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5 Shocking Facts About "I Touch Myself": The Song That Went From Controversy To Global Health Anthem

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The Divinyls' 1991 global hit, "I Touch Myself," remains one of the most provocative and culturally significant songs of the modern rock era, but its journey is far more complex than a simple ode to female pleasure. As of late 2025, the song continues to resonate, not just as a bold rock anthem but as a powerful, ongoing global health campaign, fulfilling the final wish of its iconic frontwoman, Chrissy Amphlett.

This track, which smashed through censorship barriers and topped charts worldwide, was the defining moment for the Australian band, cementing Chrissy Amphlett's legacy as a fearless rock goddess. From its controversial origins and a rare songwriting collaboration to its transformation into a breast cancer awareness anthem, the story of "I Touch Myself" is a testament to the enduring power of music to challenge, entertain, and ultimately, save lives.

Christine Joy Amphlett: The Fearless Voice Behind The Divinyls

The intensity and raw sexuality of "I Touch Myself" are inseparable from the persona of the Divinyls' lead singer, Chrissy Amphlett. Her on-stage presence—often involving a schoolgirl uniform and a confrontational stare—made her an unforgettable figure in rock music. Her life was marked by both artistic rebellion and a powerful final act of advocacy.

  • Full Name: Christine Joy Amphlett.
  • Born: 25 October 1959, in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
  • Died: 21 April 2013, in New York City, USA.
  • Cause of Death: Breast Cancer (diagnosed in 2007) and Multiple Sclerosis.
  • Primary Band: Divinyls (formed in 1980 in Sydney).
  • Notable Hits (Divinyls): "Pleasure & Pain," "Boys in Town," and the global smash "I Touch Myself."
  • Acting Career: She had a notable role in the 1982 film Starstruck and played Judy Garland in the 1988 musical The Boy from Oz.
  • Final Wish: Her dying wish was for "I Touch Myself" to be used as an anthem for breast cancer self-examination awareness.

The Controversial Origin and The Power of Four Songwriters

Released in 1990 on the self-titled album Divinyls, "I Touch Myself" was a deliberate and unapologetic exploration of female masturbation, a topic rarely addressed so directly in mainstream pop music. The song’s suggestive lyrics and Chrissy Amphlett’s provocative delivery immediately sparked controversy and, in some places, an outright ban.

A Rare Songwriting Dream Team

One of the most surprising facts about the song’s creation is the collaboration behind it. While Chrissy Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee were the creative core of The Divinyls, they brought in two of the biggest pop songwriters of the era: Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.

Kelly and Steinberg were a Hall of Fame songwriting duo responsible for massive, yet often more innocent, pop hits. Their impressive catalog includes:

  • Madonna’s "Like a Virgin"
  • Cyndi Lauper’s "True Colors"
  • Heart’s "Alone"
  • The Bangles’ "Eternal Flame"

The pairing was a stroke of genius. Steinberg reportedly came up with the title and the core lyrical idea, which Chrissy Amphlett then infused with her signature, raw, and explicit rock energy. This fusion of a pop-hook sensibility with a punk-rock attitude is what propelled the song to a No. 1 peak in Australia and No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it a truly global phenomenon.

The Initial Broadcast Ban

Despite its pop structure, the song's subject matter was too explicit for many conservative markets. In Australia, the song faced an initial broadcast ban on some radio stations due to its overt sexual themes. This censorship, however, only fueled its notoriety and commercial success, turning it into a defiant anthem for sexual liberation and female agency. The controversy highlighted the double standard in music, where male-driven sexual rock songs were often tolerated, but a woman singing about her own pleasure was deemed "filth."

From Masturbation Anthem to Global Health Legacy: The 'I Touch Myself Project'

The most profound and enduring chapter in the song’s history began after Chrissy Amphlett’s death in 2013. Knowing she was dying, Chrissy made a personal request: that her most famous song be used to promote breast cancer awareness and the importance of self-examination. This transformation has given the song a powerful, positive, and perpetually current relevance.

The Birth of a Movement

In 2014, the I Touch Myself Project was officially launched in Australia, partnering with the Cancer Council NSW and the lingerie brand Berlei. The campaign brilliantly recontextualized the song's original, intimate message—"I don't get no sleep / I don't get no rest / When I touch myself"—into a life-saving call to action: to regularly check your own body for signs of breast cancer.

The campaign’s success lies in its use of the song's inherent curiosity and intimacy. It leverages the song's explicit nature to talk about a subject that is often difficult for women to discuss or prioritize: their own health. The project has since become a global initiative, promoting early detection as the key to survival.

Serena Williams and The Global Spotlight

To ensure the message reached a new, massive global audience, the I Touch Myself Project enlisted high-profile celebrities to record their own cover versions. The most notable and recent example was in 2018, when tennis superstar Serena Williams recorded a stripped-down, a cappella version of the song while topless for a video campaign.

Williams’ involvement, which was widely praised for its boldness and vulnerability, provided a huge, fresh wave of media coverage and visibility for the campaign. This use of the song, years after its initial release, demonstrates its unique power to cut through noise and deliver a critical public health message, all while honoring Chrissy Amphlett's legacy as a rebel with a cause.

The Enduring Topical Authority of "I Touch Myself"

Few songs manage to maintain such a high level of topical authority decades after their release, especially one that began life as a controversial sex anthem. The power of "I Touch Myself" lies in its dual legacy.

Firstly, it stands as a monument to Chrissy Amphlett’s fearless artistry and the Divinyls' contribution to Australian and international rock. It is a defining piece of the 90s music landscape, a raw, female-driven counterpoint to the era's grunge and pop trends. Secondly, its transformation into the I Touch Myself Project has given it a permanent, positive place in popular culture. The song is no longer just about self-pleasure; it is about self-care, self-examination, and the ultimate act of self-love: taking control of one's own health. This ongoing, life-saving mission ensures the song's relevance remains as strong today as it was when it first shocked the airwaves in 1991.

5 Shocking Facts About
song when i touch myself
song when i touch myself

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