Like many writers, I can’t help but think of specific songs as I’m telling stories. A few days ago I was writing a particularly sensual scene. You know the type. Candles lit. Hands and lips everywhere. Hot stuff that called for a hot song. That got me to thinking about the perfect songs for those perfect moments. Some call ’em “baby makers.” LOL. I asked my friend Debi, a writer AND a DJ, to share her top 10 songs to steam up the sheets. Debi, who I call Blows No Smoke because she never pulls punches, is guesting for me today, but you can find her on Twitter, or on her two blogs, Hunter’s Lyonesse and Chocolate Wasteland. Without further ado, take it away, Debi!
Kennedy asked for my Top Ten Baby Maker songs because of my eclectic collection of music. I have an iPod that stays on shuffle and I never know what’s coming next. It will play Barry Manilow, Metallica, Aretha Franklin, The Secret Garden, Foo Fighters, Olomana, Tchaikovsky, No Doubt, Miles Davis, Kelly Clarkson, Jimmy Wayne, Hall & Oates, Kapena, Frank Sinatra, The Black Keys, Jimmy Cliff, and so on. I could’ve gone for the obvious, but as I scrolled through my seventy-two gigs of music I decided the underappreciated music needed some love. I nixed all the R&B and standards even though I started with some on my list. Who wouldn’t have Marvin Gaye or Al Green on their baby making playlist? I asked myself, what happens when you dig deep into the music catalog for those songs that really make you want to give your significant other that come hither look?
The list was three pages long and included “Bed of Roses” by Bon Jovi, “Sunflower” by Cecilio & Kapono, “Hysteria” by Def Leppard, “One” by U2, “Awake My Soul” by Mumford & Sons, “Red Light” by Jonny Lang, “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel, “Girl I Wanna Lay You Down” by Jack Johnson and Zach Gill, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz, “Into the Fire” by Alisan Porter, “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson, “Si Volvieras A Mi” by Josh Groban, “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley, and “Glitter in the Air” by P!nk. That’s just a handful of the songs I tossed out just to give you an idea of the range.
I cut the songs that were more about breakups and those that were merely romantic. Then, I deleted the popular love songs. Once I distilled the list down, I told Kennedy we need a new title because the list is decidedly hot and steamy for baby making. Sometimes you need a little fire in the bedroom to perk up the relationship.
I have a hard time playing favorites, so these are in alphabetical order by artist.
1. Jamie Campbell Bower – Waiting
And I believe in us ‘cause you believe in me/Believe in me/And I’ll wait for you in the dark/Arms outstretched comforting lover
I think of the tentativeness of new intimacy melding into comfortable-ness with this song. It doesn’t hurt that it’s Jamie Campbell Bower singing about waiting for his lover in the dark. It makes me feel like anyone can have that again no matter where they are with their relationship.
And I don’t want anything from you/I just want every bit of you to want me/I don’t need anything to do/Just drive me into you and wreck me
Many of Butch Walker’s songs center on breaking up, heartbreak after moving on, sex, unrequited love, or telling a story within one song, all of which belong to the collective theme of the album. His lyrics complement his music which plays out through his voice and it gives me ALL THE FEELS. This one is pure sex and desire for the person he realizes he wants. I could write post after post on Butch and his skills. Oh, wait. I did one.
Whenever I’m alone with you/You make me feel like I am home again/Whenever I’m alone with you/You make me feel like I am whole again
This song IS love. Robert Smith’s vocals make it haunting, enthralling, and powerful. The music makes it doubly so. It moves me in real life and in my writing because there is that small element of brokenness I use in my stories. I like creating characters with the ability to make another feel whole again.
4. Crash Into Me – Dave Matthews Band
Into your heart I’ll beat again/Sweet like candy to my soul/Sweet you rock/and sweet you roll/Lost for you I’m so lost for you
Sweetness. Sex. This song just does things. “Hike up your skirt…”
I can taste more than feel/This burning inside is so real/I can almost lay my hands upon/The warm glow that lingers on
David Gahan uses his voice masterfully to convey the emotion and tone of the song, much like Robert Smith. Don’t we all want to be moved by a higher love? A love transcending the mundane and consuming you with fire.
“6. Slide Your Breath – Fredalba
I could feel the tremble of her body move/A goddess in a temple like a serpent smooth/She leads the way and slides across the bed/A waterfall of lust in between her legs
This song oozes sex. There is an orgasm a bit more…well…just more, than Sally’s in When Harry Met Sally, between the second verse and the bridge. Eric Balfour keeps the verses of this song in his lower register making it sultry, seductive, and simply breathtaking. You kinda wish he was the one in bed with you.
7. The Writer – Ellie Goulding
Andy why don’t you be the artist?/And make me out of clay?/Why don’t you be the writer?/And decide the words I say?
It’s a song about being at the end of a relationship and not knowing how to salvage it. The lyrics of the chorus opens up so many possibilities, even though she’s giving everything over to the one she loves in order to stay with him.
I know you’ve suffered/But I don’t want you to hide/It’s cold and loveless/I won’t let you be denied
The title might say it all here, but it doesn’t. It’s about the person who wants to help fix the broken parts of you so they can have the best part of you. They want you to let go of the demons, break down the walls, and let them in so they can fulfill those undisclosed desires. They love you that much.
9. Smooth – Santana ft. Rob Thomas
Out from the barrio/You hear my rhythm on your radio/You feel the turning of the world so soft and slow/Turning you ‘round and ‘round
Santana’s wailing guitar riffs coupled with Rob’s voice sends you into overload. You want to be wearing a sundress over your dewy skin doing a sensual bump and grind, then have your lover dip you for a kiss that makes you melt in his arms.
10. Because the Night – Patti Smith
Take me now, baby, here I am/Pull me close, try and understand/Desire is hunger, is the fire I breathe/Love is a banquet on which we feed
It’s Patti Smith and the night belongs to lovers. ‘Nuff said.
WANT THE WHOLE LIST? CHECK IT OUT HERE.
What’s your list look like? Which songs beat between your sheets?