Feelin’ the heat this September? Got a Latin lover on your mind? Here are five songs guaranteed to rock your world. What’s your sex soundtrack?

1. Si tu supieras-Alejandro Fernandez

2. No me conoces-Marc Anthony

3. Samba Pa Ti-Carlos Santana

4. Hero-Enrique Iglesias

5. Last Tango in Paris-Gotan Project

Birth ritual or dance of seduction? This is a common debate among belly dancers. Well, for our purposes, it’s just nice to know that the women who practiced belly dance early on were “highly-educated women who, besides being trained extensively in singing, music, dance, and poetry recitation, were also often educated in literature, calligraphy, philosophy, and the sciences. (source)” How’s that for the brains and beauty link! It’s true what they say: Having something going on behind your eyes is an inimitable seductive force.

So, as I have been shimmying and shaking my way through belly dance classes, trying to harness my inner goddess, these are the general ideas behind the seduction of belly dance:

1. Be Confident. When you walk out onto a dance floor, or into a room, own it. This is your show, your dance and only you can and know how to do it. Every one has their strengths and limitations, work your stuff. You are a unique and creative being, radiate your inner beauty by projecting your highest self. Stand tall and know that where ever you are, you deserve to be there and your presence is an honor to your company, as other’s presence is an honor to you.

2. Make Eye Contact. Oh, my. A great pair of eyes sure can get you in trouble. But is it the peepers or the steady, playful gaze? Making and holding eye contact is a surefire way to let a man know you are interested. Making eye contact is also a wonderful way to re-establish the intimacy between you and your partner. Get back to those courting days and gaze into each other’s eyes. (Remember when? Yup, you couldn’t keep your hands off each other!)

3. Feel the Music and Create Your Own Dance. Are you an excellent conversationalist? Funny? Do have some fierce moves? Work it, girl! Forget your weaknesses. Move through your dance of seduction working your strengths.

4. Draw Attention to Your Femininity. In belly dance class, we use veils, sarongs with jingling medallions, and hand gestures to draw attention to the width of our hips, the shake of our bellies, our eyes and hair. Basically, we are expressing the glory of womanhood and showing off our fertile hips, healthy hair and belly. And everyone from the woman with the little pot belly to the lanky woman with tiny breasts has found an element of herself that she finds sexy and draws attention to it. Sometimes it is grace, sometimes it is a physical feature. Find your thing and own it.

Basically, you put the U in seduction.

The sound of a woman’s voice is enough to drive a man wild…here are a few tips on how to maximize your oomph factor with those wonderful waves we call sound.

1. Talk Dirty. Yes, this can be scary. I, for one, was silent to a fault in intimate moments, until that one person opened up the door to sexy chit chat that makes you happy you have speaker phone. After popping the “talk dirty to me” cherry, I found it easier to let loose in future encounters for a few reasons: I could hear in my partner’s voice when he switched from chit chat to subtle innuendo (his voice dropped a little lower); and he didn’t laugh out loud when I said naughty things (you can practice some things, but only when you test drive them do you keep a real feel for the engine).
Tip: Here’s an easy way to start a sexy convo for talk-shy girls: If you’re chatting with your man and you feel that certain buzz, let him know. “When you said ____, it really turned me on.” This’ll help open the flood gates and survey the lay of his land. Compliment him, let him know the things he does that are sexy to you…even simple observations can be a real turn on. You can get to 900-status later, if you feel like it.

2. Your Voice. Scarlett Johansson or Minnie Mouse? A sweep of Internet polls and websites yielded this response: an articulate, mellow, low voice. So, save the baby voice for praising your darling chihuahua. “Articulate” usually translates into intelligent, so big props to the smart girls.

3. Play DJ. My oldest guy friend called me up, beside himself. Not the kind to fall quickly for a girl, he recounted that the lady he was on the town with busted out a few quarters, put them in the Wurlitzer and out came the most incredible trio of songs. Something like Guns n Roses, Dean Martin and early Bowie. “They were so unexpected and excellently quirky, I think I fell in love a little,” he said. Which comes down to this: shared music taste or the ability to share new and exciting sound tickles the brain and can be a major turn on. Share your muso self, because, you know, sometimes you heard them first and they really are the coolest band on the planet.

1. “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
Playing this song will kill the mood instantly and probably remind him of his mother. Any song with the chorus “Did you ever know that you’re my hero?” is a deal-breaker.

2. “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo
The first words of this song are “I will never find another lover sweeter than you.” Enough said!

3. “A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson
Do you really want a guy to think you been waiting a lifetime for this moment with him?

4. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles
This should probably never be played during the dating phase. The reason is best summarized by this gem: “Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.”

5. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys
Never instigate the “where-is-this-going” conversation via song.

6. “Ready or Not” by The Fugees
“Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide. I’m gonna find you and make you want me.” Do not try to force a guy to want you; trust me it does not work.

7. “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
All guys expect a girl to go psycho if they cheat; they don’t need the warning played before sex as a reminder.

8. “So Excited” by Janet Jackson
Calm down, eager beaver. He can tell you’re excited to sleep with him, he doesn’t need Janet to tell him too.

9. “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall
This is way to pop-y and happy for sex.

10. “Welcome to Paradise” by Green Day
Though this song is less angst-y than others, it’s a bit presumptuous to refer to his having sex with you as a privilege of paradise.

Music makes us horny. Whether serving as a segue or setting the rhythm for sex itself, songs heighten every aspect of lovemaking. So what’s your soundtrack? Jane’s Addiction, loud, chased with some Dylan, not quite as loud? Or smooth Sade and Marvin Gaye?

Here are my top songs that turn it on:

“Wolf Like Me” by TV on the Radio

“Paralyzer” by Finger Eleven

“Generous Palmstroke” by Bjork

“Light my Fire” by the Doors

“Just Like Honey” by the Jesus and Mary Chain

“Shadow of a Doubt” by Sonic Youth

Tonight: make love to music. If you’ve been together for years, this is sure to bring back the memories (and intensity) of college sex. If you’re hitting the sheets with a new partner, a well-timed playlist can set the mood (admit it — you appreciate good timing!) and smooth out any awkward post-coital silences.

What are your top tunes for lovin’?