I’m part ashamed and part proud that there is a playlist on my phone called “Songs I Would Strip To.” I’m not going to run off from college and actually become a stripper (not recommended for any ages, but also it’s your decision), however once in awhile I want to walk to class and feel sexy while doing it.
For any college student, a class before 10 am is really just painful. Our bed never seems as comfortable as it does when our alarm goes off and we have to get up and face the day. Ew. But for me, it’s a little easier to roll out of bed when I’m listening to Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” Even the walk to class is a little more enjoyable when I can imagine myself dancing in front of a transfixed crowd, blasting “Gimme More”--yes, I’m a Britney Spears addict, I think she’s fabulous--even when no one else can tell.
Do I think I will ever be a stripper? No. I do not have the abs to do all those incredible pole dancing moves, nor have I mastered the art of looking sexy in real life. But will I listen to all kinds of sexy music and pretend like I can be a stripper when I should be studying? Obviously. And everyone should have a stripper playlist, even if you don’t ever imagine yourself being one. Even if you don’t think you even want to imagine yourself being a stripper, you should have a sexy music playlist. Why, you ask? Because it’s fun to feel desirable.
There’s a societal idea of what sexy is these days. Yes, it’s cliche to bring up once again that beauty and sexuality is a social construct and we should not define what we feel about ourselves based on photoshopped Victoria’s Secret models, but it’s true. We should have a playlist that makes us hold our heads high and strut like we’re on a catwalk. It really boosts your self-esteem and it’s also enjoyable to imagine ourselves in the center of attention, even if it’s all in our heads and on whatever music app you use.
A stripper playlist is good for any mood. It’s good for when you’re angry and you need energetic music to exercise or yell into your pull to. It’s good when you’re tired and you need that last little boost of energy to get up. It’s good when you’re studying and need to be reminded that you are sexy and fierce and will ace that test tomorrow. When you listen to stripper music you feel beautiful, you feel powerful, and most importantly, you feel good about yourself.
So let people judge away if they see “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent on your phone. Let people say you’re inappropriate for listening to “Bounce” or “Womanizer” or whatever song you want to listen to when you fake-strip (or real strip, your call). You do not need their approval when you know you’re hot as hell.
