13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On

Reading Time: 19 min read

13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On features songs by Allie X, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Teddy Pendergrass, and Tyler The Creator.

“N***as actin’ bad, but somebody gotta do it,” Kendrick Lamar raps, continuing, “Got my foot up on the gas, but somebody gotta do it / Huh, turn his TV off, turn his TV off.” 💯 K-Dot! According to Paisley Heart, “We gettin’ this party pumpin’ / There’s just one thing I need right now / Suck me off.” Oh, snap 🫰😳 😈! Keeping it sexual, the late, great Teddy Pendergrass asserted, back in ’79, “Turn off the lights and light a candle / Tonight I’m in a romantic mood, yeah.” Ooh-la-la! “Turn ‘em off!”

The common thread between the excerpted songs – “tv off”, “Suck Me Off”, and “Turn Off the Lights” is OFF. The word off is featured in all three of the song titles. That is the only criterion for 13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On. 13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On features songs by Allie X, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Teddy Pendergrass, and Tyler, The Creator. There is a little bit of everything for everybody on this colorful list of O-F-F songs that are worth checking out. So, without further ado, time to be turned the eff on by these 13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. Kendrick Lamar, “tv off” (Ft. Lefty Gunplay)	2. Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)”	3. Paisley Heart, “Suck Me Off” (Ft. HOLLYWOULD STAR)	4. Kehlani, “Clothes Off” (Ft. kwn)
5. Tyler, The Creator, “Take Your Mask Off” (Ft. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams)	6. Allie X, “Off With Her Tits”	7. Bastille, “Send Them Off!”	8. Ariana Grande, “Off the Table” (with The Weeknd)
9. Jermaine Stewart, “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off”	10. Beyoncé, “Plastic Off The Sofa”	11. Prince, “Jack U Off”	12. Mariah Carey, “Shake It Off”
13. Teddy Pendergrass, “Turn Off the Lights”

1. Kendrick Lamar, “tv off (Ft. Lefty Gunplay)”

GNX // pgLang / Interscope // 2024

“All I ever wanted was a black Grand National / Fuck being rational, give ‘em what they ask for.” Ooh-wee! Thus begins “tv off”, one of the best songs from GNX, the 2024 album by Grammy-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar. “TV off” is a two-part song produced by Mustard, Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Sean Momberger, and Kamasi Washington. That is a talented team! Both parts of the song go hard – they are sleekly produced. Notably, K-Dot gets the assist from rapper Lefty Gunplay who appears in the outro (“Shit gets crazy, scary, spooky, hilarious”). Word 💯! The star of the show is Kendrick Lamar, NO CAP!

In part one, Kendrick delivers the intro (excerpted above), choruses, and two verses. After expressing his desire for a Buick GNX, K-Dot delivers a killer chorus. He asserts, “Few solid niggas left, but it’s not enough,” speaking to the lack of good, trustworthy people. One of the most spirited lines from the first chorus is, “Say you bigger than myself, but it’s not geood enough (Huh) / I get on they ass, yeah, somebody gotta do it / I’ll make them niggas mad, somebody gotta do it.” Woo! Kendrick is relentless in the verses, too. “It’s the alpha and omega, bitch, welcome home,” he spits in the first verse, adding, “This is not a song / This a revelation, how to get a nigga gone.” In the second, he memorably informs us, “I hate a bitch that’s hatin’ a bitch and they both hoes / I hate a nigga hatin’ on them niggas and they both broke.”

Part two is equally, if not more memorable. It starts with Lamar’s enthusiastic shout-out: “MUSTARD!” From there, he delivers he infectious, unforgettable chorus: “Niggas actin’ bad, but somebody gotta do it / Got my foot up on the gas, but somebody gotta do it / Huh, turn his TV off, turn his TV off.” Unlike part one, there is only one verse. As expected, rapping over the sickening musical backdrop, Kendrick eats it up. He delivers some potent, thought-provoking rhymes, delivered in the vernacular. “I’m in the city where the flag be gettin’ thrown like it was pass interference,” he spits, adding, “So when I made it out, I made about 50K from a show / Tryna show niggas the ropes before they hung from a rope.” With a plethora of memorable lyrics, Kendrick Lamar kicks ass and takes names on “tv off”, one of many highlights from GNX.

Appears in:

Kendrick Lamar, tv off: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 44 (2025)

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2. Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)”

1989 (Taylor’s Version) // Taylor Swift // 2023

“I go on too many dates / But I can’t make them stay / At least that’s what people say, mm-mm / That’s what people say, mm-mm.” True. Taylor Swift has been firmly entrenched in the pop culture space since the aughts. Amazingly, the Grammy-winning musician has remained ‘such a big deal’ for so many years. “Shake It Off” was a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released on the original version of 1989 in 2014. The re-recorded “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)” from the dominant 1989 (Taylor’s Version) still packs a sizable punch. Even as rerecording a massive pop record (and the entire album) is an arduous task, the message of “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)” remains tried and true.

Folks have lots to say about Swift and her many relationships, breakups, and such. However, despite criticism, skepticism, and people being people, Swift isn’t going to let it deter her or break her down. In the pre-chorus, she says it best: “But I keep cruisin’ / Can’t stop, won’t stop movin’.” Look back between 2014 and 2023. Has the woman stopped cruisin’? NOPE! In the second verse, she shows resolve despite the critics: “I never miss a beat / I’m lightnin’ on my feet / And that’s what they don’t see.” Well, given how big Swift is, these days, everybody sees you, Taylor! The biggest moment of the song is undoubtedly the chorus – one of the most sing-along gems of the 2010s:

“‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate

Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake it off, I shake it off (Ooh)

Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break

And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake

Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

I shake it off, I shake it off (Ooh).”

MIC DROP! You can’t mention “Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version)” without highlighting the tongue-in-cheek interlude and bridge. Also, the production (Swift and Christopher Rowe) remains ear-catching, More than the sound, however, the big takeaway is don’t let people bring and break you down – shake it off!!!

Appears in:

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3. Paisley Heart, “Suck Me Off” (Ft. HOLLYWOULD STAR)

“Suck Me Off” // Paisley Heart //2025

“Head is the answer / Head is the future.” What kind of head, that is the question, Paisley Heart (they/them pronouns)! The non-binary, self-described ‘lavender scented gentlemxn’ dropped a sexed-up techno bop alongside fashion model, singer, and DJ Hollywould Star. Given the name of the song is “Suck Me Off”, the answer should be obvious as to what head is being referenced. If there was any doubt, Paisley Heart provided clarity via IG: “Your favorite sexdolls just dropped a campy oral anthem! 💋💦.” Heart and Star co-wrote “Suck Me Off” with Nardean. Heart and Nardean produced it. From the beginning, “Suck Me Off” sounds sleazy. The musical backdrop is sleek to the nth degree. The beats and synths are ‘on point.’ It is set in a minor key. The lyrics are queer and playful. At the end of the first verse, we get a bomb: “We gettin’ this party pumpin’ / There’s just one thing I need right now / Suck me off.” It’s giving pump and… never mind! The second verse is my favorite, with the tone set in the first half of the verse – neon lights, kisses, and “stolen glances.” From there, we are set up for the oral experience!

“Whispers in the heat of the dark

Come on, baby, make your mark

Stop playing games, I’m on my knees

Whip it out baby, I aim to please

Suck me off!”

Does Paisley Heart or Hollywould Star take themselves seriously on “Suck Me Off”? No, and why should they? This is a fun, playful song about H-E-A-D, plain and simple. Relax, it’s just sex.

Appears in:

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4. Kehlani, “Clothes Off” (Ft. kwn)

While We Wait 2 // TSNMI / Atlantic // 2024

“Girl, the way you’re pushin’ up on my body, huh / It’s you that do it for me.” Oh, snap, kwn (Khy Wilson)! Kwn assists Grammy-nominated, lesbian nonbinary R&B singer/songwriter Kehlani (Kehlani Parrish) on “Clothes Off”, the third track from Parrish’s mixtape, While We Wait 2. Wilson and Parrish are enamored with their respective girls in the sensual number. Per kwn, this girl ‘makes them feel good.’ Besides singing, Kwn co-wrote and produced “Clothes Off.” What a talent! The sex is on fire on “Clothes Off,” period. “Can I dare to leave your bed a mess and wet? / ‘Cause we sure gon’ sweat,” kwn asserts in the sexy, first pre-chorus. This follows ‘Lani’s initial praise of the girl’s skills in bed. She performs the centerpiece, the chorus, the first go-round: “Oh, you better take my clothes off, yeah / … Can we, uh? Oh, baby.” With clothes coming off, clearly, ‘it’s going down’ in the bedroom. Kehlani brings the heat in the second verse, singing, “Girl, the way you sex me make me feel like / I can’t get with nobody else.” They add, “I just can’t let you get no other bitch involved.” WORD. Not only is the sex good, but, Kehlani wants to lock things down with her. Right on. As always, Parrish shines with their sweet vocal performance – never over singing, yet potent. The instrumental accompaniment is marvelous too – idiomatic of contemporary R&B. With awesome vocals, and a longing pleasure and potential beyond the bedroom, Kehlani and kwn shine on “Clothes Off”.

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5. Tyler, The Creator, “Take Your Mask Off” (Ft. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams)

CHROMAKOPIA // Columbia // 2024

“I hope you find yourself / And I hope you find yourself / And I hope you take your mask off.” Say that, Tyler, The Creator (and Daniel Caesar, too)! “Take Your Mask Off” has a hard act to follow in the context of CHROMAKOPIA. “Sticky”, in all its glory, precedes it (“Better find a mop it’s getting sticky in this bitch”). “Sticky” is a showstopper, but “Take Your Mask Off” is formidable in its own right. It has a deep and thoughtful message, as well as a tuneful, memorable chorus. The Grammy-winning rapper helms the production, delivering a lush, jazzy, and soulful backdrop. “Take Your Mask Off” samples multiple elements of the 1976 song, “A Feeling Inside” (People’s Pleasure), and, more familiarly, vocals and lyrics from “So Anxious” (Ginuwine). In addition to Caesar’s Grammy-winning pipes, LaToiya Williams is also credited as a featured guest.

Tyler, The Creator delivers a compelling cadence and flow throughout “Take Your Mask Off.” He’s smooth yet never backs off real talk. In the first verse, “a good kid, fine home, mom and did in the pic’” doesn’t “wanna be seen as a bitch.” So, what does he do? Gets involved in a gang although he’s not a thug and doesn’t come from that background. “But now cuz gettin’ validation from the dumb and confused,” Tyler raps at the end of the verse, continuing, “Now you’re facin’ five to ten ‘cause you had somethin’ to prove, let’s talk about it.” In the second verse, Tyler tackles false prophets: “Preacher man, preacher man, preach (Woo) / You make these folks think you got somethin’ to teach, like you ain’t lyin’.” Yes, Tyler is an atheist, but, he assertions aren’t far-fetched, as he criticizes clergy for treatment of gays, and mentions their extracurricular activities… with boys (“But you back on that religious shit as soon as you cum, let’s talk about it”). Hiding behind a mask, again. There is a unique interlude by Bonita Smith (Tyler’s mom) that precedes the fourth verse: “Keep that shit one hundred with you, with yourself…” A change of pace occurs during the fourth verse, arguably the most accomplished. In several instances, Tyler speaks on the consequences of not taking the mask off: “Better sit the fuck down or that skull gettin’ took,” “You ain’t gotta hide from the truth,” and, most memorably, “Now go stand in the sun, use some fake tears to water your roots / Take the mask off and tell ‘em the truth.” “Take Your Mask Off” marks another accomplished moment from CHROMAKOPIA as well as Tyler, The Creator’s riveting music catalog.

Appears in:

Tyler, The Creator, Take Your Mask Off: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 45 (2025)

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6. Allie X, “Off With Her Tits”

Girl With No Face // Twin Music Inc // 2024

“My body is a prison / But how can I escape?” Haven’t we all asked that question regarding some part of our anatomy at some point? LGBTQ+ allies can deliver bops that make the listener beam with pride, too. Canadian singer/songwriter Allie X (Alexandra Hughes) is a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and in 2024, she delivered one of the year’s most thought-provoking songs: “Off With Her Tits”. The title of the highlight from Girl With No Face is on the nose, but the theme and lyrics are deeper and more transcendent. “Off With Her Tits” may not be intentionally written for those that identify as trans, for example, but you can see how the lyrics could relate to gender-affirming surgery:

“Then I called the doctor

Said, ‘Miss, what can you do?’

She told me she’d cut them off

I said, ‘Sign me up for June’

I went to the teller

Took out 10K in cash

She said, ‘Bitch, are you joking?

I wish I had that rack’.”

Even from other identities in the community, the body dysmorphia alluded to lyrically connects. Allie X penned and produced this provocative masterpiece.

From the beginning, the body issues plague Allie X, or the character portrayed. Although her beauty is admired, she’s perturbed (“Stubborn Aphrodite”). In the chorus, she’s clear she desires/prefers being flat-chested (“I’m flat with a wit /… Off with her tits”). In the second verse, she’s unhappy because her chest has grown larger than she’d like. However, ‘he’ likes the sight, speaking to unwanted objectification. “He noticed in the show said he liked it, and I cried,” she sings, adding, “Take this flesh and suck it out / And stop the ridicule.” While the songwriting and her desire to “be parallel” is the crowning achievement of “Off With Her Tits,” musically, Allie X is the sugar honey iced tea too. The dark, gothic-pop instrumental backdrop is fierce, providing ample fuel for her electrifying vocal performance (the groove, the synths, the minor key). The melodies are ear-catching and tuneful from start to finish. “Off With Her Tits” is a song that many can relate to for different reasons.

Appears in:

Allie X, Off With Her Tits: Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 No. 50 (2024)

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7. Bastille, “Send Them Off!”

Wild World // Virgin // 2016

“Set me free from my jealousy / Won’t you exorcise my mind?” When you hear the name Bastille, the English indie-pop band, fronted by Dan Smith, is best known for two songs: “Pompeii”, attributed solely to them, and “Happier”, a big-time collaboration with Marshmello. But, the collective has numerous superb songs, particularly from their 2016 sophomore album, Wild World. One song that shines is the song at hand, “Send Them Off!” the third single and the eighth track from Wild World. “Send Them Off!” features electrifying production work (Smith and Mark Crew) and arrangement, particularly the horns and pummeling drums. Besides exceptional production work, the theme – “Othello meets The Exorcist” – is ambitiously brilliant. “Desdemona, won’t you liberate me / When I’m haunted by your ancient history?” Ooh-wee! Smith continues singing, “Close these green eyes and watch over as I sleep / Through my darkest of dreams.” Clever lyrics are a huge selling point throughout the record. Also, Smith’s vocals and his charming British accent go a long way to make “Send Them Off!” a song from the Bastille catalog that deserves far more recognition.

Appears in:

Bastille, Wild World

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8. Ariana Grande, “Off the Table” (with The Weeknd)

Positions // Republic // 2020

“If I can’t have you, is love completely off the table?” Grammy-winning pop superstar and Academy Award-nominated actress Ariana Grande keeps things hot on her 2020 album, Positions. Among the highlights from the project is “Off the Table,” her second duet with Grammy-winning Canadian R&B superstar The Weeknd. Since their first collaboration (“Love Me Harder”), both artists have matured. This contemporary R&B slow jam was readymade for The Weeknd – the man excels when there’s a lethargic tempo in play (“I’ll wait for you / Even though it always feels like I’ll be number two / To someone you can’t hold anymore”). That said, Grande shines bright like a diamond, giving us a blend of her cool energy as well as some grittier, more aggressive vocals as the record progresses. The centerpiece of “Off the Table” should come as no surprise – the chorus:

“Will you be there? (Will you be there? I’ll still wait)

Can I still love you? (I’ll still wait for you, babe, oh, no-no, no, can I still love you?)

Not yet healed or ready (Ooh, not ready)

Should I be goin’ too steady? (No, no, ooh)

Just wanna know is love completely off the table, baby?”

In addition to gorgeous vocals (including the ad-libs and layering) and great chemistry between the singers, the listener is blessed with gorgeous, ear-catching production. This song, of course, has little to do with a literal table – it’s all about L-O-V-E (“Can you touch it like you believe in it, baby?”).

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9. Jermaine Stewart, “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off”

Frantic Romantic // Virgin // 1986

“A quick hit, that’s your game / But I’m not a piece of meat, stimulate my brain.” Sigh, if only more people ascribed to those lyrics, Jermaine Stewart (1957 – 1997). Stewart is best remembered for “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off”, which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The opening track from his 1986 album, Frantic Romantic, Stewart lets him know that he’s not easy, and he’s going to have to put in work to get him in bed. Stewart wants to build something more than a hook-up: “Shake your body to the music, maybe then you’ll score.”

Even if this man scores on Jermaine, he makes it clear in the catchy, innocent chorus, “We don’t have to take our clothes off / To have a good time, oh no / We could dance and party, all night / And drink some cherry wine, uh-huh.” Maybe the partying part is not innocent, but clearly, a sexual encounter is not on Stewart’s mind right at this moment. In the second verse, he tells this boy, “Just slow down if you want me / A man wants to be approached cool and romantically.” Whether a homosexual man, like Stewart, or a heterosexual man, this sense of romance and opting against hooking up is refreshing. The 1980s aesthetic is written all over this cut. Even if it sounds a bit dated by 2020s standards, the groove and backdrop still slaps. Stewart was a ripe tenor with a pure upper register, something he flaunts sensationally on this gem from the 1980s. It’s sad that he only to be 39 years old, dying from AIDS-related liver cancer. His legacy lives on with the incredibly fun “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off”.

Appears in:

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10. Beyoncé, “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA”

RENAISSANCE // Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia // 2022

“It’s the way you wear your emotions on both of your sleeves, oh / To the face you make when I tell you that I have to leave, ooh / But I like it, baby.” “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA” appears as the eighth track on RENAISSANCE, the 2022 Grammy-winning dance/electronic music album by Beyoncé (it should have won album the of the year, by the way). While “Plastic Off the Sofa” has a fabulous groove that fuels its fire, it leans more in the R&B direction of Beyoncé’s past music instead of dance/electronic. Notably, “PLASTIC” won Bey another Grammy: Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 65^th Annual Grammy Awards. She co-wrote “PLASTIC” alongside Syd, Sabrina Claudio, and Patrick Paige II. Beyoncé produced it with Syd as well. Her voice is beautiful, and the sound of the record is intimate.

Essentially, the emotional, personal “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA” is a love letter to her husband, Jay-Z, whom Beyoncé has been married to since 2008. This is a stark difference from Bey’s Lemonade days, where Hov was in the doghouse… Remember “Hold Up”? 😬 Beyoncé is all about her man, asserting in the second verse, “Oh, we don’t need the world’s acceptance, they’re too hard on me / They’re too hard on you, boy.” She adds, “And I know you had it rough growin’ up, but that’s okay /… I like it rough.” The ups and downs of their relationship are acknowledged, but ultimately, “The rest of the world is strange, stay in our lane / Just you and me and our family.” Word. Interestingly, the titular lyric is never sung in “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA”. It doesn’t need to be stated, of course – the lyrics speak for themselves. Ultimately, the song was certified gold by the RIAA. “Who loves you, baby?” Beyoncé, of course, Jay-Z 🥰!

Appears in:

Beyoncé, PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 43 (2025)

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11. Prince, “Jack U Off”

Controversy // NPG / Legacy Recordings // 1981

“If you’re looking for somewhere to go / Thought I’d take you to a movie show / Sitting in the back and I’ll jack you off.” Oh, snap 😳! Prince (1958 – 2016) was the exemplification of a provocative musician, particularly in the 1980s. “Jack U Off” is a prime example of him playing provocateur (emphasis on play 😈). The Purple One suggests he’s going to ‘jack off’ a woman, which is an unusual way to phrase a male-to-female masturbatory act. The only other explanation is questioning if Prince was referencing somebody other than a cis woman… “Jack U Off” is the eighth and final track from his 1981 album, Controversy.

On “Jack U Off,” there is no gray area. It is a blunt title referencing a specific sex act. While his bassist, Mark Brown, suggested that Prince didn’t understand the terminology, that seems unfathomable for an artist who excelled at sex songs. “Come on over to my neighborhood / We can jump in the sack, and I’ll jack you off,” Prince asserts in the first verse, continuing, “If you’re tired of the masturbator / Little girl, we can go on a date / And if you like, I’ll jack you off.” One of the interesting incidents involving this controversial song is when Prince opened for The Rolling Stones in 1981. As bassist Brown asserts in a Music Radar interview, The Rolling Stones’ audience was not Prince’s audience. The performance didn’t go well. Prince was infamously booed, called homophobic slurs, and ill-received. Why? Prince’s androgynous appearance and fashion, and this risqué, rockabilly-sounding number that only drew more ire from an audience that wasn’t hip to him. Admit it, a song where you assert, “I’ll jack you off” repeatedly is a tall task, particularly for what would have been an entirely different fan base. “Jack U Off” embraces controversy in an incredibly funky fashion. Prince’s voice sounds amazing, as always, while the musical accompaniment is high-energy and utterly infectious. Jacking U Off never sounded so… never mind!

Appears in:

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12. Mariah Carey, “Shake It Off”

The Emancipation of Mimi // Mariah Carey / The Island Def Jam Music Group // 2005

“(I gotta shake it off) ‘Cause the loving ain’t the same / And you keep on playing games like you know I’m here to stay.” Oh, snap, Mariah Carey! Nearly a decade before Taylor Swift first informed us to “Shake It Off”, Carey stated that she had to “Shake It Off”. “Shake It Off” appeared as the third track on her multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, released in 2005. In the chorus of the hit, which peaked at number two on the Billboard 100, Carey adds, “Gotta make that move / Find somebody who appreciates all the love I give / Boy, I gotta (shake, shake it off) gotta do what’s best for me / Baby, and that means I gotta (Shake you off).” We call stand to take Carey’s advice!

Carey penned this contemporary R&B alongside Johntá Austin and producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. Slickly produced, the instrumental is the perfect fuel for Mariah’s fire. She sings with ease, agilely navigating these unfortunate matters of the heart. In the first verse, she states, “Well, at first I didn’t know but now it’s clear to me / You would cheat with all your freaks and lie compulsively.” Well, that’s a compelling reason to exit! There’s even more evidence to support her exit in the second verse: “I found out about a gang of your dirty little deeds / With this one and that one by the pool, on the beach, in the streets.” The dude’s been a bad boy, hence why Carey tells his trifling ass to “Save this recording because I’m never coming back home.” The Emancipation of Mimi was that album back in 2005 and “Shake It Off” was a key part of the success. Two decades later, we’re still shaking off those dirty, no-good boys!

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13. Teddy Pendergrass, “Turn Off the Lights”

Teddy // Sony Music Entertainment // 1979

“Turn off the lights and light a candle / Tonight I’m in a romantic mood, yeah.” Ooh-la-la! Back in the day, Teddy Pendergrass’ music oozed with sex.  “Let’s take a shower, shower together / I’ll wash your body, and you’ll wash mine,” he sings on “Turn Off the Lights”, adding, “Rub me down in some hot oils baby, yeah / And I’ll do the same thing for you.” Aww sugar, honey iced tea! “Turn Off the Lights” stands out from his platinum-certified album, 1979 LP, Teddy.  Mr. Pendergrass never says sex, but he doesn’t have to – it’s obvious (“Girl, I just wanna give you a special treat, you’re so sweet”).

The lushness of the production was enough to make “Turn Off the Lights” a hit.  Those warm, sensual sounds and the orchestration – LIT 🔥.  Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff constructed nothing short of musical excellence for TP.  Pendergrass is the star, of course, with his voice drenched in soul and bearing ample authenticity.  He sounds dedicated to his lover, expressively constructing this romantic, sensual evening vocally.  You buy what he’s selling when he dramatically sings, “Turn ‘em off.” One of my favorite moments is the outro section. He’s supported by backing vocals (“Tell me what you wanna do / Tell me what you wanna do baby”), while professing his love (+ sex) to her.  “Anything that you want / Anything that you need / I got it!” Woo!

Appears in:

~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Columbia, Interscope, Legacy Recordings, Mariah Carey, NPG, Paisley Heart, Parkwood Entertainment LLC, pgLang, Republic, Taylor Swift, The Island Def Jam Music Group, TSNMI, Twin Music Inc, Virgin; Cynthia Diaz from Pexels; AcatXIo, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

13 OFF Songs That Are Totally On | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on June 20, 2025June 20, 2025