‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody,’ the lead single from Whitney Houston‘s 1987 eponymous sophomore album, not only hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the height of its popularity (becoming her fourth in what would go on to be a record-setting string of 7 consecutive chart-toppers) but it would eventually nab 7x Platinum status at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The measure denotes sales equivalence of 7 million in the United States.
In fact, the latter organization has it listed as her second highest-certified hit in the country to date following the gargantuan ‘I Will Always Love You.’
A staple at weddings as well as TV and movie soundtracks over the last 3 decades, the enduring legacy of the Narada Michael Walden-produced smash got yet another nod thanks to Billboard’s recently published list of the “500 Best Pop Songs.”
Taking to press Friday (October 20), Billboard – in celebration of its 65th anniversary – lifted the lid on the final 100 of its “500 Best Pop Songs,” a tally limited to Hot 100-charting singles only that saw Houston’s GRAMMY-winning hit leading the fray.
Elsewhere in the upper rankings of the list, King and Queen of Pop Michael Jackson and Madonna are found at #7 and #6 for their respective hits ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Like a Prayer.’
The top 10 aren’t the only places the trio of Pop royals are found on the historic Billboard rankings. Houston has ‘I Will Always Love You’ (#60) while Madonna has ‘Vogue‘ (#186) and ‘Borderline‘ (#128). Michael also has ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’ (#113).
Billboard’s 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time
#1 – Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’
#2 – ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’
#3 – The Temptations’ ‘My Girl’
#4 – Backstreet Boys’ ‘I Want It That Way’
#5 – Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’
#6 – Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’
#7 – Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’
#8 – Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’
#9 – 2Pac’s ‘California Love’
#10 – The Beatles’ ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’
See the full list here.