Stephanie Mills first came to fame as "the little girl with the big voice" as the star of the hit Broadway play, The Wiz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic book, The Wizard Of Oz. She had many R&B hits such as "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," "I Feel Good All Over," "(You're Puttin') A Rush On Me," "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)" and "Home" along with one certified million selling single, "Never Knew Love Like This Before." In addition, she also had five gold albums: Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, Stephanie, If I Were Your Woman and Home.
Mills honed her rich vocals singing gospel music at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church as a small child. At age 9, she began appearing in the Broadway play Maggie Flynn. She was presented with first prize after winning "The Amateur Hour" talent contest six weeks straight at New York's famed Apollo Theater when she was nine. That success led to her being chosen as the opening act for The Isley Brothers, eventually becoming good friends with lead singer Ronald Isley. Many years later, Isley would manage and later marry singer/songwriter Angela Winbush, who co-wrote one of her number one R&B hits. Mills' dΓ©but album, Movin' In The Right Direction was recorded for ABC Records in 1974. A year later, she won the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. Her rendition of the beautiful ballad "Home" was a showstopper, mesmerizing audiences nightly for a number of years. The original cast recording of The Wiz was produced by Jerry Wexler and issued by Atlantic Records in spring 1975. Curiously, when The Wiz was made into a full length feature film by Motown Records' film division and Universal Pictures, Diana Ross played the role of Dorothy instead of Mills. The film ended up being a major flop.
Singer Jermaine Jackson referred Mills to Motown head Berry Gordy, who signed her to the label. Her Motown debut was For the First Time, written and produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, being issued in October 1976. For the First Time is a sweet affair with Mills convincingly covering Bacharach/David standards, most of which were originally recorded by Dionne Warwick. In 1978, she signed to 20th Century Records and was teamed with the hit production duo of James Mtume β later leader of Mtume, who had a gold single with "Juicy Fruit" β and Reggie Lucas. Her first LP for the label, Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', went gold, going to number 12 R&B and number 22 pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1979 and spawned the singles, "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" and "You Can Get Over." Her next LP, Sweet Sensation (#3 R&B, #16 Pop, spring 1980) yielded "Sweet Sensation," "Never Knew Love Like This Before," and the radio-aired LP track, "Try My Love." Around this time, she briefly married former Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniels of the group Shalamar. Next came the LP titled Stephanie in spring 1981, which also was a huge hit, peaking at #3 R&B and #30 Pop. The album included notable songs such as "Two Hearts" β a midtempo duet with Teddy Pendergrass β "Night Games" and the radio-aired LP cut, "Don't Stop Doin' What Cha Do."
In 1981, Mills switched to Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records. Her LPs for the label included Tantalizingly Hot, Merciless and I've Got The Cure. During 1983, she had her own NBC-TV daytime talk show and reprised on role in a Broadway revival of The Wiz. She also signed with MCA Records, where she released her Stephanie Mills album.
The first single from the Stephanie Mills album was "Stand Back," in late 1985, which also included the passionate ballad "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love." "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love" was initially written by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush β best known as the hit singing duo Rene & Angela β as a gospel song and originally was recorded by Alton McClain and Destiny on their self-titled 1978 Polydor LP. The original version is available on Polygram's Power of Love: Best of Soul Essentials Ballads. Because of its massive radio play as an album track, Mills' version of "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love, β produced by Philly Soul keyboardist Ron Kersey β was reissued as an A side holding the #1 R&B spot for two weeks in spring 1986. Its follow-up, "Rising Desire" reached #11 R&B in summer 1986.
Her next LP's title cut was the Clay McMurray/Gloria Jones/Pam Sawyer song, "If I Were Your Woman," originally a 1971 #1 R&B, #9 Pop smash for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Philly-based producer Nick Martinelli gave Mills her second #1 R&B hit with "I Feel Good All Over," written by husband and wife songwriting duo, Gabriel Hardeman and Annette Hardeman. The song held the #1 R&B spot for three weeks in spring 1987. Originally submitted to Mills' fellow MCA labelmate Patti Labelle by the Hardemans, the track was included on Mills' LP If I Were Your Woman, issued June 1987 and peaked at #30 Pop in summer 1987. Paul Laurence produced and co-wrote with Timmy Allen the chugging '"(You're Putting) a Rush On Me" giving the singer her third #1 R&B hit in fall 1987. The single made it to #85 Pop and was followed by "Secret Lady," which landed at #7 R&B in late 1987. Her covers of "If I Were Your Woman" and "Where Is The Love" followed. All were included on her If I Were Your Woman album, which peaked at #1 R&B, #30 Pop in summer 1987. Following these hits, Mills contacted Ronald Isley about working with singer/songwriter/producer Angela Winbush who had hits as half of Rene and Angela and was forging a hit-filled career as a recording artist and producer for the group Body among others. The collaboration between Mills and Winbush resulted in another #1 R&B single, "Something In The Way You Make Me Feel," in summer 1989.
Having starred for five years in the smash Broadway show The Wiz and recorded the song "Home for the play's 1975 original cast soundtrack album, she wanted to record the song again as a posthumous tribute to the play's producer, Ken Harper, and the song's composer, Charlie Smalls. On her new version of "Home," Take 6 sung the background vocals. The song went to #1 R&B in late 1989 and was followed by "Comfort Of A Man" and "Real Love." The Home LP ended up peaking at #5 R&B, #82 Pop in summer 1989. She then recorded a charting single with J.T. Taylor titled "Heart To Heart" in late 1991. Her final MCA album, Something Real included the hit "All Day All Night" and "Never Do Wrong." Following this album, she recorded a gospel album, Personal Inspirations, for Interscope Records and recorded several tracks at Philadelphia International Records with Bunny Sigler among others in the late '90s.
After a hiatus from recording Mills returned with sixteenth album, "Born For This" in 2004. It includes the singles "Can't Let Him Go" and "Healing Time." Mills is currently working on her seventeenth album titled "Breathless." The lead single chosen is a song called, "Yesterday."
Touch Me Now
Stephanie Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the wealth in the world just won't do
What I need your heart, the key
Oh, won't you give it to me
Now I don't need another diamond ring
'Cause diamonds to me, they are not everything
You make me smile at the glow in your eyes
Baby, baby, touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Sugar, hold me, come on, touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Don't you know what I go through
Wondering where you are
I'm helplessly in love with you
Why are you hesitating?
I'm here, I'm here waiting, oh, baby, baby
Baby, baby, please touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine, mine
Sugar, hold me, touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
When I'm gone and all through the day
Thoughts of you never fade away
But my need won't let me be
A hugging and kissing
Is what I've been missing
I don't like it
When you're not here with me
Touch me, make me alright, baby
Don't you know that
When I'm gone and all through the day
The thoughts of you never, never fade away
Baby, baby touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Sugar, hold me, so touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Baby, baby, baby
Sugar, sugar, sugar
Touch me now
Make me feel alright, you're on my mind
Sugar, sugar, sugar
Baby, hold me, I'm helpless
I want you, I need you, you are mine
Baby, baby, baby
Touch me now
Make me feel alright, you are mine
The song "Touch Me Now" by Stephanie Mills is a love song that expresses the need for physical touch as a way to express love and form a deeper connection with her partner. The lyrics convey the idea that material possessions and wealth are not enough to fill the void left by the absence of her lover. She needs his heart and his touch.
Mills sings about the pain of being in love with someone who is not physically present, and the importance of physical touch in a relationship. She questions why her lover is hesitating to touch her and make her feel loved. The song suggests that love and physical touch go hand in hand, and that without it, the love is incomplete.
Throughout the song, Mills pleads with her lover to touch her now, to make her feel alright, and to remind her that he is hers. The repetition of the phrase "touch me now" emphasizes the urgency and importance of this physical connection in their relationship. Mills sings about how thoughts of her lover never fade away, and how hugging and kissing is what she's been missing.
Overall, "Touch Me Now" is a heartfelt plea for connection and physical intimacy in a relationship. The song captures the sentiment of wanting and needing someone so desperately that it hurts, and the importance of being physically present with the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm sad, when I'm blue
Even all the wealth in the world cannot replace your presence when I feel sad or blue.
All the wealth in the world just won't do
No amount of wealth can fill the void that is left when you're not around.
What I need your heart, the key
All I need is your love, your heart, to unlock the happiness that I seek.
Oh, won't you give it to me
Please, share your love with me, and make me feel whole again.
Now I don't need another diamond ring
I don't need material possessions to be happy, having you is enough.
'Cause diamonds to me, they are not everything
Although some people value diamonds, to me they have no significance compared to our relationship.
You make me smile at the glow in your eyes
Your love makes me happy, and I love seeing that happiness reflected in your eyes.
Oh baby, please, make it right
I need your love, don't keep me waiting and wondering, make everything right between us.
Don't you know what I go through
You can't know how much I suffer when we're apart.
Wondering where you are
I always worry and feel anxious, not knowing where you are.
I'm helplessly in love with you
I'm so in love with you that I feel powerless, trapped, and unable to move on.
Why are you hesitating?
Why are you not showing me your love? Why are you withholding yourself from me?
I'm here, I'm here waiting, oh, baby, baby
I'm here, waiting for you, wanting to receive and give you love.
When I'm gone and all through the day
When I'm away from you, I keep thinking about you constantly.
Thoughts of you never fade away
I can't stop thinking about you, even when we're not together.
But my need won't let me be
My need and longing for you are so strong, I can't ignore or suppress them.
A hugging and kissing
I'm craving physical intimacy and affection.
Is what I've been missing
I'm missing the warmth and tenderness of your embrace and kisses.
I don't like it
I don't enjoy being apart from you, and I miss you immensely.
When you're not here with me
Your absence is painful and unbearable for me.
Touch me, make me alright, baby
Please touch me and give me your love, make me feel complete and happy again.
Don't you know that
You should be aware that I need your love and affection to survive.
The thoughts of you never, never fade away
The memories and thoughts of you are constantly present in my mind.
Baby, baby touch me now
Give me your love and physical touch right now, without hesitation.
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Make me feel content, happy, and loved, confirm that I belong to you and you belong to me.
Sugar, hold me, so touch me now
Hug me tenderly and hold me tight, shower me with your affection and passion right now.
Baby, baby, baby
Reaffirming the importance and urgency of receiving your love and touch.
Sugar, sugar, sugar
Another term of endearment and sweetness that represents the intensity of her love.
Make me feel alright, you're on my mind
Your love is always on my mind, and only your touch can make me feel good again.
Baby, hold me, I'm helpless
I need you to embrace me with your love, to make me feel safe and protected.
I want you, I need you, you are mine
I'm expressing my profound feelings and desire for you, reminding you that you belong to me, and we belong to each other.
Touch me now
A prominent and recurring plea for your physical touch and affection, which is what I crave and need the most.
Make me feel alright, you are mine
Give me your love and comfort, make me feel satisfied and happy, and assure me that we belong together.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY JAMES EASTMOND, STEPHANIE MILLS, TERRY ALEXANDER *, WAYNE BRAITHWAITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Yi
Metro Boomin went crazy on this sample
Will Rennie
@NYCEFlix whack
NYCEFlix
Nah. He ain't use it right.
Kaos Handkock Mob
On my mama he did broπ―
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Makiba Uboke
Stephanie is one of the greatest singers of all time. There is no one today out there who can compare.
Eddie Wallace
Undisputed!!
charles mills
A true Diva, Style, Class, Talent, Grace and Poise. A role modle for everyone!
OjBlack100
I just love this part of the song 3:06 when that guitar is played,so beautiful. Stephanie Mills is pure musical talent,this track is one of my favs from her.