Sex songs generally have quite a bad reputation for escalating rape culture, where the consent of a woman isn’t considered an important prerequisite of coital activity.
Apparently a woman saying ‘yes’ just isn’t as sexy as a woman who needs convincing but people, it’s time for us to reclaim consent. EMC has listed ten songs that not only remind us that, but also prove that it is possible to write a sexy song that isn’t rapey. Admittedly creating this list was far more difficult than I first anticipated because the vast majority of tracks seem to be about demanding sex. It’s about time these sexy songs were celebrated.
1. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
It’s impossible to have a sex playlist without Marvin Gaye on it, and this song is just so good not to mention consent friendly.
Example Lyrics:
“And if you feel like I feel baby”
“I won’t push you baby”
“IF the spirit moves you let me groove you”
2. Moondance – Van Morrison
I think it’s pretty clear that this song is about two consenting adults in a relationship. This track gets extra points for being nice and romantic, as well as hot and steamy.
Example Lyrics:
“And when you come my heart will be waiting, to make sure that you’re never alone”
“Can I just have one more moondance with you my love?”
3. Love Me Tender – Elvis
This is a good old fashioned romantic song for you and your sweetheart to have a nice consensual smooch to. I’d like to think this is a great track to slow dance along to at 3am wearing nothing but a big t-shirt and a smile.
Example Lyrics:
“Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go.”
4. Love Sex Magic – Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake
So this song is not only about the couple wanting the sex as much as each other, but actually about communication during sex, which is (I think) the most important thing in a relationship. He says “Do what I taught you” and, although on the face of it this seems patronising, I think it’s really important for couples to communicate exactly how they like it to their partner. So the sex in this song is not only totally consensual, but also very healthy!
Example Lyrics:
“What’s you’re favourite trick that you want to use on me? and I’ll volunteer”
“But don’t stop whatcha doin’ to me”
5. Butterfly – Jason Mraz
This song – sung from the male perspective – paints a picture of an independent woman who knows exactly what she wants, and that is exactly why he likes her. This song promotes not only the idea that it’s sexy for the woman to say yes to sex, but also that it’s sexy for her to have it her way and be dominant. Although if submissive is your thing, go for it. Who is Jason Mraz to judge?
Example Lyrics:
“The rest is up to you, you make the call”
“Bend your back and ask those hips if I can touch”
6. Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
I love this song for many reasons. Although slightly outdated because of the overuse of “she” – every gender should have tenderness, not just what we traditionally perceive to be female – I like that the tone of it is one of trying tenderness, and not demanding rough sex.
Example Lyrics:
“But when she gets weary try a little tenderness”
“Squeeze her, don’t tease her, never leave her”
7. Turn Me On – Norah Jones
Norah Jones is the queen of sultry soft vocals, just listen to it. To put it simply, its the story of a woman waiting for her love to get home so they can get it on. Again, waiting patiently for consensual sex rather than just taking it. We like this.
Example Lyrics:
“I’m just sitting here waiting for you to come on home and turn me on”
“You’re the only one who can turn me back on”
8. In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
If this song was any sexier we’d all be pregnant. Again though, note the lack of “rapey” lyrics. This encounter is clearly, again, between two consenting adults. Wilson obviously cares as much about her enjoyment as he does his own, this is how sex should be people.
Example Lyrics:
“I’m gonna take you girl and hold you and do all things I told you in the midnight hour”
“And see them twinkle in your eyes”
9. I Just Wanna Make Love to You – Etta James
So I know there are other versions of this song, but I chose this one because of the startling lack of women who sing about sex that I was able to find. What does that say about society? Why shouldn’t we get a song or two about what we like in bed? Perhaps, we’ll leave that for another article. This track screams sex, like literally screams it.
Example Lyrics:
“I don’t want you to be no slave, I don’t want you to work all day but I want you to be true, and I just wanna make love to you”
10. Feel Like Making Love to You – Roberta Flack
Having just written that comment about women and sex songs I went out of my way to find another one, and this seemed the perfect choice for obvious reasons, have a gander!
Example Lyrics:
“When you talk to me When you’re moanin’ sweet and low When you’re touchin’ me And my feelin’s start to show”
Bonus Track: Kiss – Prince
You didn’t think I was going to ignore the Prince of Sex himself did you? Prince, we salute you.
