Sometimes When We Touch

"Sometimes When We Touch"
Single by Dan Hill
from the album Longer Fuse
Released	1978
Format	single
Recorded	1977
Genre	Pop
Length	3:30
Label	GRT TU 2750
Writer(s)	Dan Hill (lyrics) Barry Mann (music)

Sometimes When We Touch is a 1977 ballad written by Dan Hill (lyrics) and Barry Mann (music) on the album Longer Fuse, but was also released as a single in 1978. It was Hill's biggest hit, peaking at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Musicians included Larrie Londin (drums), Bob Mann (guitar), Don Potter (guitar), Tom Scyzniak (bass). The record was produced by Fred Mollin and Matthew McCauley, recorded at Manta Sound, Toronto. The song has long been controversial; notwithstanding its admirers, it has appeared on many "worst songs" lists; examples include #9 on the list of the worst 75 songs on the Pop Culture Madness website, ^[1] and #40 on the list of AOL Radio's 100 Worst Songs Ever, with Matthew Wilkening exclaiming, "There isn't enough room to run down the oversharing, self-mythologizing and total sissy-ness [sic] displayed here."^[2]

UK dance singer Newton also took the song into the top 40 in the UK (peaking at #32 in February 1996) and to #5 in Australia, also in 1996. Newton's version went Gold in Australia.

Tina Turner covered the song on her 1978 album Rough. The ska band Five Iron Frenzy also did a cover of this song as part of a "Medley" during their farewell tour in 2004. There is also a version recorded in 1980 by Cleo Laine and James Galway. Tammy Wynette covered the song in 1985 with country-pop singer Mark Gray. Their duet version peaked at No. 6 on the country singles chart in 1985. British singer Rod Stewart recorded the song for his 1996 album If We Fall in Love Tonight. Veteran British entertainer Tommy Steele recorded this on his Family Album.

När vi rör varann

There is a Swedish version of the lyrics, called När vi rör varann (When we touch each other), written by Ingela "Pling" Forsman and recorded by Kikki Danielsson in 1980 and Susanne Alfvengren in 1984. När vi rör varann has become the signature song for Susanne Alfvengren. The Monica Silverstrand version was at Svensktoppen 24 February-2 March 1980, with 9th and 6th places as results there.

Swedish Opera singer Loa Falkman covered this song on his album Symfonin in 1990.

Other versions

Tina Turner recorded a version for her 1978 album, Rough. An Estonian language version of the song (entitled "Puudutus") also exists. Often performed as a duet, the song has been covered by Koit Toome and Maarja-Liis Ilus among others. On Toome's acoustic greatest hits album, "Allikas", the song is present as a solo piece with the tune credited to "H. Dan".

Also in 1978, Lynn Anderson covered the song in her album From the Inside.

In 1979, Ginette Reno covered the song in French ("Quand nos corps se touchent").

In 1996, Barry Manilow covered the song for his compilation album, Summer of '78.

Demis Roussos, Double Live Featuring Sometimes When We Touch (1999). Demis Roussos also covered the song in Italian in 1980.

In early 2000, Engelbert Humperdinck recorded it on his album Engelbert at his very best.

In 2003, this song was used in a Geico commercial.

In April 2007, Donny Osmond released a cover of this song on his solo studio album, Love Songs of the '70s.

In late 2007, Ara Muna recorded it in Tagalog version with Kapampangan lyrics under the title "Kaluguran Da Ka" ("I love you").

Manny Pacquiao sang this song on November 3, 2009 showing of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. This was Pacquiao's first guest appearance on an American late night TV talk show and his first singing performance on American TV. He would later revive this song on April 2011 as his single and reached number 19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary top 20 list and has become the third most added song on radio playlists in the US.

References

1. ^ Pop Culture Madness website, http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/WORST.html
2. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (September 11, 2010). "100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Four of Five". AOL Radio. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/11/100-worst-songs-ever-part-four-of-five/. Retrieved December 23, 2010. 

• Pop Culture Madness website, http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/WORST.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd7Ezm74Tno