Calum Scott sings with the late Whitney Houston on emotional duet of I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Calum Scott says duetting with the late Whitney Houston is "beyond anything I could have dreamed".
In a landmark moment for pop music, Calum Scott has teamed up with the late Whitney Houston for a reimagined version of her iconic 1987 hit, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).
Released in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Houston’s legendary career, the duet marks the first time music legend's original vocal stems have been used in a collaborative recording.
The new rendition transforms the upbeat dance-pop anthem into a sweeping ballad, layering Scott’s emotive vocals alongside Houston’s timeless performance.
Produced by Jon “MAGS” Maguire, Andrew Yeates, and Charlie T in the UK, the track features a lush string arrangement that deepens the song’s emotional core.
Houston’s vocals were handled by her longtime collaborator Narada Michael Walden, preserving the integrity of her original tape recordings.
Scott - who rose to fame with his breakout cover of Robyn’s Dancing On My Own - first began incorporating a chorus of I Wanna Dance With Somebody into his live performances last year, and the mashup instantly struck a chord with fans.
He said in a statement: “Whitney’s voice was the soundtrack of my childhood.
“To be trusted with her vocals and reimagine this song as a duet is beyond anything I could have dreamed. It’s a tribute to her artistry and a moment I’ll cherish forever.”
Pat Houston, executor of Whitney’s estate, praised the project’s authenticity and Scott’s heartfelt approach, adding: “Whitney always believed in lifting others up.
"Calum’s version honours her spirit and creative legacy.”
The official video (below), featuring archival footage of Houston, adds a poignant visual layer to the release.
