My Erotic Soundscape

The songs that stoke my passions

Music has always been one of the primary ways that I connect with my sexuality. I can remember the surge of that sexual/creative energy blasting through my body when I was a teenager playing the piano. I longed to have the dedication to learn how to master those keys because I knew it would be such a satisfying way to channel that energy.

In the absence of my musical mastery, I learned to lose myself in other people’s music. I could fall so deeply into the melodies and lyrics, sometimes it overwhelmed me. I opted for headphones as much as possible, because it was so satisfying to completely immerse myself in the sound of the music, my eyes closed, the volume much louder than was safe (hence my premature hearing loss).

To this day, in fact, when my sexual energy is high and I listen to the songs that most inspire that energy (yes, still with my headphones at an unsafe volume — my hearing is screwed at this point, so who cares?), I literally will be overcome with shivers that travel from my neck to my ankles in overpowering waves that make me feel like I’m about to break into a thousand stars.

It’s intense and beautiful and I am so grateful to have this outlet of moving and expressing my sexual energy.

The songs that make up my “erotic soundscape” aren’t necessarily sexy, romantic, or sexual. These songs belong here solely because they inspire and stoke my sexual energy.

Ordinary World

I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it, back in 1993. I would even say it’s one of my top ten favorite songs of all time. That’s how much I love it.

What is it about this song? It is just so intensely passionate to me, even though it’s not about love. Not romantic love. It’s about Simon LeBon’s grief over losing a friend.

You can feel the emotion of the song in every single note, every single word. The guitar solo will take your breath away. And…my favorite part is LeBon’s plaintive, powerful, aching refrain during the final notes of the song, “Every world is my world, any world is my world.” I often listen to just that part over and over because the passion intoxicates me.

Ask anyone what Duran Duran song made the most impact on them, and guaranteed, this is the one they will name.

The One

People often laugh at me when I say I think Elton John is one of the most passionate, erotic songwriters of his generation. Okay, obviously, I’m not talking about Crocodile Rock. I mean come on — the man has range. Isn’t that a good thing?

When it comes to eroticism and raw passion, I’m talking about songs like Original Sin and this one, my favorite of his: The One.

I was so obsessed with this song when I was 16 that I would drive around Albuquerque in the old Cadillac I had inherited from my grandfather with the windows down, blasting this tune from my cassette player.

This song is like going to bed with an expert lover who knows exactly how to handle your body. I mean, come on — you get your first orgasm about 46 seconds in when he croons:

I saw you dancin’ out the ocean Runnin’ fast along the sand A spirit born of earth and water Fire flyin’ from your hands

The surge of the ocean wave (yeah, there’s an actual ocean wave) suddenly overwhelms your senses, the imagery of the earth and water and fire flying from your hands… Je-sus. I remember feeling so emotionally overwhelmed when I heard that part of the song as a young, horny 16-year-old.

Then it goes on to move you into every one of your favorite positions and expertly finger, kiss, stroke, and strum you until you finally tumble over the edge into another, even more intense orgasm at four minutes, fifty seconds in, when the song runs out into a stunning one-minute piano solo that sonically echoes the way that song just fucked the hell out of you.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

No one can do to me what Robert Flack does. Her ballads move me to tears while simultaneously making me feel like someone is slowly unbuttoning my shirt and sliding their hand under my bra. This song just makes me want to lie back and let it have its way with me.

And the first time, ever I kissed your mouth I felt the earth move in my hands Like the trembling heart Of a captive bird That was there, at my command

And if I really want to feel the sting, I’ll put on Killing Me Softly. That song literally hurts me. Like having your nipple sucked a little too hard. Mmmm. “Strumming my pain with his fingers.” God, yes.

The Fugee’s cover is stunning, by the way.

Against All Odds

Is this one cheesy? I’m sorry, I cannot help it. It reminds me of my childhood (the scene at the very end of the movie was the landscape of my youth — though I was at the bottom of those hills, not the top) and my crush on Jeff Bridges, who is still hot as fuck at 70.

But really, what I love about this song is that it is so unbearably passionate and sad.

Now take a look at me now ’Cause that’s just an empty space But to wait for you is all I can do And that’s what I’ve gotta face

Take a good look at me now ’Cause I’ll still be standing here And you coming back to me is against all odds It’s the chance I’ve got to take

I can’t imagine a man who was that in love with me, to “wait for me,” to take that chance that I would come back. I mean…damn. My memory of my exes is only their backsides, sprinting in the opposite direction. I guess this song is something of a fantasy of mine — to have a man have such deep feelings for me that he would wait for me.

Lust

It pained me to try to pick just one Tori Amos song for this list because most of her songs “do it” for me. But this one is probably the one that gets me juiced up the most.

Rolling and unrolling Coiling emerging Running free Running through the underworld Into your room

With its “rolling and unrolling” piano melody that sonically mimics the imagery of the lyrics, this song feels like an evening spent in slow kisses, the teasing, sexual energy swelling and surging and thrumming until you just can’t take it anymore…

I actually listened to this song on repeat for months as I wrote one of my novels, to help me connect with the sensual tone I wanted it to have.

Bang also overwhelms me with its sexual energy, even though the song is a political statement about our current administration’s stance on immigration. Amos knows how to bring the sexual energy to fully animate her work, no matter the subject.

The Story

Whose sexual energy isn’t stoked by Brandi Carlile’s voice? This song is the biggest tease — but a tease that delivers the goods.

It starts out as a soft, gentle ballad and gives you the first surprise when she jumps, at 18 seconds, from her smoky alto range into the next octave up, delivering the rest of the verse in a sweetly innocent soprano.

And then, 55 seconds in, when you’re just getting warmed up and relaxed, she pulls another mid-verse surprise on you, changing from that sweet, gentle soprano to a husky, powerful, vocal belting with full-on hard rock guitar riffs.

I climbed across the mountain tops Swam all across the ocean blue I crossed all the lines, and I broke all the rules But, baby, I broke them all for you Oh, because even when I was flat broke You made me feel like a million bucks You do I was made for you

She moves you powerfully into the climax of the song — an amazing guitar solo, and then brings you back down, gently, and back up again, and then finishes in that sweet, innocent soprano. It’s a good ride.

Take Me to Church

What can I say about this song? I wish I had written the lyrics. As a woman who went to many private Christian schools where my knees always had to be both covered and pressed together at all times, this song makes me feel like the most primal part of me has been set free like a pack of wolves running into the woods, howling so loudly, all the birds in the trees take flight.

No masters or kings when the ritual begins There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene Only then I am human Only then I am clean Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen

This song just makes me want to take off all my clothes and gently, gently, gently sin. All. Night. Long.

Turn Me On

This is the theme song for women waiting to be ravished. Just sitting back in my chair, my legs slowly easing open, my shirt falling off my shoulder…

Like a flower waiting to bloom Like a lightbulb in a dark room I’m just sitting here waiting for you To come on home and turn me on

I love the absolute simplicity and directness of this song. Norah Jones knows she’s gonna get it…and get it good.

If that doesn’t get you going, then try my favorite dance songs. I created this playlist for quarantine dancing, but I wouldn’t mind grinding to these songs with a partner before we hit the bed (or floor or whatever…).

© Yael Wolfe 2020

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