While it is stupidly easy to make a list of the greatest movies ever made, or the greatest books ever written (here’s a cryptip, Lord of the Rings is on both lists, but the first three spots on the film one are filled by Star Wars), it is nigh on impossible to come up with an inarguable compiling of the greatest songs of all time.
This hasn’t stopped Rolling Stone trying, however, and their effort has already made me more incensed than creationists who misuse the word “intelligent” by putting it next to “design”.
I don’t want to spoil the whole thing for you, but I will tell you that Bob Dylan has taken top spot on this occasionally laughable list. The fact that his song shares its name with the mag can only be a coincidence, surely.
Now Dylan might be your cup of tea with twigs in it, but I think he’s possibly more overrated than the entire HSV range and reality TV combined.
Sure, not every man can sing through his nose, with his lips welded shut, but being unique doesn’t make you great – just look at Grace Jones.
Still, I can almost live with that song making the top 10, if not number one (the Hurricane is clearly his best song, however) but I cannot believe that Aretha Franklin’s Respect also makes the upper echelon, along with What’s Going On, by someone whose name is Gaye.
I could go on, and in fact I will… Billie Jean, by a man who may or may not have human DNA, is number 58. How? Why?
At about this point you’re probably wondering what this all has to do with cars, so I’ll put you out of your head-shaking misery. What I want to know is, what are the greatest driving songs of all time?
It’s a very specific genre of music, the driving song. It has to make you tap your left foot on the footrest or, if you’re a poor driver, the clutch, or, if you’re an idiot, the brake.
It should also inspire you to sing, loudly and momentarily unashamedly (until someone else at the lights locks eyes with you) while at the wheel.
If I were to be non-PC, I would also suggest that it might make you drive faster than other songs.
I’m not after a top 500, a top 498 will do, but send in your nominations and I’ll tell you how right or wrong you are, based purely on my personal prejudices.
Obviously, there will be No Stairway.
Here are some suggestions to get you started: Freefalling, Tom Petty; Kickstart My Heart, Motley Crue; Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Jet; Drive My Car, The Beatles; I Get Around, The Beach Boys; Highway to Hell, AC/DC; Enter Sandman, Metallica; Keep on Loving You, REO Speedwagon.
None of these are my choices, they were purloined off my tin-eared colleagues, but it’s a place to start.
what ,i usually rip the speakers and the stereo out to gain a bit more speed and handling,stick your music up your b&m.
“Radar Love” was a hit by the Dutch rock band Golden Earring in 1973. Totally best driving song ever.
“Radar Love” was a hit by the Dutch rock band Golden Earring in 1973. Totally best driving song ever.
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=JeRa3RtBiIU&feature =related
This may appear twice, my first post didn’t work . . .
“Radar Love” was a hit by the Dutch rock band Golden Earring in 1973. Totally best driving song ever.
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=JeRa3RtBiIU&feature =related
This may appear three times, my first two posts didn’t work?!
If I had the time/could be bothered I’d list a whole bunch, but two of my favourites are:
Rock the Casbah; The Clash
Freebird; Lynyrd Skynyrd
Although Freebird tends to leave me air-guitaring rather than steering.
“Sweet home Alabama”, by I-can’t-remember-who-but- will-look-it-up-soon. The opening tones roll down my windows automatically, and the highway changes into a stretch of desert with no idiot drivers in sight, just heat-thrilled air and oh, did I mention the sun is at its highest? Taptap-tadaa-tedapdap-dad aa….
Jack & Dianne. John Cougar Mellencamp.Yes I know that’s not his name anymore.
OR
Another Brick In The Wall part 3. Pink Floyd.
This is also based on my own personal prejudices.
REO SPEEDWAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!-yo ur kidding arent you!
when i was a younger bloke you could be garotted for playing that!!
How about-Long road to ruin(foo fighters)
Love will tear us apart(Joy Division.)
yes Dylan is the most overrated anything ever!!
Classics: Anything from Steely Dan – FM, Hey Nineteen etc.
If you’re more into electro-music definitely it’s Kraftwerk – Aerodynamik, Neon Lights ( when driving during the night )
Wacky and fun: B-52’s – Rock Lobster, Dirty Back Road etc.
From Steely Dan – FM, Hey Nineteen etc. >>> Kraftwerk – Aerodynamik, Neon Lights etc. >>> B52’s – Rock Lobster, Dirty Back Road etc.
All my life, Foo Fighters;
Everyday Formula, Regurgitator;
(Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind, Powderfinger;
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana;
Song 2, Blur;
Shazam!, Spiderbait;
Black Night, Deep Purple;
Hercules, Midnight Oil;
Superstition, Stevie Wonder;
Lost Control, Grinspoon;
Roadhouse Blues, The Doors;
Don’t Stop, Fleetwood Mac;
Diesel moan, Mental As Anything; and
Satisfaction, Rolling Stones.
Jail Break by AC/DC would have to be up there with the best of them. it’s just brilliant to drive along to! It has a great bass line to drive in rythm with. Oh and speaking of that stupid rolling stone list!!! how can they leave Michael Jackson at 58??? The man made thriller….THRILLER and beat it and billy jean. oh and Stephen your not the only one who thinks Bob Dylan is an overrated pillock who is only remembered because of useless films with Cate Blanchett and the like.
Great topic!
Just please tell us that REO Speedwagon was a joke… Really?
How about Won’t get fooled again by The Who?
Or Achilles’ Last Stand by Led Zep.
No Way Back by the Foo Fighters is also great for driving.
my fav is anything by the Chilli Peppers. How’d they not get a mention
Does this work
Umm what has this to do with cars
Something wrong with the commenting feature? I know mine didn’t get through, and by the looks of it, not a whole lot of others did either.
Quick re-run: Sweet Home Alabama, by can’trememberwho, key words wide open desert, windows rolling down automatically upon hearing taptaptadaa, tadapdapdadaa etc. Ah, so GOOD!
Gotta have ‘Born to be Wild’, ‘Ka Sahn’, Acca Dacca music, Queen, Cold Chisel.
I disagree with your comments on Billy Jean – it’s a great sing along song.
Long time ago, Time Life released a CD with pure car music (according to them) on it. They’d market the thing in one of those all-night blabla direct marketing features you watch on tv when you’ve been drinking too much to be able to sleep. Most of it was great stuff indeed; I found myself drinking too much just to not be able to sleep so I could watch the ad. Sadly, collateral drinking damage resulted in me forgetting most of the songs. God I miss those younger days.
Black Betty, Spider Bait
Khe Sanh, I can’t believe someone mentioned that. Dear god, I HATE that song. When I become president I’m going to send the police around to every pub in the country to smash the juke boxes and remove that awful thing.
AC/DC though, absolutely, virtually everything they’ve ever done.
And I’m thinking this morning, La Grange by ZZ Top. And I like Hercules, Midnight Oil.
I didn’t know we could post YouTubes, how fabulous.
I don’t know how to do it but I suggest you all vist this one:
Okay, so we’re listening to the full 500 list in the office right now and we’ve just heard Born to Run by Bruuuuuce. It’s a definite for the driving list.
Annemarie – Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard.
Just to throw in another one what about George Thorogood – Blue Highway, Treat Her Right, You Talk Too Much, Get A Haircut. While I’m at it I will throw in Led-Zep Immigrant Song & Rock n Roll. This could be alot easier if we were just asked for bands/singers Corbs.
No he wasnt joking about speedwagon!! (but he will try and say so)
Who sings “gimme some luvin” its always a track in american car movies
Oh and spanau tango – your a tosser arent you??
Gimme Some Lovin, from The Blues Brothers? Or Gimme All Your Loving, by ZZ Top?
REO Speedwagon, Keeeeep On Loving You, I think it just might make the list.
How can REO Sportswagon be great driving music when you are always having to pull over and puke?
Try “Rush You” by the Baby Animals instead.
I’m not such a fan of Jimmy Barnes, but I do like Driving Wheels, by Jimmy. Also, Crosstown Traffic, by Jimi Hendrix is great to listen to while stuck in traffic.
Listening to Route 66, by Nat King Cole, makes me want to fly to the US and A, rent an open-top Mustang for a week, and go driving. High Five!
Probably my favourite songs on my ipod are John Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival. Not much to do with cars, but here is Born on the Bayou.
So here you all are…
black dog,yes i am if you mean tossing 6 x5kg speakers in to the toilet.
Bat Out of Hell,Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf
ok then ,what about waterloo by abba.
spandau tango, what about it?
I’m pretty pissed off with you to be honest. After reading your post roughly an hour ago, I have hummed that stupid song to myself ever since. Not impressed.
And Hi! Betty Blue. I just can’t remember if you were a nice Betty Blue or a psycho??! It wasn’t you who mailed underwear to Corby previously was it? Or were you the blogger with the sexy undertones, who some suspected to be Anita Quigley? My deepest apologies if neither of these characters was not you. . . . . .
Good grief, Betty Blue! She Who Went to Lunch with Corby’s Superiors! The only woman Corby would change his itinerary for in order to avoid bumping into her on the street! Someone alert Malibu A.S.A.P!
G.O.M. – Lynard Skynard, really? Thought it was something more boring and down to earth, like Boston. Although the chorus of More Than a Feeling tends to make me right foot quite heavy, too.
Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley by Robert Palmer is pleasant on long trips as well.
And Spandau Tango: no, no, no, as far as Waterloo is concerned. Good for 70ies style dancing surrounded by drunk gays once a year, but you’d have to sell your car after you played it. Except no-one would buy it after that.
Make that “burn” your car.
Was Betty Blue the mystery woman from my old office who never identified herself? Que straange.
More Than A Feeling, definitely. What riff. Came in at number 500 in that Rolling Stone list, I think.
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Don’t Stop me now – Queen
Mr Brightside – The Killers
Town Called Mailce – The Jam (Not because of a particular relevance to driving, just because it should be included on any list of great songs)
….and 494 others can come after thes 4 in any order
Steely Dan – Hey Nineteen, FM… to B52′S – Dirty Back Road, Give Me Back My Man… The Cars – Touch and Go, Good Times Roll… lovers of electro sound Kraftwerk – Aerodynamik, Neon Lights…
Cover Of The Rolling Stone – Dr Hook.
Turn Up Your Radio – Masters Apprentices.
Hello I Love You – The Doors.
Fuel – Metallica
Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple.
Meatloaf? Reo Speedhump? Nat King Cole?
Trying to make us crash by putting us to sleep?
Or just pull over to puke?
Anything by Paul Oakenfold, I say. And The Sunshine Underground, by The Chemical Brothers.
Yes it is Mr Corby and I am not strange.
My favorite driving songs (very different from my favourite songs) are:
“Radar Love” – Golden Earring;
“Deathwish” – The Police;
“My Favorite Game” – The Cardigans;
“I Like the Way You Move” – Body Rockers.
annemarie you might be right.where is my friend deit 41,i need you to explain what annemarie is saying ?
Hey look! A link that has nothing to do with the topic. It’s lots of funny but.
http://www.noisebot.com/? gclid=CPOn7qTEu5oCFQjyego d0U8adQ
Izza easy, Spandau Tango. You playa Waddaloo, you burna da car. Cozza noboddy wonnit.
And yeah, I have to admit that one of the few excellent things da Netherlands have brought forth other than meself is Radar Love. Also, there’s a lottof Alannah Myles that would get a car to accelerate all by itself.
i just realised something,if we all rode bikes you guys would be on honda gold wings or suzuki borgmans scooters with earphones listening the stereo and i would be on a yzf ,ninja or a fireblade doing 200+kmph wheelstands.
spandau, there is more to life than doin it fast. You might learn that when you grow up.
Wrong, Spandau Riverdance: I’d be the one hammering your helmet and screaming “Slow down!”
A Honda Gold Wing. How insulting! And coming from a man who listens to “Waterloo” in his car! IF you’re gonna listen to ABBA, at least put on something that doesn’t make your car hipshake sideways. Try “Summer Night City” or “On and on and on” or sumfin’!
Hi Annemarie, you can hammer my helmet anytime you like. Tell me to slow down, uh huh yeahhhh ok. We can even do it to Waterloo if ya want.
You and your twin-sister. Nice.
But no way on a Honda Gold Wing, Lil’ Bits! I’ve got too much chick in me to get onto one of those! Dressed.
Does anyone know from experience who one ends up on a Honda Gold Wing? I mean, you’ve been doing some cool brand all your life and all of a sudden you find yourself signing a sales contract for a car without doors? Does it require the death of ones grandmother? My guy owns a BMW 1200RT. Am I at risk?
There’s a lot of bad grammar in me last post, sorry. I’m celebrating Norway’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with a bottle of wine and no human company (my guy’s straight), that’s why. With the topic being music, I thought I could enter that bit of info. Don’t wake up, anyone.
annemarie,did you watch the abba movie after eurovision,me too wasnt it great,.and little one, are you tossing????if so i might join you,,,there goes 1 speaker,there goes 2speaker,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
Well this is just what I can think of right now:
Obviously anything by AC/DC (or Airbourne for that matter)
Ace of Spades – Motorhead
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
Long Road to Ruin – Foo Fighters (actually a lot of their stuff works for me, but that one stands out)
Paradise City – Guns n Roses (or anything else from Appetite for Destruction, brilliant album)
Dreams – Van Halen (again a lot of their other stuff works too)
Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf (sue me)
Aces High – Iron Maiden
Now I know many elitists and music snobs will get all worked up about this, but why no Stairway to Heaven? It’s certainly not the best driving song, but I challenge anyone not to get caught up in the last 2 minutes of it: it always starts with tapping the steering wheel as the solo comes in, before throwing the head back and singing along as Plant belts out that last section. Just epic.
Spandau Chachacha, no, I didn’t see the Abba movie! It was hard enough to get a view of the ESC as it was – had to resort to the internet – as three months into Spanish living we still don’t have tv. Which I recommend, by the way.
Anyway, hope you’re not talking about “Mama Mia”, with Meryl Streep and God knows who else. I tried watching that once, but had to switch dvd’s about five minutes into the movie because it was just DREADFUL.
Having said that, “Dancing Queen” would make my right foot pretty heavy too on an open stretch of highway. There. I admitted it. Bring on your Gold Wing jokes.
annemarie,no abba did a movie when they toured oz,it was a comedy,sbs seems to show it once a year,so i dont have to buy the dvd,dont have any gold wing jokes but the latest model has an air bag and a heated seat ,the heated seat could end the human race as it would lower the sperm count in men and sometimes in women also,which would make the gold wing a weapon of mass destruction.
Nah, Spandau, the heated seat wouldn’t make much of a difference for the world population, seeing as how those who ride Gold Wings have already lost their reproductive capabilities ages ago.
The idea of a bike with air bag and heated seat is a scream though! I guess we’ll live to see the day when you can have a dvd-player installed as well, so that the passenger will have something to do in between yawning. The screen would be installed in the drivers jacket’s back.
Already have DVD players on bikes Annemarie. Mate of mine has a slide away job custom mounted behind the fairing of his bike. Might not be much good to the passenger & tobe honest I don’t know that it is any good for the rider either but none the less he has had it done. It’s a Goldwing too.
Isn’t it wonderful how stereotypes, no matter how much we loathe them and refrain from using them (HAHAHAHA!), are always and absolutely true?! A Goldwing with a dvd-player, tsk!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get flithy rich. I smell a niche for jackets with tv screens in the back.
The DOORS whiskey bar
Responsible driver & Whiskey Bar. Are we sure those things belong in the same sentence?
Good song tho.
Disturbed – Meaning Of Life.
Many of you may not of heard of them but they are a good heavy metal band. I’m an AC/DC & Metallica fan, so that should tell you they arn’t shite screamers.
They also do good covers of Shout – Tears For Fears, Land Of Confusion – Phil Collins.
The covers are way better than the originals even. If you like hard rock do yourselves a favour and listen to some of Disturbed’s music. I promise you will like alot of it.
Oh yeah add in Copperhead Road & Snake Oil – Steve Earl
Grease lightning
Buck Rodgers-Feeder
Nuf said…
Actually just a day-feeder, In My Head-Queens of the Stone Age, Give it All-Rise Against, Getting Away with Murder-Papa roach, Paranoid-Black Sabbath, Shatter-Feeder. I picked most of these songs cause I got them on Car video games and I like driving to them. Some were taken from driving CD’s.
i think music will always depend on the person but a few songs that come to my mind are
ACDC-Hells Bells
Led Zeplin-Stairway to heaven
Linkin Park-Numb
Offspring-Gone Away
There are more but these are classics that come to my mind i don’t agree with bushby those only cover the 90’s and music has been going around scince the stone age so he would have to cover a wider range hey i like there music but classics comon
I’d also add “The Distance” – Cake
Just watched your show about top driving songs and it bought to mind my speeding ticket from a few years ago while steadily putting down the accelerator to “Electric Light Orchestra” – “Mr Blue Sky”.
Cheers
Top Gear shouldnt have sold the rights to Channel Nine in Australia. It was fine on Channel SBS.
You Guys are sell outs. I know I wont be watching your show once it moves to CH Nine. Im sure I wont be the only one either.
Its a perfect example of the Big guys pushing around the small guys.
Thanks again for F@#$ING SELLING OUT!!!!
From the Truth Fairy.
Great story as for me. I’d like to read a bit more about this topic. Thanx for posting that info.
Joan Stepsen
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