Good news for the lovelorn! When it comes to seduction, looks don’t matter and it’s what’s on the inside that counts – the inside of your music collection that is.
A recent survey has revealed that over 40% of people feel that the music listened to during sex was more likely to turn them on than the touch or feel of their partner.
Commissioned by streaming service Spotify, the ‘Science Behind the Song’ study involved interviews with 2,000 people aged between 18 and 91 with an almost even gender split. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between music, romance and seduction.
Research was undertaken by Dr Daniel Müllensiefen from the University of London and has resulted in the compilation of a set of seduction playlists. If you’ve been striking out in romance for far too long it may be time to take a few tips from the tracklists which include the ‘Top Tracks For A Romantic Dinner’, ‘Best Tracks For A Flirt On The Dancefloor’ and ‘Best Tracks To Get In The Mood for Sex’.
If all of those are met with failure, don’t despair – there’s also a list of ‘Songs That Are Considered Better Than Sex’.
Who needs lovin’ when you have ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Queen’s legendary super-hit tops the list, whilst Kings of Leon come a close second – fittingly – with ‘Sex On Fire’. Other consolation artists include Adele, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen.
“It is no surprise that so many respondents claimed to find music arousing in the bedroom,” Dr Müllensiefen said. “From neuro-scientific research we know that music can activate the same pleasure centres of the brain that also respond to much less abstract rewards such as food, drugs or indeed sex.”
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, right? Well, it seems we may be able to ditch the drugs and rock ‘n’ roll for the sultry sounds of Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing’s leading man – the most arousing music to play during sex was found to be anything from the popular 80s film soundtrack. Interestingly, the soundtrack to Star Wars also made the list.
“There’s a strong association between music and special memories, whether it’s a romantic moment or a movie or a wedding,” Sarah Wilson of the University of Melbourne told News Ltd, discussing the survey’s results. “When we combine music and language, we’re combining the language of emotions with very particular lyrical ideas to have this powerful effect on people that gets them in the mood, makes them feel romantic and helps them find a partner. That’s the power of music.”
If you’re wishing to utilise music’s romantic powers look no further than The Prince of Soul, Marvin Gaye. His classic track of seduction, ‘Let’s Get It On’, was top of the romance list while ‘Sexual Healing’ was voted in as the number one track to get you ‘in the mood’.
Understandably, cringe-worthy romantic dinners aren’t everyone’s forte. A successful flirt on the d-floor may be enough to catch the attention of your love interest and can be as simple as a cheeky jig to LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I Know It’. For the more classic flirts among us, ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ also hits the spot. (Sidenote: consider the Swedish band’s ‘Mamma Mia’ for later in the night when things get a little heated in the boudoir, it was surprisingly voted at #18 on the ‘Tracks To Play During Sex’ list).
Other tracks to get hot and heavy to include ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion and Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’. Although we’re not entirely convinced by those two choices. For a more invigorating tune perhaps Tom Jones’ ‘Sex Bomb’ would be more appropriate.
“Music provides the soundtrack to the lives of Spotify users every day, wherever and whenever they are,” says Angela Watts of Spotify. “Spotify’s study reveals … that music plays a particularly big role when it comes to our love lives.”
So, whether you’re a Star Wars geek or a sucker for a love story, these latest findings suggest that music may just be the key to success in any relationship.
Lost in love? Take a look at the full romantic playlists here:
Songs That Are Considered Better Than Sex
Top Tracks for a Romantic Dinner
Best Tracks for a Flirt on the Dancefloor
Best Tracks to Get ‘In The Mood’
Best Tracks to Play During Sex
