It is true that men are too often assumed unattractive in our culture. Men are supposed to be the subjects, not the objects, the pursuers, not the pursued, the desirers, not the desired. This ties in with the gatekeeper model of sexuality, with Figleaf’s Two Rules of Desire, with Ozy’s Myth of Men Not Being Hot. And it’s total bullshit.
Thing is, even in a sexist and repressive culture, you get some dissenting voices. Thus, we’ve assembled some of our favorite songs by (mostly) female singers talking about how hot, sexy, and generally fuckable men are. Not “He’s sweet and kind and caring” but “Goddamn, I wanna bang him like a screen door in a high wind.” This is the Myth Of Men Not Being Hot Party Mix. (Bandwidth warning: hella embedded videos after the cut.)
Trigger warning: Some of these songs and videos are kind of objectifying or creepy in their attitudes. Assume it will be about as upsetting for male listeners as your local classic rock station is for female listeners, and plan accordingly.
Lady Gaga likes boys!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYuhrAbVmU&w=420&h=345]
Julie Brown has a type!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEU_5lVjRFQ&w=420&h=345]
Salt-N-Pepa are unashamed of their sexuality!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vaN01VLYSQ&w=420&h=345]
(Best part of that one is on the line “Brother, wanna thank your mother for a butt like that!” you can hear “Thanks, mom!” in the background. Good manners are sexy!)
Nicki Minaj is here to do two things: Chase hot guys and wear awesome wigs. And she’s all outta wigs. (Okay, no she’s not.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JipHEz53sU&w=560&h=345]
Some would argue that Heart’s “Magic Man” is not about sex. I assume those people haven’t actually listened to it.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDwKuYWVMvo&w=420&h=345]
Betty Blowtorch is not subtle!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6TWVRN9UBc&w=420&h=345]
I have always had a soft spot for Abba, nice to hear they may have a soft spot for me too.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RU_954raIM&w=560&h=345]
If you don’t like the Donnas, you just hate rock n’ roll.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mPKC6UDiks&w=420&h=345]
This mix would be incomplete without the classic, of course.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fwoh8Cgy_Y&w=420&h=345]
And lest we forget that it’s not only women who find guys hot…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2esq3uUGVFU&w=420&h=345]
Share some of your favorites in comments!
Noahbrand, I’ve tried to take the discussion to a deeper more fundamental level of gender scrutiny in our culture, and you have systematically gone back to turning it all into something rather casual, and done so in a manner that makes me question whether or not you’ve ever visited the planet earth. The trigger warning while a warning seems to indicate that while offensive to men, it’s okay given the fact that men should just be happy they are Hot Party Mix. Second there is a double standard. Third, yes there are always people opposed to songs objectifying women, but… Read more »
Well I can’t help but think one thing, why is it that objectifying men in music is acceptable, but when we do it to women, its degrading? Granted its nice to know women are attracted to men, but why the double standard? Almost every song that portrays a woman as an object of lust and desire is usually met with some resistance by mainstream elitists as being sexist, yet songs about men being portrayed in the exact same manner are permissible? Perhaps this article could make some mention about the inherent double standard and how even women who are not… Read more »
@Rickster: I am impressed. That is a lot of points to miss all at once. Going through your post sentence by sentence, my comments would have to be: 1. You missed the point of the trigger warning. 2. There isn’t one. 3. First clause is factually wrong, second one is deeply confused. 4. I don’t think your proposed “those” exist, certainly not in the context of this post. 5. That is a breathtakingly wrong analysis. To be any wronger it would have to involve ancient aliens and/or homeopathy.
But, y’know, other than that, good try.
Fucking awesome post, Noah. I think every man who is getting ready to go out on a date or out to a bar or club should run down this playlist.
It’s really fucking important for men to feel sexy – I think it’s the biggest psychological damage we (as a society) do to young men.
In the musical, it’s white women and men singing about black guys, and black women and men singing about white guys. You can comment it racially or such (but it comes from the ’70s!), but as men-wanting songs goes, this is still my personal favourite. Hair: Black boys, white boys Black boys are delicious Chocolate flavored love Licorice lips like candy Keep my cocoa handy I have such a sweet tooth When it comes to love Once I tried a diet Of quiet, rest, no sweets But I went nearly crazy And I went clearly crazy Because I really craved… Read more »
Awesome post!
And (most of the) comments!
But it’s kinda double-edged sword, gave me yet another reason to contemplate what really is wrong with me.
@luke123 – just here to hate? Find yourself another dance party!
…WHY DID THAT NOT EMBED RIGHT >:(
oh, and “waves and the both of us” by charlotte sometimes! (sweetest sexy song)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GApuq1JI3yY&w=420&h=345%5D
fuck yeah, SnP 😀
my additions: “sex is not the enemy” by garbage, “4ever” by the veronicas, “the boys are too refined” by the hush sound, and of course “you’re making me high” by toni braxton :9
I love Hands. Shoulders. Legs. Butts. Balls. Dicks. Hip bones. Clavicles. I love that little dip that forms right about the ass the smallest part of the back. I love stomachs. Stomachs that pooch and ridiculously rock hard abs. I love the skinny guy that always got picked last for dodge ball. If it works for you and you own it, generally its awesome. I love hair. I’m even coming round to the dreaded back hair. I love the raw smell of earth and sweat on a man. And I have had the Shut up and Fuck moment…I’ve had a… Read more »
I like to think in “Shut Up And Fuck” that he’s screaming “no” after negotiation and the establishment of a safeword. It makes me feel better about cranking it up and singing along. 🙂
@Luke, to add: the concern of “men not being attractive” is extraordinarily well documented. So… yeah.
Morningwood – Take off your clothes
Not specifically about dudes, but the gender reversal in the typical roles is nice.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kYLImd8_Xc&w=420&h=345%5D
Amanda Blank “Might Like You Better”
Although you have to actually pay attention to the lyrics Lady Miss Kier is singing rather than the dance beats:
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/grooveisintheheartlyrics.html
I think that Deee-Lite’s “Groove is in the Heart” might also qualify.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4D1HSL7P98
It is true that men are too often assumed unattractive in our culture. Really??? I didn’t know men were supposed to be unattractive to women until I read American ‘manosphere’ blogs. Trigger warning: Some of these songs and videos are kind of objectifying or creepy in their attitudes. Assume it will be about as upsetting for male listeners as your local classic rock station is for female listeners, and plan accordingly. Get over yourself. There is nothing ‘upsetting’ or ‘creepy’ about men being thought of in a sexual way. Besides, plenty of DJ’s on the classic rock station or girls,… Read more »
@luke123: Just because you don’t see or know something doesn’t mean other people don’t. The great thing about the gender-analysis tools feminism has developed is that they work both ways, and can help uncover the unspoken attitudes and unwritten rules that oppress men as well as women. The explicit rape reference in “Shut Up And Fuck” is disturbing, and many of the other songs either reduce men to their bodies or express some very limiting concepts of body image. Doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs, but some awareness of the issues involved is worthwhile. Short version: We know what we’re… Read more »
“Romeo” by Dolly Parton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afF3XHW7mZ4
I recently found this album again. Seems on topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEXVpVWPqjo
or Cargo’s Porn star…..but i dont know if that fall in the category.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y394bEVprHQ
Not like I hear this kind of music everyday *looking around*….
Shit, that “Push It” video reminds me, how the hell did I forget I Touch Myself?
Also, I’ll see those nerdy boys with some nerdy girls: Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury
(Yes, this is my Friday night. Or now, early Saturday morning. I need to get out more…)
“Show Me Your Tan Lines”: great album title, or greatest album title?
Also pls to be sending hipster nerdboy backup dancers over this way?
And how have we got this far without some of Peaches’ over-the-top cock worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPM3V-qfUCo&feature=related
Also I tragically can’t find a video, but I promise you there is a song out there entitled “Don’t Rock the Boat (Just the Little Man in It)”.
The first song that came to mind when I saw the theme of this thread was “Push It” as performed by Jessie and the Toy Boys. Their performance on Conan I think is spot on. I’m not normally one for modern pop music but WOW. The backup dancers are especially entertaining to watch. They also give a hint as to the decidedly sexual nature of the song – if the lyrics weren’t enough. I myself find that the ideas/attitudes are somewhat comforting in their overt carnal nature. It is nice to have such a visceral reminder that a vigorous sex… Read more »
Basically Salt-N-Pepa 4eva.
Also this might not be AS sexy as “Whatta Man” but I have listened to it on repeat while crushing hard on a couple of guys over the years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByhiLftL1bE&feature=related
Why are there no songs where these *two* lines are sung (and, you know, about the *same* man)?
Once again, Salt-N-Pepa have you covered. 🙂
Why are there no songs where these *two* lines are sung (and, you know, about the *same* man)? Of course, now I have to think about songs about male sexual desire focused on a nice, sweet girl …