"Touch Myself" is the debut solo single by American singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for the soundtrack album to the film Fled, starring Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin. It was released by Rowdy Records as the album's lead single on July 18, 1996. The accompanying music video was directed by Bille Woodruff, and was made both with and without clips from the film. It peaked at number 40, giving Watkins her first solo top 40 hit.

"Touch Myself"
Single by T-Boz
from the album Fled
ReleasedJuly 18, 1996 (1996-07-18)
Recorded1996
StudioDARP Studios
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)Dallas Austin
Producer(s)Austin
T-Boz singles chronology
"Touch Myself"
(1996)
"Ghetto Love"
(1997)

A remix was also made featuring rapper Richie Rich, and produced by Jermaine Dupri. The remix also had a music video which did not contain clips from the movie. In 1997, it was released as the third single from Richie Rich's 1996 album Seasoned Veteran.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "chugging jeep mover". He added, "With each recording, she sheds a little more of her girlish posture, revealing an assured funk stylist who makes the most of her limited (but hugely appealing) voice. It does not hurt that she has producer Dallas Austin in her corner. He has surrounded her with a sleek rhythm base and jazzy keyboards, not to mention a playfully sexy tune that must have been a blast to record."[1]

Damien Mendis from Music Week's RM Dance Update rated the song five out of five, noting that the lead singer from TLC "takes a controversial dip into hot waters with a cool slice of mid-tempo R&B." He felt that written and produced by Austin, "this sounds like a logical follow-up to their killer 'Creep' hit as it bears strong similarities. A lazy jazz guitar replaces the trumpet and the bass guitar twangs a Craig Mack 'Flava' riff over a slinky rhythm lifted from ATCQ's 'Bonita Applebum'. It is instantly familiar as the break the Fugees recently utilised on 'Softly'. The steamy but catchy lyrics will no doubt win her more fans and, hopefully, UK radio won't prove as prudish as the US. (..) Can't wait. I smell a hit."[2]

Charts

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Chart (1996) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[3] 92
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 48
UK Dance (OCC)[5] 8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[6] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 40
US Hot Dance Music (Billboard)[7] 3
US R&B/Hip-Hop (Billboard)[7] 23

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the CD single.[8]

Recording and management
Personnel

References

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  1. ^ Flick, Larry (20 July 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. ^ Mendis, Damien (31 August 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Touch Myself at AllMusic
  8. ^ Touch Myself (CD single) (Compact Disc liner notes). T-Boz. United States: Rowdy. 1996. 75444-35080-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)