Every generation thinks they’ve hit peak sexualisation in music.
Whether it’s Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” shocking parents in the ‘80s, Elvis thrusting his hips into cultural hysteria, or Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion unapologetically owning their sexuality in “WAP”—there’s always a moral panic about whether music is getting too explicit.
But here’s the thing: it’s not getting worse—it’s just staying the same.
Sex and seduction have been intertwined with music since the dawn of time (well, at least since the dawn of musical instruments). In fact, Charles Darwin argued that music itself evolved as a way to attract lovers. If that’s the case, then isn’t sexual content in music simply human nature?
Music Has Always Been About Sex
It’s easy to blame today’s artists for being too explicit, but researchers have found that music has contained more sexual content than any other form of media for decades.
A study published in The Journal of Sex Research found that over 90% of Billboard Hot 100 songs contain sexual themes, whether subtly or overtly. That’s not a recent trend—it’s been happening for as long as we’ve been recording music.
Take a look at some of the “scandalous” lyrics from different eras:
- 1928: “Let’s Misbehave” by Cole Porter—A playful jazz number about throwing social norms out the window and getting it on.
- 1956: Elvis Presley’s hips were so controversial that TV stations refused to show him from the waist down.
- 1972: “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye—A song literally about getting it on.
- 1987: Madonna’s entire career—but especially Erotica and Justify My Love.
- 2000s: “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent, “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado, “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls—songs so sexual they make “Anaconda” sound like a bedtime story.
See the pattern? The lyrics, themes, and shock factor haven’t changed—just the way people react to them.
What’s With All The Controversy?
It’s easy to point fingers at modern artists and claim that music has become too explicit, but history tells a different story. Some of the most iconic songs of all time were once banned from radio airplay for being “too sexual.”
Take Cole Porter’s “Love for Sale” (1930)—a jazz classic that openly depicted the life of a sex worker. When it was first released, the song caused such an uproar that radio stations refused to play it, and critics called it indecent. Yet today, it’s considered a masterpiece, covered by legends like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
Just like Love for Sale was banned from radio in its time, modern artists have faced backlash for openly talking about sex in their lyrics. The difference? Instead of censorship, they’re now met with online outrage and social media debates.
Take Lana Del Rey’s “Cola” (2012)—which makes direct references to transactional relationships with wealthy men. The song was never officially banned, but radio stations hesitated to play it, and it was quietly removed from later album re-releases.
To get a perspective from someone who specialises in transactional relationships, we reached out to Blue Monday and spoke to Lana, one of their high-class London escorts. She believes that:
“People lost their minds over this song, but honestly? I don’t see the issue. It’s one of my favourite songs. Transactional relationships have always been part of society – it’s nothing new. However, people only get upset when it’s presented in a way that isn’t shameful. Well, shame on them. It’s a career for a lot of us, and a damn good one at that.”
Objectification or Empowerment?
Sexuality in music is often seen as a double-edged sword. Some believe it’s empowering—allowing artists, especially women, to reclaim their sexuality on their own terms. Others argue it fuels unrealistic beauty standards and objectification.
- Empowerment Perspective: Artists like Beyoncé, Madonna, and Doja Cat use sexuality as a form of power and control. They’re not being exploited—they’re calling the shots.
- Objectification Perspective: Critics argue that record labels push sexualised imagery onto young female artists to sell more records, prioritising looks over talent.
The real question isn’t if music is sexualised—it always has been—but who is in control of that narrative?
So, Is It Really Worse Now? Let’s Look at the Numbers
Many people claim music is getting more sexualised, but is that actually true?
A study published in the journal ‘Psychology of Music’ found that sexual references in pop music peaked in the early 2000s—meaning there was actually more explicit content back when Britney, Christina, and Nelly were topping the charts than there is today.
A 2022 report found that while modern artists like Doja Cat and Cardi B receive criticism for their explicit lyrics, songs from the ‘90s and 2000s had higher levels of sexual content overall.
The reality? We’re not seeing more sexualised music—we’re just noticing it more because of social media.
The Music Hasn’t Changed—The Conversation Has
- Music has always been about desire, attraction, and seduction—from classical compositions to hip-hop beats.
- Studies show that music was actually more sexual in the early 2000s than it is now.
- The outrage over “over-sexualisation” is nothing new—it’s just a generational cycle of moral panic.
So, the next time someone complains that “music these days is too sexual,” remind them that their parents said the same thing about Madonna. And their grandparents said it about Elvis.
Sex in music isn’t a trend—it’s human nature. What do you think? Has music really changed, or are we just seeing the same patterns play out all over again?
