Touched by the Hand of God

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“Touched by the Hand of God”

Single by New Order

Released

December 1987

Format

7", 12", CD

Recorded

???

Genre

Dance

Length

3:42 (7"), 7:04 (12")

Label

Factory - FAC 193

Producer

New Order

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 glam 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 quarter-final match. (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.