Assignment 23 - Elizabeth Moore - Not your grandmother's playlist... wait no it definitely is

The perfect playlist for a drive through the country (with a retro twist : D )

It’s that kind of day all the country singers reminisce about. The sun is up, but it’s not too hot to roll down the windows as you tackle the rolling hills of the country just outside your hometown in your trusty SUV. The perfect summer’s day for a drive through the countryside with the wind in your hair. And this is the perfect playlist to accompany such an experience. It’s my logic that in the most recent decade, forms of entertainment as simple as going for a drive have virtually disappeared. The allure of the digital age casts a shadow on an appreciation of the quieter things in life. So that’s why this playlist is a compilation of my favorite nostalgic songs. The kind of music people listened to when life was far simpler.


Route 66 – Chuck Berry – 1961

              I always appreciate when a song thematically matches what you’re doing, so of course, this retro road trip playlist HAD to start with a song about a road. I absolutely love this song because the lyrics reflect 1960’s culture down to bits of jargon that have become obsolete. For that reason, my favorite lyric is “Well if you ever plan to motor west/ Jack, take my way it's the highway that's the best”.


You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Daryl Hall & John Oates – 1980

              At this point in your drive, you’ve hit the winding foothills of rural Kentucky, and you’re speeding along the narrow road, wind in your hair. You’re not thinking about any of your troubles, just enjoying the ride, so this track’s upbeat rhythm is perfect.


Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys – 1964

              OOOOOh yeah! We’re getting into the summer vibes. You’re feeling carefree, reckless, and a Beach Boys track is EXACTLY what you need.


This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole – 1975

              Okay this is just great music, plain and simple. This is my sing-along song; the chorus is simple and fun and you’re far enough into your drive that you’ve reached the middle of nowhere, so it’s absolutely okay to belt it out.


Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede, Björn Skifs – 1976

              I like the acapella intro to this classic, it’s something a little different from the last four tracks. If we’re being honest, three out of four of the last tracks were love songs, so if you’re a high schooler you’re definitely thinking about a summer romance. This song provokes those thoughts some more, and my favorite lyric, “I’m high on believing/that you’re in love with me” reflects the mood of your drive at this point; you’re confident, optimistic, and having a great time! This one is definitely another sing-along song :).


Sh-Boom – The Chords – 1954

              The extreme decrescendo in the last few bars of “Hooked on a Feeling” is an excellent transition to “Sh-Boom”, a comparatively quieter song, which has something to do with both the 1950’s style and the recording technology available at the time this song was released. This one is my absolute favorite at the moment because the style reminds me of the “good times”. I swear I belong in the 1950’s. “Sh-boom” belongs in this playlist because it’s nostalgic, and makes the listener dream of good days to come while appreciating the present.


Wake Me up Before You Go-Go – Wham! – 1984

              Before you get too far into thoughts about romance and unrequited love – we don’t want to kill the carefree mood of this car ride – this song is a fun relief from the worries in life and is an absolute BOP. One of my favorite lyrics is “Jitterbug into my brain/ Goes a bang-bang-bang ‘til my feet do the same”. My grandparents were award-winning jitterbuggers and that lyric lets me imagine that I was growing up when they were young – the age of dancing and classic radio. For the same reason, I also love the lyric “You take the grey skies out of my way/ You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day.”


Stop! In The Name Of Love – The Supremes – 1965

              As the day starts to wane, you’re driving a little slower to the tempo of this song, watching the trees pass by as the sun lowers in the sky, and appreciating the moment.


One Fine Day – The Chiffons – 1963

              One last burst of excitement and fun before you start heading home. But it’s been one fine day.


Downtown – Petula Clark – 1965

              As you prepare to head back into the city, I think this song is the perfect accompanying track. The initial melancholy tone of the melody parallels to the natural sadness we experience at the end of a wonderful day. But the crescendos to an upbeat, lively chorus reinvigorate us, and excite us for what is to come.