Road Trippin’
DIY Jil Sander-inspired veiled beanie, fiancee’s sunglasses and Honda S2000
For the past few months, Chris and I have spent our Friday nights in either his car or mine pootling about the UK, whether it be to Hampshire to visit our parents and plan wedding stuff or the long journey to Devon involving multiple holiday traffic jams. This weekend we’re driving to Calais with some friends for a weekend of sunshine, seaside and the purchasing of wine. Road trip!
Chris loves to drive his little Honda S200, so my essential role is to fire up my iPod and become the passenger seat DJ. Over the years I have created hours and hours of playlists for us to while away long car journeys, and so it seemed oddly fitting when MoneySupermarket invited me to create my Ultimate Driving Playlist. I have raided the songbooks of my favourite artists of the moment to produce my definitive list of classics designed to add a bit of sparkle to any long car journey. So let’s fire up the engine and get this show on the road/stuck in a traffic jam.
1) Bruce Springsteen, Promised Land
No driving playlist of mine is complete without Bruce; I have been listening to his music since I was a child thanks to my Mum’s amazing collection of vinyl. A wise man called
2) Diane Birch, Valentino
This song is sunshine, smiles and just perfect for singing along to. Also not to shabby for a wee passenger seat boogie!
3) Mahalia Jackson, Didn’t It Rain
Everyone is always surprised how much I love gospel music, given my complete lack of religion, but Mahalia is one of my idols. Not called “The Queen of Gospel” for nothing, her voice is amazingly powerful, and if that wasn’t enough she was a prominent American civil rights campaigner. She once said “I sing God’s music because it makes me feel free, it gives me hope.” I may not have her religious feelings (although I completely respect them), but I know how amazing the freedom of singing feels.
4) Kenny Loggins, Higway to the Danger Zone
“Too close for missiles, I’m switching to guns.” Nuff said.
5) Judas Priest, Breakin’ The Law
This is one for Chris, it is the opening track of a driving playlist that he put together for us not so long ago, and it puts a massive grin on his face whenever he hears it. And as he is my driving buddy that playlist has to accomodate both our tastes!
6) Billy Joel, For the Longest Time
If you can listen to this AMAZING song without tapping a toe, or singing along just a little bit, then your ears are made of bread.
7) Rage Against The Machine, Sleep Now In The Fire
One of my work colleagues was shocked to discover how much I like Rage Against the Machine, but that’s just how it is. It’s always the quiet, girly lookin’ ones! Seeing Tom Morello play live at last year’s Hard Rock Calling was one of my favourite musical experiences.
8) Palace of Justice, Memories and Desires
This song was the soundtrack to my recent holiday in Cornwall, with its relaxed beat and chilled out summery vibe – perfect for pootling around country lanes with a car boot full of surfboards! And what kind of sister would I be if I didn’t plug my baby brother’s band just a teensy bit? You can download this song, and their other albums here.
9) Train, Meet Virginia
Not as famous as Drops of Jupiter, Hey Soul Sister or even the more recent Drive By, but this is one of my favourite Train songs. And in my book a long car journey has to have a little Train.
10) Bruce Springsteen, Badlands
I told you I love Bruce! Being in the crowd at a gig for this song is an experience I don’t have words for. I had to include this version, because I was in the crowd for this gig, and I still get shivers down my spine thinking about it. The atmosphere was electric, and it was the last London show that saxophonist Clarence Clemons performed before his tragic death in 2011.
So there you have it, my top ten for car journeys, guaranteed to make the summer holiday traffic jams fly by. What would make it onto your playlist?
This post was sponsored by MoneySupermarket.
