Aural Sex

Turn up the volume and let’s get busy.

When I lost my virginity to “Bob Barker of Bellvue” (let’s talk alliteration), Pink Floyd was playing in the background. Specifically, the iconic song, “The Great Gig in the Sky,” from The Dark Side of the Moon album.

The story behind this tune is just as iconic. Floyd had already written the background music when they enlisted the aid of singer Clare Torry. They ushered her into the studio and basically told her to “cut loose” and go with the music. And shit, did she ever!

If you’ve heard the song, you know that it’s a slow build, with a rocking crescendo of a finish that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. No lyrics. Torry just warbled and shrieked her way through.

Supposedly, “Gig” is about dying. About “not going gently into that dark night.” But, there’s another theory that the song is the aural equivalent of a woman in the midst of one hell of an orgasm.

Listen to “GiG” and you tell me, because all I know is, that night, the sex stunk, but the song was killer. A word of advice: If you do give it a listen, make sure it’s cranked, to get the full effect.

Music may “tame the savage beast,” but, the right music can also let it loose. Although I’m a rocker at heart, my taste in music is eclectic: Rock, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Blues, R&B, I love it all. Currently, when I’m writing, I like to listen to the “Swing & Singers” station on our cable network. I find it soothing, and not too intrusive.

Sexy time can be hella sexy time, with the right music as a backdrop. There are all manner of tunes that provide that extra “somethin,’ somethin,” while in the midst of getting busy, but I got to thinking about the music that actually makes me want to do the deed. The incendiary stuff that lights my inner furnace.

Now, I understand music is very personal, and what shakes and quakes me, might not work for you, and that’s a good thing — but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to share some of my favorites, because, if you’re thinking about fucking, you won’t be stressing over bills, or your shitty boss, or even, your next Medium story.

So, consider the following a public service. My gift to you: The music that makes me want to get busy and, as Prince sang, “Get Off.”

I’ll begin with Marvin Gaye. Tragically shot to death by his own father, while intervening in a fight between his parents, practically everything by the honey-voiced master has a hot and healthy helping of sexual innuendo, but following are the tracks I listen to repeatedly. (Worth noting: Check out the iconic cover art of Gaye’s uber-sexy, I Want You album. A masterpiece.)

Sexual Healing

Oh, baby now let’s get down tonight

Ooh baby, let’s get down tonight

Baby Baby let’s get down tonight Ooh

Baby, I’m hot just like an oven Ooh Baby now let’s get down tonight

Baby, I’m hot just like an oven I need some lovin’ And baby, I can’t hold it much longer It’s getting stronger and stronger

Whoa. Now I’m “hot just like an oven.”

After the Dance

Dance with me, come on, dance with me baby Dance with me, come on, dance with me baby

I want you and you want me So why can’t we get together after the dance

Marvin, baby — you don’t have to ask me twice.

When Eric Clapton was knocking boots with George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd Harrison (who he eventually married), he wrote the following for her, and every line rings true, as you listen to the raw need in his voice. He fuckin’ wants this woman!

Layla

What’ll you do when you get lonely And nobody’s waiting by your side? You’ve been running and hiding much too long You know it’s just your foolish pride

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I’m begging, darling please Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind

I like a man on his knees.

When the band Berlin, led by singer Terri Nunn recorded their album Pleasure Victim in 1982, the following cut was banned by some radio stations due to its graphic lyrics. Nunn and bandmate, John Crawford, do a back and forth sort of foreplay that leaves the listener breathless. Have either a partner or a vibe close by for this one.

Sex

Sex Feel the fire, feel my love inside you it’s so right There’s the sound and the smell of love in my mind I’m a toy, come and play with me, say the word now Wrap your legs around mine and ride me tonight

I’m a man, I’m a goddess I’m a man, well I’m a virgin I’m a man, I’m a blue movie I’m a man, I’m a bitch I’m a man, I’m a geisha I’m a man, I’m a little girl And we make love together

Who’s your bitch? I’m your bitch!

Prior to forming Derek and the Dominos of “Layla” fame, Eric Clapton created the three-man group, Cream, with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce. Sadly, they weren’t together long, but, they managed to pump out a song so iconic, that the pulsating tune has been featured in several movie soundtracks, including Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas.

Sunshine of Your Love

It’s getting near dawn, When lights close their tired eyes I’ll soon be with you my love, To give you my dawn surprise I’ll be with you darling soon, I’ll be with you when the stars start falling

I’ve been waiting so long To be where I’m going In the sunshine of your love

Oh, yeah. I want your “dawn surprise.” I got a little surprise of my own, baby!

Prince. What the hell is there to say about The Master? The brilliant Prince Rogers Nelson packed more sex appeal into his 5’3,” 112-pound frame then could be safely contained. When he let it out on stage, he let it ALL out. He bravely challenged sexual and racial categories, and stirred the fantasies of both women and men, world-wide. Like Marvin Gaye, we lost Prince all too soon. Luckily, we have the following scorching reminders that The Purple One will live on in our hearts — and genitals — forever. So many of his songs are sexual in nature, but, I especially get heated up by the following:

When Doves Cry

Dig if you will the picture Of you and I engaged in a kiss The sweat of your body covers me Can you my darling Can you picture this?

Dream, if you can, a courtyard An ocean of violets in bloom Animals strike curious poses They feel the heat The heat between me and you

Damn. Hold on, I gotta grab a towel.

Little Red Corvette

I guess I should of known By the way you parked your car sideways That it wouldn’t last See you’re the kinda person That believes in makin’ out once Love ’em and leave ’em fast

I guess I must be dumb ’Cause you had a pocket full of horses Trojan and some of them used But it was Saturday night I guess that makes it all right And you say what have I got to lose?

Nothing. I’m a sure bet.

Get Off

How can I put this in a way so as not to offend or unnerve There’s a rumor goin’ all round that you ain’t been gettin’ served They say that you ain’t you know what In baby who knows how long It’s hard for me to say what’s right When all I want to do is wrong

Gett off, twenty three positions in a one night stand Gett off, I’ll only call you after if you say I can Gett off, let a woman be a woman and a man be a man Gett off, if you want to baby here I am (here I am)

Twenty-three positions? Hell, I’m in.

The Canadian blues/rock duo, The Blue Stones, released the following hot number in 2014. I bump and grind like nobody’s watching when I play this cut. (And, I make sure that no body IS.)

Be My Fire

Baby, be my fire Baby, be my flame Baby, be the softly burning embers Through December until June 2008 Baby, be my conjurer And I’ll hold you dear Baby, be the visions in the night And wait till morning light for you To disappear Baby, be my fire Baby, be my fire Baby, be my fire Oh, be my flame

Ohhh…I’m melting…I’m MELTING!

Janice Joplin lived hard and died young. A one-of-a-kind singer/songwriter whose unforgettable rasp and emotional delivery spanned the rock, soul and blues genres, Joplin, much like actress Marilyn Monroe, was a “candle in the wind” who never believed in herself. She released three albums and then died of a heroin overdose in 1971, at the age of 27. Joplin packed a lot of living in those twenty-seven years, as evidenced by her raw lyrics. Give this one a listen. Hot and heartfelt.

One Good Man

Honey, I love to go to parties And I like to have a good time, But if it gets too pale after a while Honey and I start looking to find One good man. Hmm, don’t you know I’ve been searching, Oh yes I have! One good man, Oh ain’t much, honey ain’t much, It’s only everything, whoa.

An’ I don’t want much outa life, I never wanted a mansion in the South. I just-a want to find someone sincere Who’d treat me like he talks, One good man. Oh honey don’t you know that I’ve been looking.

Preachin’ to the choir, baby. (Just kidding, hubby.)

With a sexy video to support the following 80s hit, Australian rock band Divinyls, made masturbation cool! And, as it turns out, self love doesn’t make you go blind! You’ll want to keep your hands to yourself with this one.

I Touch Myself

I love myself, I want you to love me When I feel down, I want you above me I search myself, I want you to find me I forget myself, I want you to remind me

I don’t want anybody else When I think about you, I touch myself Ooh, I don’t want anybody else Oh no, oh no, oh no

You’re the one who makes me come runnin’ You’re the sun who makes me shine When you’re around, I’m always laughin’ I want to make you mine

Shit! What the hell happened to those batteries?!

One of the best-selling bands of all time, Fleetwood Mac, experienced its fair share of drama, and the whole world played witness. Its members, including tiny blonde bombshell, Stevie Nicks, created some of the most iconic tunes, ever — in between fucking one another. And fighting. And breaking up. And getting back together. And fucking one another. Maybe that’s why they’re so beloved. Most of us can relate. The following is notable for its heavy-breathing-finale.

Big Love

Looking out for love In the night so still Oh, I’ll build you a kingdom In that house on the hill

Lookin’ out for love Big, big love

You said that you love me And that you always will Oh, you begged me to keep you In that house on the hill

Lookin’ out for love Big, big love

Who says “size doesn’t matter?”

One-hit-wonder, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, whose name was derived from a New Yorker article about Frank Sinatra, was a Liverpool band that hit the charts with a raunchy tune, made famously even more raunchy, in the Brian DePalma film, Body Double. Billed as a “neo-noir erotic thriller, the scene featuring FGH’s song is especially memorable. Get your buzz on and give it a look, and a listen.

Relax

Maha, hiya Give it to me one time now Well-ell, no-oh, well-ell Now

Relax, don’t do it When you want to go to it Relax, don’t do it When you want to come Relax, don’t do it When you want to sock it to it Relax, don’t do it When you want to come When you want to come

“When you want to come?” Is now, too soon?

Because I don’t want to lose you, if I already haven’t, I’d better wrap this up, as I realize I’m only covering the tip of the iceberg. There are so many pieces of music that fall under the Aural Sex canopy…and that’s a damn good thing. In fact, I’d love to hear your favorites. Hit me up in the comments section, or write your own piece.

I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention these two guys: Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, otherwise known as The Righteous Brothers. Medley’s low, soulful baritone growl was the perfect foil for Hatfield’s flawless tenor. Top Gun fanatics: Remember this?

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling

Now there’s no welcome look in your eyes when I reach for you And now you’re starting to criticize little things I do It makes me just feel like crying ’Cause baby, something beautiful’s dyin’

You lost that lovin’ feelin’ Whoa, that lovin’ feelin’ You lost that lovin’ feelin’ Now it’s gone, gone, gone, woh

Baby, baby, I’d get down on my knees for you If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah We had a love, a love, a love you don’t find everyday So don’t,…

Another man on his knees. How can I resist?

Sherry McGuinn is a longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

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