"How to Touch a Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road (2006). It was released in the United States only as the album's second single on November 14, 2006. Written by JoJo, Billy Steinberg, and Josh Alexander and produced by Steinberg and Alexander, it was the first single of JoJo's career on which she is credited as a writer.[1] The song makes a lyrical reference to Whitney Houston's 1985 song "Saving All My Love for You" in its bridge.
| "How to Touch a Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by JoJo | ||||
| from the album The High Road | ||||
| Released | November 14, 2006 | |||
| Studio | Cryptic, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Teen pop | |||
| Length | 4:29 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| JoJo singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
Critical reception edit
The song was well received by critics. Chuck Taylor of Billboard 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."[2] In a review of The High Road, Bill Lamb called the song "a near perfect piece of teen pop."[3]
Chart performance edit
"How to Touch a Girl" failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming JoJo's second single to miss the chart after 2005's "Not That Kinda Girl". The single did, however, peak at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and at number 76 on the Billboard Pop 100. It also reached 46 on the Pop 100 Airplay component chart of the latter in early 2007.[4]
Music video edit
The music video, directed by Syndrome, premiered on MTV's TRL on December 7, 2006, and on BET's 106 & Park on January 16, 2007.[5] The video shows clips of JoJo sitting in a room filled with old vinyl records, sitting on a staircase, and singing on a Los Angeles 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 played by Cody Longo, seemingly her boyfriend, meets JoJo in her room with the albums, and the two embrace.
Track listing edit
- US promotional CD single[6]
- "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 edit
| Chart (2006–2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] | 4 |
| US Pop 100 (Billboard)[4] | 76 |
References edit
- ^ Moss, Corey (December 5, 2006). "JoJo Tells You 'How To Touch A Girl,' But It's Not What You Think". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (December 16, 2006). Billboard (118 ed.). Nielsen Business Media. p. 43. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ Lamb, Bill. "Review of JoJo's Second Album, The High Road". About.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "The High Road - JoJo | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ "How to Touch a Girl on iTunes" (Music Video). iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ "JoJo (3) - How To Touch A Girl (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles for JoJo. Retrieved 10 May 2016.