---
title: "The perfect song for seduction"
description: "Contrary to what sick misogynists like Andrew Tate want us to believe, there is a proper and subtle art to seduction."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO"
author: "Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/timcohenandfreddevries/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-21-the-perfect-song-for-seduction/"
published: "2024-09-21T07:00:15"
updated: "2024-09-16T16:01:57"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 365
---

# The perfect song for seduction

> Contrary to what sick misogynists like Andrew Tate want us to believe, there is a proper and subtle art to seduction.

By Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries · Published 21 September 2024, 09:00 SAST · Updated 16 September 2024, 18:01 SAST

## Key points
- Contrary to what sick misogynists like Andrew Tate want us to believe, there is a proper and subtle art to seduction. Here are our nine perfect songs for seduction.
- The Art of Seduction: Robert Greene explores the intricate world of seduction, featuring nine types of seducers and classic cases of seduction throughout history.
- The Perfect Song For...: Journalists and musician Gary Rathbone discuss songs of seduction in the latest episode, featuring tracks like "Wicked Game" and "Nights in White Satin".
- Seduction Cycle: The importance of the perfect song in the seduction process is highlighted, with the wrong choice potentially leading to the end of the game.
- Connect with The Perfect Song For...: Listen and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and iono, and share your suggestions with the hosts at perfectsongfor@gmail.com.

## Content

It’s an intricate and delicate web spun by the protagonist, who needs all the tricks of the trade available.

It’s a two way game – in its best form, you are never quite sure who is doing the seducing and who is getting seduced.

According to American author Robert Greene, who wrote the bestseller [The Art of Seduction](https://archive.org/download/the-art-of-seduction-robert-greene/the-art-of-seduction-robert-greene.pdf) (Profile Books, 2001), there are nine types of seducers, including The Siren, The Dandy and The Charismatic.

He highlights classic cases involving figures like Duke Ellington, Giacomo Casanova, Cleopatra, and John F Kennedy. Naturally, he also examines the other party, who may not be as innocent as they appear.

Whichever category you belong to, you are going to need the perfect song, which, as we all know, can make or break the seduction cycle.

The wrong song means the end of the game.

For this episode of The Perfect Song For*...*, journalists and writers Fred de Vries and Tim Cohen are joined by musician Gary Rathbone to discuss the finer details of songs of seduction, the perfect prelude to what’s to come.

Gary has just released a new album, Mr Opportunity.

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=det5x5U_P3I)

Our nine choices for this intimate and essential part of courtship are:

Wicked Game – Chris Isaak

Lover’s Rock – The Clash

Je t’aime... moi non plus – Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin

Wild is the Wind – David Bowie

Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne – Suicide

Dirty Diesel – Paul Westerberg

Body Language – Isaac Hayes

Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues

Your Love Is King – Sade. **DM**

*You can listen and subscribe to*ThePerfectSongFor … podcast about the perfect song*on*[*Apple podcasts*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-perfect-song-for-a-podcast-about-the-perfect-song/id1736161552)*,*[*Spotify*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JOvSbqFFTK30yA1r6JXMj?si=6773ad8d65874d21&nd=1&dlsi=74721ec83c3c441e)*and*[*iono*](https://iono.fm/p/3666)*. Full versions of the songs are in Spotify and Apple playlists; perfectsongfor@gmail.com*

*Contact the hosts of the podcast or email us your suggestions and alternatives at*[*perfectsongfor@gmail.com*](mailto:perfectsongfor@gmail.com)

*You can also follow the hosts on X: @perfectsongfor Insta: #perfectsongfor*

*Tim Cohen is the business editor of Daily Maverick. Fred de Vries* *is an author, writer, journalist and South Africa correspondent for Elsevier Magazine and De Groene Amsterdammer. He writes regular music columns for Platenblad in the Netherlands and Vrye Weekblad in South Africa.*