I Touch Myself
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| “I Touch Myself” | |||||
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| Single by Divinyls from the album Divinyls |
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| Released | 1991 | ||||
| Format | CD single, cassette single, 7" single, 12" single | ||||
| Recorded | 1990 | ||||
| Genre | Pop/Rock | ||||
| Length | 3:44 | ||||
| Label | Virgin Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Mark McEntee, Billy Steinberg | ||||
| Producer | Christina Amphlett, David Tickle, Mark McEntee | ||||
| Certification | Platinum (ARIA) | ||||
| Divinyls singles chronology | |||||
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"I Touch Myself" is a 1991 pop rock song written by Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg and Mark McEntee for Australian rock band Divinyls' self titled album. The song, which has since been covered by numerous artists, is about masturbation.
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[edit] Composition and recording
Divinyls recorded "I Touch Myself" for the first single 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. Amphlett liked it immediately after reading it. The next day, McEntee, Steinberg, Kelly and Amphlett got together and wrote the rest of the song, which was unusual because Steinberg and Kelly rarely wrote with two others present.
Putting the song structure together took a lot of trial and error. It was recorded to two-inch tape, making it difficult to edit. After significant experimentation, they came up with an unusual structure, with the bridge placed after the first chorus. The verse melody leads off the song.[1]
[edit] Promotion and chart performance
In Australia "I Touch Myself" was released as a CD single in December 1990 and debuted at number thirty-one later that month. After five weeks of being in the chart the song jumped to number-one knocking Vanilla Ice's debut single "Ice Ice Baby" off the top spot and stayed there for another week. 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.
[edit] In popular culture
In an episode of SNL in 1991, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey sang the chorus to the song in their Wayne's World sketch, replacing the words "When I think about you" to "When I think Kim Basinger" when they reveal that she made their "Top 10 Babes List of 1991".
In 1997, "I Touch Myself" was used in the movie; Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, when Austin slays the Fem-Bots with his Mojo.
In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer 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?!
As of December 2006 & January 2007, it is the theme song for Conan O'Brien's "Horny Manatee."
In one of the episodes of the popular sitcom Friends, a member of the audience of Mike's Piano Bar sings the song. Although we don't see the character singing in the episode, several jokes are made about his choice.
In the show Robot Chicken, a man in heaven asks a book that will answer any of his questions, "How many times have I listened to 'I Touch Myself' by the Divinyls?" The book answers, "106", though the man swears he heard it more.
The song appears (In Karaoke form) in the film Good Luck Chuck.
[edit] Cover versions
In 2000, the Industrial Metal band Genitorturers released their album Machine Love which included a cover version of "I Touch Myself", with slightly altered lyrics, making the singer the dominant party in the song, rather than submissive.
Rolf Harris performed a tongue-in-cheek version, accompanied only by his wobble board and asides full of innuendo, for Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge on the MMM Breakfast Show. This recording was released on the first Musical Challenge compilation album in 2000.
In 2005, the a cappella group Last Call [2] from Cornell University released their fourth album Straight Up, whose fourth track is a cover of "I Touch Myself". This cover is, obviously, a cappella and is sung at a slightly faster pace. In the same year the Belgium all girls choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers did a classical cover version, and it was remade as a dance song by Lenny B featuring Kristy Kay.
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 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. | ” |
In 2007, the novelty act FHM High Street Honeys also covered the track, bringing a UK club sound to the song. The video featured several of the FHM magazine girls dancing and lip-syncing to the song. The single made Top 40 in the UK in early 2007.
Also in 2007, Jan Wayne, a German DJ, remixed the song to a dance version. The single was played in several clubs, but it passed by the charts.
Despite common belief, Blondie did not record a version of I Touch Myself. The version that is commonly mistaken for being by Blondie, is actually the original version by The Divinyls.
Additionally, Jack Off Jill did not record a version of I Touch Myself, either. The version commonly attributed to Jack Off Jill is actually the Genitorturers cover of the song.
[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. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 35 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| Tiffani Wood (2006) | Peak position |
| Australian AIR Singles Chart | 5 |
| Preceded by "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single (Divinyls version) February 2, 1991 - February 9, 1991 |
Succeeded by "I've Been Thinking About You" by Londonbeat |
[edit] References
- ^ "I Touch Myself Songfacts". Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
- ^ "Last Call cover". Retrieved on October 23, 2006.
