Decades prior to Michael Bay embarking on his journey directing “Transformers” films, the inaugural animated “Transformers” movie graced the big screen. Although the live-action adaptations have taken the lead on streaming platforms, “The Transformers: The Movie” has left a significantly enduring mark on the franchise, partly due to its theme song, which was never meant for the film.
While the original “Transformers” movie presented a multitude of concepts to the franchise — such as the menacing Unicron, a sentient, transforming planet born only to devour — viewers predominantly recall its legendary track “The Touch.” This song is a triumphant synth rock homage to seizing victory from the brink of failure and has become a hallmark of the “Transformers” brand. Nonetheless, during a discussion with Vulture, Stan Bush (the songwriter and performer) revealed that he initially created the song for the Sylvester Stallone movie “Cobra,” which centers around the titular police officer Marion “Cobra” Cobretti (portrayed by Stallone) safeguarding a witness to several violent acts.
Bush crafted “The Touch” with “Cobra” as its backdrop, but his record label had different plans and inserted the tune into “The Transformers: The Movie” without his consent. Bush and his band discovered this only afterward, partly because they were unaware that anyone was producing that movie (or that “The Transformers” was an established franchise). However, Stan Bush has gradually embraced the association of his song with “The Transformers.”
How Stan Bush Captivated Millions
Despite “The Touch” never reaching the pinnacle of the charts, it still garnered substantial attention. Plus, you have to admit, for a song originally composed for Sylvester Stallone taking down criminals, “The Touch” transitioned quite well to a film about colossal alien robots that can masquerade as vehicles. Would you believe us if we told you Stan Bush drew inspiration from an 80s film about fighter jets?
According to Bush, he and the song’s co-writer, Lenny Macaluso, drew their inspiration from a particular line in the film “Iron Eagle” (a movie that is reminiscent of but far from reaching the heights of “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick”). Bush mentioned that one specific moment in the film resonated with him, particularly when the lead, Louis Gossett Jr., says, “Kid, you’ve got the touch.” That was the spark; Bush and Macaluso developed an entire song from that single line.
Bush’s career seemingly plateaued despite the cult following he enjoyed from “The Touch” as rock music transitioned to grunge. However, considering the immense love “Transformers” fans have for the song, that is hardly a concern. Stan Bush performed the track live at the fourth BotCon, a convention dedicated to all things “Transformers,” and has since become a prominent figure at the annual event. He also re-recorded his song for the 2007 “Transformers” movie, reportedly at Paramount’s request. Although this version didn’t make it into the film or its soundtrack, it can be found on YouTube. The cycle continued for the 2009 sequel: Bush produced a new version of the song, was left hanging, and released it independently.
How The Touch Has Stayed Connected to Fans
“The Touch” has been featured in various iterations of the cartoon and in the credits for the video game “Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.” While one might contend that “The Touch” is the anthem of “Transformers” enthusiasts, its influence extends beyond the franchise.
One of the song’s most memorable appearances was in the film “Boogie Nights,” where the lead character Eddie “Dirk Diggler” Adams (played by future Transformers Bayverse star Mark Wahlberg) sings its lyrics — albeit poorly, we must mention. You can also catch “The Touch” in shows like “American Dad” and “Regular Show.”
For those who prefer video games, “The Touch” was also featured in “Saints Row IV” as background music in one of the game’s concluding missions. Certain characters even reference Optimus Prime and Megatron from their final showdown in the 80’s “Transformers” film — representing the first use of the song in that movie. Developer Flying Wild Hog also incorporated “The Touch” throughout its “Shadow Warrior” remake trilogy. And we certainly can’t overlook “Mixtape,” the latest video game to license the track. Unlike other titles that utilize “The Touch” to highlight notable moments, this game emphasizes the song itself and how it evokes a visceral response encouraging you to pursue your ambitions and appear impressive while doing so. This thematic relevance is particularly fitting, especially as mixtapes are making a resurgence.