How Transformers Connects To An R-Rated ’90s Classic
What do you call a song that gets written for a Sylvester Stallone crime thriller, ends up in Transformers: The Movie (1986), disappears for a decade, and then pops up in the 1997′ Boogie Nights? If you answered “The Touch,” pat yourself. Everyone else, read on to find out how a one-hit-wonder power ballad connects two of the most unlikely films.
Originally For Cobra
The ’80s was the decade of the action-movie power ballad. Danger Zone,” from Top Gun, “You’re The Best Around,” from The Karate Kid, and of course, the cream of the crop, Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky III.
These uplifting songs would often be played over a montage of the main character training for the big fight or whatever event marked the film’s climax.
Stan Bush, a struggling artist signed to a record label specializing in movie soundtracks, attempted to throw his hat into the power ballad ring with “The Touch.”
Bush initially wrote “The Touch” for the 1986 Sylvester Stallone film Cobra, but the filmmakers rejected the song for some reason. However, “The Touch” would continue to turn up like a bad penny—first in Transformers: The Movie and later in Paul Thomas Anderson’s second film, Boogie Nights.
Transformers: The Movie
While a cartoon movie about giant truck robots might seem like a weird place for a glam-metal power ballad, The Touch works quite well in Transformers. The song plays during a scene that is undoubtedly burned into the mind of many an ’80s kid.
“Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost!” declares Autobot leader Optimus Prime as the first chords of Stan Bush’s epic fight anthem start to play.
The song continues to play as—spoilers for a 38-year-old movie—Optimus and Megatron have what will be their final battle.
It might not be what Bush had in mind when he wrote the song, but no one can deny that “The Touch” works perfectly as a backdrop for the epic fight. So, how did the song get from Transformers to Boogie Nights?
Boogie Nights
According to Mark Wahlberg, Paul Thomas Anderson wanted a song that Dirk Diggler could sing badly. Boy, did he make the right choice? The Boogie Nights scene featuring “The Touch” is as bad as the Transformers scene is good. To be fair that’s by design.
In Boogie Nights “The Touch,” is the song adult film star Dirk Diggler uses to try and kickstart a music career. Those who have seen the film know it doesn’t go well. Actor Mark Wahlberg absolutely butchers the tune to great comedic effect.
Unfortunately, as Wahlberg later claimed in a late-night interview, part of the joke was supposed to be how cheesy and ridiculous the song was in addition to Diggler’s lack of talent. As Transformers: The Movie proved over a decade before Boogie Nights was even conceived, “The Touch,” is no such thing.
No Return To Transformers
Sadly, Bush’s magnum opus would never find another home past those two high-profile films—not that Stan didn’t try. Bush attempted to redeem “The Touch,” after its awful Boogie Nights showing by re-recording it for the 2007 Transformers live-action film. Unfortunately for him, Paramount didn’t use it.
Undeterred Bush re-re-recorded it, this time in a minor key and with a rap verse in the middle.
Stan called this version “Sam’s Theme” after Sam Witwicky and submitted it to Paramount for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack. Once again, the studio passed.
Video Game Salvation
The story has a happy ending, however. A 2012 video game, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, used remixed versions of the original “The Touch” and the “Sam’s Theme” versions. While a video game soundtrack is less prestigious than a film soundtrack, at least it’s something.
Will “The Touch” ever end up in another film? Who knows. But at least we’ll always have Transformers: The Movie and Boogie Nights. Two polar opposite films forever united by one kickbutt ’80s ballad.
