My Sexiest Songs and Why They Make Me...

For most of us, sex and music are irrevocably linked. It doesn't matter which song you were listening to the first or last time you made love. Some songs just have that "IT" that can cause your hips to move or your mind to wander. No matter how old the song is, it will always mean "sex" to the id and the libido. These are 15 songs that just do it for me. It's not the definitive list. As I was researching, I came up with more and more, but decided to draw the line at 15. An attempt has been made to place them somewhat chronologically. lastfm.com provided the pics and has alot of these downloads.

Time of the Season - The Zombies "What's your name? Who's your daddy? Is he rich like me?" Soft spoken lyrics glide over paisley purple keyboards (organs?). Bass and percussion give this song an undeniable undertow. This band had a sting of sexy singles including She's Not There.

• California Dreamin' - The Mamas and The Papas/ The Bangles / Queen Latifah "All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray" Originally recorded in the 60's by The Mamas and The Papas, the imagery of lonliness "on a winter's day" is mysteriously sexy. The Bangles gave it a hard edge with amazing guitar riffs and pounding drum line for the soundtrack of "Less than Zero". Conversely, on the "Dana Owens" album, Queen Latifah sets the song on fire with a torchy arrangement that really brings the focus to the lyrics. Make a point to hear this rendition if you have not already.
• Oye Como Va - Santana Let's face it, you can insert any Santana song here. He makes love with that guitar inspiring gyrations, sambas, salsas and every kind of frantic movement with a combination of keyboards and bongos. This particular song has a lot of crescendos which, hey, is sexual. Santana rates 2 spots on this list.
• Use Me - Bill Withers "I wanna spread the news, that if it feels this good gettin' used, you just keep on using me until you use me up" Unh. And Uhnh. O.k., let's try English. The lyrics, the silences and a killer bass line. Bill Withers is the only man who could get away with a whine and make it sexy instead of weak. Conviction in surrender. "I just can't get enough!"
• Low Rider - War "Take a little trip, take a little trip, take a little trip with me" They may have been talking about the "chicano" lifestyle, but that voice tells me that the hydraulics in the car won't be the only thing bouncing. Simple tune, but just a sweet combination with almost childlike appeal.
• How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side) - Pointer Sisters "I wanna walk away but it's harder to do than it is to say"A downright nasty bass line leading to whispering Pointers. Throaty pleas lead to overlapping accusations, "I know you got another lover. Can she love you like me?" Classic, sexy funk. Orgasmic finale.
• More Bounce to the Ounce - Roger Troutman & Zapp Although the hook is redundant, there is this ogre growling "I like it, I like it", bounce/roll groove that's so hypnotic, you don't realize you've been moving until the song comes to a break. Then you move more. Classic early 80's dance/funk.
• The Metro - Berlin "I remember hating you for loving me, riding on the metro" Terri Nuna sings like she's been crying with a bottle of wine all night, in an almost monotone voice over the mega-synth complete with sirens. Her voice, raw, behind alternately bitter and sweet lyrics make this song eerie-sexy.
• Push It - Salt N' Pepa "Can't you feel the music pumpin' hard like I wish you would?" No subtlety in this one. Save the innuendo for chicks who are too scared to demand what they want. This is what I want, "better make it fast or else I'm gonna get pissed"! The music is just as direct with its pounding bass and cutesy percussion. Instant hip thrust.
• If I were Your Girlfriend - Prince "Would you let me dress you? I mean help you pick out your clothes before we go out?" Prince and George Michael actually tie for the "he read my diary" songs. To so blatently describe the intimate "girl stuff" where men usually fear to tread is so seductive.
• Criminal - Fiona Apple "Don'tcha tell me to deny it. I been wrong and I oughta suffer for my sin...I've got alot to lose and I'm betting high so I'm begging you..." Fiona is an amazingly intelligent lyricist. She also has a honey, raw voice. This song epitomizes her trashy intelligence. I'm sorry, women confessing in song is sexy and she does it with gusto and passion.
• Nothing Even Matters - Lauren Hill featuring D'Angelo "Now the sky could fall, not even if my boss should call, the world it seems so very small, 'cause nothing even matters at all" This duet has a simple tune but it's the "realness" of the lyrics that just makes you say, "YES". When D'Angelo croons, "just reposess my 4 X 4, cause nothin' even matters", you remember what that mad, non-stop love-making-hiding-out-running-to-the-kitchen-naked-for-nourishment-and-getting-right-back-into-bed feels like.
• Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas I don't want to ruin it by saying this was my favorite karaoke song for years. Again, Santana's guitar. Rob Thomas adds just the right amount of desperation and bravado to some really sexy lyrics: "Out from the barrio, you feel my rhythm on your radio"
• Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine - D'Angelo Sorry guys, D'Angelo is just plain sexy! Happy Birthday has a double meaning coming from him. He's a part of the neo-soul movement harkening back to the Marvin Gaye school of vocal arrangementmixed with the raw honesty of today is a very effective mix. "It's just that my eyes are tellin' me something you could never see, something like me be with you and you be with me"
• Bring Me To Life - Evanescence Amy Lee's pristine voice over hard guitar and a real rock drum-line. This song IS passion. I had to pull my car over when I first heard it on the radio. "Wake me up inside...bid my blood to run, before I come undone" They really achieve the hauntingly sexy tone to get lost in.