79.5 Fireman (2018)
Three 20-year-old, comparably attractive men individually approached 240 young women in a pedestrian zone with the following words: “Hello. My name’s Antoine. I just want to say that I think you’re really pretty. I have to go to work this afternoon but I wonder if you would give me your phone number. I’ll phone you later and we can have a drink together someplace.”
The above field experiment took place on a beautiful summer day in July 2006 for the purpose of a study by the French psychologist Nicolas Guéguen. An important detail: 120 of the women were approached by the men while they were wearing a fireman uniform; when the other 120 women were addressed, the men were wearing civilian clothing. The conclusion of the study: A fireman uniform increases the chance of a date by around 150%.
Other studies and surveys also indicate that firemen disproportionately evoke desire in women. In a UK survey, 47% of women said their favorite sexual fantasy involved a fireman. It's exactly this mainstream erotic reverie that the New York band 79.5 uses in today’s song “Fireman” when they sing “Ooo, oh / Hey mister Fireman, scorching my heart / Can I get a ride tonight / On your big red.”
Apart from its sensual lyrics, the song showcases a charmingly infectious, slow house tempo propelled by organic drum sounds, a psychedelic flute, and vocals that range from elfin to seductive to arabesque. Proper on-repeat material.
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