try It on My Own '' `` Love That Man '' One Wish : The Holiday Album `` One Wish ( for Christmas ) '' I Look to You `` I Look to You '' `` Million Dollar Bill '' Sparkle `` Celebrate '' `` His Eye Is on the Sparrow '' I Will Always Love You : The Best of Whitney Houston `` I Look to You '' Other / featured / promotional singles `` One Moment in Time '' `` It Is n't, It Was n't, It Ai n't Never Gonna Be '' `` The Star Spangled Banner '' `` Something in Common '' `` I Did n't Know My Own Strength '' `` Memories '' Book Category Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Wanna_Dance_with_Somebody_(Who_Loves_Me)&oldid=804506965 '' Categories : 1987 singles Whitney Houston songs UK Singles Chart number - one singles Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles Number - one singles in Germany Number - one singles in Italy Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Number - one singles in New Zealand Number - one singles in Sweden Number - one singles in Switzerland Number - one singles in Norway Dance - pop songs Ashley Tisdale songs David Byrne songs Songs written by Shannon Rubicam Songs written by George Merrill ( songwriter ) RPM Top Singles number - one singles Song recordings produced by Narada Michael Walden 1987 songs 1986 songs Songs about dancing Arista Records singles Hidden categories : Pages with reference errors Pages with duplicate reference names CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Webarchive template webcite links CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Webarchive template wayback links Use mdy dates from April 2015 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2014 Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceclubplay Singlechart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for Poland Singlechart called without artist Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Հայերեն Italiano Português Русский Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 9 October 2017, at 13 : 36. 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Question: who wrote i want to dance with somebody by whitney houston
Answer: written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of the band Boy Meets Girl; George Merrill; George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam; George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of the band Boy Meets Girl