GROW WITH SARAH GRACE

In the beginning of the Summer of 2021, a few of my friends and I decided to take a road trip down to Florida. We drove the distance in one day, both ways and took turns driving. There was one rule for the trip: “the driver always gets the aux”.

This rule scared the living crap out of me. I looked around at those in the car and realized that my taste in music isn’t exactly their cup of tea. I didn’t want to lose my aux privileges when it was my turn to drive so I immediately started the mission to make the perfect playlist for a road trip. 

As I scrambled to find the perfect mix of songs to keep everyone entertained, I knew there were a few things that I should keep in mind while making the playlist so I’m going to share my newfound wisdom. 

UPBEAT SONGS ARE BEST

Okay for starters, if not all of them, a majority of them have to be upbeat songs. The only exception is if there is a popular or groovy “sad” song that you know everyone will know. A good example of this kind of song would be something like “Gotta Go My Own Way” from High School Musical or “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus. Both of these songs are popular enough to be “okay” in this context. (Of course, make sure the people in the car actually watched High School Musical or that will be awkward.) 

A MAJORITY OF THE CAR HAS TO LIKE THE SONG

Another thing to consider is that everyone or at least a majority of the car has to know or like the song being played. Now not everyone is going to know every song but if you’ve won ¾ of the car, I think you did alright. Another thing to remember is that not everyone is going to like or “vibe” with every song but if they know it and still mumble the lyrics, you won them over somewhat so take it. 

YOU AREN’T GOING TO WIN THEM ALL

Thirdly, remember that the perfect playlist doesn’t exist. Someone is going to have an issue so don’t try too hard. It’s okay to skip a song if you notice that the car isn’t really vibing with the song choice. Sometimes, people’s moods change and they might love one song one day but the next, aren’t in the mood to scream the lyrics to “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo – okay let’s be honest, when aren’t you in the mood for that song?

MAKE YOUR PLAYLIST LOOOOONNNNNGGG

Finally, you should always overshoot the number of songs you have in the playlist. Just think about it, if someone doesn’t like a song and you skip it, it’s nice to have plenty of plan b’s before you run out of songs. It’s much better to have a 19 hour long playlist rather than it being two hours into your shift and your playlist is done. Then what will fill the awkward silence between teenagers who have nothing to talk about? 

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about genres and some examples. Below, I have made a little guide of some good genres and 10 examples to consider for your road trip playlist. 

Decades:

1. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee (70s)
2. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA (70s)
3. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen (70s)
4. “I wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston (80s)
5. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (80s)
6. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson (80s)
7. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! (80s)
8. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls (90s)
9.  “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys (90s)
10. “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (90s)

Early 2000’s:

1. “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC
2. “Toxic” by Britney Spears
3. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
4. “Crazy In Love” by Beyoncé (feat. Jay-Z)
5. “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg (feat. Pharell Williams)
6. “Umbrella” by Rhianna (feat. Jay-Z)
7. “Get The Party Started” by P!nk
8. “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira (feat. Wyclef Jean)
9. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
10.  “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga

Country:

1. “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts
2. “Meant To Be” by Bebe Rexha (feat. Florida Georgia Line)
3. “Whiskey Glasses” by Morgan Wallen
4. “Tequila” by Dan + Shay
5. “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Combs
6. “House Party” by Sam Hunt
7. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
8. “Play It Again” by Luke Bryan
9. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood
10. “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett

Rap:

1. “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
2. “Life is Good” by Future (feat. Drake)
3. “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion (feat. Beyoncé)
4. “Rockstar” by DaBaby (feat. Roddy Rich)
5. “Bad and Boujee” by Migos
6. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
7. “Whats Poppin” by Jack Harlow
8. “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott
9. “WAP” by Cardi B (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
10. “Roxanne” by Arizona Zervas

Tik Tok  Songs: 

1. “Super Freaky Girl” by Nicki Mina
2. “Betty (Get Money)” by Yung Gravy
3. “What You Know Bout Love” by Masked Wolf
4. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
5. “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa
6. “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
7. “BILLIE EILISH” by Armani White
8. “STAY” by Justin Bieber & The Kid Laroi
9. “Pink Venom” by BLACKPINK
10. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa

One Direction:

1. “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction
2. “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
3. “Slow Hands” by Niall Horan
4. “Live While You’re Young” by One Direction
5. “Strip That Down” by Liam Payne (feat. Quavo)
6. “Best Song Ever” by One Direction
7. “Pillowtalk” by ZAYN
8. “Kiss You” by One Direction
9. “Golden” by Harry Styles
10. “Back To You” by Louis Tomlinson (feat. Bebe Rexha)

Disney/Nickelodeon:

1. “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from Toy Story
2. “Year 3000” by Jonas Brothers
3. “Party In the USA” by Miley Cyrus
4. “Nobody’s Perfect ” by Hannah Montana
5. “Breaking Free” from High School Musical
6. “Freak The Freak Out” from Victorious
7. “Boyfriend” by Big Time Rush
8. “Who Says” by Selena Gomez
9. “He Could Be The One” by Hannah Montana
10. “Let it Go” from Frozen

Popular Artists:

1. Shawn Mendes – “Señorita” (& Camila Cabello), “Lost in Japan”, “Stitches”
2. Olivia Rodrigo- “Good 4 U”, “Driver’s License”, “Brutal” 
3. Justin Bieber – “Baby”, “Boyfriend”, “Love Yourself”, “Peaches”
4. Kesha – “Tik Tok”, “Die Young”, “Crazy Kids” 
5. Katy Perry – “Firework”, “Roar”, “Hot N Cold”, “Last Friday Night”  
6. Halsey – “Closer” (feat. Chainsmokers), “Without Me”
7. Macklemore – “Good Ole Days”, “Thrift Shop” (& Ryan Lewis)
8. Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi”, “Poker Face”, “Bad Romance”
9. Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”, “You Belong With Me”, “Shake It Off”, “Bad Blood”
10. Lizzo – “Truth Hurts”, “Good As Hell”, “Rumors”, “Juice”

These examples are of course just options and you can pick whatever you feel will fit the crowd you’re traveling with. I just know personally that these genres or categories are a great way to start the playlist off and then you can find what songs you like. You’d be surprised what songs you can discover or forget about when you are looking for good options.

Ironically, after a long drive from Florida to Ohio, I actually never got behind the wheel on my summer road trip with friends. Even if I never got to use the 12 hour and 51 minute long playlist I slaved over, I know it will be put to use on another occasion!