Songs for your summer road trips.
With summer vacation — and freedom from the UChicago grind — finally here, the time for road trips and warm drives is approaching. Here are ten songs to add to your summer road trip playlist!
Scroll down to the bottom of this article for a Spotify playlist containing each song.
“California Gurls” by Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg
Let’s start off with a classic. When thinking of the best state for road trips, most people think of California and the Pacific Coast Highway. Hailed as a “summer anthem,” the funk, bubblegum-pop track encapsulates the epitome of California packaged into a four-minute song — sun, sugar, sex, and fun with friends. So chuck all your worries away and go explore all this beautiful west-coast state has to offer.
“Sunroof” by Nicky Youre & dazy
“I got my head out the sunroof, I’m blasting our favorite tunes, I only got one thing on my mind,” a carefree Nicky sings in the chorus. Literally referring to the sunroof on the hood of a car, this catchy high-energy song was created to be blasted on the road. Imagine the warm summer wind messing up your hair as you shout the lyrics at the top of your lungs.
“Getaway Car” by Taylor Swift
Speaking of cars, I’d (personally) love to go on a road trip with Taylor Swift. Filled with pulsing synthesizers and pumping drums, you can almost hear the rev of the engine in the background of this track as you picture yourself swooshing down the highway. The lyrics of the song make you want to elope with a love that you know won’t end well, but will still do anyways. C’mon, let’s escape in a getaway car!
“Truckin’” by Grateful Dead
Maybe you’d prefer to drive in trucks instead of cars? While sifting through Spotify for songs to put on this list, I discovered this classic 70s track by American rock band Grateful Dead. Acknowledged by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national treasure, the group talks about one of their concert tours in this blues and folk song, lamenting "what a long, strange trip it's been.” Doesn’t that sound like something everyone says at the end of a road trip?
“Lover Boy 88” by 88rising, Phum Viphurit, & Higher Brothers
Enough about vehicles, road trips are for spending valuable time with friends and lovers. Originally released by Phum Viphurit as just “Lover Boy”, “Lover Boy 88” includes the Higher Brothers, who are a fantastic addition to the new version of the track. The shift from Phum’s mellow-warm vocals to Szechuan rapper Masiwei’s slick and flirtatious bars brings the song to “Higher” levels, with the group chant at the end bringing everyone together for a good time.
“I’m Good” by The Mowgli’s
Chantable songs are always perfect for road-trips. This upbeat track by alt-rock band The Mowgli’s just feels like a good time with friends. There’s really not much more to say — chant “I’m good” with them enough times, and you’ll be good too!
“Euphoria” by BTS’ Jungkook
Bursting with summer vibes, this solo track by BTS’ Jungkook is ideally suited for road-trips on the coastline. There’s no doubt why he is the main vocalist of the group — the maknae (youngest member) really showcases his vocal control in this song, starting off soft and feathery, then growing more and more passionate as he carries you into a euphoric chorus. The energetic drums and colorful guitar line also make the song a great fit for the road.
“Eight” by IU & BTS’ SUGA
At number eight is coincidentally a song called “Eight” by South Korea’s “Nation’s Sweetheart” singer song-writer, IU. Written in honor of her deceased friend and fellow idol Sulli, the song is nostalgic, bittersweet, and surprisingly hopeful. SUGA’s laid back rap provides contrast to IU’s light, but powerful vocals. With lyrics like “under the orange sun, we dance without shadows” and “forever we young,” the track perfectly captures the feeling of trying to grasp life’s short, fleeting moments of happiness.
“Paris” by The 1975
A little bit on the calmer side, “Paris” by the English pop-rock band is exactly the song you need on a sunset drive. The guitar lines brush up against the melody like the wind caresses your face. Just close your eyes (not unless you’re the one driving — don’t do that) and enjoy life.
“Summer Cozy Rock” by Orange Ocean
Summer, beer, disco, friends, cameras, barbeque is what this track from Britain-based Qingdao rock band Orange Ocean feels like. Also on the chiller side, the song is best played at the end of the road-trip, as you and your friends look back on your time together through yellow-tinted sunglasses. I will say, while the English name sounds like a vague Google search, it does accurately describe the song — “Summer Cozy Rock” is indeed delicious cozy-rock for the summer.
edited by Joseph Mooney, Editor-in-Chief.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.
