Aey Oh, Let’s Go! 10 Songs to Get You Where You Wanna Go
This week we are “On the Road” with Monday Listicles. Whether you are on the road for a day or more, nothing helps the miles click away better than some great tunes. So that’s what I am linking up. I make absolutely no claims about this list other than these are great road trip songs. In my last phone call to Ellen before she disembarked on her cruise, I asked her for her thoughts. “Well, definitely not the theme song from Titanic.” Got it.
So these are all me, plus a little bonus for Ellen. Enjoy and feel free to leave any of your favorites in the comments. I wrote and rewrote this list a thousand times, so I know some of what’s missing. I might be able to make a whole new playlist from your favorites. Thanks! Erin
1. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones—In the opening riff, it practically begs you to hit the road and then the beat just keeps you going. Really you could probably put any Ramones song on your list and be just fine, but this song is sheer perfection if you are hitting the blacktop.
2. “Mr. Blue Sky” By ELO— You might be tempted to dismiss this song. Don’t. You cannot hear this song without head-bobbing and toe-tapping—a definite plus to get you through boring stretches of highway or traffic snarls.
3. “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2—Way back in the day, my Uncle Bill told me that Irish people were a little left of center as an explanation for the sheer genius of this group. Whatever the reason, they just work for me, and this song works for a road trip. You can sing along to lyrics (a definite bonus for a road trip song), and the music itself has all the energy and rhythm of wheels to pavement.
4. “Mercedes Benz”—Janis Joplin-– No road trip playlist is complete without a song about a car. There are a bunch to choose from, but I am a chick so this is where I go. It also has that sing out loud quality that catapults a song from good to great.
5. “Good-bye, Earl”–Dixie Chicks—This song might be one of the most fun songs on the planet, and it makes the perfect road trip song. Great beat, fun lyrics, with a little shot of Thelma and Louise—two of the best movie characters ever to hit the road! Channel your inner bad-ass and get out there!
6. “Bamboleo”–Gypsy Kings—If you have never heard of them, well, then let me introduce you. If you question me bumping La Grange by ZZ Top for them, well, then let me convince you. Steve travelled through Indonesia and Asia for 5 weeks listening to them, then we travelled for 2 weeks through Ireland on our honeymoon listening to them. Pretty much anything by The Gypsy Kings works on a road trip too,but this is THE song—listen to the rhythm, the melody, the beat and pretty soon you have arrived effortlessly on the doorstep of your destination.
7. “Roadhouse Blues”— The Doors—I don’t need to convince anyone about the magic of the The Doors. This song’s bluesy folksiness, perfect lyrics, and great advice (Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel!) will really get you where you wanna go.
8. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”—The Proclaimers- These Scottish twins know how to have a good time, and we can all thank The Housemartins for giving them their big break so they can let us in on the fun. Remember that toe-tapping I was mentioning before? Try to stop yourself.
9. “Radar Love”–Golden Earring—Probably one of the best road trip songs ever. I’m not saying anything else. Just perfect.
10. “Thunder Road”– Bruce Springsteen—Oh, Bruce, you totally nailed it on this one. The longing, the harmonica, the lyrics—”well, the night’s busted open, these two lanes will take us anywhere”—well, try to keep your keys from the ignition after this song.
But in case you aren’t feeling my list, NPR has many more. Check them out and get out there!
PS–A little bonus track for Ellen who is safely back on dry land, but rock-climbing with Girl Scouts today. You can’t keep that girl still for long.
By Ellen Williams Erin Dymowski
Nice tunes! I could dance to the Gypsy Kings all day.
Unrelated tip: you should connect your blog to your google profile (the one that you use to comment on blogspot blogs). If you edit your profile, you should be able to add your blog address. I googled your name to find you, but if I hadn’t, then I wouldn’t have been able to visit your blog after you visited mine.
And at least your math isn’t hard. Ha! I’d rather a simple addition problem than a long list of random blurry letters any day.
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Thank you so much for tip. And I love that we both dig The Gypsy Kings. And thanks for visiting, Erin
Thank you for going the extra clicks to get to us! And thanks especially for the blogspot tip. We are now connected! So glad I found your blog from Erica at Yeah Write Me’s tweet. Ellen
OH MY GOD – to all of your songs (except the Titanic one, sorry…) YES! YES! YES! Love them ALL! (-:
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The Titanic was just for Ellen—I’m with you on that. Erin
Yes yes yes!!! Fabulous list with some I wouldn’t have thought of! So glad you chose music… I will be adding these to our music list for our road trip this weekend.
Ducky recently posted..On The Road Again…
Thanks! Erin
You know your road songs, great playlist. I’m gonna feel really stupid if I get this math question wrong.
paul recently posted..Bumps along the road
We get lots of people who struggle with the math, but you aren’t one of them. Thanks for stopping by, Erin
I am just gonna come out and say it: Love your list, really, really don’t like your bonus. If you want to torture me let me listen to the Titanic tune. Even worse then kid whining. But Ramones, U2 and Dixie Chicks more then made up for it. Let’s go girls!!
Stasha recently posted..Monday Listicles
Ha! It was meant to be ironic, but glad the rest of the list worked for ya! Erin
Anything by Oasis is my fav way to road trip. I can stick on a CD and sing along at the top of my lungs. Very upbeat and a perfect way to keep those stupid yellow lines from hypnotizing you to sleep!
Jaclyn recently posted..A road trip home
Yes, a mixed tape (showing my age) is essential to any well laid-out road trip!
Yoli recently posted..Things I Hate Hearing While On The Road
If I’d stuck with these week’s topic, this is exactly what I would have done! #8 is my favorite one of these. I love listening to good music in the car!
Katie E recently posted..We’ve Moved!
Fun list. It made me want to update my playlist!
Now that you have your song list, I hope you have a road trip in your future.
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Oh, we have plenty of road trips coming up! Separately and together. Our summers are jammed packed in the best ways possible! Now we have a kickin’ soundtrack, too. Ellen
Your list is perfect. You can drive with me anytime!
I will even accept the bonus track, since a so darn perfect list calls for something kitschy to round it out.
RoryBore recently posted..Monday Listicles: On the Road
Thank you! You know, I think I would let anyone drive me even if the car was silent.
Titanic was purely tongue-in-cheek for my cruise week. Thanks for appreciating the kitsch! Ellen
Love your list! U2? Gypsy Kings? And, I love that song by the Proclaimers!
Fab list!!
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The Proclaimers are fantastic. Glad you agree. Erin
I love this list. I would add:
- Barenaked Ladies, “Be My Yoko Ono” (Well, actually, anything BNL.)
- Johnny Cash, “Get Rhythm”
- Devo, “Whip It!”
- Harry Belafonte, “The Body Line”
- Dexy’s Midnight Runners, “Come on Eileen”
Let me know if these make the list.
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We bow to your brilliance! I especially love “Whip It” and “Come on Eileen.” I would have loved “Troublemaker” by Weezer to be on the list too. We should have broken the rules and just kept on listing! To let you know how I roll, my main playlist on my iPod is called “60 minute Workout.” It is actually 4.5 hours long. I just keep adding. Maybe we could make this a regular summer feature. Let’s all join in! Ellen
I cannot believe I forgot Troublemaker—hope there is another list coming up that this would work for. Erin
I LOVE your additions. I had a Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” on one of my rough drafts, but “Get Rhythm” is better. And “Come on , Eileen” was MY song in college!! Love it, thanks, Erin
What a great playlist! Almost makes me want to go on a road trip!
I am so sad that we can’t this week. It made it hard to write the list. Hope you get a chance to road trip soon. Erin
Bamboleo – Gypsy Kings is a classic lol
Mama and the City recently posted..Bad Service Even In The Best Restaurants
I could listen to thunder road over & over!
Great list, now all you need is the open road!
Jackie recently posted..On the road again
I agree. ; ) Erin
You should know that I’m currently “driving” my couch to Bamboleo right now – what a forgotten classic. PS I regret to say that my couch-dancing is no better than my car-dancing. Probably worse because I’m wearing a nightie.
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Ha! I love that you couch dance. Erin
Some of these songs really brought back some memories! Especially “I’m Gonna Be”. Nice list!
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It was funny, but in my first couple of drafts there were more recent songs. For me, I guess it’s the oldies but goodies. Erin
Love your songs – having just returned from a trip that was a four hour drive away I totally agree that cool tunes make the time go quicker (and yours are my sort of tunes)
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So, what’s on your playlist?? My list will get me to, like, Baltimore. Erin
Awesome list! I love to sing along with Janis Joplin. “Oh lord won’t ya buy me…” I just love her voice. I would pick “Peace Frog” for the Doors though!
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OOH, that is a good one! Thanks! Erin