Watching a hockey game on a Sunday night, I was only half paying attention to the TV when I heard this distinctive song in a commercial, and it took me back to another hockey game I watched more than 30 years ago.
It was the spring of 1987 and the song was called “Can’t We Try”. Hill's partner was Vonda Shepard and the song went all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Adult Contemporary chart, and was the top song of 1987 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
It was a commercial for Purex and the song was “Sometimes When we Touch” by Dan Hill.
It said Purex is even softer than Dan Hill.
That may be a nice sentiment, but Dan Hill could sing a pretty powerful and heartfelt ballad – and did the trick twice in the 1980s with great success.
“Sometimes When we Touch”
Hill wrote "Sometimes When we Touch", according to Wikipedia, when he fell in love with a woman who did not love him.
Hill wrote "Sometimes When we Touch", according to Wikipedia, when he fell in love with a woman who did not love him.
The song was released in 1977, but I heard it when I started listening to music in the ‘80s. It was Hill’s biggest hit, hitting number one in Canada and peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the States.
Soaring with the Great one
My biggest memory of “Sometimes When we Touch” occurred on Hockey Night in Canada. Wayne Gretzky was on yet another scoring tear and they were doing a feature on him
.
My biggest memory of “Sometimes When we Touch” occurred on Hockey Night in Canada. Wayne Gretzky was on yet another scoring tear and they were doing a feature on him
.
I was doing something else but, when I looked up, I saw him on a breakaway, scoring to break another record of some sort. It was set to the sounds of "Sometimes When we Touch".
It was an interesting selection to go with Gretzky’s scoring prowess, but it was fitting. Perhaps it was a comment on the fact very few players could touch Gretzky because he was always one step ahead of everyone.
Northern Lights
“Sometimes When we Touch” was what I associated Dan Hill with when I saw the video for “Tears Are Not Enough”, a song recorded by Canadian singers to raise funds for African famine relief in 1985.
“Sometimes When we Touch” was what I associated Dan Hill with when I saw the video for “Tears Are Not Enough”, a song recorded by Canadian singers to raise funds for African famine relief in 1985.
The song starts with essentially Canada’s top performers, up to that point, taking turns singing a line each of the first verse. It started with Gordon Lightfoot, then Burton Cummings, Anne Murray, Joni Mitchell – then Dan Hill.
It was one line, but as soulful and heartfelt as “Sometimes When we Touch”.
And he wasn’t done yet.
Duet
It was yet another time when I heard a song on the radio, liked it, and thought it sounded kind of like someone I knew. Again, though, it was someone who hadn’t put out a song in years. Plus, the artist was singing with someone else, which was another reason I did not recognize him. When I heard it again, paying full attention, the song had that signature Dan Hill sound – heartfelt and soulful.
It was yet another time when I heard a song on the radio, liked it, and thought it sounded kind of like someone I knew. Again, though, it was someone who hadn’t put out a song in years. Plus, the artist was singing with someone else, which was another reason I did not recognize him. When I heard it again, paying full attention, the song had that signature Dan Hill sound – heartfelt and soulful.
It was the spring of 1987 and the song was called “Can’t We Try”. Hill's partner was Vonda Shepard and the song went all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Adult Contemporary chart, and was the top song of 1987 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
It was Shepard’s only top 10 pop hit. However, she did record “Searchin’ My Soul”, the catchy song in the opening credits of the show “Ally McBeal”.
Parting thoughts
I always have mixed feelings when I hear pop music songs in commercials. Part of me thinks "What a great song" that a new audience can hear. Another, bigger part, is sad the song was commercialized. That is, its emotional hook is being used to sell paper products. That same part of me asks, “Why couldn’t they just write their own song?” I know the answer to that – they’re using a familiar song, with an emotional hook for people, in order to sell paper products.
It is kind of funny though. The first time I heard “Sometimes When We Touch” was for commercial use – in “Hockey Night in Canada”. The last time I heard "Sometimes When we Touch" was to sell paper products. So, the first and last uses of the song have been for commercial purposes.
Having said all that, it is still good to hear that song, and I am glad a new audience will hear it.
I always have mixed feelings when I hear pop music songs in commercials. Part of me thinks "What a great song" that a new audience can hear. Another, bigger part, is sad the song was commercialized. That is, its emotional hook is being used to sell paper products. That same part of me asks, “Why couldn’t they just write their own song?” I know the answer to that – they’re using a familiar song, with an emotional hook for people, in order to sell paper products.
It is kind of funny though. The first time I heard “Sometimes When We Touch” was for commercial use – in “Hockey Night in Canada”. The last time I heard "Sometimes When we Touch" was to sell paper products. So, the first and last uses of the song have been for commercial purposes.
Having said all that, it is still good to hear that song, and I am glad a new audience will hear it.
I only wish I’d heard it on the radio, not in a commercial.
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