'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' is now safely embedded in the pantheon of great songs: a 2023 Billboard poll named it the greatest pop song of all time, and it continues to be an ever-present on pop radio and wedding playlists. When it was first released, however, as the lead single from Whitney Houston's second album, it prompted a widespread critical backlash. Rolling Stone found it 'ridiculously safe' and the novelist Trey Ellis called it 'lifeless'. This would culminate in the notorious moment at the 1989 Soul Train awards when Houston was audibly booed by the live TV audience. What was behind this controversy and what does it tell us about freedom, a concept which seemed to attach itself to Houston throughout her career, which people heard in her singing and expected her to represent?

All the songs discussed in this episode, including the original recording of 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)' can be heard here. If you've enjoyed it, please leave a review on Apple podcasts; thank you.

With very special thanks to Paul Wierdak, the producer of this episode.