I Touch Myself

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1990 single by Divinyls

title: "I Touch Myself" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-songs", "1990-singles", "1991-singles", "2006-singles", "divinyls-songs", "songs-written-by-tom-kelly-(musician)", "songs-written-by-billy-steinberg", "number-one-singles-in-australia", "songs-written-by-chrissy-amphlett", "songs-written-by-mark-mcentee", "music-videos-directed-by-michael-bay", "virgin-records-singles", "fiction-about-masturbation", "female-masturbation", "australian-soft-rock-songs"] description: "1990 single by Divinyls" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Touch_Myself" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1990 single by Divinyls ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameI Touch Myself
coverDivinylsITouchMyself.jpg
typesingle
artistDivinyls
albumDivinyls
B-sideFollow Through
written1990
released
studioGroove Masters (Santa Monica, California)
* Soft rock{{cite weblast
* pub rock<ref name"tonedeaf.thebrag.com"
length3:44
labelVirgin
prev_titlePunxsie
prev_year1988
next_titleLove School
next_year1991
misc
::

| name = I Touch Myself | cover = DivinylsITouchMyself.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Divinyls | album = Divinyls | B-side = Follow Through | written = 1990 | released = | studio = Groove Masters (Santa Monica, California) | genre =

"I Touch Myself" is a song recorded by Australian rock band Divinyls. It was written by the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg along with Christine Amphlett and Mark McEntee of the Divinyls. It was released in November 1990, by Virgin Records, as the lead single from the band's fourth album, Divinyls (1991), and deals with the subjects of eroticism and female masturbation. The single achieved success, reaching No. 1 in Australia and No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its music video was directed by Michael Bay and received three nominations at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. In January 2018, Australian network Triple M ranked the song at No. 60 in its list of the "most Australian" songs of all time. In 2025, the song placed 54 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. In 2023, Billboard magazine ranked it among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".

Composition and recording

Chrissy Amphlett and Mark McEntee wrote the song in 1990 with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg (who had also written songs such as "I'll Stand by You", "Like a Virgin", "Eternal Flame", "True Colors" and "So Emotional"). Steinberg had written the first verse and the chorus lyric for "I Touch Myself". Amphlett liked it immediately, and despite the fact that Steinberg and Kelly rarely collaborated with others, McEntee, Steinberg, Kelly and Amphlett would write the remainder of the song the next day.

The song was recorded to two-inch tape, making it difficult to edit. After much experimentation, the writers devised an unusual song structure with the bridge placed after the first chorus. ::quote Considine, J.D.]] (1991). "Interview with Divinyls". The Baltimore Sun. – via The Windsor Star. (26 June 1991). ::

Promotion and chart performance

In Australia, "I Touch Myself" was released on 19 November 1990 on 7-inch and cassette, and the CD single was released on 3 December 1990. The single debuted at No. 77 on 2 December 1990. On its tenth week on the chart, the song reached No. 1, replacing Vanilla Ice's debut single "Ice Ice Baby", and stayed there for another week. The single was certified platinum in Australia.

"I Touch Myself" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at No. 69 and on its eighth week it peaked at No. 10, spending 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 No. 4, and at No. 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart after receiving extensive play on modern rock radio. Divinyls are considered a one-hit wonder in the US, as "I Touch Myself" was their only American top-40 hit.

Critical reception

Alex Henderson from AllMusic described the song as "infectious," while editor Adrian Zupp called it a "lascivious headline-grabber." A reviewer from Billboard magazine named it a "modern rock smash," noting lead singer Christina Amphlett's video appearance as "eye-catching." James Muretich from Calgary Herald joked, "One gathers she's not talking about scratching her nose". Everett True from Melody Maker commented, "Yes, it is about what you think. It's a song about female obsession, gratification, frustration and masturbation which, apparently, Mike Read played on Round Table and then got extremely embarrassed by. He shouldn't have done. It's a song about giving, and giving as much as you can: tantalising, without being titillating. Musically, it's straight-down-the-line mid-American rock (Bangles, Go-Go's). I'm rather fond of it, to tell the truth." Magazine Music & Media wrote that "it will stay in your mind for the rest of the week." Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "'I Touch Myself' has already been a number one single in their native Australia, and is now in the US Top 10. It won't do that well here, but its loose, post-punk execution and killer hook add up to a hit." Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits called it "one of pop's finer nanoseconds" in her review of the DiVINYLS album.

Music video

The song's accompanying music video, directed by American film director and producer Michael Bay, was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year.

Impact and legacy

In January 2018, Australian network Triple M ranked the song at No. 60 in its list of the "most Australian" songs of all time. In October 2023, Billboard magazine ranked "I Touch Myself" at No. 326 in their "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" list. In January 2025, American Songwriter ranked the song among "3 of the Best Opening Lines in One-Hit Wonder Songs from the 1990s".

I Touch Myself Project

The I Touch Myself Project was launched in 2014, 12 months after Amphlett's death from breast cancer. Amphlett wanted "I Touch Myself" to be adapted as a global anthem for breast health. The project was created in her honour with its mission to create educational forums to promote self-examination.

In June 2014, Connie Mitchell, Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Little Pattie, Megan Washington, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah Blasko, Sarah McLeod and Suze DeMarchi released a version of "I Touch Myself", with each providing her own interpretation and distinct style to the song. This version, credited to the I Touch Myself Project, peaked at No. 72 on the ARIA chart.

In 2016, the I Touch Myself Project partnered with Berlei to create the Chrissy Bra, which reminds women to examine their breasts for anomalies when dressing, and a Chrissy Post-Surgery Bra, designed specifically for women who have undergone breast-cancer surgery.

In 2018, Serena Williams recorded "I Touch Myself" and posted her version on Instagram. It became Instagram's most retweeted post, most widely discussed campaign and most watched video during International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Track listings

  • 7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single
  • Australian CD single
  1. "I Touch Myself"
  2. "Follow Through"
  • UK 12-inch and CD single
  1. "I Touch Myself"
  2. "Follow Through"
  3. "I Touch Myself" (alternate version)

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "I Touch Myself""] | Chart (1990–1991) | Peak position | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Europe (European Hit Radio) | Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) | UK Airplay (Music Week) | US Billboard Hot 100 | US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) | US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) | US Cash Box Top 100 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 40 | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="Year-end chart performance for "I Touch Myself""]

Chart (1991)PositionAustralia (ARIA)Canada Top Singles (RPM)UK Singles (OCC)US Billboard Hot 100US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)US Cash Box Top 100
15
97
90
52
14
40
::

Certifications

Release history

::data[format=table title="Release history and formats for "I Touch Myself""]

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.AustraliaJapanUnited Kingdom
19 November 1990Virgin
3 December 1990CD
21 April 1991Mini-CD
29 April 1991
7 May 19917-inch vinyl postcard pack
::

Cover versions

Usage in other media

The song has been featured in the 1997 comedy film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, as a cover version by Scala & Kolacny Brothers during the first episode of the second season of Sex Education and is mentioned in the Friends episode "The One Where Monica Sings". An a cappella version sung by a female choir figured prominently in the first episode of the 2023 comic mystery TV series Deadloch.

References

References

  1. Johnson, Howard. (30 June 2016). "The 10 Sexiest Rock Songs Ever".
  2. (17 October 2021). "Check out 14 of the most iconic Aussie pub rock songs".
  3. Wiser, Carl. "Billy Steinberg: Songwriter Interviews".
  4. Surnow, Rose. (22 April 2013). "Masturbation Pioneer and "I Touch Myself Singer," Divinyls' Chrissy Amphlett, Dead at 53". [[Hearst Corporation]].
  5. (27 January 2018). "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds.
  6. "Countdown #1 to #100 - Hottest 100 Australian Songs".
  7. (19 October 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List".
  8. "I Touch Myself Songfacts".
  9. [[J.D. Considine. Considine, J.D.]] (1991). "Interview with Divinyls". ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''. – via ''[[The Windsor Star]]''. (26 June 1991).
  10. "New Release Summary > Product Available from: 19/11/90 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 45)". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  11. "New Release Summary > Product Available from: 03/12/90 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 47)". ARIA.
  12. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 02 Dec 1990 (61–100)". ARIA.
  13. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 03 Feb 1991 (1–60)". ARIA.
  14. Henderson, Alex. "The Divinyls – ''Divinyls''". [[AllMusic]].
  15. Zupp, Adrian. "The Divinyls – ''Make You Happy 1981-1993''". [[AllMusic]].
  16. (2 March 1991). "Album Reviews".
  17. Muretich, James (17 February 1991). "Recent Releases". ''[[Calgary Herald]]''.
  18. True, Everett. (4 May 1991). "Singles".
  19. (9 February 1991). "New Releases: Singles".
  20. Jones, Alan. (4 May 1991). "Mainstream: Singles".
  21. Sullivan, Caroline. (24 July 1991). "Reviews: LPs".
  22. ET Canada Staff. (20 December 2014). "Music Videos Directed By Michael Bay".
  23. Uitti, Jacob. (10 January 2025). "3 of the Best Opening Lines in One-Hit Wonder Songs From the 1990s". [[American Songwriter]].
  24. (2014). "2014".
  25. "The Artists".
  26. (5 July 2014). "Chart Watch".
  27. (2016). "2016".
  28. (2018). "2018".
  29. [[Divinyls]]. (1990). "I Touch Myself". [[Virgin Records]].
  30. Divinyls. (1990). "I Touch Myself". Virgin Records.
  31. Divinyls. (1991). "I Touch Myself". Virgin Records.
  32. Divinyls. (1990). "I Touch Myself". Virgin Records.
  33. Divinyls. (1991). "I Touch Myself". Virgin America.
  34. Divinyls. (1991). "I Touch Myself". Virgin America.
  35. (9 July 1991). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
  36. (1 June 1991). "European Hit Radio".
  37. [http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDate=19910616&ChMode=N Radio Luxembourg Singles. 23 June 1991.]
  38. (6 July 1991). "Playlist Chart".
  39. (18 May 1991). "Billboard Hot 100".
  40. (13 April 1991). "Mainstream Rock Airplay".
  41. (23 March 1991). "Alternative Airplay".
  42. "Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996".
  43. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1991". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  44. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991".
  45. (11 January 1992). "1991 Top 100 Singles".
  46. "Billboard Top 100 – 1991".
  47. (21 December 1991). "The Year in Music 1991: Top Modern Rock Tracks".
  48. (28 December 1991). "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles".
  49. "ディバイナルズ {{!}} アイ・タッチ・マイセルフ". [[Oricon]].
  50. (27 April 1991). "New Releases: Singles".
  51. (4 May 1991). "New Releases: Singles".
  52. (3 June 2007). "Fast Forward - Divinyls - Touch Myself". YouTube.
  53. (8 November 2014). "Polka Your Eyes Out".
  54. "Official Charts > FHM High Street Honeys". Official Charts Company.
  55. "Hottest 100 2019".
  56. "Scala music used for 2nd season of the Netflix hype Sex Education".
  57. Caruso, Nick. (18 January 2020). "Sex Education Season 2 Premiere Recap: Hands-On Experience Helps Otis Get Back in Business".
  58. Press, Joy. (5 July 2023). "''Deadloch'' is the Feminist Crime Parody You Didn't Know You Needed".

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1990-songs1990-singles1991-singles2006-singlesdivinyls-songssongs-written-by-tom-kelly-(musician)songs-written-by-billy-steinbergnumber-one-singles-in-australiasongs-written-by-chrissy-amphlettsongs-written-by-mark-mcenteemusic-videos-directed-by-michael-bayvirgin-records-singlesfiction-about-masturbationfemale-masturbationaustralian-soft-rock-songs