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Fifty Shades of Grey playlist

Immerse yourself in the music of E L James' phenomenally bestselling novel

Fifty shades of grey

Flower Duet from Act One of the opera Lakmé by Léo Delibes

“He starts the engine and reverses out of his space in the parking lot. He switches on the MP3 player. The car interior is filled with the sweetest, most magical music of two women singing. Oh wow… all my senses are in disarray, so this is doubly affecting. It sends delicious shivers up my spine. Christian pulls out on to SW Park Avenue, and he drives with easy, lazy confidence.”

Sex On Fire by Kings Of Leon

“He presses a button, and the Kings of Leon start singing. Hmm… this I know. Sex On Fire. How appropriate.”

Adagio from J S Bach’s Concerto in D Minor after Alessandro Marcello, BWV 974, played by James Rhodes

“I hear the music. The lilting notes of the piano, a sad sweet lament……Christian is at the piano, completely lost in the music he’s playing. His expression is sad and forlorn, like the music. His playing is stunning……I listen enraptured.”

Misfit by Amy Studt

“Amy Studt is singing in my ear about misfits. This song used to mean so much to me, that’s because I’m a misfit. I have never fitted in anywhere and now…” 

I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen

“He starts the ignition, and the engine roars behind us. He places his bag in the space behind our seats, presses a button, and the roof slowly reclines. With the flick of a switch, Bruce Springsteen surrounds us.

“‘Gotta love Bruce,’ he grins at me and eases the car out of the parking space, and up the steep ramp where we pause for the barrier.

“Then we're out into the bright Seattle May morning...”

What If This Storm Ends?, part one of The Lightning Strike by Snow Patrol

“Kate is walking from her car as I head out of the door. She nearly drops her shopping when she sees me. Ana Steele in sneakers. I wave and don’t stop for the inquisition. I need some serious alone time. Snow Patrol blaring in my ears, I set off into the opal and aquamarine dusk.” 

Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra

“'Frank. I never figured you for a Sinatra fan.'

“He raises his eyebrows at me, his look speculative.

“'Eclectic taste, Miss Steele,' he murmurs, and he paces toward me like a panther until he’s standing in front of me, his gaze so intense it takes my breath away.

“Frank starts crooning… an old song, one of Ray’s favourites. ‘Witchcraft.’ Christian leisurely traces his fingertips down my cheek, and I feel it all the way down there.

“'Dance with me,' he murmurs, his voice husky.” 

La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi

“'Where are we going?'

“'You’ll see.' He grins as he slips the car into drive, and we head out on Savannah Parkway. He programs the GPS and presses a switch on the steering wheel and a classical orchestral piece fills the car.

“'What’s this?' I ask as the sweet, sweet sound of a hundred violin strings assails us.

“'It’s from La Traviata. An opera by Verdi.'

Oh, my… it’s lovely.

“'La Traviata? I’ve heard of that. I can’t think where. What does it mean?'

Christian glances at me and smirks.

“'Well, literally, the woman led astray. It’s based on Alexander Dumas’s book, La Dame Aux Camélias.’” 

Toxic by Britney Spears 

“Christian Grey’s iPod, this should be interesting. I scroll through the touch screen, and find the perfect song. I press play. I wouldn’t have figured him for a Britney fan. The club-mix, techno beat assaults us both, and Christian turns the volume down. Maybe it’s too early for this: Britney’s at her most sultry. 

“'Toxic, eh?' Christian grins.

“'I don’t know what you mean.' I feign innocence.” 

Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis

“Abruptly, the soft silent hiss and pop of the iPod springs into life. From inside my head, a lone angelic voice sings unaccompanied a long sweet note, and it’s joined almost immediately by another voice, and then more voices – Holy cow, a celestial choir – singing a cappella in my head, an ancient, ancient hymnal. What in heaven’s name is this? I have never heard anything like it. Something almost unbearably soft brushes against my neck, running languidly down my throat, slowly across my chest...”

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