There's two things that will always go together, no matter what--Prince and sensuality. Although he's toned down the raunch and sauce of his earlier years, his sensual nature is still there. His catalog is still around, and is probably responsible for most of us coming into existence. In any case, you can definitely set the mood with Prince. Ross Benes of Deadspin's The Concourse section took the time out to write an article called "Prince Songs To F*ck To, Ranked", a list of Prince songs dedicated to gettin' it on. While he was spot-on with a few choices, others left Prince fans of a certain Facebook community baffled. Were we making love, or rockin' the mattress with a quickie before work?
Some of the choices were...questionable. Depending on one's partner, these choices may or may not work. I didn't think they worked at all. Some of the choices seemed so....unsure of themselves. It inspired me to come up with my own top fifteen list of songs:
[Please keep in mind that I'm not rabidly against the man's list. If that's what he feels is a groove to get sexy, it's on him. I just know that when I set the mood, there have been no complaints concerning musical selections. ;) Consider these to be in no particular order of least to most liked whatsoever. I write 'em as they come to me. They're all #1 in my book.]
15. Adore. I'm a sucker for lyrics. I'm a sap for heartfelt, "I love you so ever so much, lemme croon to ya, baby" lyrics. Adore takes you there. You can slow dance to it, or you can swipe lyrics and text your baby some sticky sweetness. You might end up with some kids to this jam. It's slow, it's romantic, and then there's THIS gem:
"Until the end of time,
I'll be there for you.
You own my heart and mind,
I truly adore you.
If God one day struck me blind,
Your beauty I'd still see.
Love is to weak to define,
Just what you mean to me."
There's more. THIS is the particular part that stops me dead in my listening session every time. I mean, I have a hand in the air, rocking side to side, and just....in the moment:
"I'll give you my heart,
I'll give you my mind,
I'll give you my body,
I'll give you my time."
BABY. Devotion to the 9s. Emotion to the uh...10s! His consumption reads like wedding vows, and I LOVE it. If you're brave enough, sing along and woo your lover right out of the fabric of their life.
14. Scandalous AND Scandalous Sex Suite. Scandalous was my introduction to Prince. Granted I was in pre-school when this jam came out, there was something very alluring about this tune. The eerie, slow beat, Prince whisper-singing. What was a scandal, anyway? I was 4, doggone it. Who knew? I had a fellow classmate who knew the chorus word for word, and we all sang along. I grew to appreciate it once I became a little older. Another perfect song to slow dance to, but SO much more. Dig:
"Come closer,
Feel what you've been dyin' for.
Don't be afraid, baby.
Touch it,
And explode."
This song is DESIRE. Pure, heated desire. It's direct romance. A person (let's keep it neutral) who wants their lover so much that it cannot be contained! LUST:
"Whisper a question.
With my body,
(my body)
I'll scream a reply.
To hell with hesitation,
To hell with the reasons why..."
If your mouth ain't the least bit agape, you're missing something. This song is practically thrusting and grinding seductively all up in your ear with a rose in its mouth. One false move, and you'll be just like Kim Bassinger, asking..."where am I?"
That leads us to Scandalous Sex Suite. This is a collection of tracks from the extended version of Scandalous. Instrumentals, extra vocals, and several more minutes to do whatever comes naturally to two human beings. (I mean, maybe you just wanna eat fruit in your underwear in front of a fire!)
Tracks 1-3 and 5 are the particular songs I'm talking about. Granted the entire album is a jam, you probably don't wanna groove your lover to Batdance. (Or do you? O_o )
It boils down to this--perfect. makeout. song/songs. Suck face, rinse and repeat. Cuddle, nibble, get lost in the moment.
13. Somewhere Here on Earth. The lyrics speak of shyness, desiring to meet and be with someone who watches from afar. While some may say it's creepy, I see it as a patient person who's ready for that special someone to come through, so he or she can reciprocate those feels. If THAT doesn't move you, the smooth jazz vibe of this song ought to make you want to pour fancy wine and get cozy with somebody special.
"I know you're out there,
I can feel your eyes on me.
Seen that face a thousand times,
If only in my dreams..."
"I know you hear me,
Like a whisper in your ear.
You don't have to fear me,
You're everything I hold so dear...."
"I know you already love me,
You're probably just too cool to say.
Somebody somewhere put you down,
But that's okay, that's okay.
You're probably just too cool to say.
Somebody somewhere put you down,
But that's okay, that's okay.
'Cuz whenever you feel,
It's time to heal, no, no more
As long as I'm here on earth."
It's time to heal, no, no more
As long as I'm here on earth."
Put it on repeat, dance for hours. Or just talk. Do people talk anymore? Here is the perfect moment to forget everything social media, and just reconnect. Matter of fact....
"In this digital age,
You could just page me.
I know it's a rage,
But it just don't engage me...
Like the face to face...."
12. Te Amo, Corazon.
"At last I can tell you what I've known so long,
My heart's been crying out to sing this song
I don't care who knows it, cause there's nothing wrong
Te amo, corazon..."
Okay, so you're tired of dancing. You've had the wine, the fruit, and you've discussed the ambivalence of love. What's left? Massages, a bath together. Sit with some tea, cuddle up! Of course you can get busy to it. It's Prince, for cryin' out loud! I initially liked this song at the time, because I was in a really good place with a sweet person when it came out. He changed a lot of things in my life (at that time.)
This song is a little short, but the lyrics have so much love and power between the lines!
"First I couldn't find the words to say
How much you've changed me in every way
I just wanna thank you each and every day
Te amo, corazon."
This song features Prince's well-known signature of a well-constructed interlude full of rhythm and smooth soul. If you lack any style or grace, allow this song to help you find your groove.
11. Damn U. Perhaps an interlude while Mr. and Miss (or Mr. and Mrs.) retire to the bedroom? Does your partner have a magical, mystical effect on you? Bust out the karaoke mic and lovingly trill these lyrics:
"Damn U, U're so fine.
Seems 2 happen 2 me
each and every time we make love--
I can't hold back,
It's like having a hundred million little heart attacks.
Damn this kooky love affair,
All I ever want 2 do is play in ur hair.
2 people crazy in love
Into 1 another like a hand in a glove..."
He breaks it down in the second half of the song with this smooth line:
"Like animals just born 2 breed,
Come to think about it,
U're my only need.
I'm on fire,'til you come and put me out.
All I'm trying to say is that my psychedelic shouts
When U damn me
Damn U...."
Granted it's a little...sticky, there's a sweet quality to both the lyrics and tone of the song that make it perfect for steamy summer nights, or chilly winter days. You've got a gem of a song of devotion, dripping with praise for some magical, mystical kind of person who has their lover laid out and cursing them for being so...addictive. If all else fails, break out the foot oil and maintain eye contact.
(Seriously, if you're not tired of dancing, I highly suggest pressing bodies together and letting the music take you somewhere new. This is the perfect song.)
10. When We're Dancing Close & Slow. Ahhh yes, classic Prince. His hair was feathered to perfection, and the intro to this song either took your clothes off for you, or you ruined your lip gloss seriously making out somethin' heavy. Do we have to discuss the body and heat of this song? Of course!
Just....give me a minute. I get tingly writing these lyrics.
"When we're dancing close and slow,
I never want to let you go, no, no.
I feel your warm embrace,
The softness of your face.
Tell me, baby, are we here alone?"
Good gravy. Ice on my neck, cold compress on my forehead. Prince, PLEASE. I'm MELTING. This is the perfect "turn out the lights and wear something sexy" song. This is the kind of music requiring a blue/purple light, and a tasteful handkerchief placed over a lamp.
"When we're kissing long and hard,
I can almost taste the thoughts within your mind."
Okay, figurative theme here, but imagine the literal kissing going on. The passion, the heat, the DESIRE to get down to serious business. This ain't a frolic before the last bus after 11--this is a groove for hips that even Danielle Steele can't put into words. (Perhaps Zane could? Muahahaha!)
The second half of this song is very direct. This is some good lovin', honey. We are all adults here (hopefully), so you can raise a hand in the air if you've been here before:
"When we're dancing close and slow,
I'm not afraid to let my feelings show.
I want to come inside of you,
I want to hold you when we're through.
Can't you feel my love touching you?"
First of all, Tipper Gore where's your sticker on THIS album? Second, PASS ME THE DAGGONE ICE. PLEASE! Don't play this song unless you're trying to hit a homer. You're playing with rich, thick, "goes-both-ways" description-wise material here. You will be breathless and sweaty trying to gather your thoughts once it's all over.
But...wait for it...
You can always just chill to this song. This is one of those jams where words can go unspoken, lights can be low, and you're just chillin' and holding hands in bed. The softness of Prince's voice, the delicate trill of the piano and slow bass guitar will mellow you out and cool you down. This is chill music. Since I tend to pair temperature, color, and sensations with most music, I'll put it this way--it's shades of swirling rich blues and purples. It's delicate hints of teal with the same sensation you get from sucking on a Tic-Tac. It's soothing like a fresh, warm shower on a cold day, and you're spending free time with a warm blanket.
9. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. You sly devil. You Slick Rick. You picked a touching, wonderful song that has been used at weddings and anniversaries since 1994. Do you have flowers? Wine, two tickets to that thing she likes? Are you popping the question? Or, do you just want to let your lady love know you're smitten? Congratulations, you've got the right song to show your love!
"When the day turns into the last day of all time,
I can say, I hope you are in these arms of mine.
I will cry tears of joy
'Cause after you, all one can do is die..."
Cue the smile, the blush. Prince lays it on thick with all his heart at all times. He loves women. He celebrates their beauty, their mystery. If you've ever seen the video, you'll understand 100% why this song is list-worthy. We've discussed a few songs of this caliber, but this one is always a show-stopper because it's so powerfully universal!
"How I can get through days,
When I can't get through hours?
I can try,
But when I see you,
I get devoured, oh yes.
Who'd allow, who'd allow a face to be soft as a flower?
I could bow and feel proud in the light of this power..."
This was a song written for his wife at the time, the beautiful Mayte Garcia. In the music video, he had a collection of beautiful women being celebrated in various aspects of their lives--from fame, accomplishments, and childbirth. I REALLY love the lyrics of this song, and can remember being glued to my TV watching Prince in his red velour...uh...outfit hitting those falsetto notes and crying out his love for the ladies.
"And if the stars ever fell one by one from the sky,
I know Mars could not be to far behind.
'Cuz baby this kind of beauty has got no reason to ever be shy
'Cuz honey, this kind of beauty the kind that comes from inside."
TKO. DONE. Any song that can celebrate a woman's inner beauty is a winner in my book.
8. Call My Name. TMBGITW's (see above) younger sister.
"I just can't stop writing songs about you,
I love you so much.
I just can't wait to put my arms around you,
And feel your touch.
If I don't see you real soon, baby girl,
I might go insane.
I know it's only been three hours
But I love it when you call my name..."
If you don't get it by now, allow me to spell it out for you--Prince is a melting machine. He is the tingle master. He is the king of the panties. His versatile style allows him to get nasty, get romantic, or find a balance to do both. Here's your chance to serenade your lady (or man, or person) love with a heart-warming ballad of devotion so rich that it oozes sweet honey and syrup.
"I've never seen the moon look so lovely
As the night that I saw it with you
Let me know that I never seen the moon before.
So many speak of the moon,
As if it has no flaws
But to compare it to a beauty like yours
Would give one pause..."
We've done fruit, we've had wine and massages. We've been in bed, and as always "snuggling" is optional. What else is left? So many things, silly reader. Oil her hair, prepare a meal together, watch a sunset! Get artistic and paint a gorgeous scene on each other's bodies with skin-friendly paint. Get creative and do some romantic couple's yoga. Spread the love, and spread it on thick.
7. The One. Prince tells you he "ain't the one" about six hundred times in this song, but it's all for the right reasons. Prepare to be wooed once more with a ballad dedicated to celebrating the feminine.
"If you're lookin' for the man
who will walk away from responsibility,
I ain't the one.
And if you're lookin' for the brotha
Who will treat you like anything
But a queen,
I ain't the one."
Responsibility is always hot. Man or woman, gendered or agender. Remember that. This is a song with a hip-rolling tempo to set off any steamy night. As many DJs have said in broadcasts past, "this one's for the lovers out there".
"But if you're lookin' for a man
That'll sweep you off your tired, weary feet
Pay your bills, buy you pretty dresses
And take you anywhere you wanna eat,
Make love to you every night of the week.."
Granted many of us were raised as young women to take care of our own, it is always a nice gesture to have a partner or lover who is willing to take care of you. I have witnessed the flexibility of this dynamic in various relationships in my life. It's one thing to hear/read it in a song, and another to see it in person. It's beautiful.
The entire song reads as worship of a partner so wonderful that her lover treats every step she walks on "like holy ground". Is it worship, or is it more like "I just feel so blessed to have you, now let me take care of you"? Whatever the case of analysis may be, if you're trying to get in some alone time with major smooch factor, this is the song for you. Consider this your quiet storm come hither jam.
6.Crazy You. Sometimes you just wanna touch. Sometimes you just wanna feel the vibe. Enter Crazy You.
"You have a strange way about you.
Kinda crazy,
But I love you just the same.
Because you,
Oh you make me wanna do,
Oh, everything"
Although my first love is long gone and over, he used to say things like this to me. "You drive me crazy, but I really like being with you." It was young, dumb love, so a lot of mistakes were made. But we spent our weekends together, laughing at nonsense and chasing birds all over Chicago. (Okay, I was chasing birds, and he was so embarrassed because his 22 year-old girlfriend was chasing birds!)
I envy people who're in relationships like that, where things are so comfortable, free, and fun. I hope to be in one of my own again, someday. In any case, this is just a really sweet song. It's short, but there's just something about it that I consider to be so wonderfully pure. It's one of those jams you just put on repeat and do whatever you wanna do to it.
5. Soft and Wet. You remember what it was like the moment those hormones started doing stuff. You remember that moment when all those feelings finally made sense. This song is kinda like that. Can you dance to this song? Sure. Can you drink to this song? Of course! Show your lover some hip-rollin' moves, and make it a night they won't forget. Dig:
"Every time I'm with you, you just love me to death.
Oohwee, baby, you leave me without--
Ahh,
Breath!"
Don't lie to yourself like you don't know what kind of breathlessness from love we're talking about. This is the kind of stuff you wrote about in your secret journal. The kinds of things you called yourself putting together at the ripe old age of 19, when you were so sure you knew what it was all about.
"You're just as soft as a lion tamed,
You're just as wet as the evening rain.
I really dig it,
When you call my name.
Your love is drivin' me,
Drivin' me insane!"
I want you to look at me in the eye, remove my glasses, and tell me you're not picturing gettin' busy right now. This is a jaw-dropping jam. If you've got the skills, twerk to it. Turn this into a sexy time strip song.
4.Venus De Milo. A good instrumental leaves one with nothing to say. Prepare to become speechless. You can do a lot of things to any kind of song, which should be painfully obvious by now. I know you're tired of kissing, dancing, rubbing, and drinking/eating. How many times can you do that before you lose feeling in your mouth and mess up the carpet with wine stains?
This wonderful song comes from the movie Under The Cherry Moon. The campy, romantic, goofy movie with the timeless "Wrecka Stowe" scene. Imagine you're a lead character in a romantic scene with your supporting actor or actress. Here is your moment to roll around on the beach, the lawn, or that super huge California King.
Roll, baby, roll.
Stunning piano and horn arrangements, weightless tempo--what more could you ask for?
(Aside from this perfect gif of Prince being perfect...)
3. Under The Cherry Moon. Another chill time song from the previously mentioned movie. It's the theme song C'mon, you knew that, right? Not ready to go all the way? That's fine. Cue this song while you sit outside and take in the glow of the wondrous moon.
It's actually a little bittersweet of me to even mention this song. Back in the day of Pink Razrs, I had "ID Ringtones" for everyone I knew. My boyfriend at the time had this song as his ringtone. Listen, I was madly in love and ready to have all his big-headed, curly-haired babies. Sue me. I thought the following lyrics (which were part of his ID ringtone) expressed how I felt:
"I want to live life to the ultimate high.
Maybe I'll die young like heroes die.
Maybe I'll kiss you some wild special way.
If nobody kills me or thrills me soon,
I'll die in your arms under the cherry moon"
Mind you, my notion of "death" was leaning closer to the kind of "petit morit" that only lovers know of. Of course, I felt like I could die for him anyway, but I was pretty much lovestruck and ready to become Mrs. [last name omitted] at the drop of a silk tophat.
All disgustingly sweet memories aside, this is "one of those songs" that personifies the core of love. A "poor butterfly" with the freedom to escape, but chooses to stand where he is? One who'd much rather get lost in the throes of love, with kisses and "death"? You better slow dance or work those lips to this song, sweetheart. This is prime material for body heat.
2. The Question Of U. Swiped from the cringe-worthy camp of cheese known as Grafitti Bridge, this song stole my heart the moment I saw it on screen. Without having to say a word, the guy I was with scooped me into his arms and slow danced with me to the music video included on the DVD. Smooth move, ex-boyfriend, smooth move.
You too can incorporate such smoothness by taking a note from the following:
"So what is the answer to the question of you?
What shall I look for, what shall I do?"
If the lyrics don't move you, the the sultry, hip-swaying beat should put some groove into your step. The instrumental versions should inspire some waltzing and talented lip-locking. For cryin' out loud, the song does most of the work for you!
"Shall I become naked, no image at all?
Shall I become upright, or get down 'n' crawl?"
If you are lucky to come across a bootleg, concert, or a practice session, PLEASE do you ears the favor of savoring the sacred moment.
1. Come. Oh how could I work blue? Seriously? Am I making this too easy? Hear me out. Granted the extreme obviousness of this song title, this is ten minutes long. Ten minutes to rev up the engine, ten minutes to take the "car" for a spin, ten minutes to present the appetizer. Oh my GOODNESS, this is ten minutes with classic lines such as:
"When I lay you down,
I'll tell you what to feel.
Don't be surprised if I make you my daily meal."
We ain't talkin' about the Thursday special at Subway, baby. Chicken nuggets at McDonald's this is not. The consumption described here needs no introduction. (If it does, you're too young. Go do your homework. I'll be in the playroom in a minute with your apples and peanut butter snack.)
"When I blow that mind baby,
I'm gonna drive you crazy...."
I'm already crazy. The first time I got my hands on this album, I was barely 22. I was still finding out about the various Prince albums I'd indirectly heard in my youth, but didn't have the proper time to appreciate them. So when I heard this particular song, I was seeing someone. The next time we met up.....
*just sits at her desk dabbing neck with a large ice cube*
Honorable mention songs:
With You, Pink Cashmere, and North. Like most songs on my list, they are "chill time"-worthy. What can I say? I like to chill a lot. I like quiet and groove-filled music. So let's just say that the love is done, the fruit is done, and everyone's well-massaged and boozed up. You're sleepy, and you're just ready to let that wash over you. Any three of these songs are a perfect outro to rest.
With You hails from that sensual and very fresh/young Prince album. Kiss your sweetie good night, and drift off to the land of clouds and perfect 80's hair. Another song of devotion, with Prince swoon-singing about some lucky girl who has all his affection.
Pink Cashmere is a certified sleepy time jam. Back when I was about 13/14, I stole my dad's copy of Prince's "Greatest Hits" CD. I played it every night, and somehow around 2 AM would wake up right when this song would either be in the instrumental break, or right at the end. It's such a beautiful way to wake up.
Just imagine after a wonderful night of whatever has sent you to bed, you're turning over to hear beautiful strings, a loving guitar, or these lyrics:
"Girl, can you understand
I never used to go dancing
I, I was the kind of man who rather stay at home
Now, when I think about
H-how much I miss you
I want to jump for joy
And thank Him I'm not alone (I am not alone)"
North? 15+ minutes of a silky smooth instrumental with piano, flutes, a bass line like a heartbeat, and the right amount of sensual sophistication to lull anyone--single or taken--into a complex state of REM sleep. It's like watching the most beautiful sunset full of warm colors, while overlooking a canyon full of mingled, soft earth-tones and flecks of hotter copper. North is the kind of warmth you want in your ears when you just want to be in bed, resting quietly. It's so warm that it's actually cool. By the time your 15 is up, you'll be on another plane of existence.
And that concludes my top 15.
Do you know how HARD it is to condense my list of sexy time Prince songs? It could have easily been twenty or thirty, but I decided to challenge myself. This list could be highly disagreeable among older fans. (I'm only 30!) These are usually the songs I tend to play/have on my love time list. Some people like to take their time, set the mood. Others like to get right down to business, being as loud and as hard as possible. I think that we all have our groove, whatever the mood may be. I say go forth, compile your own lists with your favorite artists, and have a good time enjoying the pleasures of life.
(But play it safe, please.)
What are some of your favorite Prince songs for romantic occasions? Let me know in the comments section.