Touch (the)

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. First track of the album Teases & Dares, this track was also released on single in January 1985. The working title for this track was So Right.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘The Touch’: the album version, the 7″ version and the extended version.

Formats

The track was released as a 7″ single and 12″ single. A shaped picture disc was also released, containing the 7″ single tracks.
See also this page in the discography.

Live performances

‘The touch’ was performed live during the Rage to Rock Tour in 1985, the Dutch tours in October 2015 and October 2016 and the tour with Howard Jones in Australia in 2016.

Kim about ‘The touch’

Some of those videos really embarrass me. Some of them don’t embarrass me but some of them do, like ‘The Second Time’, me dressed as a ridiculous woman with a white wig on, and then which other one do I cringe at, oh yeah, ‘The Touch’, but you didn’t show the embarrassing bits of ‘The touch’ but oh my God, that was an atrocious video. (1)

Credits

Drums: Chris North
Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar, backing vocals: Steve Byrd
’62 Fender Telecaster, Roland Jupiter 8, Slina, Mini Moog, Synclavier II: Ricki Wilde
Produced by Ricki Wilde and Marty Wilde.
Engineer: Nigel Mills with thanks to Stephen Stewart-Short and Pete Schwier.

Highest chart positions

Germany: 29 (10 weeks)
Netherlands: 20 (6 weeks)
United Kingdom: 56 (3 weeks)

Interview sources

(1) Music Box, Super Channel, 1988

Lyrics

Funny what fate can bring you
And the things that it can do
Funny how life can change you
When you least expect it do

I wasn’t into anyone
I danced in a sea of faces
I wasn’t into anything
But baby you know
Together we’re…

So right
The touch that I get from you’s incredible
So right
The touch that I get
When I look at you

Maybe the touch you give me
Is the look I get from you
Maybe the spell it’s weaving
Is the way you feel it too

Maybe you’ll stop and walk away
Don’t look at me to follow
I wouldn’t run for anyone
But baby you know
Together we’re …

So right
The touch that I get from you’s incredible
So right
The touch that I get
That I get from you

Whatever it is we’ve got
Well maybe we could find out more about it
Baby we’ll create this feeling
Anytime, anytime

I wasn’t into anyone
I danced in a sea of faces
I wasn’t into anything
But baby you know
Together we’re …

So right
The touch that I get from you’s incredible
So right
The touch that I get
When I look at you

So Right

Working title for the track The Touch.

Countdown

Date
28 June 1986
Channel
Veronica (Netherlands)

Kim lipsynchs to ‘Schoolgirl’ and ‘The touch’ on stage before a live studio audience, backed by a three piece band. Before her performance, she is interviewed briefly by presenter Adam Curry.

Once voted runner up for the most beautiful woman in England and now next to me on stage. How are you doing Kim?
Hi, very well thank you.

It was about a year ago since you were last in the Countdown studio, you were singing ‘The Touch’. What’s been happening since then?
Oh… I’m doing ‘The Touch’ again, yeah (laughs). I’ve been making my new album and working and writing and various other… pursuits.

And of course your dad Marty and your brother Ricky have always been helping you out. How’s mom doing?
My ma? She’s very well, yeah. She’s got a bit of a back problem.

Back problem? Not serious I hope?
No, not serious.

Tell us about Ricky, he got hitched?
Yeah, Rick got hitched, he got married and then he’s having a baby in July.

His wife’s having a baby in July…
His wife is having a baby in July, yeah…

How about yourself. Any interesting men in your life?
Not at the moment.

You’re sure? (laughs)
Yeah, absolutely sure! (laughs)

Seriously, what will you be doing in the coming months? You were working with Reinhold Heil, I believe, who did most of Nena’s stuff. How was that working out?
It was great. I did two tracks with Reinhold and Ricky and now I’m going to finish the album with Ricky and myself and my band, so. Reinhold is back in Germany, producing Rosa, I think.

And after that, planning on going Stateside maybe?
Yeah, we’re gonna do some gigs in October and November.

Kanguruh

Date
31 January 1985
Channel
Germany

Show featuring a larger than life Kangaroo as the center of attention. During Kims lipsynch performance of ‘The Touch’, the animal takes over drums, and gets into trouble with the drummer.

The touch (music video)

Date
26 November 1984
Channel

Directed by Andy Morahan.
This clip is a re-working of the old Cinderella fairytale. Kim is left to mind the house while her three wicked sisters (who look like drag queens, by the way) go out. She has to clean up the mess.
And then, you guessed it, she gets some help from a fairy godmother. Not only does she magically clean up the mess, she also sends in a few handsome boys to invite her to the ball.
This turns out to be a disco, in which Kim looks suitably stunningly sexy. What happens next remains a secret, but the viewer can rest assured she lives happily ever after…