Month: July 2026

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Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, Originally Unpopular With Critics, Became a Best-Selling No. 1 Classic

Whitney Houston‘s legacy is one of unprecedented commercial success and unrivalled vocals, but the dance-pop star had to overcome many hurdles to reach the level of notoriety that she now has.

Her self-titled debut album had been a massive chart success that peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with several hits making their way onto the Hot 100. Tracks like “Saving All My Love For You” and “How Will I Know” also peaked at No. 1, and Houston was quickly becoming an exciting rising talent.

Though Houston’s album had been hugely successful on the Billboard R&B charts, it was generally her pop-driven singles that were performing most reliably on the general charts. This was a success that she wanted to replicate with her second album, simply titled Whitney.

Houston brought George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, the songwriters behind “How Will I Know”, back into the studio to create another mass-appeal hit that would drive her forthcoming record up the charts once again. They came up with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, and their mission was accomplished.

The song was released as the lead single from Houston’s second album, and it was an immediate global success. It topped the charts in seventeen countries, reached No. 1 on the Dance/Disco Club Play chart for the first time in her career, and later became one of the best-selling songs of all time with over 18 million recorded copies sold.

However, this global success actually turned many critics against Whitney Houston, as they believed she was chasing commercial appeal rather than her own creative expression. The single was likened to tracks like Cyndi Lauper‘s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”, which had a similar reputation among professional critics.

Thankfully, the years have been kind to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”, and the song is now held in much higher regard among critics. Instead of a cheap commercial thrill, most critics now agree that Houston’s iconic track was ahead of its time with its disco/R&B influences and poppy, energetic production.

Houston remains one of the best-selling artists ever, and this song was a massive contributor to her global chart success. She proved that artists can be both commercially viable and creatively impressive without sacrificing one for the other—a trait that contemporary critics struggled to appreciate.

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Author: Jack Walters

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Bye-Bye, Heat: Walmart’s Top-Selling Window AC Unit Is Over 50% Off Ahead of a Record-Breaking Heatwave

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

We’re barely into summer, but already heat waves are baking large swaths of the country: Over 220 million people in the eastern U.S. could experience dangerous heat this week. I’m one of them. The weather has been exceptionally hot and muggy the past couple of days here in northern Michigan, but the inside of my house is totally comfortable. It’s not because I have a powerful HVAC system—I just use three high-quality window AC units. 

If this week’s forecast is already making you sweat, you need to swoop in on this Walmart deal. Right now, the Simzlife 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner, a certified bestseller at Walmart, is on sale for just $120, a massive 56% markdown from its usual price of $270. It also ships for free, making it the most affordable window AC available at Walmart right now. Is this the right size for your living space? Here, we’ll discuss who should pick this one up and what other models to consider for the rooms in your home.

Simzlife 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner, $120 (was $270) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

What Shoppers Should Know

  • Output: 5,000 BTU
  • Room Size: Up to 150 square feet
  • Fits Windows: 23-34 inches wide
  • Other Features: Washable air filter

This is a basic, no-gimmicks AC that just works. In other words, what most shoppers are looking for. Before you click buy, however, make sure you’re getting the right unit for your space. At 5,000 BTU of output, this Simzlife machine is designed to cool smaller spaces up to 150 square feet. I use two 5K units in my upstairs bedrooms, and they work great. 

Choosing the Right AC for Your Home

Need to cool a bigger room? Consider this larger 8K Simzlife option, which can effectively cool rooms up to 350 square feet, or this 10K unit, which can cool rooms up to 450 square feet. If your ceilings are taller than 8 feet, if the room has lots of windows, or if you need to cool down a kitchen, bump up the BTU count a bit, as all those factors add heat. (This online guide can further help you determine the BTU level you need.)

But going bigger isn’t necessarily better—you want to pick an AC that matches your room size. If you get one that’s too powerful, it’ll cool the air without removing the humidity, leaving it feeling clammy and uncomfortable. This Simzlife unit works with standard double-hung windows, but if you have casement windows or sliding windows, check out a portable AC, which stands on the floor and uses an exhaust hose, or an option like this that’s designed for casement and sliding windows.

Related: This $10 Cooling Towel From Amazon Is an ‘Invaluable’ Hack for Surviving a Heat Wave

What Shoppers Are Saying

Shoppers praised the Simzlife AC’s “quiet and powerful” design and said it blows “super cold” air. Shoppers noted it’s great for smaller rooms, like a bedroom, and they especially appreciated its easy installation and low noise level—you can sleep and hear the TV while it’s running. Most importantly, however, it works really well: One shopper noted it “immediately cooled my room.”

Take advantage of this incredible 56% discount—plus free shipping—and snag your Simzlife AC unit today. When summer temperatures soar, you’ll be very glad to have this machine keeping your home comfortable.

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Author: Michael Charboneau

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What is Bobby Bonilla Day? Explaining the New York Mets’ ongoing contract saga

Major League Baseball might be intertwined with July 4, but another early-July holiday holds special significance for a significant portion of baseball fans. That day is July 1, also known as “Bobby Bonilla Day.” It’s the day when the New York Mets pay their annual deferred fee to former player Bobby Bonilla — who last played an MLB game in October 2001. Bonilla was owed $5.9 million when the Mets cut the aging player in 1999 and bought out the rest of his contract. Instead of paying him the sum up front, however, then-Mets owner Fred Wilpon cut a deal with Bonilla’s camp. The Mets would pay Bonilla in installments, with annual interest, every year from 2011-2035. Those installments will eventually total nearly $30 million, much more than what Bonilla was owed, according to ESPN. But there were several upsides for the Mets to pursue this strategy as well — at least, that’s the way it looked at the time. The Mets used the $5.9 million to create an annuity with a securities investor they were heavily in business with at the time that would pay them back in annual dividends. By doing so, they also freed up that money from their payroll for MLB bylaws purposes, meaning that they could use it to sign other players without adding to the total roster payroll that the league could potentially levy taxes against. The investor with whom they created the account was known for paying back those dividends with high interest, so the Mets themselves thought they would reap the profits of millions of dollars over the course of the deal even when subtracting all the money they would pay Bonilla. Just one problem — that investor’s name was Bernie Madoff, and in 2009, Madoff was convicted of running the largest Ponzi scheme fraud in recorded history and sentenced to 150 years in prison. In other words, the profits that the Mets were counting on in their Bonilla strategy likely never came. The fallout of Madoff’s crimes financially devastated the Mets, whose dealings with the corrupt money manager went far beyond their Bonilla agreement. The Mets struggled financially for the rest of Wilpon’s tenure as owner until the team was sold to current owner Steve Cohen in late 2020. Given the backdrop of Madoff’s involvement, Wilpon’s struggles in the later years of his ownership, and the general drama on and off the field that the Mets even to this day cannot seem to escape, “Bobby Bonilla Day” has become an ironic anti-holiday for fans who want to commemorate the fact that the Mets are paying a now-60-year-old — whose last MLB appearance came nearly 22 years ago — nearly $1.2 million on every July 1 until 2035. Of course, as the folks over at For The Win pointed out, Bonilla is hardly alone in having a massively deferred contract. Several major MLB contracts over the last few years include large sums of deferred money installments that extend almost two decades into the future, such as Freddie Freeman’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and current Mets star Francisco Lindor’s extension. Of course, these deferments were agreed to when both players were still in their respective primes and not at the end of their careers like Bonilla. Bonilla was not a bad player by any stretch of the imagination. He made six All-Star teams and won three Silver Slugger Awards in the 1980s and 1990s. Pittsburgh Pirates fans likely remember Bonilla as one of the best hitters on the perennial early 90s playoff-contending teams that also featured a young Barry Bonds. Miami Marlins fans likely remember him as a key part of the team that won the franchise’s first World Series title in 1997. But to Mets fans and baseball fans in general, Bonilla — fairly or not — will be commemorated every year on the day when he becomes about $1 million richer. Other Notable Deferred Money Deals Bobby Bonilla is not alone. A few other notable deferred-money arrangements are still on the books:

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1976 Rock Classic ‘Silly Love Songs’, Written as a Slight to Music Critics, Became a No. 1 Hit

Paul McCartney is best known for his work alongside John Lennon as the chief songwriter of The Beatles, but the British musician also scored plenty of No. 1 hits as a solo artist or with his second band, Wings.

Straight after leaving the Beatles, McCartney released his self-titled debut solo album, which shot straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was a sign of the commercial success that was still to come in his career, as the majority of his singles over the coming decade would all break into the Top 10 at some point.

By the time “Silly Love Songs” was released, McCartney had already scored a further four No. 1 hit singles, including “Listen to What the Man Said” and “My Love.” His albums were also performing brilliantly, as he scored an unbroken four-album streak atop the Billboard 200.

McCartney was a hit-making machine, but he still had a tough time winning over some of the music critics who were less receptive to his post-Beatles output. Many publications criticized him for making lighthearted, soppy love ballads that weren’t as genre-defining or experimental as his Beatles work.

In response, he wrote “Silly Love Songs”. The track serves as a direct reply to the music critics who opposed his lighthearted, playful songwriting, asking: “What’s wrong with that?”. The lyrics are based around an intentionally simple refrain of “I love you”, with the verses asking why people are so opposed to classic love songs in the modern era.

The song attracted plenty of attention from the media, and even finally won over several of the critics whose harsh words were playfully repeated in the song. Author Tim Riley has suggested that McCartney is inviting listeners to “have a laugh on him”, acknowledging that music doesn’t always have to be serious.

The debate surrounding the song was exacerbated by the fact that McCartney’s previous bandmates, John Lennon and George Harrison, were also releasing albums throughout the ’70s that were generally much more serious and experimental—yet McCartney was viewed as the commercial darling.

This is a reputation that McCartney held onto throughout his entire career, but “Silly Love Songs” was a very necessary step in the right direction towards separating himself from the serious critics who essentially wanted the second coming of the Beatles, and appreciating his music simply for what it is.

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Author: Jack Walters

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Mick Jagger Says One Longevity Habit Matters More Than Ice Baths and Cold Plunges

At 82, Mick Jagger is still sprinting across stadium stages, singing for hours, and recording new music. While many celebrities embrace cold plunges, saunas, and the latest biohacking trends, the Rolling Stones frontman says his approach to longevity is much simpler.

In a new interview with GQ, Jagger revealed that regular high-intensity exercise—and knowing when to ease up on alcohol and drugs—has done more for his health than any wellness fad.

Mick Jagger Isn’t Buying the Latest Longevity Trends

Asked whether he uses ice baths or other popular recovery methods, Jagger didn’t hesitate.

“I can’t stand ice baths,” he told GQ. “It’s awful. I don’t think it’s a fashion that’s gonna last.” He also said long sauna sessions aren’t for him, adding that he doesn’t enjoy “being hot for too long.”

Instead, Jagger focuses on the basics. To prepare for a Rolling Stones tour, he rehearses on a stage-sized practice area while singing and moving simultaneously to build the endurance needed for live performances. He described his workouts as “a bit like tennis”—alternating bursts of quick movement with walking, creating a naturally high-intensity training session.

Related: The Longevity Benefit Many Lifters Are Missing After 40

The Lifestyle Change He Says Made the Biggest Difference

Jagger also said longevity isn’t about perfection.

“I think, unfortunately, you can’t really, after a certain age, do loads of drink and drugs,” he told GQ, adding that he largely stopped that lifestyle around age 40. Still, he acknowledged there are no guarantees. “You’re just doing the best you can.”

3 Longevity Habits You Can Start Today

Rather than chasing every new wellness trend, Jagger’s routine points to habits backed by common-sense health principles:

  • Train with intensity. Include intervals of faster movement during walks, cycling, or strength workouts. If you’re logging more miles on foot, a well-cushioned shoe like the HOKA’s Skyward X 2 can help make high-intensity walking and running workouts more comfortable.
  • Practice for your goal. Jagger trains the same way he performs, building fitness that’s specific to the task.
  • Cut back on excess alcohol. His advice echoes decades of public health guidance that limiting heavy drinking supports long-term health.

Jagger’s message is refreshingly simple: Skip the shortcuts, stay active, and focus on habits you can maintain for decades—not just the latest trend.

Related: I’m a Trainer: You’re Probably Resting the Wrong Amount Between Sets

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Author: Joseph Arangio

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What is Bobby Bonilla Day? Explaining the New York Mets’ ongoing contract saga

Major League Baseball might be intertwined with July 4, but another early-July holiday holds special significance for a significant portion of baseball fans. That day is July 1, also known as “Bobby Bonilla Day.” It’s the day when the New York Mets pay their annual deferred fee to former player Bobby Bonilla — who last played an MLB game in October 2001. Bonilla was owed $5.9 million when the Mets cut the aging player in 1999 and bought out the rest of his contract. Instead of paying him the sum up front, however, then-Mets owner Fred Wilpon cut a deal with Bonilla’s camp. The Mets would pay Bonilla in installments, with annual interest, every year from 2011-2035. Those installments will eventually total nearly $30 million, much more than what Bonilla was owed, according to ESPN. But there were several upsides for the Mets to pursue this strategy as well — at least, that’s the way it looked at the time. The Mets used the $5.9 million to create an annuity with a securities investor they were heavily in business with at the time that would pay them back in annual dividends. By doing so, they also freed up that money from their payroll for MLB bylaws purposes, meaning that they could use it to sign other players without adding to the total roster payroll that the league could potentially levy taxes against. The investor with whom they created the account was known for paying back those dividends with high interest, so the Mets themselves thought they would reap the profits of millions of dollars over the course of the deal even when subtracting all the money they would pay Bonilla. Just one problem — that investor’s name was Bernie Madoff, and in 2009, Madoff was convicted of running the largest Ponzi scheme fraud in recorded history and sentenced to 150 years in prison. In other words, the profits that the Mets were counting on in their Bonilla strategy likely never came. The fallout of Madoff’s crimes financially devastated the Mets, whose dealings with the corrupt money manager went far beyond their Bonilla agreement. The Mets struggled financially for the rest of Wilpon’s tenure as owner until the team was sold to current owner Steve Cohen in late 2020. Given the backdrop of Madoff’s involvement, Wilpon’s struggles in the later years of his ownership, and the general drama on and off the field that the Mets even to this day cannot seem to escape, “Bobby Bonilla Day” has become an ironic anti-holiday for fans who want to commemorate the fact that the Mets are paying a now-60-year-old — whose last MLB appearance came nearly 22 years ago — nearly $1.2 million on every July 1 until 2035. Of course, as the folks over at For The Win pointed out, Bonilla is hardly alone in having a massively deferred contract. Several major MLB contracts over the last few years include large sums of deferred money installments that extend almost two decades into the future, such as Freddie Freeman’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and current Mets star Francisco Lindor’s extension. Of course, these deferments were agreed to when both players were still in their respective primes and not at the end of their careers like Bonilla. Bonilla was not a bad player by any stretch of the imagination. He made six All-Star teams and won three Silver Slugger Awards in the 1980s and 1990s. Pittsburgh Pirates fans likely remember Bonilla as one of the best hitters on the perennial early 90s playoff-contending teams that also featured a young Barry Bonds. Miami Marlins fans likely remember him as a key part of the team that won the franchise’s first World Series title in 1997. But to Mets fans and baseball fans in general, Bonilla — fairly or not — will be commemorated every year on the day when he becomes about $1 million richer. Other Notable Deferred Money Deals Bobby Bonilla is not alone. A few other notable deferred-money arrangements are still on the books:

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