As sex and singing involve the use of mechanisms that work together to control rhythm while balancing emotions, the two share huge similarities, which is not surprising given that the pair had a long, dynamic relationship. But as vivid as a Beethoven symphony or a Beyoncé album, the relationship between sex and song has happy synchronicities and dark harmonies. But it’s up to you, the audience, to assess whether the union between these two integral parts of humanity is of great value, or was rather a slight deficit.
Music and sex go hand in hand. Thus, it is no coincidence that the two are inseparable in the creation of contemporary music. Many popular artists incorporate sex themes into their music. Each song provides new perspectives on sexuality, sexual expectations, and sexual partners that listeners can assimilate to fuel their sexual schemas. As a result of the huge popularity of these “sexy” songs, many of them could potentially be used in human sexual scenarios (Wang, 2023). From setting the mood with some slow R&B to using lyrics to guide a sexual experience, “sexy” songs are integral to a vast array of sexual scenarios (Wang, 2023).
As music can play a vital role in the development of sexual scenarios, different opinions have emerged regarding the content of sexual music. One of the most popular musicians of the twenty-first century, The Weeknd, is praised for the sexual functionality of his music (Jr, 2020). According to data from music streaming service Spotify, The Weeknd is the top artist Spotify users add to playlists intended for sexual activity (Jr, 2020), making him the “number one” most listened to artist during duration of sex (Jr, 2020). However, The Weeknd has been criticized for perpetuating unfavorable sexual stereotypes about women through many of his songs (Adibe, 2020). His music has also been criticized for encouraging toxic masculinity and supporting a narrow, oppressive definition of masculinity that emphasizes the incorporation of aggression, sex, violence and prestige (Adibe, 2020). Many argue that the themes of sexual coercion, sexual aggression, and the use of drugs and alcohol to manipulate someone into having sex are aesthetic in his song, “High for This” (Adibe, 2020). Adibe’s (2020) view highlights the potentially negative side of the integration between sex and song, especially considering The Weeknd’s massive following and ability to influence sexual scenarios among his listeners.
A growing number of studies have emerged in response to concerns about degrading elements in popular music. This field of study explores the psychological effects that music can have, particularly on young listeners. Research conducted by Martino et al. (2006) found that, unlike other sexual content, listening to music with sexually degrading lyrics was associated with earlier developments in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity (kissing, genital stimulation, oral-genital intercourse) among adolescents . . This finding supports the sexual script explanation and raises the possibility that the effect is due to social signals that outline and enforce the practices men and women engage in during sexual situations (Martino et al., 2006). The study shows one of the vast ways in which music can influence sexual behavior and how sexual themes in lyrics can influence psychological development (Martino et al., 2006), providing support that the way a popular artist talks about sexual roles could potentially affect the development of young people’s sexuality.
Considering the historically long and fundamental role that music plays in humanity and the integration of sex and song into popular culture, it is not surprising that some researchers believe that the relationship between the two could be evolutionary. Curious about the evolutionary and neurobiological underpinnings of the connection between music and humanity, Mallik et al. (2017) examined the ways in which music activates brain regions. Through this study, Mallik et al. (2017) found that music stimulates reward pathways in a manner similar to that of sexual pleasure. They also revealed that music processing, sexual behavior and attraction share comparable brain regions and neurochemicals (Mallik et al., 2017). Research by Mallik et al. (2017) not only shows the strength of the relationship between song and sex, but also provides empirical evidence for an evolutionary link in their dynamic association.
Although there is research suggesting an evolutionary and neurobiological role of music in sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual pleasure, there are only a few research studies evaluating the clinical implications of relationships. A recent study conducted by Micoogullari et al. (2021) evaluated the effectiveness of music therapy as a treatment for premature ejaculation (PE). Micoogullari et al. (2021) compared intravaginal ejaculation latency (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT), and anxiety scores of patients with PE symptoms who received music therapy with patients who received 30 mg of dapoxetine (a popular drug for PE) as treatment . In both groups, Micoogullari et al. (2021) found a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment intravaginal ejaculation latency times, early diagnostic tool scores, and anxiety scores for patients with PE symptoms. Most importantly, Micoogullari et al. (2021) found that there was no significant difference between groups, suggesting that music therapy for treating people with PE symptoms is as effective as dapoxetine, the most popular treatment for PE (Micoogullari et al., 2021). This work is exciting as it argues that music can be used to treat sexual dysfunction, expressing the potential for the future of music as a therapeutic tool.
The relationship between song and gender has multiple chords in its repertoire. From views on the sexual content of songs and their effects on sexual development to the neurobiological underpinnings and successful clinical treatment of sexual dysfunctions, the vast relationship between song and sex cannot be captured in one accord. Ultimately, the most important aspect of the relationship between song and sex lies in the context of the individual. It lies in the harmonies of the human mind and rather, how the human mind will integrate these elements into melodious and unique sexual scenarios.
Jacob De Jong, BAH Psychology, Fourth Year, Queen’s University.
bibliographical references
Adibe, N. (2020, November 12). The Weeknd provides a case study in toxic masculinity. Study breaks. https://studybreaks.com/culture/music/the-weeknd-toxic-masculinity/
Jr, TC (2020, July 5). A new study has revealed the most popular Spotify songs people have sex with. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/terrycarter/popular-spotify-songs-to-play-duur-sex
Mallik, A., Chanda, M., & Levitin, D. (2017). Anhedonia to music and mu-opioids: Evidence from naltrexone administration. Scientific Reports, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep41952
Martino, SC, Collins, RL, Elliott, MN, Strachman, A., Kanouse, DE, & Berry, SH (2006). Exposure to degrading and non-degrading music lyrics and sexual behavior among youth. Pediatrics, 118(2), e430–e441. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-0131
Micoogullari, U., Kisa, E., Celik, O., Erbay, OF, Koc, E., & Gok, B. (2021). New behavioral therapy in the treatment of acquired premature ejaculation: A comparative music listening study. Archivos Españoles de Urologia, 74(5), 519–525. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34080572/
Wang, C. (2023). Why do we like to have sex with music? Getmegiddy.com.
