Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Album: Evolution (1979)
Charted: 16
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Songfacts®:

  • "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" was written by lead singer Steve Perry. It's a gut-wrenching tale of love-gone-wrong, with the desperate opening lines, "You make me weep, I wanna die," and an extended fade of "na na"s, as there are no more words to describe the pain. Perry didn't make this stuff up: according to the liner notes for Journey's Time3 compilation, this was a true story. He watched through the window as his girlfriend at the time got out of a Corvette and gave the driver a long, loving kiss goodbye. He calls this song "love justice."
  • This is the highest-charting single from Journey's fifth studio album, and the group's first-ever single to break into the top-20, although they had already established themselves as a headlining live act.
  • Interesting to note that Journey showed a steady progress in the album charts towards their #1 charting album, unlike bands who meander around before peaking their fame. In chronological order, the studio albums go: Journey, #138, Look into the Future, #100, Next, #85, Infinity, #21, Evolution, #20, Departure, #8, and Escape, #1. That means that from 1975 to 1981, they steadily gained ground releasing one album per year, apparently always better than the one before. Plus, the #1 broke the pattern.
  • Progressive metal band Dream Theater sampled this song in "The Big Medley" on their 1995 album A Change of Seasons. Sharing this distinction are Pink Floyd's "In the Flesh?," Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son," Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Dixie Dregs' "Cruise Control," and Genesis' "Turn It on Again" - yes, that's all one song!
  • "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" appears in the pilot episode of the FOX TV series Glee, first broadcast after American Idol on May 19, 2009.

Comments: 11

  • Marsha Bailey from TorontoActually....the opening to this song is reminiscent of The Stripper, adding another layer to Steve's revenge song. And yes, the na na na na na is straight out of the schoolyard.
  • Patrick Omalley from BostonI'm amazed no one has mentioned this. The "na na" at the end isn't just a chant. It's like a little kid saying "na na, na na na", with that specific cadence, over and over.
  • Bryan from Atlanta, GaI'm surprised no one has commented on how the melody and song structure was lifted from Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love" from 1962.
  • Pat from Saint Paul, MnOfficially 154 "na"s at the end of the song. (22 per verse x 7 repeats)
  • Shawn from MarylandIf you read the interview with the co-writer of "Oh, Sherry", and this factoid, you get the realization that Steve Perry is not a good guy to be in a relationship with. Think about it for a minute. Usually, women just don't get out of their "side bae's" car, in front of her boyfriend's apartment, and plant a long loving kiss goodbye...unless there's a good reason for it.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 21st, 1982 "Open Arms" peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it remained at #2 for six weeks, the first 3 weeks it was at #2, the #1 record was "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band and for it's last 3 weeks at #2, the #1 record was "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 15th 1979, "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" " by Journey entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #86; and on October 21st, 1979 it peaked at #16 (for 2 weeks) and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #12 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart...
    Between 1978 and 1996 the quartet had twenty-five Top 100 records; five made the Top 10 with "Open Arms" being their biggest hit, it peaked at #2 (for 6 weeks) on February 21st, 1982.
  • Bob Minelli from Milwaukee, WiSteve Perry and that awesome voice and amazing hair! Long live Journey!
  • Michael from Austin, TxThis song is why I became a Journey fan!
  • James from Yucaipa, CaGreat song from 1979. Should of been a #1 hit. 9/11/10
  • Joshua from La Crosse, WiA nice bluesy tune... one of those songs that makes you wish Journey had done an "Unplugged" album. This would have sounded great as an acoustic number.
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