Build The Ultimate Playlist And We’ll Reveal The Perfect Road Trip
- by Ricky Bambuto
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Time to dust off our old road tripping hats, stock the trunk with lots of snacks and sandwiches, and of course, ensure that the gas tank is filled to the brim. We're about to scale the open road, soaking in the sights as much as we can while honoring basic driving safety tenets. It'll be the trip of a lifetime, no doubt about it. There's only one problem - we have no idea where we're going.
There's actually another, much more dire problem - no one prepared a playlist for the trip! This just won't do. What's a road trip without a playlist and a destination?
Thankfully, we can solve both these issues in one fell swoop, with this nifty little quiz of ours. As we go through it, we'll be building the ultimate playlist song by song. And, depending on the musical numbers chosen here, we'll whittle down the ultimate road trip destination, and head right for it promptly.
Sound like a plan? Of course it does. Soon we'll be out on the road, ditching our cares one by one with every accumulated mile, the world's most beloved tracks of all time serving as the soundtrack. What a day this turned out to be.
Add or skip Smooth - Santana ft. Rob Thomas
There’s no better way to start a road trip than with this smooth track, coincidentally titled Smooth. Allow the sleek solos, arpeggios and chord strikes from Mr. Carlos Santana to take the trip wherever it needs to go. He’s one of the best guitarists ever, for sure.
Add or skip Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
Let's move this quiz along with a real bang - or a thud, depending on personal taste. Party Rock Anthem is one of the highest charting songs in recent history, which makes it a solid contender for a road trip playlist.
Add or skip Little Red Corvette - Prince
Whether the road trip is taking place in a little red corvette or not, it's hard no to be tempted to jam this track between pit stops. Prince is an all time classic musician, with many potential road trip staples under his belt.
Add or skip Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
During those moments when the energy of the road trip takes a turn for the mellow, perhaps during a beautiful sunset, it helps to play slow, soothing pop ballads like Fade Into You. Who better than Mazzy Star to narrate the trip?
Add or skip Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
If this track comes on at some point during the trip, don't be tempted to drive faster. Remember, safety first - especially during a long road trip. That said, feel free to relax as Tracy Chapman narrates her own fast car experience.
Add or skip Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
Bono wants to run - he wants to hide, where the streets have no name. Hopefully the streets of the road trip in question do have a name, otherwise it will be hard to figure out exactly where on Earth we're going.
Add or skip Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
There's no need to have Alabama as the ultimate destination in order to play this old pop banger. In fact, one might argue that this song is perfect for any road trip at all. Though, others might argue the opposite.
Add or skip Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns n' Roses
There's nothing like ripping through the open road with a classic diddy like Sweet Child O' Mine playing loud. This is one of those tracks that need to be played loud, with the windows cranked all the way down.
Add or skip Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton John gifted the world a hundred times over when she released Physical, arguably her most well known and well loved tracks. Try it out on a road trip, and it suitability to the environment becomes quite clear.
Add or skip Hey Jude - The Beatles
Let's go back - way back, back in time. Okay, not that far back - if you see dinosaurs, you need to come closer to present day. There we go - the 1960's, when The Beatles reigned supreme. Hey Jude sounds perfect for a road trip.
Add or skip In da Club - 50 Cent
Here's a nice change of pace - In da Club by 50 Cent. Sure, no road trip takes place in da club, but just listen to the rhythm of this classic hip hop track. How can it not make the open road more welcoming?
Add or skip Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
This is where the road trip hits its most intense stride - perhaps we just cleared a heavy bout of traffic, and the open highway beckons to our lead foot once more. Time to put the pedal to the medal and watch the road with the eye of the tiger.
Add or skip We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
Rihanna has songs for almost every occasion, including road trips. Really, a playlist can't be considered ultimate without her inclusion, and that's an objective opinion. Calvin Harris' beats only help further our case.
Add or skip Every Breath You Take - The Police
The Police, lead by front man Sting, really succeeded in making a miraculous track when they released Every Breath You Take to the world some decades back. Does this song belong in the ultimate playlist, or does it not?
Add or skip ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
Everyone knew this option would be coming eventually, though it might not have been clear when. Well, here it is now - ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is some people's.
Add or skip Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio ft. L.V.
Time to step up the gangsta level of this quiz with this little diddy by Coolio and L.V. - Gangsta's Paradise. Whether a person has lived in a Gangsta's Paradise or not, this song is fun to listen to while road tripping, for sure.
Add or skip Rolling in the Deep - Adele
When Adele released Rolling in the Deep, the world wasn't even close to being ready for her. Such powerful vocals backed by such solid song writing was enough to put us all in our places, which is exactly where we were put.
Add or skip Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
Let's go back some ways in time, back when Queen reigned over the world. Few other bands have as many all time classics under their name as this one, though Another One Bites the Dust is undoubtedly one of their best.
Add or skip Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
A much more recent hit, though arguably almost as much of a classic as the last, Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe is coming in hot as the 19th entry of this quiz. This song might be perfect for a road trip, though it might not be as well.
Add or skip Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is among the greatest bands to have ever hit the studio, depending on which friendly neighborhood quiz maker is being asked. Regardless, one can't help but agree that Keep the Car Running is a super suitable road trip track.
Add or skip Tik Tok - Ke$ha
This quiz wouldn't be close to complete without a feature from Ke$ha, so here she is. Everyone's favorite money pop goddess gave us a great road trip track when she released Tik Tok some years back. The clock is ticking - add this one or skip it.
Add or skip I'm a Believer - Smashmouth
Most of us heard I'm a Believer for the first time back when we saw the first Shrek movie, where this song served as the epic closing number. Since then, it's become an all time classic, and Smashmouth have become gods.
Add or skip Royals - Lorde
Royals might have been one of Lorde's earliest, breakthrough tracks, but many fans might argue that it remains one of her best. There's something about the offbeat groove and rhythm in this one that makes for a great road trip number.
Add or skip Happy - Pharrell Williams
For happy road trippers, there's definitely some room on the ultimate playlist for Pharrell Williams' Happy. Even those who don't find themselves in a jovial mood can get there quite quickly after listening to this one.
Add or skip Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
Once again, let's put a coin in the jukebox and go back in time some ways, back when The Rolling Stones were on top of the world. Sympathy for the Devil is one of their greatest hits, and one of music history's ultimate tracks, for sure.
Add or skip You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette dominated 90's era sound with her unique take on moody pop music. There might be no better example of her signature style than her vocal performance in You Oughta Know. Should this one be added or skipped out on?
Add or skip We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey might not have released a new track in some time, but she's done more than enough good musical work in her career to deserve as long a break as she wants. We Belong Together is one of the best tracks ever, right?
Add or skip I've Been Everywhere - Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is pulling out the guitar, practicing for an epic performance of I've Been Everywhere. It's obvious how much this classic track fits into the road trip setting, though it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Add or skip Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
We could have included any of Michael Jackson's tracks as a potential ultimate playlist number, but we went with arguably his most famous - Billie Jean. Billie Jean is not his lover, but she might be a good song for a road trip.
Add or skip Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi has stepped out onto the stage in our virtual playlist world, making his case for the inclusion of Livin' on a Prayer. Some people love this song, others hate it, and still others lie somewhere in between. Should it be added or skipped?
Add or skip Uptown Funk! - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Humble Bruno Mars is here to take the road trip where it need to go - uptown! What's that? We're not going uptown? Well, this song might be worth an add anyway, since it's an absolute banger. Though some tend to disagree.
Add or skip Yeah! - Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris
When Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris burst out onto the scene with this instant classic back in the early 2000's, the club scene was never the same again. The road trip scene, however, has remained largely the same. Add this or skip it.
Add or skip Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Let's go retro once again, since no road trip is complete without at least a few blasts from the past. Journey deserves a pat on the back for making this one, since it's remained so fresh even after all these years. Right or wrong?
Add or skip Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
Let's go even further back than Journey - back when the world was all in black and white. Okay, that never really happened as far as we know, but what we do know is that The Beach Boys tend to make some smooth music.
Add or skip Without Me - Eminem
Eminem says that it feels so empty without him, and we can't help but agree. A playlist might seem complete, but it's missing a certain something without Em - at least, according to him. Let's see if this one is worth adding.
Add or skip 500 Miles - The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers are more than happy to walk 500 miles - then 500 more - to fall right at a certain lucky lady's door. Thankfully, there's no need for us to walk that far - this road trip is taking place in a car, by the grace of the gods.
Add or skip I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
In their hey day, no musical act could really touch The Black Eyed Peas, what with the combined chi of each extremely talented band member. Still today, their music can't help but get the dance floor moving, even during a road trip.
Add or skip Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Changing the pace somewhat - though keeping things super road trip and ultimate playlist relevant - we have Scar Tissue by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the best rock tracks of all time for sure. Everyone agrees with that.
Add or skip Dream On - Aerosmith
This is another track that's often brought up as one of rock's best, though we'd say the acclaim isn't quite as universal as the last. Despite that, this always makes for a welcome number in a playlist, especially during a road trip.
Add or skip More Than a Feeling - Boston
Although Boston is a great band, their discography as a whole wouldn't have been considered quite as timeless as it now is if they'd have never recorded this little diddy. More Than a Feeling sounds great while on the open road - doesn't it?
Add or skip All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor has infiltrated our quiz, saying things like, "I've had it with all these rock n roll performers", etc. While she's in the midst of her rant, and one of her most famous tracks are playing, let's see if we'll add or skip it.
Add or skip Hey Ya - Outkast
Outkast, like Boston, are a talented act that have a great discography, and Hey Ya is their More Than a Feeling. Show us one human being who doesn't like this track, and we'll show you an extraterrestrial entity, no doubt about it.
Add or skip Back in Black - AC/DC
AC/DC is here - they're back, and clad in the darkest of colors. This type of music isn't for everyone, but that just might be what makes it sound so good to the ears of those who enjoy it. What that even means, we're not even sure.
Add or skip Red Red Wine - Bob Marley
Remember, safety first while roadtripping - do not drink red wine while driving, especially if it's red red wine. That said, you can enjoy the sweet sounds of the song by Bob Marley while cruising down the open highway. Add this!
Add or skip Beautiful Day - U2
If it's a beautiful day out there, there's no better way to celebrate it than by doing something fun with U2's Beautiful Day playing in the background. Something about the sounds in this one screams happiness, at least for those able to hear it.
Add or skip Coldplay - Clocks
The members of Coldplay really hit a stroke of genius when they made Clocks, a track that's been recognized as easily one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Thank the gods for music like this, though some take a different opinion.
Add or skip I Know You Want Me - Pitbull
Pitbull has shown up in a suit, which is perhaps his way of telling the rest of these performers to dress better for the occasion next time. Bold talk considering his contemporaries here, but of course this is a pitbull we're talking about.
Add or skip Electric Feel - MGMT
Here are the two legendary members of MGMT, standing awkwardly close to each other while looking away. Despite the strangeness pictured here, MGMT are a super cool band an Electric Feel is a super cool track.
Add or skip High and Dry - Radiohead
What better way to start closing a road trip off with High and Dry, one of the best "daytime" tracks by Radiohead. Since they're the best band of all time, adding this one to the ultimate playlist should be pretty easy.
Add or skip Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna
Of course, we're not quite done with the road trip just yet, so Rihanna is telling us to shut up and drive. Fine, we'll do just that, though we're not thrilled about it... anyway, one more time, let's see if we should add or skip this one.
