Sing-Along Songs For A Road Trip
Road trips are often gruelling but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun. With the right song choices you can turn the seemingly infinite hours in front of the steering wheel into one long party!
1. Jimmy Cliff – Hard Road to Travel
The last thing you want on a long road trip is a song that’s going to constantly remind you just how long your drive is going to be. That’s why Jimmy Cliff’s Hard Road to Travel is an excellent first song choice. Once you hear about the journey Jimmy got to make, it will put your trip into perspective.
2. U2 – Beautiful Day
On a long, boring road trip the inevitable is going to happen, you’re going to need the toilet. But just when you’re bladder is about to give way, stick on Beautiful Day by U2. With the inimitable Bono mindlessly screeching out his lyrics you’ll soon forget all about your desperate need to go to the toilet.
3. Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Talent, charisma, good dress sense. This is a short list of things that Lady Gaga doesn’t have. Turning on Poker Face should help to remind you that if a talent vacuum like her can get rich and famous, anyone can. You’ll be able to pass the hours by slipping off into a pleasant daydream about how you too could become a wealthy popstar.
4. Ray Charles – Hit the Road Jack
When you’re on a road trip, it can be tempting to stop for lunch. Don’t – it’s a massive time waster. Instead, take your mind off your empty stomach with Ray Charles’ Hit the Road Jack. Not only is it easy to sing along too, it’s topical, the combination of which should beat your hunger. You could also try just having a snack while you drive.
5. The Notorious B.I.G. – Gimme the Loot
Stress levels can build up during a long drive. Your bum gets numb and your head starts to ache, it can leave you very frustrated at the world. Biggie’s Gimme the Loot is the perfect stress busting tool. You’ll be able to shout along as you empathise with the theme of one angry man’s struggle against his impoverished conditions and the cops’ attempts to put him away just for trying to keep above the bread line.
6. John Cage – As Slow As Possible
As you’re on a road trip, you may as well use the time productively and mull over anything that’s been bothering you. When it comes to songs that really let you think and reflect there are some real gems to choose from, like 4’33“ by John Cage, 15 Minutes by Télépopmusik or The Nutopian International Anthem by John Lennon – all of which are silent compositions. However, your best bet is probably with As Slow As Possible by the aforementioned avant-garde composer Cage. It’s not silent but there are months in between individual notes and the entire piece lasts 639 years, so it should allow plenty of time for quiet reflection.
7. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
When night time hits and sleep and fatigue start to take over your mind and body, you really need to turn up the volume with some banging tunes. And there is no tune more banging than LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem. A bonus feature of this song is that if you drive along with the volume up full and the windows right down, everyone you pass with think you’re really cool.
8. Europe – The Final Countdown
Like it or not, every long drive needs a power ballad, it’s obligatory. The only problem is, with the vast array of classics to pick from, it can be difficult to make your mind up. The connoisseur’s pick for the perfect road trip power ballad would have to be The Final Countdown by Europe though, with a catchy tune and vague overtones of travel, it works on several levels.
9. Disney – It’s a Small World
If you’re driving long enough, there are points on the journey where you get down. It can feel like the drive’s never going to end and despair can hit hard. These feelings of dejection can be remedied simply by playing It’s a Small World as and when you need the boost. The innocent tune and charming vocals are the perfect pick-me-up to get you back on track.
10. Bing Crosby – White Christmas
As you approach your final destination, it can get pretty exciting. The hard work is nearly all done and you can relax with your favourite song. This means sticking on Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. Having sold over 50 million copies worldwide, it is the best-selling single of all time and, probability wise, your favourite song.
Of course, after a few road trips with the same songs, you might start to get bored and fancy selling CDs. Give musicMagpie a try, where you can sell cds, dvds and games.
