Perrie really knows how to put on a show! The English pop star rocked the 2024 Capital Summertime Ball with a vivacious performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” It must have been a tough gig to come on next after Perrie because, wow, she can really work a crowd. Perrie hit the stage in a dazzling gold sequin dress and gave a powerful vocal performance while slaying the dance choreo with eight backup dancers.
The former X Factor UK star put those famous pipes to good work on the 1987 classic. It sure ain’t an easy job to sing Houston, but Perrie was up to the task. She delivered it in her own style, leaning into the pop elements in the tune, with a performance that was perfect to get the whole of Wembley Stadium on their feet and having a good time. The 2024 Summertime Ball had a host of great performances, but The Music Man readers def won’t want to sleep on this one!
Capital FM uploaded Perrie’s Houston cover on June 18, 2024, and it has since gained 1.5 million views on YouTube. Fans really loved Perrie’s take on the Houston classic and added comments such as “Doing a Whitney song while doing full-on choreo and slaying every note! Whitney would be so proud! You can tell Perrie is in her element here” and “Perrie should release this as an official cover. Her vocals are impeccable, and her genuine enthusiasm while performing is clear.”
Perrie has really shown her versatility with some strong performances throughout 2024. Another great moment from the English star came when she dropped into the BBC’s Live Lounge to sing Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s hit “Die With a Smile.” Perrie’s beautiful voice really came to the forefront with the arrangement, with her band tastefully turning the soft rock tune into a delicate piano ballad. I dunno what it is about the Live Lounge, but something about that format really seems to bring out the best in many artists.
Whitney Houston released “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” on April 28, 1987. The song was written by American songwriters George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, while Narada Michael Walden handled production duties. Houston released “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” as the lead single from her second studio album Whitney. The Music Man readers may recall that the song was a massive hit for the New Jersey singer. The single topped the charts in 18 countries, including her homeland, where it is certified seven times Platinum.