Music is universal (though in an Oliver Sacks interview I heard mentioned a young boy, he abhorred all forms of music. A brain abnormality seemed to be converting pleasing harmonies into garbled and intolerable noise - so a caveat on that 'universal') . It can be primal; think of a heart's beat, tapping our feet or pounding drums. Music can composed as a powerful expression of any emotion you care to transcribe. I have even read that the emotional core of music is relatively cross-cultural (ie. even vastly different cultures can identify a piece of music as angry, mournful and so forth). It would be a mammoth undertaking to begin to scratch the surface of the potential impacts and nuances of music.
It is with the preceding 'tactful opening', I justify this post (I think I did so nicely). Music stimulates the senses and the mind, this list is unabashedly an examination of more salacious avenues of musical creation. I have three top 10 installments planned, this coming in first. The lists will all delve into various, shall we say (for want of a better word) forms of 'darker' or 'adult' themed music. The tentative topics are BDSM/SEX, SUICIDE & DRUGS. This list, complied from my own listening experiences and consultation with other similar 'research', will distill human musical history into a concise list of 10 songs highly-influenced by BDSM culture (highly subjectively). These songs will be assessed on both their lyrical content and visceral ability to get the blood-pumping and arouse. Oh my!
THE LIST (In no particular order)!
1. Venus in Furs - The Velvet Underground
Why? A song about a man whose supreme wish is to be completely dominated by a woman, to kiss her boots of 'shiny shiny leather'. It's an all-time classic, has excellent lyrics and music that transports you to a world of dark obsessions. In addition, this track is based on the novel from which the term masochist was derived.
2. Passenger - Deftones
Why? I won't deny that it is creepy using car terminology to inflame passions, but this song is oozing in sex. The heavy but ethereal/dreamy deftones prove deft in their endeavor to get kinky. The Tool/A Perfect Circle vocalist has a guest spot here, his usual passive-aggressive shtick finds it's perfect partner in the Deftones vocalist. Who, for my money, may just have the best pipes in the metal/alternative genre. This song about driving and being driven has some great lines, for example "This time won't you please, drive faster" and the doozy "Nice cool seats, There to cushion your knees".
3. Queen of Pain - The Cramps
Why? The Deftones song was 'subtle', the lyrics being largely suggestive. Overall, if the the aural tone of that song seemed to replicate the physical pleasure of BDSM and sex, this song is a tongue-in-cheek masterpiece, reveling in the fun. Frank, playful, fun to stomp to and sing-along, Queen of Pain is an essential member of this list.
4. A Perfect Twist -Mike Patton
Why? I heard this little ditty on triple-j and it instantly piqued my interest. This track, a hidden gem off a soundtrack by the uber-acclimaed Mike Patton, is a lot of fun. It has a jazzy vibe which keeps it light, but it isn't nearly as obviously 'comedic' as Queen of Pain. There is a real discrepency/mixed message between music and lyrics. This however, isn't bad at all. It becomes something I would imagine playing in the background as a sadistic killer is gleefully torturing their prey.
5. Poison - Alice Cooper
Why? It's Alice Cooper, that's why! This is the only 'mainstream' song with enough edge in my books to be considered worthwhile including. Popular culture is rife with songs hinting at BDSM or playing off it in their titles or in a few lines - but most of these songs are pussy sh*t and are bearly differentiatable from any other mindless pop-trash.
6. Pleasure and Pain - Cuir Bleu
Why? This is practically a dedicated fetish band, so hey, it deserves a spot. Admittedly, their musical prowess doesn't hold a candle to the big names on this list, but this is a band with a 'fetish flair', and it's heart (or whip) is in the right place. There are better tunes, 'Sex Toy' is their most popular, however, nothing earns them their fetish stripes better than this one. The title speaks for itself.
7. Master and Servant - Depeche Mode
Why? It's reeks of 80's, but its undeniably catchy - good enough to appeal of people of diverse musical preferences. Master and Servant appears to thread in a feminist/housewife subtext with 'Its a lot like life, This play between the sheets, With you on top and me underneath
Forget all about equality'. This doesn't detract though, as it's bearly discernable outside the music video.
8. Breath Control - Recoil
Why? The voice, the voice, the voice. Is she a phone sex operator? A BDSM song with a narrative!? The soundscape is sublime, the voice (aforementioned) is dripping yummy, and the story of erotic asphyxiation is completely original. Use headphones and turn it up.
9. She Dominates - Blitzkid
Why? Horror-Punk - brash and fast but with melodic enough vocals that you don't feel you ears are being clobbered. This track came to my attention when it was recommened by a Last FM group, I was swifly converted. It covers all the BDSM tropes and weaves them together to great effect.
10. Love You to Death - Type O Negative
The least 'directly' BDSM song here, but brillant nonetheless. Type 0 Negative are consummate at producing two types of songs, 'depressing' and 'erotic'. If you were to tally it, depressing would win out in numbers, but this song trumps everything else they've done, so I guess it's even. Love You to Death would likely reign on a list of my top love songs period, for good reason. The protagonist worships the ground this woman walks on, that - plus a dash of sex, insecurity, Peter Steele's bassy voice and some wikid piano and you have me thoroughly enthralled.
Honerable Mentions:
Kiss with a Fist - Florence and the Machine
A B C's of Kinky Sex - Velvet Acid Christ
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