Song written by Christina Amphlett, Mark McEntee, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. Billy Steinberg had ‘I Touch Myself’ in his notebook; he had written the first verse and the chorus lyric. Christina Amphlett, singer from the band the Divinyls liked it immediately. The next day, McEntee (also from the band) and Amphlett got together with Kelly and Steinberg and wrote the rest. It was an unusual move, as Steinberg and Kelly rarely collaborated with others. Putting the song 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 lyric is widely regarded as a paean to female masturbation.
The song was released by the Australian rock band Divinyls in December 1990 as the first single from their fifth album, ‘diVINYLS’. The single achieved great success, reaching the Top 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reaching the number 1 position in their native country, Australia.
Live performances
Kim Wilde performed the song in November 2013 during her five concerts in Australia as a tribute to Amphlett, who had died in April 2013.
Lyrics
I love myself, I want you to love me
When I feel down, I want you above me
I search myself, I want you to find me
I forget myself, I want you to remind me
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh, I don’t want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no
You’re the one who makes me come runnin’
You’re the sun who makes me shine
When you’re around, I’m always laughin’
I want to make you mine
I close my eyes and see you before me
Think I would die if you were to ignore me
A fool could see just how much I adore you
I’d get down on my knees, I’d do anything for you
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh, I don’t want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no
I love myself, I want you to love me
When I feel down, I want you above me
I search myself, I want you to find me
I forget myself, I want you to remind me
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh, I don’t want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no
I want you
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ah ah ah ah oh ah
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh, I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
I touch myself
I touch myself
I touch myself
I touch myself
I touch myself
I honestly do