SAM SHARPE

Who doesn’t love love? Okay, well maybe not everybody, at least not all of the time. And though most wouldn’t consider me the romantic or lovey dovey type, I have been known to fall in love with women just as much as lust after them. Well, maybe not just as much but you catch my drift. The point is, I can appreciate love. I’m just more familiar with lust.

Thing is, my pursuits of lust and love have one thing in common:

Music.

I love music; it plays a huge role in my life and as such undoubtedly plays a role when I’m trying to tug on heart strings. Or help a woman out of her brassiere. When I’m in full “woo” mode I use music the way a filmmaker would; to help set the scene, create ambience and to foreshadow coming action. And like someone like say, Quentin Tarantino, I don’t make obvious choices. No run of the mill slow jams for me, no top 40 hits and definitely no R. Kelly. Naw, with a girl I really like or would really like to undress, I try to be unconventional, interesting and unique without being too esoteric.

Why am I bringing this up? Well, I was entertaining a young lady recently–dinner, drinks, music; the whole nine–who was clearly, uhm, let’s say turned on by my musical selections. She asked for a mixtape. How sweet. How retro. How right up my alley. So I did. I made her a mixtape.

Anyway, since February (the love month don’t y’know) is coming to an end, I figured I would share a few songs that I love and that I feel are sexy in their own way. Cheers.

Tingsek, ‘Someone Else’

Magnus Tingsek is Swedish. He makes good music. I played the studio version of this song on the aforementioned date. I thought I would include it in this list. Here’s a live version:

Madeleine Peyroux, ‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go’

This is a Bob Dylan cover. At his best, Dylan’s songs are thorough examinations and reflections of the human experience. Sheer poetry. Ms. Peyroux handles this song expertly. What else can I say about this? Hmm. Well, an ex-girlfriend introduced me to this version. I’m not sure if she was trying to tell me something but this version is sexy. I love sexy.

Black Dub, ‘I Believe In You’

This is one of Daniel Lanois’ projects. Don’t know Mr. Lanois? Cool, whatever, I’ll contain my music snobbery. Just listen to the tune. I played this song for a singer I used to lust after love date know in a biblical sense. It led to an impromptu strip tease. Now, she was sexy. (Hmm, is there a theme here?) So is this song. I get hot flashes every time I hear the snake like groove of the bass line.

Lord Kitchener ‘Sugar Bum Bum’

Calypso. Soca. If you’re not from the Caribbean these terms probably conjure images of Hot, Hot, Hot and conga lines. SMH. You’re missing out if this applies to you. Seriously. Look, I’m not a huge fan of Calypso nor am I a Soca expert but this song’s bass line cannot be denied. And the lyrics (“Audrey, every time you wiggle…you put me in trouble”), they’re just, so…fun (“You torture me, the way you wine, I love to see your fat behind”). And whimsical. (isn’t the best sex always fun and often whimsical?) Don’t believe me? Just listen to the tune.