196: Me Touch Myself

Unreleased (1989)
A fascinating outtake that occupies the space between Fever, Minnie The Moocher and Wade in the Water, yet with the self-love sentiment of stripper staple I Touch Myself. The weaving together of carnal desire and spiritual escape is strong in Me Touch Myself and not only in the hallelujah-peppered lyrics. The sultry beat and bassline are as seductive as Circe’s beckoning finger – or Ripopgodazippa performing the dance of the seven veils – but if you ignore the words the chorus could be an old African-American spiritual. There are not many songs that could sound at home in both a church and a strip joint.