Before I started whichicao.com I had a music blog called Observing Life; With Headphones On – where I shared my life of music.
I thought I’d combine my love of music with my love of travelling and share some songs that have edged their way into my own travel rituals, others that remind me of travelling/ and some songs you just must include in any travel soundtrack.
I’ll discuss some of the tracks from the playlist below and explain why they’re included in my travel playlist.
Lenny Kravitz – Fly Away: This song has became a part of my flight ritual. I like to listen to this as the flight is taking off (or as close to take off as I can time it).
The War on Drugs – Red Eyes: Red Eyes is a song worthy of a mighty road trip akin to the music of the great Bruce Springsteen. Fast speed, loud music with the windows down and the roadside. When you listen you’ll realise the 3 are synonymous with each other.
War – Low Rider: This funky classic is another road trip worthy track – one for a ‘low rider’. If you happen to be in a convertible, remove the roof and take in the sun!
Icona Pop – I Love It (feat. Charli XCX): This one reminds me of my 2013 trip to Mallorca, it came on as I was waiting in the airport and put me in an excitable mood for my holiday – and it has reminded me of holidaying ever since.
The Who – Baba O’Riley: Just like Lenny Kravitz provides my take off anthem, I try and listen to Baba O’Riley when walking through the airport after landing, it just fills me with airport vibes.
Caravan Palace – Waterguns (feat. Tom Bailey): Caravan Palace are a French electro-swing duo. This song will put you in a happy mood to go exploring your new surroundings and find a great bar to mingle with the locals.
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark: With the War on Drugs providing a roadtrip soundtrack earlier on reminiscent of Springsteen, it’s only fitting that the Boss gets a peep into the playlist himself.
Steve Aoki – Ladi Dadi (Tommy Trash Remix): This track is one to get you in the mood for exploring your new surroundings nightlife.
Arcade Fire – Everything Now: This upbeat song is the perfect way to start your mornings when away. Lines like “Every inch of road has a sign” and “Every inch of skys got a star” just fill you with wanderlust.
Rusted Root – Send Me on My Way: Matilda’s soundtrack is impeccable, and the ultimate mood lifer. Send Me on My Way features a music video with a group of hippies in the middle of the desert.
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers – Little Bitty Pretty One: You cannot just include one Matilda song in the playlist. The whole soundtrack is infectious, and this song will do as good of a job as Rusted Root at putting you in a good mood on your trip away.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – S.O.B.: For those of you that follow my blog, you’ll know I like sampling the local beers and drinks – so this upbeat song is the perfect tune to get me in the psyche to go ask the local bar staff to liquor me up.
America – A Horse With No Name: The ultimate travel song, this ballad about being lost in the desert is timeless – and any travel playlist would be poorer without it.
Alligatoah – Willst Du: This song reminds me of my trip to Düsseldorf where we befriended 2 local university students – when we were having a few drinks in our AirBnB before going out, one of the students requested this song – and it has remained a fond reminder of my first trip to Germany ever since.
Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go: Another song that reminds me of a trip, this one was our alarm clock whilst we were in Gdansk. What better way to wake up than if we were going to go-go.
Are there any songs that remind you of travel? Leave them in the comments below.
