I Touch Myself
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| "I Touch Myself" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Divinyls | ||
| from the album Divinyls | ||
| Released | December, 1990 (Australia) | |
| Format | CD Single Cassette Single 7" Single (UK) 12" Single (UK) |
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| Recorded | 1990 | |
| Genre | Pop Rock |
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| Length | 3:44 | |
| Label | Virgin Records | |
| Writer(s) | Christina Amphlett Tom Kelly Mark McEntee Billy Steinberg |
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| Producer(s) | Christina Amphlett David Tickle Mark McEntee |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Divinyls singles chronology | ||
| "Punxsie" (1988) |
"I Touch Myself" (1990) |
"Love School" (1991) |
"I Touch Myself" is a pop-rock song written by Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg and Mark McEntee. It was originally performed by Australian rock band Divinyls in 1990. In 2006, it was covered by Australian singer-songwriter Tiffani Wood. The song is about masturbation.
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[edit] Divinyls version
Divinyls recorded "I Touch Myself" for the first song from their fifth album, Divinyls. Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee wrote the song with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg (who have written songs such as "I'll Stand by You," "Like a Virgin," "Eternal Flame," "True Colors" and "So Emotional"). Billy Steinberg had "I Touch Myself" in his note book, he had written the first verse and the chorus lyric, once Christina read it, she liked it straight away. The next day, Mark, Billy, Tom and Christina got together and wrote the rest of the song.
Putting the song structure together took a lot of trial and error. It was recorded to 2-inch tape, so it wasn't easy to edit. After a lot of experimentation, they came up with an unusual structure, with the bridge placed after the first chorus. The verse melody leads off the song.
The song went straight to number one in Australia and stayed there for two weeks. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart at position sixty-nine and on its eighth week it peaked at number ten (its peak position in the UK) and spent a total of twelve weeks in the chart.
When released in the United States, the song caused a minor controversy. However, it managed to reach the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number four.
In 1997, I Touch Myself was used in the Austin Powers movie; Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, when Austin slays the Fem-Bots with his Mojo.
In the Buffy episode "Lie to Me", we have the following exchange:
- Buffy: It was terrible. I moped over you for months. Sitting in my room listening to that Divinyls song 'I Touch Myself'.
- She realizes how what she just said could be taken and casts a nervous look at Xander and Willow.
- Buffy: Of course, I had no idea what it was about.
- ... several more lines of dialogue ...
- Willow: (realizes) Oh, that's what that song is about?!
[edit] Tiffani Wood version
| "I Touch Myself" | ||
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| Single by Tiffani Wood | ||
| from the album Bite Your Tongue | ||
| Released | September 9, 2006 | |
| Format | CD single | |
| Recorded | Australia | |
| Genre | Pop–Rock | |
| Length | 3:28 | |
| Label | Mudhoney Records | |
| Producer(s) | Richie Vez | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Tiffani Wood singles chronology | ||
| "Spin the Bottle" (2006) |
"I Touch Myself" (2006) |
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In September 2006, Australian singer-songwriter and former Bardot member, Tiffani Wood released a cover of "I Touch Myself". It was the third single released from her debut album Bite Your Tongue. Wood's version remains identical to the original, but increases the tempo for a more modern feel. Wood has performed the song on the NRL Footy Show, Mornings with Kerri-Anne and CD Live. The song peaked at #5 on the AIR charts for independent distribution and #17 for all distribution.
Wood on covering "I Touch Myself":
| While recording the tracks for my forthcoming album, we decided we wanted to do a cover. Instead of looking to overseas artists I wanted to choose someone who represented the great Aussie rock chick and I just couldn't go past the divine Chrissy Amphlett. After reading her book Pleasure and Pain and growing up with many of the Divinyls hits including "I Touch Myself", it was an easy choice which way to go. |
[edit] Other covers
In 2005, the a capella group Last Call [1] released their fourth album Straight Up, whose fourth track is a cover of "I Touch Myself". This cover is, obviously, a capella and is sung at a slightly faster pace. Other covers include one by the Genitorturers.
In 2005, the Belgium all girls choir 'Scala' did a classical cover version. A free recording of this version can be found here: http://odeo.com/audio/397590/view
It is played as part of Weird Al's Polka Your Eyes Out medley.
[edit] Track listing
- Divinyls version
- "I Touch Myself"
- "Follow Through"
- Tiffani Wood's version
- "I Touch Myself" — 3:28
- "I Touch Myself" (subsonic remix) — 5:55
- "I Touch Myself" (instrumental) — 3:28
[edit] Charts
| Divinyls (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
| U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks | 35 |
| U.S. Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| Tiffani Wood (2006) | Peak position |
| Australian AIR Singles Chart | 5 |
| AIR Top 20 Singles Chart
(Independent Distribution) |
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| Preceded by: "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice |
ARIA (Australia) number one single February 2, 1991 |
Succeeded by: "I've Been Thinking About You" by Londonbeat |
[edit] References
- ^ "Last Call cover". Retrieved on October 23, 2006.
