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In the future, I hope to add to this section, and break music down perhaps by topic area. For now, what's here is a modified version of the "songs to write smut/love scenes by" blog that I did awhile back. I have updated (added some songs, mostly) and edited a bit.

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll. Without the drugs, and a few more genres of music. Hee.

Prepare to be disturbed by my very very very eclectic taste in music. Yep. It's very long, so read at your own risk.

This started out as porn music, but the recs are good if you're doing general romance, angst, fade to black (tm Jenai, I believe), etc.

 

This song rules to the ends of the earth and I will post aaallllll the lyrics:

"Cold," VNV Nation: It is super-industrial, so if you don't go for that, then it's probably not going to be your number one. I don't care. Evil Vaughn listens to this song and threatens to throw me on a table if I don't write him. Of course, I tell him that threat only works with Syd, he can throw me on the damn table all he wants, but since I am also listening to the song, I then feel the need to write Evil Vaughn. So it all works out to his eeeeevil plans. Even if you don't go out and download it, read the lyrics. Hot damn.

Put your hand into my hand
Put your head against my head
Put your lips against my lips
Put self consciousness aside

No redemption
No confessions
No distractions
No possessions
Let your blood run through my veins
Blade shall numb you from the pain
No tomorrows
Just submittance
No remorse of self indulgence

Just your body
Just your body
Just your body
Just your body
Just your body on my body
Want your thoughts of me inside
Let your hands run on my skin

Let me be the one you need
I shall be the one you feed
All I am and all you see
Is all I will and ever be

Invigoration
Angulation
Mortal acts of indignation

Put your lips against my lips
Put self consciousness aside

 Invigoration
Angulation
Mortal acts of indignation
Crave it all
Know no other
Crash your dreams and fall forever
Show me no place you hide behind
Only body soul entwined
Let me be the one you need
I shall be the one you feed
All I am and all you feel
All that will and ever be
Invigoration
Angulation
Mortal acts of indignation
Just your body on my body
Want your thoughts of me inside

No redemption
No confessions
No distractions
Or possessions
No tomorrows
Just submittance
No remorse of self indulgence

Invigoration
Angulation
Mortal acts of indignation

Mortal acts of VNV Nation


More songs for writing eeeevil porn:

"Underwater," Delerium: Courtesy Thorne, and thanks, Thorne. This has a very stilting, almost-out-of-whack beat to it, which works perfectly with the lyrics, and very well if, say, people in your fic are supposed to be all loopy in the head because their handler is suddenly evil.

something fearless in your eyes
something careless about your smile
something fragile when you hold your breath
and when you move
you move right through me

 

 "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts," X: This has much more to do with being evil than actual porn, but it certainly helped with evil Vaughn. Pure punk, and it was played in Millennium ("522666"), so it must make Lara's list. Hee.

The facts we hate: we'll never meet.
walking down the road. Everybody yelling
"hurry up!" "hurry up!" But i'm waiting
for you, I must go slow. I must not
think bad thoughts.
"Going Down," Ani DiFranco: A very sparse sound, mostly soft drums, and it works very well for disjointed or confused characters. There's a whole feel of unease to it, which I really like.

you can't get through it
you can't get over it
you can't get around
just like in a dream
you'll open your mouth to scream
and you won't make a sound

  


VEX or other bitter/angry/intense porn:

"Adam and Eve," Ani DiFranco: Also known as the cause, almost literally, of the monstrosity. Or rather, the porn that the monstrosity grew into. You can read the lyrics, and that helps, but you really have to listen to the song to understand how it can truly inspire angry porn. Because she literally screams the refrain ("I am truly sorry about all this") and it rocks.

i did not design this game
i did not name the stakes
i just happen to like apples
and i am not afraid of snakes

 "Itch," Ani DiFranco: Yeah, there's a lot of Ani DiFranco in here; did I not mention the angryness of VEX porn? This is a little lighter in sound than most of the songs of hers I've recced so far (yes, there are more...I love well-written stuff and her themes mesh well with love/anger/bitterness/etc). But the concept of an old love you can't get past fits well.

i am scratching at my consciousness
like a bitch with fleas
i think you'll be greatly pleased
to learn that yours was the hardest
itch to relieve
"To Bring You My Love," PJ Harvey: Mostly a low, throbbing guitar line, and damn good. Eeeeek. That sounded like porn. Now you know why it's a great porn song. Harvey kind of growls the lyrics, and it really really works.

And I've travelled over
Dry earth and floods
Hell and high water
To bring you my love

 "Dilate," Ani DiFranco: This is more bitter, about as bitter as you can get ("and when I say you sucked my brain out, the English translation is I am in love with you, and it is no fun").

i just want you to live up to
the image of you i create
i see you and i'm so unsatisfied
i see you and i dilate
"Sleep to Dream," Fiona Apple: Nice bitter lyrics, and a deep feeling to the bass and drums.

I have never been so insulted in all my life
I could swallow the seas to wash down all this pride
First you run like a fool just to be by my side
And now you run like a fool, but you just run to hide, I can't abide

  

 

Trust-issue sex or general trust-issue stories:

"Tusk," Fleetwood Mac: Angst? You want angst? Fleetwood Mac, like, literally, was angst. They will be featured prominently when I write about that. For now, there's "Tusk," which just nails it...lyrics, pounding drums, rhythmic bass line, you name it.

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!

 "This is Just Where I Came In," Bee Gees: Hey, now, stop that. This is a very good, perfect fit in this section. The song drives, the lyrics fit, and yes it is the Bee Gees, but whatever. It is very very very far from disco, if that's what you're thinking.


I've seen this story
I read it over once or twice
I said like you say
A little bit of bad advice
I've been in trouble
Happened to me all my life
I lie and you lie
And who will get the sharpest knife
"Blue Monday," New Order or Orgy: This is a case where I like both versions. The New Order one, original and still great. The Orgy version, so full of anger. Download 'em both and take your own pick.

How does it feel to treat me like you do?
When you've laid your hands upon me and told me who you are.
I thought I was mistaken, I thought I heard your words.
Tell me how do I feel. Tell me now, how do I feel.

 "Bed of Lies," Matchbox 20: I'm not a huge Matchbox 20 fan but this just fits so well thematically that it has grown on me majorly. It builds well, gets real grand and sweepy at the end, and handles it well.

Just like me you got needs
And they're only a whisper away
And we softly surrender
To these lives that we've tendered away
"Where Did You Sleep," Nirvana: Can't get much more mistrustful than that, can ya? The old blues version, done I think, by Leadbelly, is also good.

My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night

 "Glorybox," Portishead: A great bass line, bluesy guitar and those demanding lyrics.

Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to be ee, a woman
I just wanna be a woman


Sweet lurve songs:

"Here I Am," Al Green: Al. Green. Rules. Oh yes. Pure R&B, as smooth and sultry as it gets.

I can't believe that it's real,
the way that you make me feel.
A burning deep down inside,
a love that I cannot hide.

 "Something," The Beatles: Argue with any other song on here. Just don't screw with the Beatles. So simple, but so beautiful.

Something in the way she moves,
attracts me like no other lover.
Something in the way she woos me.
"In Your Eyes," Peter Gabriel: Another one you really can't argue with. Because I said so. And since unique eyes are a big part of our most commonly sexed Alias characters, all the better.

love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

 "Both Hands," Ani DiFranco: The theme here is actually bittersweet, but the song is so simple and the beginning so...sweet, that it still fits. Not much beyond light acoustic guitar, and bonus points for a porn song that actually is about making love, among other things.

the old woman behind the pink curtains
and the closed door
on the first floor
she's listening through the air shaft
to see how long our swan song can last
"Overlap," Ani DiFranco: She calls it a lullaby at the beginning of the live version (is there a studio version? I don't even know). Very soft, not quite sweet, and it really works.

come here
stand in front of the light
stand still
so i can see your silhouette
i hope
you have got all night
'cause i'm not done looking,
no, i'm not done looking yet

 "Walk This World," Heather Nova: I would be unbelievably happy if Heather Nova had more songs like this. Alas, she does not, but this one rules. Warning, you WILL get the refrain in your head and have to listen to it a bunch of times.

I want you to come walk this world with me
With the light in our eyes it's hard to see
Holding on and on 'til we believe
With the light in our eyes it's hard to see
I'm not touched but I'm aching to be
I want you to come, I want you to come
I want you to come walk this world with me
"Fields of Gold," Sting: So hopeful and loving. Not to mention beautiful.

See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold

 "Come On Come On," Mary Chapin Carpenter: A sweet, nostalgic look at past trysts. Sparse acoustic guitar, and again, bonus points for actually being about making love.

Come on come on, it's getting late now
Come on come on, take my hand
Come on come on, you just have to whisper
Come on come on, I will understand
"London Rain," Heather Nova: A beautiful song that works the strings and Nova's phenomenal voice.

And when somebody knows you well
Well there's no comfort like that
And when somebody needs you
Well there's no drug Iike that

So keep me, keep me
In your bed all day, all day
Nothing heals me like you do

 "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy," Sarah McLachlan: I'm not sure if this fits here. I'm not quite sure where it fits. But it definitely goes somewhere. Beautifully determined.

And if I shed a tear I won't cage it
I won't fear love
and if I feel a rage I won't deny it
I won't fear love

 

Desperation Sex:

"Hold On," Sarah McLachlan: Beautiful, driving, desperate.

So now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll be strong tomorrow
and will see another day
and we will praise it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face

 "Past the Point of Rescue," Hal Ketchum: Somebody named Mick Hanly wrote this, theoretically, and like a billion people have recorded it. This is the wow, missing-lover major desperate, driving version. Going to be a huge part of one of my future fics (the witness protection thang).

Days like a slow train trickle by
Even the words that I write refuse to fly
All that I can hear is your song haunting me
Can't get the melody out of my head you see
"Born To Be My Baby," Bon Jovi: Can you tell I'm a child of the 80s? Can you? This song still rocks out, and that desperation is definitely there. And there had to be some Bon Jovi representation here. I mean, come on.

Close the door, leave the cold outside
I don't need nothing when I'm by your side
We got something that'll never die
Our dreams, our pride

 "Cover Me," Bruce Springsteen: Desperation at the chaotic world around the two lovers in the song. That fits somewhere, very well, in Alias fic.

Promise me baby you won't let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let's let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
"Save Tonight," Eagle Eye Cherry: This is what I see desperation sex as. Like, at least partially, the definition.

Well, we know I'm going away
And how I wish, I wish it weren't so
so take this wine and drink with me
let's delay our misery...
Save tonight
fight the break of dawn

 "Common Disaster," Cowboy Junkies: This has light vocals, kind of a deep undercurrent, and lyrics I think fit.

Going to find me someone to share
A common disaster
Run away with me from a life so cramped and dull
Not worry too much about the happily-ever-after
Just keep the Caddy moving
'til we're well beyond that hill
"Alone," Heart: Belt-em-out vocals, big guitars, and sometimes you just need that. Plus the lyrics work. There's also a very nice acoustic version out there.

I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone

  


Sad/Reflective:

"Fallen Angel," Neil Young: Short, soft and mostly organ, this one can really hit you if you're in the right mood or working on the right piece.

Fallen angel
Who's your saviour tonight
You're surrounded by these walls and neon lights
Hungry people move like waves behind the beat

 "Pulse," Ani DiFranco: The "bug poem." It's epic. It's haunting, beautiful, and almost an acquired taste. 15 minutes that can set a scene like nothing else I've found.

you crawled into my bed
like some sort of giant insect
and i found myself spellbound
at the sight of you there
cocooned in my room,
beautiful and grotesque and all the rest of that bug stuff
bluffing your way into my mouth
behind my teeth, reaching for my scars
that night we got kicked out of two bars
and laughed our way home

that night you leaned over
and threw up into your hair
and i thought
i would offer you my pulse
if i thought it would be useful
i would give you my breath
except
the problem with death is that you have
some hundred years and then they can
build building on your only bones
100 years and then your grave is not your own
we lie in out beds, and our graves
unable to save ourselves from
the quaint tragedies we invent
and then undo from the stupid circumstances
we slalomed through
and i realized that night that the hall light
which seemed so bright when you turned it on is nothing
compared to the dawn
which is nothing, compared to the light
which seeps from me while you're sleeping
cocooned in my room
beautiful and grotesque resting
that night we got kicked out of two bars
and laughed our way home
and i held you there thinking
i would offer you my pulse
i would give you my breath
i would offer you my pulse
"Roads," Portishead: Also featured in Millennium (I'm sorry, but that show picked its music so much better than Alias, for the most part), although I must be slipping, because I can't remember the ep. Anyway, it just has this air of desperation, of aching. It doesn't go in desperation sex, though, because I see desperation sex as a sort of "this is our last chance, or we need this to make it right" type of thing. This is more the intense, depressed type.

How can it feel, this wrong
From this moment
How can it feel, this wrong
Storm.. in the morning light
I feel
No more can I say
Frozen to myself
"Better Things," Massive Attack: A great mood piece with that deep rolling bass line.

You say the magic's gone
Well i'm not a magician
You say the spark's gone
Well get an electrician
And save your line about needing to be free
Ah, that's bullshit babe
You just won't let it be
"One," U2: Yeah, I know everyone's heard this song like a couple billion times or something. But ya know, it's still wonderful. And it just works so well for anything that has anything remotely to do with love.

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without


Songs For Those Done Wrong:

"When It Comes To You," Dire Straits: This song has a kind of haunting, rolling feeling to it, and I think the lyrics speak to their fitting well in this category. The vocals are pretty straight, but there's an intense bitter undercurrent.

if we can't get along we oughta be apart
and I'm wondering where'd you get that cold, cold heart
set me free - sign my release
I'm tired of being the villain of the peace

 "Cry," Angie Aparo: I like some of the other stuff off his first album better, but this one is best suited to this area. And it just so is Vaughn, going uh, Syd, yeah, um, I got feelings too. Way better than the Faith Hill version.

If your love could be caged, honey. I would hold the key
And conceal it underneath that pile of lies you handed me
And you'd hunt and those lies
They'd be all you'd ever find
And that'd be all you'd have to know
For me to be fine
"Heart-Shaped Box," Nirvana: Grunge anger. As only Nirvana can do it.

She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for a week
I was drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn back

 "Wicked Game," Chris Isaac: Low and haunting.

The world was on fire no-one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
"Done Wrong," Ani DiFranco: The title says it all. Sad, with a bitter, empty angriness to it.

like how could you do nothing
and say, i'm doing my best
how could you take almost everything
and then come back for the rest

 "Strange," Tori Amos: From the opening lyrics, this song delivers on the theme, a failed relationship and not really knowing someone.

strange
thought i knew you well
thought i had read the sky
thought i had read a change
in your eyes to strange
woke up to a world
that i am not a part
except when i can play
 


Seduction Songs:

"Suicide Blonde," INXS: Great beat, driving song.

Suicide blonde
Was the colour of her hair
Like a cheap distraction
For a new affair
She knew it would finish
Before it began
Something tells me you lost the plan

"Cinnamon Girl," Neil Young: This makes it in here more for the beat than anything else. Because this song really rocks out with some slow, serious guitar. Mmmm hmmm.

A dreamer of pictures I run in the night
You see us together, chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.
"Inertia Creeps," Massive Attack: It's got a unique sound, and the song just oozes sex.

Recollect me darling raise me to your lips
Two undernourished egos four rotating hips
Hold on to me tightly I'm a sliding scale
Can't endure then you can't inhale

 "Sweet Soul Sister," The Cult: Pure rock and roll, complete with big guitar and perfectly placed organ. And it fits, thematically, so, so well. Syd on a mission, see?

All the hip young things
Trying to make a scene
Living out forbidden dreams
Star spangled banner
Flutters in the sky
Time hustles those
Who wait to die

Come on little honey
Come on now please
Come on little honey and dance with me

Sweet soul sister
Keep on pushing til the dawn
Sweet soul sister
Forever dancing on and on

She's a Dior girl
Twisting round the world
Midnight crush boogie scene
Firm fixed expression
Sensual, tender, smooth
Sexual panther, beautifully cool

Hustle and strut through Paris at night
Hustle and strut

City of sin
Come and let me in
"Number One Crush," Garbage: I'm not sure that this fits in this category thematically. But what all these songs have in common is intensity of beat. Here, disjointed, desperate, and if that's the kind of seduction you're going for, then I guess it works.

Violate all the love that I'm missing
Throw away all the pain that I'm living
You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored

 
"Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing,"Chris Isaac: The Eyes Wide Shut song. This doesn't always do it for me, doesn't have much along the line of lyrics, but that beat, the deep guitar. Whoo hoo.
"Unconscious," Stereo MCs: I can't for the life of me find lyrics for this song. The lyrics don't make it, other than the theme ("Even when I'm unconscious"). It's the slow, driving beat. Listen to it and tell me you don't see somebody being seduced. I dare ya.
"Wild Thing," The Troggs: Again, not much in the line of lyrics ("Wild thing, I think you move me, but I want to know for sure"), but it's old school and it's a fit.


General-purpose songs:

"Losing My Religion," Tori Amos: The original by REM is also good, but this is one of those songs where she really uses that piano, and it just works so well. Whisper-soft (literally) until it builds (again, the piano).

Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough

"Innocente," Delerium: I prefer the DJ Tiesto mix. Kind of light, ethereal in the vocals and it works really well.

I suppose that is the price of falling in love
Darling
When did you fall
When was it over

"Fade Into You," Mazzy Star: I always forget about this song, maybe others have as well. But that great sound, the acoustic that's soft and sweeping at the same time. Then look at the lyrics, and that is so Alias. I was excited to rediscover it.

I want to hold the hand inside you
I want to take a breath that's true
I look to you and I see nothing
I look to you to see the truth
You live your life
You go in shadows
You'll come apart and you'll go black
Some kind of night into your darkness
Colors your eyes with what's not there.

"Swords," Leftfield: Kind of a popping electronic beat, and I'm still not sure if this fits into my general topic, but I lurve Leftfield, so damn it, here it is. Certainly good for fic of some kind, at least.

Danger
In every corner
I have
Become pure water
I can identify
I close my eyes
I wear my sword
At my side
"When Doves Cry," Prince: I also like the Ani DiFranco cover. A very sexy song.

Touch if u will my stomach
Feel how it trembles inside
You've got the butterflies all tied up
Don't make me chase u
Even doves have pride


It goes without saying:

"Need You Tonight," INXS: Oh hell yeah. The beat. The lyrics. If people have to have sex and you can think of nothing else, grab this one.

So slide over here and give me a moment
Your moves are so raw, I've got to let you know
I've got to let you know
You're one of my kind

 "Closer," Nine Inch Nails: Purely, wonderfully industrial. The lyrics are probably a little intense for Alias sex, but the beat, and the way the pieces go together, yep...wow. And if anyone actually can write in-character Vaughn OR Will porn that goes with the lyrics "I want to f*ck you like an animal," well then damn. You have my utmost respect, and I want to read. Unless it also involves Jack. In which case I am very afraid. Hee. Yikes. I was going to post some lyrics, but I'm trying to keep this moderately clean, despite the fact that it started as porn songs.

"Because the Night," Patti Smith: You must not chicken out and go with the good but not-as-passionate 10,000 Maniacs version. In just over three minutes she covers sex, love, lust, etc. Because Patti Smith rules, and that is just that.

have I doubt when I'm alone
love is a ring, the telephone
love is an angel disguised as lust
here in our bed until the morning comes
come on now try and understand
the way I feel under your command
take my hand as the sun descends
they can't touch you now,
can't touch you now, can't touch you now
because the night belongs to lovers

"Justify My Love," Madonna: Like a huge portion of Madonna's career is songs about sex, and this one in my opinion is the best. And it fits, really fits, Alias fic. As in:

I wanna kiss you in Paris
I wanna hold your hand in Rome
I wanna run naked in a rainstorm
Make love in a train cross-country
You put this in me
So now what, so now what?
"Everybody Here Wants You," Jeff Buckley: Excuse me while I wander off and melt.

Such a thing of wonder in this crowd,
I'm a stranger in this town, you're free with me.
And our eyes locked in downcast love, I sit here proud,
Even now you're undressed in your dreams with me.

"Posession," Sarah McLachlan: Beautiful, as is her way, but with that undertone of determination. Certainly fits its name.

And I would be the one to hold you down
kiss you so hard I'll take your breath away
and after I'd wipe away the tears
just close your eyes dear