The 50 sexiest songs: By Marvin Gaye, the xx, Frank Ocean and more

Let our sexiest-songs playlist take you by the hand, whisper sweet nothings in your ear and lead you all the way to the bedroom. Yeah, baby!

By Time Out editors Tue Oct 9 2012

"Lay It Down" by Al Green

How could we run a list like this and not feature the Reverend Al? A man whose music has soundtracked nigh on four decades of baby-making, and who now marries lovestruck couples in his own chapel. We decided to skip the gorgeous but sad “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and first-dance anthem “Let’s Stay Together” in favor of this straight-up invitation, from the Rev’s 2008 album of the same name, produced by Questlove.—Sophie Harris

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"Friendly Skies" by Missy Elliott featuring Ginuwine

In the '90s, Ginuwine was the R&B king of getting freaky, and to our ears, his greatest moment is this duet with hip-hop’s queen sauce, Missy Elliott. The song’s metaphor is pleasingly out-there—they’re on a plane, Missy’s the stewardess, Ginuwine’s the passenger. “Feel the turbulence, and maintain,” coos Missy, “Please refrain / Stay in your seat / Until we reach the peak.” The song flutters, grinds and swoons its way to R&B bliss.—Sophie Harris

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"Doin’ It" by LL Cool J

Perhaps the hip-hop king of sexytime rhymes, LL Cool J created a New York tale of interborough romance that values stamina over subtlety in regards to getting busy. Sweating, screaming, spanking: LL and Leshaun are no doubt going to make it last—doin' it and doin' it and doin' it well…—Marley Lynch

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"Devil in a New Dress" by Kanye West

Rapping over a sped-up soul sample, Kanye sounds like his College Dropout self on this My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy standout. Typical Yeezy, subtlety takes a back seat (see the hook: “We ain't married but tonight I need some consummation”). But a roomy back seat is where the lush production and syrupy strings sound best.—Andrew Frisicano

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"Ain’t No Nigga" by Jay-Z

Lyrically, it’s more about getting paid than laid, but Jigga never sounded smoother than over this Reasonable Doubt jam. Nevermind all the talk about shopping, the liquid groove—pulled from the Whole Darn Family’s "Seven Minutes of Funk"—is pure bedroom music.—Adam Feldman

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"I Want Your Sex" by George Michael

After George Michael quit squeaky clean ‘80s boyband Wham!, he went on a sexual rampage with “School’s out forever!”-style zeal and enthusiasm. The album Faith (1987) featured Michael sniffing his own armpit and opened with this funky gem—which finds Michael’s signature growl at its peak: “C – c – c- c’mon!”. He also makes his request in the plainest possible terms “Have sex with me!"—which we appreciate.—Sophie Harris

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"I Feel You" by Depeche Mode

For a band that often sang about the kinkier side of sex—both “Master and Servant” and “Strangelove” embrace S&M elements—this 1993 track is fairly tame. But the combination of frontman Dave Gahan’s deep, sultry baritone and the propulsive backing track makes it sound far dirtier (and therefore hotter) than any of the band’s previous work.—Amy Plitt

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"Rocks Off" by the Rolling Stones

When your mom tells you how sexy Mick Jagger was—yeah, and Keith Richards, too—it’s this that she’s talking about. Exile on Main St. (1972) is the Stones’ loosest, jammiest, dirtiest record, and “Rocks Off” is its greatest expression of joy (and intent, come to think of it).—Sophie Harris

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"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks

The Kinks’ 1964 breakthrough hit is a visceral ode to lust: “Girl, you really got me goin’ / You got me so I don't know what I’m doin’ / Yeah, you really got me now / You got me so I can't sleep at night.” More than anything, this most primal track throbs with hot-blooded teenage urgency, and will remind you of not being able to keep your hands off your high-school flame. And that’s a good thing.—Marley Lynch

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"Have Love, Will Travel" by the Sonics

The Seattle garage rockers were barely out of their teens when they recorded this loins-burning Richard Berry cover. The seething postadolescent hormones come through in Gerry Roslie’s unchained howl as well as the song’s honking sax solo (a sturdy backbeat also helps, for practical reasons).—Adam Feldman

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50–41
40–31
30–21
20–11
10–1

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(1 rating)

I really think that Paradise Circus by Massive Attack should be somewhere in there, since it is by far the sexiest song I've heard. You can tell by the hidden messages in the lyrics as well as the hypnotizing voice but also from the unbearably hot rhythm. (By the way the Zeds Remix adds a little bit spark to the piece that if i might say does the song justice ;P )

Rose Sat Mar 30
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Interesting list. Not sure "I Touch Myself" is a song to 'do it to' though. I hear you on Frank Ocean, but Touch Myself just reminds me of silly school dances and immature girls.

Steve Sun Feb 24
Rated as: 4/5
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