Spring Break
Column: Sex, Girls & Rock 'n' Roll
Sarah Ruholl/Assistant Verge Editor
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: The Verge
Some music is about love, some is about loss, but often the best is all about one thing: sex.
Some genres are especially known for their affinity for exploring all things sexual, soul and R & B notably. It is impossible to deny the pure sexiness in Al Green songs, and do not even get me started on Prince.
One genre, though, has always gone above and beyond sexy music.
Rock 'n' roll does not just sound sexy; it literally sounds like sex, at least the better incarnations of both.
At its best, it is dirty, passionate and loud.
I'm talking about the music here, not the sex - but it could have gone either way.
Some bands do it better than most. Nearly all of the Rolling Stones' catalogue fits the bill. Who could forget "Brown Sugar"?
China thought "Brown Sugar," and three other Stones' classics, were too sexy for Chinese audiences.
The songs, which also included "Honky Tonk Women" and "Let's Spend the Night Together," were removed from the "40 Licks" album, and the band was given instructions not to play the banned songs during its 2003 performances in the country-the first in the band's decades-spanning history.
Led Zeppelin is another classic rock heavyweight recognizable by its highly sexualized sound.
"Whole Lotta Love" has that Earth-shaking, overwhelming feeling that made Zeppelin the groupie-legends they are.
Of course, when I talk about the general sexuality of Zep, I am not referring to "Stairway to Heaven," possibly one of the most bloated, least sexy songs of all time.
As a friend once said, "Just about anything turns me off more than some guy trying to play 'Stairway' on the guitar."
Sure, some slow songs can be sexy (Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," anyone?) but it is the scorching guitars and loud drums that give rock 'n' roll its edge.
Modern rock music has seen a severe lack of sexuality (I defy anyone to explain to me what is sexy about Nickleback), but there is still hope.
Australian psych rock band Wolfmother takes their cues from Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, resulting in some of the sexiest songs of the decade. Their song "Woman" (familiar to many because of Guitar Hero) is quite possibly our generation's "You Shook Me All Night Long."
The woman in question gives the singer "the feeling of love" and you know "she's gonna set you free."
Rock 'n' roll really comes to life when it is about sex. As far back as Elvis, the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll formula has been pure gold.
Modern rock music could use a lot more sex.
Some genres are especially known for their affinity for exploring all things sexual, soul and R & B notably. It is impossible to deny the pure sexiness in Al Green songs, and do not even get me started on Prince.
One genre, though, has always gone above and beyond sexy music.
Rock 'n' roll does not just sound sexy; it literally sounds like sex, at least the better incarnations of both.
At its best, it is dirty, passionate and loud.
I'm talking about the music here, not the sex - but it could have gone either way.
Some bands do it better than most. Nearly all of the Rolling Stones' catalogue fits the bill. Who could forget "Brown Sugar"?
China thought "Brown Sugar," and three other Stones' classics, were too sexy for Chinese audiences.
The songs, which also included "Honky Tonk Women" and "Let's Spend the Night Together," were removed from the "40 Licks" album, and the band was given instructions not to play the banned songs during its 2003 performances in the country-the first in the band's decades-spanning history.
Led Zeppelin is another classic rock heavyweight recognizable by its highly sexualized sound.
"Whole Lotta Love" has that Earth-shaking, overwhelming feeling that made Zeppelin the groupie-legends they are.
Of course, when I talk about the general sexuality of Zep, I am not referring to "Stairway to Heaven," possibly one of the most bloated, least sexy songs of all time.
As a friend once said, "Just about anything turns me off more than some guy trying to play 'Stairway' on the guitar."
Sure, some slow songs can be sexy (Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," anyone?) but it is the scorching guitars and loud drums that give rock 'n' roll its edge.
Modern rock music has seen a severe lack of sexuality (I defy anyone to explain to me what is sexy about Nickleback), but there is still hope.
Australian psych rock band Wolfmother takes their cues from Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, resulting in some of the sexiest songs of the decade. Their song "Woman" (familiar to many because of Guitar Hero) is quite possibly our generation's "You Shook Me All Night Long."
The woman in question gives the singer "the feeling of love" and you know "she's gonna set you free."
Rock 'n' roll really comes to life when it is about sex. As far back as Elvis, the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll formula has been pure gold.
Modern rock music could use a lot more sex.
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