Sex Study: Canadians Do It to Music

Posted on Feb 13th 2012 4:30PM by Sarah Kurchak
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Courtesy of Josey Vogels

Forget the chocolate body paint and fuzzy handcuffs this Valentine's Day. More than half of Canadians will be turning to their favourite tunes to heat things up in the bedroom this year. According to a recent study commissioned by SiriusXM Canada, 53 percent of Canucks will be turning on a mix of our favourite alternative, rock, hip-hop, pop and R&B when we get it on this year.

In honour of this special day for music lovers, as well as just plain lovers, Spinner talked to sexpert Josey Vogels about the effect that music can have on your love life, picking the right sound, and the one artist you might not want to blast when things get naughty.

What kind of impact can the right soundtrack have on sex?

Sex is all about stimulating your senses. Our auditory sense is directly connected to our brain and that's where all of our delicious sex hormones and all of those wonderful things are. I think music really sort of stimulates that and it creates a mood. It creates a feeling, and that's what sex is all about.

Can it also have a negative effect?

I think choosing the wrong kind of music can definitely effect the mood. If you're looking for a sweet, romantic kind of lovemaking session, you probably don't want to be blasting hip-hop. Whereas, on the other hand, if you want something a little raunchier and something a little more upbeat and active, you probably don't want to be playing, say, Marvin Gaye.

And you really have to be in the right kind of mood to put on 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails.

Exactly. But I think the other thing about music that's really powerful is there's a lot of memory associated with music. I think a lot of us associate certain songs with certain memories, so if that was a song that you guys shared a special moment, that could have significant meaning as well.

According to SiriusXM Canada's study, Canadians love to get it on to pretty much everything from rock and alternative to hip-hop, pop and soul. Were there any genre preferences on the list that surprised you?

Not really. It's pretty much what you would expect. Blues, classics, a lot of those are associated with baby boomers and memories that they've had. And even younger generations, because those songs have been classics for so long and have been associated with being sexy. It doesn't surprise me that they would come up as some of the more popular genres when it comes to music to make love to.

The study also revealed that Maritimers are particularly fond of doing it to reggae. Where did that come from?

That actually was a little odd. Except that if it's a hot summer afternoon and you're out at the park and you've got your radio playing on the blanket beside you, reggae can certainly be very sexy. I guess we just don't associate it with the east coast so much, but it can certainly be a sexy music format.

SiriusXM also put together a Sexy Playlist that was inspired by the study, and I was wondering if I could get your opinions on some of the specific songs that they chose. First of all, aren't songs like 'Doin' It' by LL Cool J and 'S&M' by Rihanna maybe a bit too literal?

Well, I guess so. But sometimes you need to be direct when it comes to sex. Maybe some of us are too subtle in the bedroom and that kind of music helps you to be a little more direct with your partner and ask for what you want.

Watch LL Cool J's 'Doin' It'

And might 'Try' by Blue Rodeo and 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' by Daft Punk be a little intimidating in the heat of the moment?

That's a good point. And you know, it's not always about harder, better, faster, stronger. Sometimes it's about creating a mood, not necessarily taking direction from the choice of music that you pick.

What do you think is more powerful: the melody and mood, or the lyrics?

I think it's a personal preference. I think that lyrics that might be more associated with memory or that you know, in the back of your mind, says something about your relationship. But when you're in the middle of doing it, you're probably not focusing on the lyrics. And if you are, you're probably not doing something right. So I think that, in the heat of the moment, it's the mood that it sparks.

Are there any specific genres or artists that you would recommend to people who are looking to get it on?

I don't, because I think that it's such an individual taste thing. I think there's certain classics, like Marvin Gaye. He's certainly an artist that everyone associates with being sexy and romantic and the sound of his voice is kind of growly and seductive, so it conjures up sexual feelings. I mean, one of his songs is called 'Sexual Healing.' For me, Prince is really sexy. I find his music really sexy. Someone else may not. It's very much an individual thing.

What about you, personally? Do you have any favourite go-to songs?

Like I said, Prince, has always been... his song 'Sexy MF.' I love that for when I'm feeling really peppy and a little raunchier. And I'm a big fan of Al Green and Marvin Gaye, those crooning songs for the sweet, more romantic times.

Even though sexy musical preferences is very much a personal thing, is there an artist or type of music that you would actively caution people against using in the bedroom?

I wonder... Again, people have such individual taste, but I don't know. Maybe Raffi, or something like that? A kids artist might be a little disturbing, but you never know. When it comes to sex, I never judge.

Even if it's 'Baby Beluga.'

There you go! Exactly.
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