The two sacred words road trip are really code for time. Time to have snacks and conversation, to point out billboard humor and license plate awe. Political podcasts or Mrs. Doubtfire on minivan tvs, the options are endless! The king of life in the car, however, will always be music. The vastness of song could fill years of road trip hours, swaying between genres, artists, and vibes like a winding highway, speeding toward the horizon. Keep reading for three ways to up your road trip listening game and cruise through the mileage like a breeze.
Back before the world of online streaming, albums were listened to top to bottom with no option to shuffle. This style remains a beloved way to consume music, but more specifically, it can be a lovely way to listen to a movie or musical soundtrack. Therefore, you can be immersed in a musical fantasy that is even more imaginative for the vibrant visuals and plot-line that are associated with the tracks. A top recommendation for the most singable soundtrack is the 1975 cult-classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where the flaming styles of Tim Curry and company soar like a silky current, bringing your car ride to life and glamor, passing the time with a story.
Next, matching the music to the atmosphere of the trip is a great way to feel connected with your route and fully indulge in your experience, your surroundings. The car window is a mighty tool on long travels, feeding the eye with endless roadside entertainment, a sense that can only be amplified by a musical background to match the outdoor energy. On a road trip through cities, where one may face more traffic, upbeat rap tunes are a good option to keep the attention span up when the car may be stopping and starting with less open-road momentum. The lyrical concentration is a more joyous thing to focus on, bringing the car together in a celebratory attempt to sing along. In a rural setting, country music is a classic mood setter. Odes to the very dust and sunset that may surround your car are not uncommon subject matters of country tunes, with gravelly voices that perfectly accompany a contemplative drive through the middle of nowhere. What says free-spirit like some Shania Twain?
A third way to allow your designated time in the car to transform into a creative wonderland is getting in the groove of a different decade. The car morphs into a time machine, catapulting everyone in the vehicle back to Britney Spears’ dance beats from the 90s or Nina Simone’s silky songs of the 60s. In combination with using a specific time period, a useful method is generative playlists on platforms like Spotify. Tuning into a radio station will provide you with tracks you may be familiar with, but will also turn you onto new songs related to what you are interested in, opening a new door of listening, perfect timing with hours of asphalt to spare.
On your next road trip, be sure to try out one of these methods. Or, even craft a fabulously unique playlist just for that specific drive, whatever makes that time valuable and most-enjoyed. Road trips are a beautiful opportunity for both stillness and movement, the perfect place to sit amongst music and feel it all out.
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