Steamy songs work.
Researchers tell us that romantic songs nearly double the likelihood that single women will agree to give men their phone numbers.
And music works for those of us in relationships too. Music does a pretty good job of expressing affection, amorous intention, and other feelings that can be screwed up by mere words.
Why?
Obviously we react to music we like and to lyrics that make us feel. Music engages our bodies, often helping us move out of our heads to a more sensory level. It gets to us in ways we aren’t consciously aware of as well. In This Is Your Brain on Music Daniel Levitin describes what happens as we listen. Imaging studies show that activated nerves signal from the auditory system to activate expectation and reward centers in the brain. In fact the pleasure we take in music causes our dopamine levels to rise, and we all want more of that feel-good neurochemical.
I asked friends to tell me their favorite sexy tunes. We noted there’s a significant crossover with love songs, because adoration is definitely a turn on. And it was surprising how many we had to weed out to eliminate exceedingly creepy, depressing, and misogynistic lyrics.
A more basic question remains. What music sounds sexy to you? Is it the beat, the lyrics, the overall tone? Or does it have more to do with memories you attach to the piece?
Offer your suggestions.
Here are a few of ours. Not in order and not by any means comprehensive.
1. What Kind Of Woman Is This? by Buddy Guy
I heard a blind man screaming, say
There goes a sight for my sore eyes.
2. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover by Sophie B. Hawkins
I’ll rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smilin’ and warm
3. You Look Like Rain by Morphine
I want to know what you got to say
I can tell you taste like the sky ’cause you look like rain
4. I Just Want To Make Love To You by Muddy Waters
I don’t want you to be true
I just want to make love to you
5. Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan
Lay lady lay, lay across my big brass bed.
Stay lady stay, stay with your man awhile.
6. Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
What a wicked thing to do
To let me dream of you
7. Love Me Like A Man by Bonnie Raitt
I want a man to rock me
Like my… backbone was his own
8. I’m Wild About That Thing by Bessie Smith
If you want so satisfy my soul,
Come on and rock me with a steady roll
9. Fade Into You by Mazzy Star
I want to hold the hand inside you
I want to take a breath that’s true
10. In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett
I’m gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
11. Bang A Gong (Get It On) by T. Rex
You dance when you walk so let’s dance, take a chance, understand me
You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl.
12. Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding
But while she’s there waiting
Try just a little bit of tenderness
13. Need You Tonight by INXS
So slide over here, and give me a moment
Your moves are so raw
14. Insatiable by Darren Hayes
The candy sweetness scent of you
It bathes my skin I’m stained by you
15. Dance Me To the End of Love by Leonard Cohen
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
16. Fever by Peggy Lee (and every cover ever)
Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me, I get a fever that’s so hard to bear
17. Arms Of A Woman by Amos Lee
Ya, when she wakes me
She takes me back home
18. My One and Only Love by Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane
You fill my eager heart with such desire
Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
19. You Shook Me by Led Zeppelin
You know you shook me
You shook me all night long
20. Love Me Unique by Michael Franti
Mmmm, exhale
Touch me like the blind read Braille
21. Powerful Stuff by Sean Hayes
Alright now let’s turn it up
Every day do like a flower does
22. Je T’aime,…Moi Non Plus by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg
Comme la vague irrésolu
Je vais je vais et je viens
23. Ready For Love by Bad Company
I want you to stay
Ooh, I want you today
24. Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
When the whole world fits inside of your arms
Don’t really need to pay attention to the alarm
25. Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
Oh my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
26. Father Figure by George Michael
Just for one moment
To be warm and naked at my side
27. Business Time by Flight of the Conchords
You know when I’m down to my socks it’s time for business
That’s why they call them business socks
I think your list is generous to my ears; since I have heard some and others are unfamiliar. I shall enjoy the new found.
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Ah, you missed three of the best Laura…Nina Simone, I want some sugar in my bowl, Roberta Flack, Whenever I saw your face, and Percy Sledge, When a Man Loves a woman…
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You are right Kathi! Thank you for sharing these.
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Pretty much anything Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sing together works for me. From ‘The Nearness of You’ ” It’s not the pale moon that excites me, That thrills and delights me, oh no It’s just the nearness of you” sung in those beautifully intertwining, crooning voices, …..sigh!!!!
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Oooh!
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I will ask my husband for the names of “soft shoe” songs – that’s how he romanced me. I fell hard for his music style (which was different that my rock and roll style). And he makes me laugh when he calls men singers “crying brothers.” Yup, I married a goofy romantic.
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“Crying brothers.” I love that term. Singing itself is akin to tonal crying, in a way.
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Yes, I think it came from listening to “brothers” like Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross. On roadtrips we love listening to Philly radio stations who have LOTS of crying brothers! xox
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