The great American roadtrip. Packing everyone into the family Chevy and rolling off down the highway to destinations unknown. So many places to go, all within hours from almost anywhere.
You have to keep everyone in the car enthusiastic about the trip. Therefore the old reliable “mix tape,” or now-a-days the mix-disc, comes to the fore as being all important – without the music jive, your trip falls flat in a hurry.
Here are 20 suggestions for compiling a fun family roadtrip soundtrack for your next drive. Key to any roadtrip soundtrack is the upbeat tempo, easily remembered lyrics and easy translation to karaoke – the idea being to get the family singing.
For your listening pleasure, feel free to open the companion playlist I built for this article at projectplaylist.
“Jenny/867-5309” Tommy Tutone.
Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to? In 1982, Tommy Tutone – a band, not a single person – released the song that set off a tidal wave of people calling the telephone number. According to snopes.com, the fad was not-uncommon as late as 2003. The guitar and catchy hooks are perfect for a family trip.
“Jesse’s Girl” Rick Springfield
Another simple guitar riff and hooks with some great catchy lyrics. How do you beat lyrics like, “You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute, I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot.” “Jesse’s Girl” hit #1 on the pop charts in August 1981.
“Bust A Move” Young MC
An accessible rap-oriented hit with a catchy feel and funny lyrics. Who wouldn’t want to yell out, “Next day’s function, high class luncheon, Food is served, and you’re stone could munchin’.” I am quick to note that this song would likely be PG, but if it’s an older group on the trip, this a fun song.
“Werewolves of London” Warren Zevon
“Aaahoo, werewolves of London” What’s better than a carload of fun loving folks yelling “Aaahoo!” at the top of their lungs?
Born to Run” Bruce Springsteen
A must for any classic rock aficionado’s collection, it is also a must for any road trip. It ranks on many lists as one of the all time best rock songs. This song has it all – driving guitars, drums and saxophone, great lyrics and a powerful singer. The best part for those not wholly familiar enough with the song to know all of the lyrics, a fair amount of the words are somewhat obscured by Springsteen’s vocals.
“You Shook Me All Night Long” AC/DC
A catchy hook and a screaming vocalist just lends itself to a car full of folks yelling out the words. It just also happens to be one of the greatest hard rock songs ever, but it is also one of the greatest car trip songs ever, as well.
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” Meat Loaf
The three-part epic song gives you three different songs in one. The trip to the lake and the baseball game on the radio, the commitment or else, and of course the climax, living with that commitment. This song is great if your road trip consists of a couple of geeks (preferably of the opposite gender), but really anyone can have fun with it. The lyrics are sufficiently obscured that the younger crowd wouldn’t necessarily make the sexual connections. It’s upbeat, but long.
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & Kiki Dee
Another great song for a couple to belt out. This one goes back and forth quite evenly – one line male, one line female – throughout the song. It’s been around on the radio for well over 30 years and even those who aren’t necessarily Elton John fans know the words.
“Lido Shuffle” Boz Scaggs
Okay, this one doesn’t comply with the rule about easily remembered lyrics, but the tempo, beat, and the lyrical hook more than makes up for it. The whole car is a-bopping and when the chorus comes around again, everyone finds their voice: “Lido-woah woah woah woah…” That just more than makes up for the verses where everyone just kind of mumbles mondegreens under their breath.
“Our House” Madness
A curious little ditty from a one-hit wonder band. The lyrics are fun and easily sung out. No embarrassing secret messages or innuendos for mom and dad to worry about if you’re riding with younger folks.
“You Can Call Me Al” Paul Simon
Besides having one of the all time great videos, this Paul Simon effort is just fun. The horn sections for those who aren’t feeling like yelling out the words, but don’t mind a little dancing in the back seat.
Living on a Prayer” Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi’s 1987 #1 hit. This is another song one doesn’t need to be a hard rock fan to appreciate. A positive message and when you’re not quite to your desination, the whole car can appreciate the riffs and hooks – “Woah, we’re half way there…oh oh, living on a prayer…”
How Far We’ve Come” Matchbox Twenty
Despite the dire message of the song, the music is upbeat and provides one important roadtrip feature – the imminently singable hook…”Let’s see how far we’ve come…” The drum beat keeps the pace up. It is best to put this song closer to the end of the compilation – as it reminds those in the car who want to know “if we’re there yet” to take a look and remember how far we’ve come…and no, we’re not there yet.
“Who Knew” Pink
This song has got the beat, has got the lyrical hooks and the ease of singing that makes this a great “car tune.” The attitude that Pink conveys makes this such a fun song to have a group of people singing to, “If someone said three years from now you’d be long gone,
I’d stand up and punch them out…” That’s attitude.
“Somebody Told Me” The Killers
Despite the rather hard rock sounding name, the Killers are closer to a post-punk, dance band. This song takes place in a disco and the travails of finding a partner. The catchy hook: “Somebody told me you had a boyfriend, who looked like a girlfriend that I had in February of last year.”
“1985″ Bowling for Soup
Having lived through 1985, I can say with some certainty that Blondie wasn’t particularly happening then, but the rest of the song is fun…particularly for those of us who were there. The lyrics and music are both easily accessible for the whole family.
“Hey There Delilah” The Plain White T’s
An acoustic, low key, vocally driven song. By now, you’re probably all a little worn out from all the kinetic singing and dancing going on in the old Chevy and this is the perfect song to give everyone a respite.
“Talk Dirty to Me” Poison
A fun, almost comedic guitar riff drives this “light metal” top 40 hit from the mid-1980’s. While “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” takes on the personality of a couple who got together and stayed together, it seems pretty clear to this author that no one was planning to stay together in this song. Feel free to let it rip. The car ride is almost over.
“Life is a Highway” Tom Cochrane
You didn’t really think you could made a roadtrip soundtrack without a song the specifically says that the highway is life, did you? No way, man. This is the ultimate tune for belting one out. If you’re going my way, I wanna drive it all night long.
FINAL NOTES: If you’re planning a road trip, make sure you have brought along more than just your roadtrip soundtrack – be sure to have an inflated spare tire, a first aid kit, a blanket, and other supplies. About.com and AAA both offer suggestions. More than anything, enjoy!
