Scissor Sisters, Harder You Get | After Dark

On the 16^th edition of After Dark, we explore the naughty, risqué, & utterly sexual vibes behind, “Harder You Get” by Scissor Sisters.   

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nnuendo? More like full-on sexual vibes! Welcome to After Dark , a column featuring songs that are best suited for nighttime, specifically, the bedroom.  Like Controversial Tunes , the records featured here raise eyebrows.  The difference between the songs of CONTROVERSY and DARK? These songs specifically focus on the universal topic of S-E-X. The dark records gracing After Dark are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  On the 16^th edition of After Dark, we explore the naughty, risqué, scandalous & utterly sexual vibes behind, “Harder You Get” by Scissor Sisters.

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Theme & Lyrics  

“And what I really want to do tonight / Is toughen you up.” Woo! Face it, the minute “Harder You Get” ( Night Work, 2010) commences, it sounds like the soundtrack to a sexual experience, period.  The music is enigmatic and groovy, and set in a minor key.  It’s perfect fuel for the fire of Jake Shears and Scissor Sisters. Of course, where the Sisters excel most on “Harder You Get” are the innuendo-laden lyrics.  Also, worth noting, “Harder You Get” is unapologetically gay , and we wouldn’t have it any other way !

“It ain’t Steven
It isn’t Adam
I got some apples if you want ‘em
You can grab ‘em.”

See what I mean about the gay part? Adam and Steve, etc.  Anyways, while the infamous reference is intriguing, more intriguing is the S-E-X, #Lyfe Jennings! “Beatin’ my drum / Faster you’re done” can’t possibly be an innocent lyric! Furthermore, what about the assertion “Hell is my heaven / A loaded weapon / Don’t point that thing at me / Unless you plan to shoot.” Hmm, shoot what, Jake, a ‘natural’ gun ?

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Final Thoughts

On “Harder You Get,” Scissors Sisters manage to make a sexy pop record without crossing the line.  Yes, this song is sexual, but as sexual as it is, it’s never explicit. That, my friends, is clever, creative, and skillful songwriting.  Gotta sexual innuendo!!!

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Scissor Sisters • Night Work • Polydor • 2010
Scissor Sisters, “Harder You Get”: After Dark No. 16 [: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro from Pexels, KoolShooters from Pexels, Luan Queiros from Pexels, The Musical Hype, Polydor]

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