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, 12" single | |
| Recorded | 1990 | |
| Genre | Pop/Rock | |
| Length | 3:44 | |
| Label | Virgin Records | |
| Writer(s) | Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Mark McEntee, Billy Steinberg | |
| Producer(s) | Christina Amphlett, David Tickle, Mark McEntee | |
| 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.
Contents |
[edit] Composition and recording
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, which was unusual because Steinberg and Kelly rarely wrote with 2 others present.
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. [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.
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?!
As of Dec. 2006 & Jan. 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.
[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 | ||
|
||
| Tiffani Wood singles chronology | ||
| "Spin the Bottle" (2006) |
"I Touch Myself" (2006) |
|
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 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 [2] 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 & Kolacny Brothers did a classical cover version. A free recording of this version can be found here: http://odeo.com/audio/397590/view
Also in 2005, it was remade as a dance song by Lenny B featuring Kristy Kay.
It is played as part of "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Polka Your Eyes Out" medley.
The Bens have covered the song live, as have Eve 6.
A cover version by The FHM High Street Honeys is to be released as a single on 5 February 2007.
[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 |
ARIA (Australia) number one single February 2, 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.
