This could just be the “Gossip Girl” talking, but lately I’ve been having a recurring daydream: I’m sitting in a swank, dimly lit lounge bar in Midtown, sipping a Manhattan, and I am flanked by beautiful people.

Am I seeing into the future, you ask? Let’s hope.
I’ve always been one to be easily wooed by the lifestyle of a socialite, so these sudden visions of a bitchin’ night life are anything but surprising. There’s just something so gosh-darn enticing about it all: the clothes, the guys, the drinks, and-most importantly-the atmosphere.?And the No. 1 thing that sets an atmosphere? The music, of course. And no bonafide posh night spot would be complete without a little lounge music.
We’re talking three parts mellow beats, a splash of Latin inspiration and a whole lotta sexy.

Lounge music (or “downtempo” as it is sometimes called) first became popular in the ’50s and ’60s.

Much more jazz influenced than the rock ‘n’ roll music popular with teenagers at the time, lounge music appealed to an older, more sophisticated audience. The Rat Pack-featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.-spearheaded the revolution, while other lounge acts often featured a blinged-out babe laying across a piano crooning her heart out. What is today called ‘lounge music’ is a bit different from its predecessor.

Modern downtempo music is a lot like ambient music-except with killer beats that rarely exceed 100 beats per minute. Its hypnotic quality serves as perfect background music, and the simple melodies perfectly complement any candlelit, late-night soiree.

So how did I stumble upon lounge music, although I myself have never been part of such a cavalier and cool scene? Well, I was trying to find some edgy new music to add to my library, and I remembered that the film The Devil Wears Prada had some good music, so I downloaded the soundtrack. One of the songs-the one that’s playing when Andy, the main character, is sauntering through her best friend’s chic art gallery-particularly tickled my fancy: “Bittersweet Faith.”

This song just sounds chic, folks. There’s no denying it.
It oozes sex appeal and mellowness, two things everyone in his or her heart of hearts is searching for. Therein lies the appeal.
The song is the first single off of Bitter:Sweet’s album, “The Mating Game.” The album’s title track is equally as amazing.
If that’s not sexy, I don’t know what is.

The rest of the album echoes the feel and electronica sound of these two songs, which does get a bit repetitive, but they are meant to be background music, not songs to rock out to in your car on the freeway.

The Pierces-who, yes, I will admit, were discovered by yours truly after being featured on an episode of “GG”-are modern-day, downtempo muses and would likely be found radiating through the rafters of SoHo’s chicest lounge.

Their story-like lyrics are accompanied by electronic instrumentation, beautifully paired with accordians, violins and the like.

This album also boasts a wide variety of tones and tempos, making it a little easier to listen to as a focus piece.?(I also read that this genre of music has been noted as being excellent for love making. Weird, I know.)

So the moral of the story is that whether you’re looking for a little background music while studying for that big chem test, chilling out in a hip, downtown oxygen bar or conceiving a child, this unique and sexy music will put you in the mood.
Literally.

Stephanie Sidak is a freshman in the college of Arts and Sciences.