How to Touch a Girl
Encyclopedia
"How to Touch a Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road
(2006). Released as the album's second single
to Top 40
radio in December 2006, the song was written by JoJo, Billy Steinberg
, and Josh Alexander and produced by Steinberg and Alexander. Its release marks the first time a single with a writing credit from JoJo was eligible to chart. The song contains an uncredited sample
of Whitney Houston
's 1985 classic hit "Saving All My Love for You
".
said that "'How to Touch a Girl' again casts the youngster with a crafty melody, albeit strikingly similar in structure to the previous hit. Despite the bizarre, almost perverse title, this track could propel the burgeoning talent all the way." In a review of The High Road, Bill Lamb called the song "a near perfect piece of teen pop
."
due to lack of promotion from her label Blackground Records, becoming JoJo's second single to do so, the first being 2005's "Not That Kinda Girl
". The single did, however, peak at number four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
and number seventy-six on the Billboard Pop 100
.
, directed by Syndrome, premiered on MTV
's TRL
on December 7, 2006. The video shows clips of JoJo sitting in a room filled with old vinyl records
, sitting on a staircase, and singing on a rooftop at sunset. There are also scenes of her in an apartment in a green dress; special effects allow JoJo to be seen multiple times in the same shot. There is also a storyline involving a young couple on a date. Near the end of the video, a boy, seemingly her boyfriend, meets JoJo in her room with the albums, and the two embrace.
The High Road
The High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
(2006). Released as the album's second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
to Top 40
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
radio in December 2006, the song was written by JoJo, Billy Steinberg
Billy Steinberg
William Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, and Josh Alexander and produced by Steinberg and Alexander. Its release marks the first time a single with a writing credit from JoJo was eligible to chart. The song contains an uncredited sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's 1985 classic hit "Saving All My Love for You
Saving All My Love for You
"Saving All My Love for You" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin with arrangement by Gene Page. It was originally a minor hit for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978 on their album Marilyn & Billy...
".
Critical reception
The song was well received by critics. Chuck Taylor of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
said that "'How to Touch a Girl' again casts the youngster with a crafty melody, albeit strikingly similar in structure to the previous hit. Despite the bizarre, almost perverse title, this track could propel the burgeoning talent all the way." In a review of The High Road, Bill Lamb called the song "a near perfect piece of teen pop
Teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards teenagers. Teen pop copies genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, country and rock....
."
Chart performance
Although the song appeared within the lower regions of the pop charts, it failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
due to lack of promotion from her label Blackground Records, becoming JoJo's second single to do so, the first being 2005's "Not That Kinda Girl
Not That Kinda Girl
"Not That Kinda Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo . It was written by Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, and Sylvester Jordan, Jr., and released in February 2005 as the album's third and final single...
". The single did, however, peak at number four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
and number seventy-six on the Billboard Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Syndrome, premiered on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on December 7, 2006. The video shows clips of JoJo sitting in a room filled with old vinyl records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, sitting on a staircase, and singing on a rooftop at sunset. There are also scenes of her in an apartment in a green dress; special effects allow JoJo to be seen multiple times in the same shot. There is also a storyline involving a young couple on a date. Near the end of the video, a boy, seemingly her boyfriend, meets JoJo in her room with the albums, and the two embrace.
Track listing
U.S. promo CD single- "How to Touch a Girl" (Radio Edit) – 4:02
- "How to Touch a Girl" (Instrumental) – 4:30
- "How to Touch a Girl" (Call Out Hook) – 0:42
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
76 |