Touched by the Hand of God

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"Touched by the Hand of God"
No cover available
Single by New Order
Released December 1987
Format 7", 12", CD
Recorded  ???
Genre Dance
Length 3:42 (7"), 7:04 (12")
Label Factory Records
Producer(s) New Order
Chart positions
New Order singles chronology
"True Faith"
(1987)
"Touched by the Hand of God"
(1987)
"Blue Monday 1988"
(1988)

"Touched by the Hand of God" was a single released by New Order in December 1987. The song had originally appeared on the soundtrack to the film Salvation! and the version released as a single was remixed by Arthur Baker. The video, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, that accompanied the song parodied hair metal groups of the same period, with the band obviously miming to the music, wearing wigs and also wearing a lot of black leather. The b-side was a dub remix, titled "Touched by the Hand of Dub" and the release had the catalogue number FAC 193; production duties are credited to New Order. Although not a track pulled for release from a studio album, "Touched by the Hand of God" does appear in remixed form on the 1995 compilation, The Best of New Order.

The title of the song is believed by some to be a reference to a goal Diego Maradona scored for Argentina against England in the 1986 football World Cup semi-final. (see Hand of God goal). Others believe it is a reference to masturbation. Taken at face value, the lyric - including the title line - refers to lost love, and was probably inspired by the break-up of Bernard Sumner's marriage.

Contents

[edit] Tracklisting

[edit] UK 12" - FAC 193

  1. "Touched by the Hand of God" (7:02)
  2. "Touched by the Hand of Dub" (5:30)

[edit] UK 7" - FAC 193-7

  1. "Touched by the Hand of God" (3:47)
  2. "Touched by the Hand of Dub" (4:11)

[edit] UK CD - FACD 193

  1. "Touched by the Hand of God" (7:02)
  2. "Confusion Dub 1987" (5:23)
  3. "Temptation" (7:00) [Incorrectly labelled as the Original Mix]
New Order
Bernard Sumner | Peter Hook | Stephen Morris | Phil Cunningham
Gillian Gilbert
Discography
Albums: Movement | Power, Corruption & Lies | Low-Life | Brotherhood | Technique | Republic | Get Ready | Waiting for the Sirens' Call
Compilation Albums: Substance | The Peel Sessions | BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert | The Best of New Order | The Rest of New Order | International | Retro | In Session | Singles
Extended plays: 1981-1982 New Order | Peel Sessions 1982 | Peel Sessions 1981 | The Peter Saville Show Soundtrack
Singles: "Ceremony" | "Procession" | "Everything's Gone Green" | "Temptation" | "Blue Monday" | "Confusion" | "Thieves Like Us" | "Murder" | "The Perfect Kiss" | "Sub-culture" | "Shellshock" | "State of the Nation" | "Bizarre Love Triangle" | "True Faith" | "Touched by the Hand of God" | "Blue Monday 1988" | "Fine Time" | "Round & Round" | "Run 2" | "World in Motion" | "Regret" | "Ruined in a Day" | World (The Price of Love)" | "Spooky" | "True Faith-94" | "1963" | "Blue Monday-95" | "Bizarre Love Triangle" (US re-release) | "Video 5 8 6" | "Crystal" | "60 Miles an Hour" | "Someone Like You" | "Here to Stay" | "Krafty" | "Jetstream" | "Waiting for the Sirens' Call" | "Guilt is a Useless Emotion"