Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
This week we have two different takes on an ancient art form. We’re talking about the crafting of the perfect sex playlist. For those of us who like to mix music and pleasure, the songs that play during our sexpeditions are of utmost importance and can serve many purposes. Want to display your cocky side and take control? There are plenty of songs for that. Want to bring the romance to your innocent hook ups with a particular cutie? There are also plenty of songs for this situation, but these two playlists definitely don’t contain the same songs. Making a sex mix is all about rhythm, intention, and most importantly, putting on songs that put you in the mood, whatever mood that may be.
After doing some research on popular “sexy songs,” we found some great hits but overall way more misses. Cosmo has a surprisingly solid mix, but, lo and behold, song #5 is “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne! Now, if that’s your getting down jam, rock on buddy (maybe our resident head expert, Annie Choke-ly?)! However, if that song were ever to play during one of our sexual encounters, we would absolutely bust out laughing and never stop. Which, to be fair, has its merit. Also, let’s note that just because a song has the word “sex” in its title, does not automatically make it a good sexytime song (we’re looking at you, basically every website with sex playlists ever).
All this said, we’ve both decided to share 5 of our favorite songs. Each list is very different but hey, that’s what crafting the perfect playlist is all about. You’ve gotta figure out what makes you wanna bang!
JoyGasm: My list goes in no particular order, considering I find the art of the playlist in general VERY important. Personally, I would have my entire life soundtracked if I could. However, when it comes to sexytimes, there’s a specific formula to crafting the right playlist for any given situation. There are perfect combinations for all different types of occasions, locations, and hook up styles. Rather than making a full playlist, I’ve decided to share with you my top 5 getting it on songs right now. It is rare that I’ll make a playlist without at least one of these.
1. “Speakers” by Sam Hunt.
-This one is honestly a new addition; it was released very recently, but the second I heard the first line, I made a mental note to add it to the rest of my playlists forever. There’s nothing like a languid acoustic guitar, a deep drum beat, and a country boy crooning about neck kisses under the stars (yes to neck kisses always).This can go anywhere in a steamy session–it’s slow and sultry enough for some heavy making out and sexy enough to add the perfect ambiance to great sex. It’s also got the right amount of romance to add to an emotional experience.
2. “I Think She Knows Interlude” [Justin Timberlake Cover]- John Mayer.
”Lovestoned/I Think She Knows” is one of the first songs I ever found really sexy. However, when John Mayer posted a 3 minute clip of himself playing the interlude on youtube, I fell in love. The lack of lyrics, the complete artistry of the guitar playing, and the fact that the last minute builds to an intense climax are all reasons why this particular version is a top contender for any playlist.
3. “Use Me”- Miguel
This song may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is certainly mine. Its beat is quick enough to be used in the heat of passion and its lyrics have this really seductive quality that can add a whole new dimension to any activity. Seriously. “Trust me while I take this off with the lights on cause it turns me on that we’re nervous. Just let me show you how to touch me, I can teach you.” If you’ve read any of our previous columns, you can imagine that these lyrics are like a dream to me…
4. “Burnin’ it Down”- Jason Aldean
Show me another sex playlist (besides a top 20 sexiest country songs) that has two country songs on it. People, it can be done. Aldean kills it on this song–the beat is slightly poppy, making it just fast enough for sex but slow enough for pretty much anything else. This also happens to be a great cuddling song, so I personally prefer it at the beginning of a playlist. That way, it can come in right when you and your lady are getting to the part of the hook up where playful brushing of the other person’s skin becomes gripping just a little bit tighter. It might even make you bold enough to slip a hand under her shirt, who knows? All I know is that the lyric ” you slip your fingers through the tear in my T-shirt, stirrin’ up dirty in the back of my mind” makes me wanna slide a little bit closer and make things a little bit hotter.
5. “Shut it Down”- Drake
If you knew who I was behind this silly alias, you would probably already know that I’m a huge Drake fan. We connect on a spiritual level when it comes to the ladies. While this song is more overtly sexual than the others on my usual list, it serves a distinct purpose. This comes on when it’s about to go down. Plain and simple. It makes me feel like a million bucks, and like Drake put into words how touching a really hot woman makes me feel. It will appear on every one of my sex playlists until the end of time.
Annie Choke-ly: I should start by saying that I was VERY skeptical of the sex playlist idea for a long time; I always thought it would feel artificial somehow. But then I hooked up with someone while The Weeknd was playing and OH LORD. Talk about a game changer. Now I could not be more about the playlist. As we’ve already noted, each sex playlist will be different for everyone; I feel like my favorite sex tracks might be a departure from the norm, but you know what, I like what I like. So here we go!
1. “Wait” – M83 (Kygo Remix)
This song. My goodness, where to begin? This song is perfect for having what I like to think of as mushy sex. The fact that it starts out slow is great for having that sweet, loving makeout session, and its crescendo to have more energy and a catchy but not overpowering beat makes it perfect for emotional sex. Y’know, that kind of sex where you and your partner might make some really intense eye contact and say, “I love you” in the middle of everything. Kygo’s signature is the tropical xylophone-sounding addition to songs, and here I think it makes the song happy, which is a wonderful thing to feel during sex! I will freely admit that this song has brought me to happy tears in its tenure on my sex playlist, but that’s exactly why I’ve kept it on there. It just makes me feel close to who I’m with.
2. “Closer” – Nine Inch Nails
Let’s move right along to the polar opposite side of the spectrum with this little number. Oddly enough, I was listening to this song as an angsty middle schooler, but oh man has it ever made a comeback as my go to dirty, kinky sex song. It just makes me want to fuck. Not make love, just straight up fuck. That’s really the only way to put it. Trent Reznor sums it up best: “I wanna fuck you like an animal.”
3. “Midnight” – Coldplay (Kygo Remix)
I know this is another Kygo remix, but this is my playlist and I’ll have sex to as much Kygo as I want. The slow beat makes me feel all kinds of sensual. Picture this: you and that special someone are having some wine and some great conversation, and this song comes on. Oh yeah, it’s that time. Similar to the other Kygo remix I have on here, this song’s gradual picking up from half tempo to having a fair amount of energy is pretty conducive to the makeout-foreplay-banging progression. The added bonus here is that the smooth lyrical musings of Coldplay keep everything in a sweet yet somehow intense place.
4. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Thomas Jack Remix)
You’re probably sensing a general theme here: my sex playlist is pretty darn happy overall (NIN aside). I know this song isn’t particularly sexy. In fact, I can distinctly remember the un-remixed version of this song playing at my uncle’s wedding and thinking it was the corniest thing ever. But Thomas Jack’s spin on this version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” makes me feel good. It makes me feel happy to be alive, which is something that my boyfriend does as well. He probably doesn’t want me to broadcast this, but we’ve had a number of lovey moments to this song, usually post-coitus. The after-glow of sex can have a soundtrack too, and for me this song just captures the contentment that comes after a solid sexual encounter.
5. The entire album “Worlds” – Porter Robinson
When I really think about it, I couldn’t exactly tell you why this album is one of my favorite musical compilations to get down to. It certainly holds a special place in my heart, as well as in my boyfriend’s; I think there’s something to be said about the fact that once this album dropped, it was the only music we played while we hooked up until like two weeks ago. I think the connection between this album and intimate time with my boyfriend is borne out of both that this music is just so uplifting (and well-crafted!) and that we feel so strongly about the music together. Your sex playlist doesn’t have to just have songs that get you hot and bothered; sometimes the best additions are those that just make you feel closer to your partner in a way that complements making that physical connection. Yay!
AC & JG: As you can see, this process is highly individualized based on what kind of sex you want to have. For both of us, music can play as much of an emotional role as it does a physical one. Whether you want to have slow, romantic, hold-me-close sex or you just wanna get fucked, music can enhance whatever you’re already feeling. Not only should it enhance what YOU’RE feeling, but it should also enhance what your partner is feeling, too! So, keep in mind what kind of sex your partner wants to have. Does this mean that you have one lovey-dovey playlist, one kinky playlist, and one bangin’ playlist? Why the hell not?
Featured image courtesy of http://www.nonverbal-magazine.com/
