"Touch My Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, released as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² (2008), on February 12, 2008, by Island Records.

The song's lyrics feature a double message, with the first describing sexual fantasies with her lover, while also jokingly warning him against recording or releasing information regarding their rendezvous.

"Touch My Body" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many highlighting its light pop melody and hook; some of them, however, felt it did not properly represent the singer's vocal range.

"Touch My Body" became Carey's eighteenth chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the solo artist with the most number one singles in United States history, surpassing the record held by Elvis Presley.

The song's hook is built around a piano melody and "circular keyboard line", and features "a stuttering mid-tempo beat that's accented by finger snaps and electronic synthesizers" as its instrumentation.

"[14] Writing for The Guardian, Alex Macpherson felt the song was very "girly", and expressed how the "cushioned" track incorporates "all tactile bass bumps and tinkling music box motifs" into its production.

According to Ben Ratliff from The New York Times, "Touch My Body" is a "questionably sexy striptease: a goofy-sleazy tryst vignette", with Carey singing "If there's a camera up in here then I best not catch this flick on YouTube.

"[16] Critic Rodman felt the song's lyrics describe the protagonist's sexual fantasies, but also serves as a warning to "potential touchers: 'If you run your mouth and brag about our secret rendezvous / I will hunt you down.'

"[12] In an interview with Fox News, journalist Hollie McKay asked Carey if there was any literal interpretation regarding the lyrics "Touch My Body / Put Me on the Floor / Wrestle Me Around / Play With Me Some More", to which she replied "There is no full-blown meaning; it is just cute and it's one of those songs that makes me happy.

"[17] Evan Sawdey from PopMatters wrote that in the song "Mariah coos soft-core phone sex fantasies over plinked piano notes, all while referencing YouTube in what appears to be a desperate grab for relevance.

The rhythm is almost completely carried by an effortless keyboard bump, the easygoing repetitiveness of which eventually wears the listener down, and sets up a delicate frame for Carey to sing around.

While most reviewers complimented the song's hook and production, as well as its playful lyrics, some were critical of Carey's vocal performance, which they felt didn't properly demonstrate her voice.

Billboard's Chuck Taylor gave the song a positive review, writing "this sensual jam is 100% Mariah, packed with satisfying harmonic layers and hooky background 'oh's,' supersonic verses and a chorus as catchy as a winter sniffle,"[23] Bill Lamb from About.com rated the song four out of five stars, stating that the single "is simple, sexy elegance from one of the most enduring of pop stars.

"[24] Additionally, Lamb complimented the songs "clever and sexy lyrics", and wrote "The gentle finger-snapping beat will send countless fans dancing in private reveries.

"[25] Nick Levine of Digital Spy was also impressed with the song, writing, "its cooing, sensual charms soon take hold, suggesting the wind's still very much behind the Carey comeback bandwagon.

Freedom Du Lac from The Washington Post compared the two heavily,[10] while PopMatters's Evan Sawdey felt it was "stealing the structure that made 'We Belong Together' such a great song."

"[11] Slant Magazine's critic and writer, Sal Cinquemani, wrote that the single "isn't exactly filled with combustible energy and it lacks the full-throttle belting that accompanied the Return of the Voice three years ago, but it features all of the characteristics one expects from a latter-day Mariah track.

"[28] Rachel Devitt of Rhapsody expressed a desire to see Carey "show off those legendary five octaves a bit more", while also noting the song's "slightly paranoid/just-this-side-of-crazy lyrics threatening to hunt down her lover if he videos their tryst.

[35] "Touch My Body" reached the top position on the Hot 100 in its seventh week, and became Carey's eighteenth chart topper, selling 286,000 digital downloads.

[54] Making its debut at its peak position of number sixteen, "Touch My Body" charted for a total of nineteen weeks in France, before falling out on October 4, 2008.

[63] Further remixes were created by Seamus Haji, Craig "Cristyle" Johnson, Subkulcha, and Paul Emanuel[64] The song's music video was directed by film-maker Brett Ratner in Los Angeles, and features 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer.

The video begins with a small Compu Nerd Volkswagen New Beetle, parodying Geek Squad, pulling up into the driveway of Carey's large manor.

The fantasy then adapts to a new scenery, of the pair dressed in medieval clothing, while walking a unicorn, followed by the duo in a large room in the mansion, racing electronic cars.

As they proceed to play laser tag, they are shown outside, laying on a picnic bed, with Carey dressed in a "naughty school girl outfit".

The final scenes of the fantasy are of Carey, wearing a shortened red gown, standing atop the staircase, and McBrayer climbing on his knees while carrying flowers.

Only days prior to being released digitally, Carey was announced as the musical guest on an episode of Saturday Night Live, taking over for Janet Jackson who caught the flu and was unable to perform.

[73] After reaching the top of the Billboard charts, the Empire State Building was lit up in Carey's motif colors, white, pink and lavender, for the entire week.

[75] Carey, dressed in a black skirt and gold top, performed "Touch My Body", "I'm That Chick" and "We Belong Together", before exiting the stage to a standing ovation.

[83] During the set-list, Carey was accompanied by six men in black ties, who hoisted her into the air in front of over 6,000 people during "Obsessed", and rigorous dance routines throughout "Touch My Body".

[84] Similar to the performance at the Fashion Rocks ceremony, Carey was hoisted into the air several times by four to six male dancers, each of whom circled her with intricate dancing throughout the song.