20 Sexy Music Videos That Will Get You Hot Under the Collar

Sex sells, and that’s especially true in the music industry. Go back over the years and you will find countless examples of how artists have used sex in a variety of ways to promote their music. From Elvis Presley shaking his hips on live television and the eye-popping MTV era to the gratuitous use of women wearing next-to-nothing in modern hip-hop music videos, you can’t escape sexy music videos.

In an effort to showcase the marriage between sex and music, we’ve collected 20 of the steamiest, sexually charged music videos of all time. Some of these are 80s classics that titillated the MTV crowd, others created a storm of controversy, while several were even banned outright by networks for being too explicit.

1. Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”

The most recent music video to get the censors up in arms comes from hip-hop superstars Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The duo’s racy single “WAP” – meaning “Wet-Ass Pussy” – was a monster hit in 2020 and features the two rapping about how they like to be pleased by their man.

With lyrics like “Put this pussy right in yo’ face/Swipe your nose like a credit card” and “I want you to park that big Mack truck right in this little garage/Make it cream, make me scream,” it’s obvious why this song caused a bit of controversy.

While the lyrics will have you mopping your brow, the music video is just as stimulating. Not only does it feature Cardi and Megan getting down and dirty, but a host of famous women make appearances, including Kylie Jenner, Rosalia, Latto, and Normani. You’ll need a cold shower after watching this one.

2. Britney Spears – “I’m a Slave for U”

Released when Britney Spears was just 19, the music video for “I’m a Slave for U” is quite risque. This is Spears at her seductive best as she sings about dancing and being free while showing plenty of mid-drift.

The track, produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo), was Spears’ attempt at breaking free from the teen girl image she was known for. It certainly worked.

3. Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game”

“Wicked Game” turned Chris Issak into a bonafide star. A slow guitar-driven ballad, most people think the song is about love when it actually concerns casual sex. The music video is shot mostly in black and white and includes vision of Issak playing his guitar spliced with footage of him getting up close and personal with supermodel Helena Christensen, who spends the majority of the music video without a top on.

4. Robin Thicke ft. T.I., Pharrell – “Blurred Lines”

Although he seems like an absolute tosser, there is no doubt the music video for Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” is titillating. The funk-inspired pop number is about Thicke’s former wife Paula Patton, with the music video showing Thicke and collaborators T.I. and Pharrell getting up close and personal with models Emily Ratajkowski, Elle Evans, and Jessi M’Bengue.

The music video has been called out for its misogyny and the way it paints women as sex objects, not helped by an unrated version of the music video that has the models dancing topless. There’s also a sign that spells out “Robin Thicke Has a Big Dick” using lettered balloons, which isn’t really necessary.

5. Madonna – “Justify My Love”

Originally banned by MTV for being too sexually explicit, “Justify My Love” has a sensual Madonna whispering about love, sex, and romance over a downtempo beat. While the themes are pretty generic, the music video is anything but.

Madge is walking down a hallway when she is seduced into having sex with a man while another watches. There are also glimpses of people in bondage gear while Madonna rolls around on a bed wearing lacy underwear.

Watching now, it’s pretty tame from Madonna, who has been showing a lot more skin on TikTok than she ever did at the height of her career.

6. Cher – “If I Could Turn Back Time”

By today’s standards, there isn’t anything too controversial about this Cher classic. But when it first aired on MTV in 1989 people were outraged, especially the military. The Navy had allowed music director Marty Callner the chance to film on U.S.S. Missouri as they believed it would be good publicity for the military. What they didn’t expect was a fishnet-wearing Cher provocatively straddling a gun current as she belted out the chorus.

“The Navy worked closely with the producer to ensure the video would be in good taste,” Lt. Cmdr. A. J. Dooley wrote in a statement that came out after the video’s launch. “However, changes during the final stages of production, including Cher’s revealing costume, were unanticipated, and led to overtones that we had sought to avoid during our pre-production planning.”

7. Beyonce ft. Jay-Z – “Drunk in Love”

Beyonce and Jay-Z put their sex life on wax on this bass-heavy single from Beyonce’s self-titled album. Seen as the follow-up to the duo’s “Crazy in Love,” this is another standout tune from Bey with a sexy music video to boot.

Shot by Hype Williams in black and white, the clip features Queen Bey rolling around on the beach and getting cozy with her beau. If you’re a fan of this one it’s worth checking out the Kanye West remix, which is chock full of sexually explicit lyrics that will have you choking on your breakfast.

8. Ciara ft. Ludacris – “Ride”

Ciara doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. The R&B songstress has delivered some absolute bangers during her career and “Ride” is no different. The song is apparently about how you “ride” the beat, but there are plenty of sexual suggestions throughout to suggest otherwise, while Ludacris drops a great guest verse.

The film clip is focused on Ciara and the various skimpy outfits she wears, showing off everything her momma gave her.

9. Christina Aguilera ft. Redman – “Dirrty”

Following in the footsteps of fellow teen pop star Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera shed her good girl images with “Dirrty.” Rockling a barely there bikini and leather pants, Aguilera shows she has all the moves as she sings about getting dirty and showing off her sexual side.

Somehow Redman got a guest verse, with the New Jersey OG popping up with an energetic verse that surprisingly fits well with the song. The footage of Aguilera dancing in a grimy room as she’s covered in water is one of the video’s highlights.

10. Robert Palmer – “Simply Irresistible”

Another music video you wouldn’t bat eyelid at these days, “Simply Irresistible” is still a sexually charged clip that got people talking in the 80s. The song topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and won Palmer a Grammy. The video for the power ballad has Palmer singing his heart out as several women dressed in the same outfits with the same make-up groove along.

The most scandalous moment comes at the beginning when the women show their cleavage, but besides that, it’s pretty PG. Still, you can feel the sexual tension that comes through Palmer’s voice.

11. Selena Gomez – “Hands To Myself”

Selena Gomez is not normally someone you would associate with sex, but she lets that side of her personality out in this hypnotic pop song. “Hands To Myself” portrays Gomez as a stalker following a Hollywood heartthrob, played by model Christopher Mason. Gomez breaks into his house, imagines having sex with him on his bed, and even takes a bath in his hot tub.

Mason arrives home and realizes something is wrong and calls the cops, who dutifully come and arrest Gomez. But it all turns out to be a ruse as the end of the video shows the two cuddled up on the couch having just watched a movie called Hands To Myself, starring the duo.

12. Janet Jackson – “Any Time, Any Place”

Janet Jackson oozes sex appeal. “Any Time, Any Place” makes the most of Jackson’s sexuality as she embarks on a passionate affair with her next-door neighbor. The two enjoy some sexy time on the couch while also feeding each other strawberries as Jackson’s sensual voice provides the perfect background music for this slow jam.

13. Rihanna – “S&M”

This is Riri in her “don’t give a fuck” best. As the title of the song suggests, this one is all about sex, with Rihanna highlighting several fetishes in the music video clip. This also gives Rihanna the chance to wear a wide range of alluring outfits that match the sexual lyrics of “S&M.”

The video was banned in 11 countries almost as soon as it dropped, while there is an unrestricted version available on Rihanna’s website for those countries where it was heavily edited.

14. The White Stripes – “I Don’t Know What To Do With Myself”

This video clip has nothing to do with the actual song by The White Stripes, but who really cares? It shows Kate Moss pole dancing, which is sexy as hell and an easy candidate for this list.

The song, which is actually a cover of “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself,” first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962, was written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. The music video was shot by Sofia Coppola.

15. D’Angelo – “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”

Soul singer D’Angelo came out of nowhere in 1995 with his critically acclaimed debut album Brown Sugar. It took five long years for the follow-up, Voodoo, an album that changed R&B forever. One of the highlights of the album is the track “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” with the accompanying music video featuring a naked D’Angelo singing the song.

His muscular body sent the ladies wild and the voyeuristic nature of the video became a talking point that inspired essays and think pieces. But as director Paul Hunter told Spin, “We made this for the women.” Fair play.

16. Duran Duran – “Girls on Film”

Released a few weeks before MTV officially launched, “Girls on Film” helped both Duran Duran and the channel. Creating a buzz thanks to the scantily clad women in the music video, it was banned by the BBC and heavily edited when it first appeared on MTV. This notoriety helped sell more singles and put more eyes on MTV.

While it certainly isn’t as eye-opening as some of the music video clips on this list, “Girls on Film” deserves its place for the impact it had.

17. Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”

Is there anything sexier than Miley Cyrus sitting atop a wrecking ball in the nude? We think not. Despite the provocative nature of the clip, the song is meant to be about finding and losing love.

Some have even compared it to other famous ballads such as Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” We think that’s a stretch, but there is no doubting “Wrecking Ball” is a quality tune with a sexy video to match.

18. Kanye West – “Fade”

While not one of his best songs, the music video for Kanye West’s “Fade” is sure to get you hot and flustered. Singer and dancer Teyana Taylor is rocking out in the gym, busting some Flashdance-inspired movies.

As the song draws to a close things shift to the shower where Taylor is joined by her husband, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert. It all culminates with the Taylor leaning on Shumpert’s back with their baby daughter Junie Shumpert at their feet and a flock of sheep surrounding them. Taylor’s face also turns into a lioness, with the family meant to represent real love, at least what it looks like through the eyes of Kanye.

19. Eric Prydz – “Call on Me”

One of the biggest dance hits of the early 00s got a music video that is about as close to sex as you can get without actually having it. It features an 80s-inspired aerobics class featuring scantly clad women in gym attire thrusting and gyrating to Eric Prydz’s “Call on Me.”

Australian dancer and choreographer Deanne Berry is the instructor who grabs the attention of the one male in the group who appears very attracted to her. Raunchy, sweaty, and sexy, “Call on Me” had former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair commenting, “The first time it came on, I nearly fell off my rowing machine.”

20. Robyn – “Indestructible”

Robyn has been dropping synth-pop bangers for over two decades, with “Indestructible” one of her best. The song is about meeting someone and falling in love, with the music video showing footage of people getting it on. Robyn’s aim was to create a video that portrayed sex in a realistic way, which we think she got spot on.

Robyn also wears a weird tube dress that was specially made for the music video. It features liquid being pumped through the tubes as Robyn sings the song.

21. FKA Twigs – “Papi Pacify”

FKA Twigs’ body, in particular her head, is caressed by a man in what seems a sexually motivated moment until he starts to put his fingers in her mouth and his arms around her neck in a choking embrace. It could be taken as some sort of sub/dom relationship but the meaning behind the tune is much darker as Twigs in an interview with the Evening Standard.

“In the relationship I couldn’t communicate. The person I was with was stopping me from explaining how I felt. So the physical manifestation is someone putting their hand in your mouth. But there’s an element, too, of liking that as well. It’s messed up. It’s addictive.”