By Patty Kreiser
We all get bored of the radio after a while. Even the most devoted Z-100 listener realizes they repeat the same songs in what seems like a two-hour rotation. So I’ve decided to make a driving playlist. I’ve taken into account who you’re driving with and the driving situation. Mind you, I’m not a big heavy metal or rap fan. Also, I’m partial to today’s hits, as well as some of the not-so-long-ago hits, so don’t expect Miles Davis or Frank Sinatra on my playlist.
Let’s start off with some of the obligatory songs that everybody includes on a driving mix:
“Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts- This is a cover of the Tom Cochrane song. I can’t decide which one I like better.
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf- It’s great when there’s mixed company, especially when both parties can sing. It’s like a miniconcert in your car!
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. It’s Queen. Galileo Figaro! Enough said.
“Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. While this song has been ruined for me by an ex-boyfriend freshman year (Sidenote: I dumped him), that shouldn’t taint the song for the rest of you.
Of course, there’s a lot more, but I only have so much space for the ultimate road trip mix.
Now, if you’re driving with your girlfriends, we all know the playlist:
Anything by the Spice Girls, but “Wannabe” is a must-have song on there. What I really really want is a zigga-zig-ah!
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. Again, enough said. It’s like our anthem. If a girl doesn’t know this, she should check if she’s really a girl. Ditto with Spice Girl songs.
For when you’re with your girlfriends and you are in guy-hating mode:
“The More Boys I Meet” by Carrie Underwood. The lyrics say it all: “The more boys I meet, the more I love my dog.”
“How I Could Just Kill a Man” by Charlotte Sometimes. Here, the title says it all. It’s a mellow song, but the lyrics are deep: “And you can’t understand how I could just kill a man.”
“Womanizer” by Britney Spears. It’s fun to try to count how many times the recent pop-wreck says “womanizer.” My count is 38; tell me if I’m wrong.
“So What” by Pink. I’m so glad Pink is back. It’s the ultimate “f**k you” song. So for all you women scorned out there, this is the song to belt at the top of your lungs, because you know that you’re a rock star and you’ve got your rock moves.
For when you’re driving with your girlfriends and you’re all happily in love (yeah, right):
“La La” by Ashlee Simpson. Yes, she’s more than Pete Wentz’s wife. “La La” is chock-full of innuendo. It’s the perfect song for you and your girls to determine its meanings. That game can get very interesting if your friends are perverted enough.
“Soco Amaretto Lime” by Brand New. I love the end lyrics: “They’re just jealous because we’re young and in love.” It’s a great song even if you’re neither young nor in love, but whatever.
When you’re with your significant other:
“Stolen” by Dashboard Confessional. Actually, any song by Dashboard Confessional is perfect. Chris Carrabba’s lyrics are poetry set to music. It’s definitely the opposite of Plain White T’s “Hate [I Really Don’t Like You].”
When you’re in mixed company:
“Shake It” by Metro Station. The song is catchy and addictive. How can you not want to shake it when you play this song?
“Paper Planes” by M.I.A. I’m not sure what the song is about, but it’s fun to try to make the cha-ching, bang-bang-bang noises!
Anything by Justin Timberlake. “Mr. Sexyback” appeals to both genders. I don’t know why. But for some reason, the former boy-bander crosses the gender divide. Is it his falsetto voice or his mad dance skills that make both guys and girls alike swoon?
“Stronger” by Kanye West. When you aren’t cool enough to bring out the Tupac, Kanye is an okay substitute. We can bring out the pseudo-wannabe-“gangsta” and nobody can laugh at us because they’re doing the same thing.
When you’re driving your drunken friends back from the Dizzy Lizard:
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Dial Drunk” by the Plain White T’s. Congratulations for getting stuck as the designated driver. At least you get to confiscate everyone’s cell phones so as to prevent poor life choices, or allow friends to make their own mistakes and never let them live them down.
Songs for when you’re out of caffeine and you need to shout stuff to stay awake:
“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC- it’s almost as good as a case of Red Bull to wake you up.
“London Bridge” by Fergie. After all this time, I’m still not sure if I want to know what this means. But at least it’s fun to shout out loud.
“When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls. I know the lyrics say “I wanna have groupies,” but everyone knows what the word “groupies” really sounds like in the song. At least you have fun shouting the should-be lyrics.
“I’m Shakin'” by Rooney. Ah, California pop-rock at its best. Side note: this song was written before Metro Station ever came about, so don’t think Rooney is a copycat band. Band politics aside, “I’m Shakin'” is fun to bop along to.
When you need music to help you drive ridiculously slow:
“Never Think” by Robert Pattinson off of the “Twilight” soundtrack. First of all, “Twilight” has become a new obsession for me. Second, this song is so slow and mellow that you’ll take your lead foot off the pedal.
“All I Got” by Newton Faulkner. So mellow, so slow, you just have to make sure you don’t fall asleep at the wheel.
When you’re driving with little kids in the car:
Please, please, please: I beseech you NOT to play those “Kidz Bop” albums. They take pop songs and mutilate them beyond repair. My suggestion: “The Song That Gets on Everybody’s Nerves.” Sing that song for a few minutes to them and those little ankle-biters will never want to ride in your car again.
Now, there are a million more songs I could put on the list, but there’s not enough time or enough space in the paper. So for now, enjoy my list.
Patty Kreiser is a junior
broadcast journalism student. You may e-mail her at