This is a collaborative post.
Discover some of the songs about road trips I’ll be adding to my driving playlist when I finally manage to pass my driving test!
It’s taken me three years to learn how to drive a car (with a lockdown inbetween), and if all goes to plan tomorrow, I’ll be third time lucky at passing my driving test.
From the Wye Valley and the Cheddar Gorge to the Italianate village of Portmeirion in north Wales, there are so many places – and people – I can’t wait to visit once I’ve passed my driving test.
What is a good song for a road trip?
Interestingly, Dayinsure recently published their research into the UK’s favourite songs to drive to, according to Spotify data. They’ve used their findings to create a series of driving playlists accessible on Spotify, including the Best Driving Playlist (the top 100 songs to listen to while driving) and the Best Road Trip Playlist, (featuring songs about road trips), alongside others.
Scanning through the playlists they’ve made has got me thinking about creating a road trip-themed playlist of my own, in preparation for my very first road trips. Read on to discover which driving songs would be on my road trip playlist.
My favourite songs about road trips: what songs to listen to while driving?
Tracey Chapman – Fast Car
Surprisingly, Tracey Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ doesn’t make it into Dayinsure’s top 100 driving playlist songs, although it does feature in their Best Sunday Drive and Best Morning Commute playlists.
Although not strictly about road trips – in fact, the song is reportedly about a working class woman’s struggle to escape poverty and a relationship that isn’t working out – this has to be one of my favourite songs about driving. I dare you not to sing along; it’s one of those iconic tunes that you just find yourself belting out in the car, much to the amusement of other drivers.
While there have been numerous covers of Fast Car – most recently by Jonas Blue and Dakota – I’ve always preferred the original version.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
It might be somewhat of a cliché, but no road trip playlist would be complete without Sweet Home Alabama; in fact, it ranks at the very top of Dayinsure’s Best Road Trip playlist.
This charmingly familiar song by Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd is just as popular today as it was when it was released back in 1974.
The Clash – Brand New Cadillac
Originally recorded by Vince Taylor and the Playboys in 1959, ‘Brand New Cadillac’ features on British punk rock band, The Clash’s second album, London Calling and I’ve always preferred their version.
Many different interpretations of the lyrics exist, with some claiming the song is about a cheap-skate girlfriend who stole money from her boyfriend to buy a Cadillac before finishing with him, and others claiming it could be about a girl who cheated on her boyfriend with another guy who bought her a Cadillac.
Whatever the real meaning behind the lyrics, any song that talks about driving a flash new Cadillac is more than welcome on my road trip playlist!
Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
While I don’t normally class myself as a Miley fan, her 2009 ‘Party in the USA’ hit is a wonderful driving song, talking about Miley’s journey from her plane to a cab, and onto a club.
It’s a real feel-good anthem; albeit a little on the cheesy side! I can just imagine listening to this whilst travelling to a party on the weekend and it would be a great tune to play to liven things up on a long car journey.
Rihanna – Shut Up and Drive
Despite referencing limousines and Cadillacs, Rihanna’s Shut Up and Drive is more of a risque reference to a steamy session than a driving song, or a song about road trips.
That doesn’t stop it making it onto my ideal road trip playlist, however. This upbeat, catchy song always puts me in a good mood and leaves me feeling motivated for the day ahead. I can just picture me singing along to it in the car when I’m winging my way across Wales and beyond!
What are your favourite songs about road trips and driving? Share a few in the comment box below; I’d love to hear your thoughts!
This is a collaborative post.