(Spears, Harry, Muhammad, Solomon)
Album: In the Zone
Self-love has a long, storied history in pop music (check out “She Bop” by Cyndi Lauper or “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls), but the press never missed a chance to be scandalized by overt expressions of female sexuality in 2003, and “Touch of My Hand” sent them reeling. Written by Spears along with Jimmy Harry, Balewa Muhammad, and Shep Solomon, the song is beautifully atmospheric with a violin accompaniment reflective of the Middle Eastern influence seen throughout In the Zone. The verses are sung in Britney’s lower register, where she sounds both soulful and at ease. The chorus features layered vocals with her falsetto featured prominently, perfectly suitable for the sensual nature of the song. Spears has said that this was the first track recorded for In the Zone which set the vibe for the rest of the album. Its production is reminiscent of Madonna’s Ray of Light album, providing Spears with a more mature sound to match the lyrical content. “Touch of My Hand” is a high point on In the Zone amongst an impressive tracklist. Spears also seems to have a soft spot for the song, being one of only a few non-singles to be performed during her Vegas residency. It’s a shame it wasn’t ever released as a single, but a song this good continues to have life beyond the In the Zone era.
Comments