To mark the High Holiday of Sexy Time, Billboard just put out its list of the 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time. The magazine claims that this list is purely objective: rankings were determined by an inverse point system, with each week at No. 1 worth the most. (Rankings were also adjusted to account for different turnover rates in various eras.) The scoring system doesn’t necessarily get you the songs you’d expect, though. The #1 Sexiest Song of All Time is…”Physical” by Olivia Newton-John. #2 is “Tonight’s The Night” by Rod Stewart, whose “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” is also in the top 10.
Olivia Newton-John? SRSLY? Rod Stewart? Meh. For me, R&B, not rock or pop, is the language of love. I bet way more babies have been conceived to Sade than Rod Stewart. What about Barry White, the man VH1 dubbed “the Vagina Whisperer”? Frankly, Billboard’s top Ten Sexiest is only redeemed, IMO, by the inclusion of Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
If it were up to me, I would have reserved most of the top 10 spots for Marvin Gaye. Just that opening “wah wah wah waaaah” of “Let’s Get It On” gets me licking my lips and swinging my hips. In fact, my college roommate and I had two go-to sexytime songs we’d play before dates: “Let’s Get It On” for romantic ones and Prince’s “Gett Off” for booty calls. And when our womanly egos needed boosting, we pulled out the big guns: Koko Taylor’s “I Got What It Takes.” Honestly, our dorm room had a whole rack of mix tapes to get it on to.
So what will you and your lovah be listening to tonight? What’s your go-to mood music?
I second @mischiefmanager here. There are so many great ones. Although my personal standout is Ani DeFranco’s “Untouchable Face”.
I think Franz Ferdinand’s “Darts of Pleasure” is pretty damn sexy. Actually, most of Franz Ferdinand’s first album is pretty good for sexytimes, just because of the beats. And I’m surprised they went for “Raspberry Beret” over “Little Red Corvette”, because goddamn.
Best post-breakup song is Pink’s “So What?”.
I second the repulsion with 1) most of the songs on this list and 2) songs that are overly precious (e.g. “I’ll Make Love to You”). My favorites, like many that have been mentioned here, don’t necessarily have sex/love as a theme–though some of them do. Just off the top of my head:
“When the Levee Breaks,” Led Zeppelin
“Beast of Burden,” The Rolling Stones
Anything by Ray La Montagne
“I’m No Good,” Amy Winehouse
Ok I’m late to this but true confession – while I’m a big music fan, I’ve never really used music to get me in the mood, preferring to use it to drunkenly sing along to off key (why yes I am British, and that people is how we roll).
Anyway my husband and I do have a musical preference, albeit an embarrassing one, we have been known, when not entirely sober, to sing very loudly to a bunch of Irish rebel songs and mournful ditties like Carrickfergus and the Green Fields of France.
This singalong is generally swiftly followed by an overhasty retirement to the bedroom. I admit that this is not civilised behaviour and also that to my shame it still occurs.
Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s The Night”? The one where he says something about “don’t say a word, my virgin child” and the saxophone goes “wah wah wah” in that sleazy gross winky way?
Vomit.
ONJ’s Physical as #1? Really??
Like Cat, I love me some Depeche Mode, though my go-to DM song is “In Your Room”. Mmmmm
Paula Cole’s “Feelin Love” is another favorite, right from the get-go: “You make me feel like a sticky pistil” (yes, I’m a biologist, how could you tell?).
Dido’s “Here with me” definitely has to make the list, and I also second the Divinyls’ “I touch myself”.
SOALG & Odonata – Aww…the Murmurs. Also glad to hear that I’m not the only one who liked them. And love Leisha Hailey, but could do without the Yoplait commercials.
Personally I’m not one to play music during the Deed, but En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go” is pure sex.
http://lala.com/zAN
I don’t know what this says about me, but I find kind of grungy, ‘dirty’ songs sexy. Example: Dan Auerbach, “I Want Some More.” Damn, is that a hot song.
I looove “Debra.” Hilarious.
@philosophyerin: “Beast of Burden” = omg, yes!
@oldfeminist: yes. Also the one where he says, “Spread your wings and let me come inside.” (Yipes!)
@viajera: My favorite Dido for this list is “White Flag.”
Adam and The Ants “Physical” So much sexier than ONJ’s. Also, covered by NIN. Not quite as sexy, but still…