"The sex element is the most important in the business. You must sell sex"

Bobby Darin’s assertion that "The sex element is the most important in the business. You must sell sex", speaks directly to the intrinsic role of sensuality, allure, and desirability within the entertainment industry. Far from a simple comment on explicitness, Darin taps into a long-standing truth about popular culture: audiences are drawn to performers, products, and art that evoke fascination, mystery, and emotional arousal. Sex appeal does not merely pertain to physicality, but also charisma, confidence, and the ability to captivate attention.

The implication is that in show business, the emotional and visceral response triggered by sexual undertones often eclipses technical skill or even talent. Stars are crafted as much by their visual impact and the aura they exude as by their music or acting abilities. The "sex element" operates on many levels: from the magnetism of a singer’s stage presence to the suggestive quality of lyrics, costumes, and choreography. Audiences project fantasies and desires onto performers, who become icons not solely because of their craft, but because of how successfully they embody these powerful currents.

Darin’s pragmatism reflects how commercial success frequently hinges on an entertainer’s ability to balance accessibility with unattainability, charm with provocation. It is a calculation that pervades advertising and media at large, the recognition that desirability drives attention, and attention drives profit. The statement may also serve as a critique or an acceptance of the market’s realities. Rather than lamenting the superficiality of the business, it acknowledges that profitability often pivots on the capacity to evoke longing and excitement in the viewer.

Ultimately, marketing sex is about understanding human psychology. Whether through subtle suggestion or overt display, evoking desire is an age-old tactic to command engagement. Darin encapsulates the idea that, regardless of era or medium, the sway of desire lies at the heart of show business success.