"I'm bringing sexy back..."

I can’t explain why I love the song SexyBack by Justin Timberlake because, quite frankly, it violates all the norms that usually govern my taste in music. I tend to like classic rock and roll and adult alternative music with a splash of blues, light jazz, and country thrown in. I don’t do pop music, dance music, R & B, or hiphop—and yet SexyBack always makes me want to shake my moneymaker (apologies to the Black Crows).

What can I say, sometimes I surprise myself. I even like that falsetto he sings in—go figure.

Anyway, SexyBack got me thinking about songs I find sexy. I’m not talking romantic, stars-in-my-eyes sort of songs, I’m talking sexy—the type of song that resonates on a primal level.

In no particular order, here a few of my favorite sexy songs for your Friday:

1. Father Figure by George Michael. This pervy little wonder strikes a chord. When George croons, “If you’ll be the desert, I’ll be the sea. If you ever, hunger, hunger for me, whatever you ask for, that’s what I’ll be,” I’m there.

2. I’m on Fire by Bruce Springsteen. This isn’t pervy like Father Figure, but it’s vaguely menacing. Springsteen captures the frightening power of lust. “Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby, edgy and dull, and cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my skull.” Yeah.

3. Closer to You by Dennis Quaid. Yes, THAT Dennis Quaid. This song is from the The Big Easy soundtrack and Dennis does it justice. Languid and hot like a Louisiana day.

4. Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp. Oh yeah, this is the one that probably led to the catchphrase of my early 20s, “Hurt me, hurt me.” Mellencamp’s 2003 CD “Trouble No More” features a cut called “Stones in My Passway” that is clever and sexy. I’m glad he hasn’t quit smoking—because it hurts his voice so good.

5. Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer. This is a classic. "You can't eat, you can't sleep, there's no doubt, you're in deep."

6. Boys of Summer by Don Henley. “I can see you/Your brown skin shining in the sun/ I see you walking real slow with your Wayfarers on, baby” Love the guitar solo, love the imagery of summer fading, and by God, this made me want to get a set of RayBans.

7. Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow, performed by the Dixie Chicks. “Lie to me/I promise, I’ll believe/Lie to me/but please don’t leave.”

8. Give Me the Keys by Huey Lewis and the News. Flirty and playful and loaded with word play.

9. Cowgirl in the Sand by Neil Young. It’s over ten minutes long and includes amazing guitar work. You can get lost in this song, and a lot can happen in ten minutes. 

10. Night Moves by Bob Seger. A nostalgic remembrance of coming of age and first love.  "Working on mysteries without any clues..."

Looking at my list, I realize most of these songs were released YEARS ago. So maybe the appeal of Justin Timberlake’s song for me is that at the ripe old age of 44, I need someone commited to “bringing sexy back.”

What’s your favorite sexy song?

October 13, 2006

Copyright 2006 Veronica McCabe Deschambault. All rights reserved. www.v-grrrl.com

Comments

[Shirl Grrrl]

Great songs on your list! Addicted to Love... what made that song even better was the fantastic video... so simple but ever so sexy. I'm afraid this old lady has yet to hear Justin's song...

[Lisa]

Just heard this yesterday, my new favorite sexy song, sung by Alberta Hunter, "My Handy Man"

The lyrics (oooooo! she so bad!):

"Whoever said a good man is hard to find
Positively absolutely sure was blind
I've found the best man there ever was
Here's just some of the things that my man does
Why he shakes my ashes, greases my grittle
Chimes my butter and he strokes my fiddle
My man is such a handy man (oh yes he is)
He threads my needle, creams my wheat
Heats my heater and he chops my meat
My man is such a handy man
Now I don't care if you believe it or not
He's so good to have around
And when my furnace gets too hot
He's right there and turns my damper down
Why for everything he's got a scheme
You oughta see that new stuff he uses on my machine
That man is such a handy man (he's God's gift girls)
Why he flaps my flapjacks, cleans off my table
Feeds my horses out in my stable
That man is such a handy man, mmm yeah
Sometimes he's up long before the dawn
Busy trimmin' the rough edges off my front lawn
Yeah that man is such a handy man
Why you know he never has a single word to say
No not while he's working hard
And I wished that you could see the way
He handles my front yard
Yeah you know my ice don't get a chance to melt away
Cause he sees that I get that fresh piece every day
My man, my man is such a handy man"

:D

[V-Grrrl]

Lisa,

OH MY! ; D

[amanda]

i'm not usually a justin timberlake fan either. in fact, when i first heard 'sexyback' i rolled my eyes and didnt like it much at all. but then i heard it again and again and now i cant help wanting to shake my thang to it aswell. it actually made me consider buying the cd, thinking that if any of the other songs were like that one, it would make a great work out cd.

[Shirl Grrrl]

And just think, Lisa, Alberta didn't have to use the f-word one time to get her point across! I would like to hear this sung!

[amber]

V, what a great fun post!!

I love "Father Figure" too. Hot. Also "Freedom", by same little perv.

And I love that Don Henley. Well, I listen to his best of Cd all the time in my car. Bu tthat is probably my fav.I think it is really sexy. Reminds me of youth. Youth all hot to be with someone.

I think so much blues music is so sexy. The sexiest music ever, really. I couldn't even think of all of them right now. (I may have to copy this idea for my own post). Some that do come to mind are-- "I'll Be Watching You", by The Police. The aucoustic version of "Layla" by my lover, Eric Clapton.(oh, you didn't know we were lovers? Yes.) "Come to My Window", by the sey voiced Melissa Ethridge. "Lie To Me" by Johhny Lang... No. I will have to copy.

:)

[Shirley]

I confess I immediately change the radio station when Justin comes on, but oh, man, there are several Robert Palmer songs on my list. Tops on the list is “You Overwhelm Me”. DH and I have danced to that one REAL slow more than once. LOL I listen to whole albums (yep, still have a lot of albums) of his to get in the good mood, funky, sexy mindset. They always work. I was really sad when he died suddenly a few years ago. He was just a very sexy, attractive, and cool guy. I always said he could park his shoes under my bed ANY time … as long as he sang to me while, uh, hum … (DH understood. LOL) “Back In My Arms,” “Gotta Get a Grip on You,” “You Really Got Me,” Love Can Run Faster,” and “Pressure Drop” are all sexy, sexy songs off of the “Pressure Drop,” “Double Fun,” and “Some People Can Do What They Like“ albums. “Simply Irresistible,” which is off another album, is great just for the line, “she’s so fine, there’s no telling where the money went.”

Eric Clapton—the newer version of Layla--yes, the acoustic version that Amber mentioned.

Dan Fogelburg—Same Auld Lang Syne.

Jimmie Spheeris—Isle of View album.

Pure Prairie League—Amy.

Cary Simon—You Belong to Me (that whole album, Boys in the Trees is very sexy).

Love that Don Henley song too. Will have to check out of some of the others on your list and the others’ (like the sound of that My Handy Man song ... the lyrics remind me of a Sapphire blues song).

Since we have gone to the CD age, I have never bought a CD and become enamored with it like I used to be with albums. Usually I’d end up liking the other songs much more than the more popular cuts. Somehow with CDs, it’s been the opposite. I usually don’t like the other songs at all. Is it a difference in the other songs that get put on the CDs or is it my age? Did I play the albums so much that the songs became like old friends and grew on me whereas now I only have short amounts of time that I listen to CDs?

Great list and discussion! Makes me want to leave work early and go home and put on some music!!

[Annie]

You have so many good songs on here. I love the Don Henley and both the George Michael and Springsteen. There's a great Paula Cole song called "Feelin' Love" that is very sexy and I think the Maroon 5 album Songs About Jane is sexy as a whole.

[TB]

Ooh your picks are good except for JT. I just can't listen to him.

I'll add Black Velvet by Alana Miles and Wicked Game by Chris Issac.

PS - We may be in Plymouth for New Year! I'll keep you posted. It would be so fun to meet!

[V-Grrrl]

Oh yeah, Black Velvet and Wicked Game are awesome--my list needs to be longer.

And Shirley, I love Robert Palmer--he was so innovative and not afraid to take chances with his music. Sweet Lies, Hyperactive, and I Didn't Mean to Turn You On. I too was very upset when he died--the first time I've felt strongly about a celebrity/musician death.

[lux lisbon]

i love that cheryl crow song. makes me cry.

[Nancy]

Oh, definitely I'm On Fire. Also Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin ("Shake for me girl, I wanna be your backdoor man," Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police (OK, I know it's a perv song, but maybe I'm just remembering the video with Sting shirtless!). And I agree with others who mentioned Wicked Game, Come to my Window, and Maroon 5's album.

[Flubberwinkle]

Sexy songs off the top of my head:

Eagles' "Witchy Woman"
Santana's "Smooth"
Alannah Myle's "Black Velvet"
Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy"
Neville Brothers' "Yellow Moon"
Zucchero's "Senza Una Donna"
Straycat Strut (by The Straycats)
and... most likely many, many more thst I'll regret not remembering as soon as I press the create post button.


I never particularly liked Timberlake's songs but I'll keep my ears posted for "Sexy Back", because now you made me all curious as how it sounds.

[deezee]

I love every song on the Red Hot Chili Peppers album "By the Way." Sexy? I don't know, but each one speaks to my soul and has made me completely fall in love with the band.

[Shirl Grrrl]

Finally thought of some... The Doors, pretty much anything that came out of Morrison's mouth was sexy but "Love Me Two Times", "Back Door Man" and "Light My Fire" come to mind.
Dire Straits, "Romeo & Juliet"
Joe Cocker, "You Can Leave Your Hat On"

[V-Grrrl]

Jim Morrison. Sigh. I saw his grave in Paris in '86. Did you see the movie starring Val Kilmer?


Nancy--I love "Don't Stand So Close to Me" too. Ah, the tension of forbidden love. The Police--loved them.


Another addition to my list:

With or Without You by U2

"Through the storm we reach the shore/You give it all but I want more"

No wonder Bono's got a bunch of kids at home. ; D

[mamalujo1]

I'm a guy, can I play?
Have you noticed my little "About Me" blurb? It's from some fun my daughters and I have when we hear the song (usually in the car). They seem to get a huge kick out of their silly middle-aged Dad shaking his booty to this song and claiming to be responsible for bringing sexy back.

Sexy songs: again, I'm a guy, so bear with me.

One that is just plain dirty is "Head" by Prince.
Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing"
Anything by Barry White (or is that just a myth us guys believe in?)
"Everybody Dance Now" C&C Sound Machine. Serious bust-a-move stuff for moi.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, gets my mojo workin'
"Blue Jeans" by ZZ Top, when he says she'll be bringing them on home. Yeah, then what?

[Neil]

Your interest in Justin Timberlake is similar to my strange attraction to every current Shakira song.

[Javacurls]

I can totally understand your JT interest! Here are a few songs I find particularly sexy:

Dreamgirl by Dave Matthews Band “as I watched you asleep
face down in the grass in the park in the middle of hot afternoon. Your top was untied and I thought how nice it'd be to follow the sweat down your spine. You're like my best friend. Oh, after a good good drink you and me wake up and make love after a deep sleep where I was dreaming I was dreaming of a Dreamgirl…”

Adore by Prince

Lullaby by The Cure

Toxic by Brittany Spears (oh my god, I can't believe I actually downloaded one of her songs but I've got to admit it's a pretty hot song)

Even after All by Finley Quaye - Love this song and all the images it brings to mind.

[Shirley]

Definitely agree on "Smooth" (how could I have forgotten that one? It always makes my day when I hear it.) and "With or Without You," Yeah, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Dave Matthews can set the mood for sure.