Not that you asked, but should you require some musical inspiration in the bedroom after your Valentine's Day date—or any date, really—UrbanDaddy editors are sharing their favorite songs to get down to.
Godspeed. Also, don't judge us...
Kelly Larson: "Business Time" by Flight of the Conchords. In times of romantic interlude, it's often best not to take oneself too seriously. Nay. It's often best to make references to your partner's "Team Building Exercise '99" t-shirt or to, say, invite a friend over to play guitar in the shadows while you set the mood. That said, maybe start with Keith Sweat and candles and baby step your way up from there.
Bailey Edwards: This is truly the height of me trying to be cooler than I am, but if sex isn’t aspirational, I don’t know what is. I’m going with “Adorn” by Miguel. It’s just a sexy as hell beat and it’s wildly hot to listen to him talk about everything he wants to do her.
I’m also going with, “What’s My Name?” by Rihanna & Drake, almost exclusively for the lyrics, “Good weed, white wine, I come alive in the nighttime, okay, away we go - only thing we have on is the radio”. ooookkkaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyah.
Sam Eichner: Call me a romantic but I'm going to go with Ryan Adams (yeah, yeah, whatever), "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)"—it captures the sort of ragtag, carefree folksiness of Highway 61 Revisited, without the unsexy, nasal Dylan-ness of it all.
I also find everything about Jamila Woods to be super sexy, and HEAVN is sort of the epitome of her aesthetic for me.
And because I'm going to use this platform to promote a new earworm, I have to include "My Lady's on Fire," from Ty Segall's fantastic new album. It's kind of lulls you into thinking it's this singer-songwriter-y ditty, but by the end morphs into a funky brass-band-y jam. Plus, you know, the title.
Hannah Kim: Probably any Trey Songz song?
Lea Weatherby: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. Depending on who you are as a person, a classic like Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" it is either the ultimate, auditory aphrodisiac or a bemusing pre-coital icebreaker and let's face it, sometimes the best sex is funny sex.
"Two Weeks" by FKA twigs. If the mere sound of FKA twig's breathy, hot and bothered vocals on the track "Two Weeks" doesn't beguile you both to completion, play it again, and again, and then maybe again after that.
Hadley Tomicki: The XX, "Fiction." Has any song ever sounded so much like Michael Hutchence seducing you in a hot tub?
Maxwell, "Til' the Cops Come Knockin'." I shouldn't even have to explain that.
Khia, "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)." I'm pretty certain this song could even turn Mike Pence into an dedicated rim-job enthusiast.
And finally, D.R.I., the entire album Dealing With It. It's fast, angry and over quickly, just like good sex.
Ilana Dadras: All right this one's not for everyone but I can't tell you how to live your life, nor can I change the way I live mine: A$AP Ferg's "Work Remix." It's incredibly dirty and really just encourages everyone involved to perform to the best of their abilities. Try not to listen to the lyrics too closely.
A choice for more low-key sober nights might be "When You Sleep" by My Bloody Valentine.
Kady Ruth Ashcraft: "Road Head" by Japanese Breakfast. Lofi pop-y vibes that would make a good soundtrack to stoned and/or morning sex. Sounds sweet, dreamy, and passionate. Don't recommend it for giving actual road head.
Thompson Brandes: The primary and most important thing you want out of any sex song is encouragement. You want the lyrics to inspire you and your partner, enhance every moment and even coach you up a little when things start to heat up. Which is why in your most romantic, sexual, pivotal moments—when the mood is just right—it’s always best to reach over and pop on "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles.
It’s an off-brand choice, sure, but let me run you through these lyrics real quick:
“Well, shake it up baby now, twist and shout.”
“Work it on out, honey, you know you look so good.”
“Come on, come on, come, come on baby now.”
“You know you twist so fine, come on and twist a little closer now, and let me know that you're mine.”
“Ah, ah, ah, ah, wow.” (It’s worth mentioning that this has to be one of the very first song lyrics that is a straight up, no-doubt-about-it orgasm.)
And that’s not even counting the delightful instrumental bridge, which is just enough time to soak in the moment, look over to your lover and say, “Ain’t this great?”
So, yes, Twist and Shout is a perfect sex song. Try it some time.
