Adam Levine and the band Maroon 5 are the definition of cool, and so is their new song “What Lovers Do.” The song IS sexy, but it’s not from the lyrics, which aren’t graphic or even suggestive.
Say say say, hey hey now baby
Oh my my, don’t play now baby
Say say say, hey hey now baby
So let’s get one thing straight now baby
Tell me tell me if you love me or not, love me or not, love me or not
I bet the house on you, am I lucky or not, lucky or not, lucky or not?
You gotta tell me if you love me or not love me or not love me or not
Been wishin’ for you, am I lucky or not, lucky or not, lucky or not?
It’s all in the delivery.
“What Lovers Do” is up-tempo, fun, bouncy–and sexy–the beat, the vocals, the production. However, it takes more than that to sound this good, and that’s “the thing” about Maroon 5—their songs are more than the sum of its parts. They are effortlessly sexy.
Maybe the band has a lucky star shining on their almost 20 years of performing, maybe it’s lead singer Adam Levine’s personal wattage or maybe just some unknowable, magical mix?
It’s only been out two weeks, and “What Lovers Do” already has almost 15 million YouTube hits; it’s racing up both the Top 40 and Adult Top 40 music charts.
An important component to the sexy sound on “What Lovers Do” is featured artist 26-year-old neo-soul singer SZA (pronounced “siz-uh”). She already has an impressive list of credits but this has got to be a career booster for her.
1988’s “Rumors” by one-hit wonder The Timex Social Club has the same intensity of “What Lovers Do,” plus there’s a similar thread of melody and instrumentation, albeit with a slightly slower tempo.