Calum Scott Duets with Whitney Houston on “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” #MusicMonday

I have had this song on repeat all weekend: Calum Scott’s remixed duet with Whitney Houston on her iconic and legendary song “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”

OMG.

First of all, he turned it into a ballad and by doing so he revealed the true emotion of the song that pulls at our heart … the desire of finding love. At a club. On the dance floor. For the rest of your life. Ahh.

Second of all, it’s Whitney. He is able to bring her forward in a fresh way, to keep her legacy alive in a new format, and to remind us of why we love her so much today. Not just yesterday but today. Ahh.

Thirdly, he turned it into a duet. It’s probably not meant to be a duet but by making it a duet between a gay man and a legendary gay icon, we find our common bond. The ballad reveals the ache of the song, the human truth. That which unites us as humans. The pain. Ahh.

“I wanna feel the heat with somebody.”

Then there’s my personal connection to the song on so many levels.

Whitney’s first album back in the day was a phenomenon like we’d never heard before. Our heads were exploding at the time yet at the same time we were consciously afraid that it was a one-off. Would we ever hear from her again?

I saw her in concert during her first album tour and she sang what would become the first single from her next album, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” and there was a collective sigh of relief in the crowd … she’s here to stay. The single came out months later and literally debuted in the top 10 and hit #1 in a matter of moments. Stay indeed.

Then years later when the song became a dance floor staple and I was out as a single gay man, this song would come on and my heart would ache. Ache. The song took on such a different meaning for me at that stage.

I was newly out, alone, single, trying to figure out what a gay life was, and longing to find someone. Ache.

I would stand alone at gay clubs listening to this incredible dance music. Happy but alone. Thinking, literally … “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me.” I want to dance, I want to love, I want it all. Is that too much to ask? Ahh.

And every time this song came on, every single time, I had to sit it out. I never had a chance to dance with anyone. It just wasn’t my time at that time. I never got the heat from somebody. Ahh.

I did eventually get my guy, my love, my life … and I am so grateful to this day. Who BTW does not like to dance. Ha! Alas, life and all that comes with it. Either way, I’m still dancing, with somebody who loves me! Still dancing.

Thank you Calum for bringing this back to us. For reminding us. For giving us this huge hug.

My message … hang on. Life is a journey and your time will come in some way, shape, or form.

Thank you Calum for this gift. What’s your experience? JIM