“I Only Wanna Be with You” is a song covered by British pop singer Samantha Fox, released in January 1988 as a single from her third studio album, I Wanna Have Some Fun. The track is a cover of the original 1963 hit by Dusty Springfield, which was also a major success. Samantha Fox’s version is a lively, dance-pop interpretation that brought the classic song to a new audience in the late 1980s.
The original “I Only Wanna Be with You” was recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1963 and became her first solo hit, reaching No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song, written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde, is a joyful, upbeat love song in which the narrator expresses their infatuation with someone and the desire to be with them no matter what. Many artists have covered the song over the years, but Samantha Fox’s version, produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, stands out for its energetic and dance-oriented arrangement, which was well-suited to the 1980s pop music landscape.
Samantha Fox’s version of “I Only Wanna Be with You” is a fast-paced dance-pop track that reflects the vibrant, synthesizer-driven sound of late 1980s pop music. The production, filled with energetic drum machines, bright synth melodies, and a driving bassline, gives the song an upbeat, party vibe.
Samantha Fox’s “I Only Wanna Be with You” was a commercial success, particularly in Europe. It reached No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart and performed well internationally, including in the U.S., where it charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became a fan favorite and was regularly played on pop radio stations, further cementing Fox’s status as a pop icon of the 1980s. The success of the single also helped boost sales of Fox’s album I Wanna Have Some Fun, which featured other hits like the title track and “Love House.”