Top 10 Booty Call Songs

Even after her passing, Aaliyah still makes our hearts ache. Originally recorded in 2001 before the singer’s tragic death, this R&B song carries with it a sort of weight – kind of fitting, given the subject matter. Aaliyah sings from the perspective of a girl yearning for her lover to, well, come over. While the song keeps a reasonably energetic beat to avoid completely desolating the audience, there's no doubt that this girl wants more than what she has.

It's in the title, after all. We're not completely sure how it came about, but the resulting song is quite sensual. All Saints use their sultry voices to convey one very clear message: casual sex is fine, but don’t bring your emotions into the mix. It's not judgemental or mournful, instead letting its talented singers and smooth beat have the spotlight. Given it’s status as number 1 on the UK Music Charts, seems like the subject matter was a good call.

Between this and her later single “Your Body”, Christina Aguilera's interests certainly aren't a mystery. At the start of her career, Christina sought to make an impact; thus, with the release of her first album came this sexually-charged tune. The setup is as such – Christina's got her eyes on a man, and she wants the world to know it. What's interesting is how effectively the young performer transitions from being loud and proud, to being soft-spoken and arousing, while still keeping on-point.

Ah, texting, such a wonderful way to connect people. “Text Me” is all about a man longing for his lover to come on by... and he's thinking about all the, well, special activities in which they'll be engaging. The song's more explicit about the sexual side of booty calls than others, but that helps give meaning to Kelly's words; there's genuine affection there, apart from the sex. And it helps that he knows how to paint himself as a gentleman, even in the middle of some interesting propositions.

Sometimes a booty call is all about wanting companionship. That appears to be what's driving “Need You Now”, a haunting single about two people coping with loneliness. Lead singer Hilary Scott sings the lyrics in a mournful tone of voice, which combined with the song's slow tempo makes the experience depressing yet surprisingly real. She and co-singer Charles Kelley sold us on the idea of these people longing for a meaningful connection – hence why it earned four Grammy awards in 2011.

Extended pop culture reference or explicit rap about wanting sex? As it happens, it could be both. Throughout this oddly memorable song, 2 Live Crew makes it abundantly clear that they’re not worried about feelings or relationships – it's just about the sex for them. The song samples lines from the films “Which Way is Up” and “Full Metal Jacket”, using them to underline just how badly the performer wants a lover. We'll say this much: the guy knows what he wants.

Love transcends conventional communication, it would seem. As “Radar Love” opens, we're treated to the inner monologue of a man yearning for his “baby”, speeding along the road to heed her apparent call. With the comfortable beat and the singer's embrace of the situation, it becomes increasingly evident that Golden Earring isn't criticizing the booty call; they're celebrating it, illustrating through word the sort of connection it forms between two people. It’s no doubt that others feel the same way, as the song has been covered by bands such as U2, REM and White Lion.

Simple, but it's got its charm. A single haunting strum of the guitar leads into the song proper, a ballad about the feelings one man has for a girl. The song conveys, as straight-forwardly as possible, what's on the guy's mind: his discomfort from being apart from the girl, his longing to be with her and the beauty he sees in her. We're not sure what experiences The Weeknd was drawing from, but there's a kind of emotional honesty that we can't help but respect.

And now to the grim side of booty calls. This 2013 single fixates on the struggles its narrator seems to have with an ongoing casual relationship; the guy seems to be growing wearier and wearier, as his romantic partner contacts him less and less. “Why'd You Only Call Me When You’re High?” blends psychedelic rock and R&B, from singer Alex Turner’s dream like voice to the punchiness of the drums. But that just makes it more effective – and possibly more poignant.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Connect” (2013)
Drake

“Your Man” (2005)
Josh Turner

“Call Me” (1997)
Too Short ft. Lil' Kim

“Rude Boy” (2010)
Rihanna

“I Want Your Sex” (1987)
George Michael

When you want to make an impact, you go all in. Seems like the Atlanta-based girl group TLC grasps that mentality, given the song we have before us. The lyrics tell of a woman offering good times to suitors, the tempo is slow and calm as any R&B song, and group’s soulful voices excellently convey the sensual nature of the situation. Everything on display fits with the idea of a booty call, and people agreed as the track hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Looking for the red light special? Look no further.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite booty call song? For more provocative Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.