“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was written by the songwriting duo George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam. The pair, who met while performing at a wedding, also performed as the group Boy Meets Girl. They had previously found massive success penning Whitney Houston’s 1985 hit “How Will I Know.” Following that success, they were asked to create another hit for Houston. Merrill recalled the pressure, stating, “we just looked at each other. We thought, ‘Well, that’s kind of what this is about, it’s not about the one song and goodbye… so we just went to work.'” Rubicam noted the song materialized quickly in their “funky little garage studio.”
While the song has a famously upbeat and light-hearted feel, the lyrics carry a deeper, more emotional weight. Rubicam explained that the title was intentionally extended to include “(Who Loves Me)” to highlight this sentiment. The song captures a feeling of loneliness and the desire for a meaningful, long-term partnership, rather than just a fleeting party experience. “Many of our friends were in this boat,” Rubicam said, “…’I really don’t wanna just go party, I’d really like to find somebody, try and find a somebody to love.'”
The track was released as the lead single from Houston’s second album, Whitney. It became part of a remarkable streak of seven consecutive US #1 hits for the singer. The song was a colossal commercial success, with the single selling three million copies in America, while the album sold nine million.
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” also achieved critical acclaim, winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, and the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single. A year after the song’s release, Merrill and Rubicam’s own group, Boy Meets Girl, had a major hit with “Waiting For A Star To Fall.”