by Trina Read
With submissions closed and the publication of issue 06: desire creeping nearer, we have put together a playlist to set the mood for the issue. We can’t wait to choose our shortlist and these songs are definitely getting us in the mood.
With some obvious entries like Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s Desire and Years and Years’ Desire, and some more subtle entries like Colorado by Renee Rapp, we tried to cover anything from romantic desire to desire for a new life, unrequited desire and even obsession… (any guesses?)
Romantic desire
Lizzy McAlpine recently released her album ‘Older’ and the song Movie Star definitely fits the theme of romantic desire and what it feels like being desired by someone, even when you don’t think you necessarily deserve it.
Baby Queen’s Colours of You had to be on this playlist. A song about the beauty of romantic desire that has us all transported to Nick and Charlie’s Heartstopper romance.
Silk Chiffon by MUNA and Pheobe Bridgers, All These Nights by Tom Grennan, Cuff It by Beyonce, Don’t Delete the Kisses by Wolf Alice are some more tracks to look out for on romantic desire and all its complexities.
Sexual desire
Sexual desire can be beautiful, but it can be a darker form of desire. Like with romantic desire it is nuanced, and we have picked songs to reflect these complexities.
Fletcher’s Crush reflects a destructive sexual desire. Desiring someone for the wrong reasons, typical of Fletcher’s anxious avoidant coded songs. Her Body is Bible also made it onto the playlist, this one reflecting the beauty of queer desire.
When I hear Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams I can’t help thinking of Daphne and Simon from Bridgerton. If you’ve watched Bridgerton you’ll know what I’m talking about with this one. Enough said…
Water by Tyla, Pineapple Slice by Tove Lo, Take my Breath by The Weeknd, Shameless by Camila Cabello, illicit affairs by Taylor Swift, Wet Dream by Wet Leg, Pretty Please by Dua Lipa and Little Freak by Harry Styles are the perfect backing track for the issue.
Unrequited desire
Unrequited love is devastating but it sure makes for good inspiration for art.
Tom Odell’s Parties takes you back to the days of having a teenage crush, showing up at a party you don’t want to be at just to have the chance to be with that person.
Katie Gregson-Macleod took the internet by storm with complex in 2022, and this song still has the power to break your heart with every listen.
Desire to be…
Someone else, somewhere else. The desire to be more, the desire for a new life.
Carol Ades desires not to be normal but to be Special. The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Madonna desire popularity in Popular. Troye Sivan desires to be One of Your Girls and Renee Rapp considers the person she would be if she moved to Colorado, simultaneously desiring to be that person and knowing she won’t leave. I’m sure we have all felt this desire for a different life or to be seen in a different way to the world or to a person.
There are even more tracks to look forward to on our playlist so go and check it out to get ready for issue 06, it’s going to be a good one!
Let us know your favourite songs about desire and we’ll add them to our playlist!
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