The Symphonious Relationship Between Song and Sex

As sex and song involve the use of mechanisms working together to control rhythm while balancing feelings, both share immense similarities, making it no surprise that the pair has had a long, dynamic relationship. But as vibrant as a symphony from Beethoven or an album by Beyoncé, the relationship between sex and song has both joyful synchronizations and dark harmonies. But it is up to you, the audience, to evaluate whether the union between these two integral parts of humanity has major value, or rather, has been a minor deficit.

Music and sex go hand in hand. Thus, it is not a coincidence the two are inseparable in terms of the creation of contemporary music. Many popular artists incorporate themes of sex into their music; each song supplying novel views on sexuality, sexual expectations, and sexual partners, which listeners can digest to fuel their sexual schemas. As a result of the immense popularity of these “sexy” songs, many of them could potentially be used in people’s sexual scripts (Wang, 2023). From setting the mood with some slow R&B to using the lyrics to guide a sexual experience, “sexy” songs are integral to a vast range of sexual scripts (Wang, 2023).

As music can play a vital role in the development of sexual scripts, differing opinions on the content of sexual music have arisen. One of the most popular musicians of the twenty-first century, The Weeknd, is praised for his music's sexual functionality (Jr, 2020). According to data from the music streaming service Spotify, The Weeknd is the top artist that Spotify users add to playlists that are meant for sexual activity (Jr, 2020), making him their “number one” artist most listened to during sex (Jr, 2020). However, The Weeknd has come under fire for perpetuating unfavourable sexual stereotypes about women through several of his songs (Adibe, 2020). His music has also been criticized for encouraging toxic masculinity and supporting a limited, oppressive definition of manhood that emphasizes the integration of aggression, sex, violence, and prestige (Adibe, 2020). Many contend that the themes of sexual coercion, sexual aggression, and the use of drugs and alcohol to manipulate someone into having sex are aestheticized in his song, "High for This" (Adibe, 2020). The viewpoint of Adibe (2020) highlights the potentially negative side of the integration between sex and song, especially considering The Weeknd's vast following and ability to affect sexual scripts among his listeners.

A rising number of studies have appeared in response to concerns about the degrading elements in popular music. This field of study investigates the psychological effects that music may have, particularly on young listeners. Research conducted by Martino et al. (2006) found that, in contrast to other sexual content, listening to music with degrading sexual lyrics is associated with earlier advancements in sexual activity involving penetration and in non-penetrative sexual activity (kissing, genital stimulation, oral-genital contact) among adolescents. This finding supports the sexual script explanation and raises the possibility that the effect is due to societal signals outlining and enforcing the practices in which 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 behaviour and how sexual themes in lyrics can affect psychological development (Martino et al., 2006), providing support that the way one popular artist talks about sexual roles could potentially affect the development of a youth’s sexuality.

Considering the historically long and key role music plays in humanity, and the integration of sex and song in popular culture, it is no wonder that some researchers believe that the link 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 that music activates brain areas. 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 the processing of music, sexual behaviour, 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 posits empirical evidence for an evolutionary link in their dynamic connection.

Although there is research to suggest an evolutionary and neurobiological role for music in sexual behaviour, sexual attraction, and sexual pleasure, there are only a few research studies evaluating the relationships' clinical implications. One 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 the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT), and anxiety scores of patients with PE symptoms who received music therapy to patients who received 30 mg of dapoxetine (a popular medication for PE) as treatment. In both groups, Micoogullari et al. (2021) found a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment intravaginal ejaculation latency times, scores on the premature diagnostic tool, and anxiety scores for patients with PE symptoms. Most importantly, Micoogullari et al. (2021) found that there was no significant difference between the groups, proposing that music therapy for treatment in those with PE symptoms is as effective as dapoxetine, the most popular treatment for PE (Micoogullari et al., 2021). This work is fascinating as it asserts that music can be used to treat sexual dysfunction, expressing the potential for the future of music as a therapeutic instrument.

The relationship between song and sex has multiple chords in its repertoire. From opinions about the sexual content of songs and their effects on sexual development to neurobiological underpinnings and successful clinical treatment for sexual dysfunctions, the vast relationship between song and sex cannot be captured in one symphony. Ultimately, the most important aspect of the relationship between song and sex lies within the context of the individual. It lies within the harmonies of the human mind and rather, in what way the human mind will integrate these elements into melodious, and unique sexual scripts.

Jacob De Jong, BAH Psychology, Fourth Year, Queen’s University.

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, T. C. (2020, July 5). A New Study Revealed The Most Popular Spotify Songs People Have Sex To. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/terrycarter/popular-spotify-songs-to-play-during-sex

Mallik, A., Chanda, M., & Levitin, D. (2017). Anhedonia to music and mu-opioids: Evidence from the administration of naltrexone. Scientific Reports, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep41952

Martino, S. C., Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Strachman, A., Kanouse, D. E., & Berry, S. H. (2006). Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading 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, O. F., Koc, E., & Gok, B. (2021). New behavior therapy in the treatment of acquired premature ejaculation: A comparative study of listening to music. Archivos Espanoles de Urologia, 74(5), 519–525. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34080572/

Wang, C. (2023). Why Do We Enjoy Having Sex to Music? Getmegiddy.com. https://getmegiddy.com/why-do-we-enjoy-sex-to-music