Volvo have released a CD of summer road trip songs, so naturally I couldn’t resist tearing strips off theirs and releasing a list of my own, which you can then proceed to tear strips off whilst writing your own lists in comments.

To Volvo’s list:

“Born to Run” Bruce Springsteen*
“S.O.S.” ABBA
“Ramble On” Led Zeppelin
“Me and Bobby McGee” Janis Joplin*
“Dancing Queen” ABBA
“Jackson” Johnny and June Carter Cash
“Take a Chance on Me” ABBA
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” Meatloaf
“Stuck in the Middle With You” Stealer’s Wheel*
“Mamma Mia” ABBA
“Born to Be Wild” Steppenwolf
“Highway to Hell” AC/DC*
“Low Rider” War
“Running on Empty” Jackson Browne
“Southbound” Allman Brothers
“Waterloo” ABBA
“Highway 61 Blues” Bob Dylan
“Little Deuce Coupe” The Beach Boys
“Knowing Me, Knowing You” ABBA
“Drive My Car” The Beatles*
“On the Road Again” Willie Nelson

The asterisks denote songs I could possibly handle on a CD if it were given to me, though I most likely wouldn’t put them on a disc myself. Most of the rest I could handle on the radio if they happened to be playing at the time, but several would cause me to switch. This includes any of the ABBA songs mentioned with the possible exception of Waterloo, and Willie Nelson would almost give me cause to stop the car and do some sort of cleansing ritual (with apologies to country fans out there….but how many country and western singers does it take to change a light bulb? Answer below)

I’ve asterisked Janis Joplin on philosophical grounds (she should never, ever be switched off once playing) just as I’ve left Meatloaf off the list on philosophical grounds - he should never be given the chance to start due to the fact that he never knows when to stop.

I like the idea of Born To Be Wild but for some reason the original Steppenwolf version always leaves me thinking they were singing something they didn’t believe for themselves. I don’t know why.

So on to the teenage past-time of creating my own list. Songs for a summer trip in my Saab. 21 songs as per the Volvo list. The links are to Youtube, where available.

Just - Radiohead
Zebra - John Butler Trio
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
Everyday Sunshine - Fishbone
By the time I get to Arizona - Public Enemy
Sweet Child O Mine - Guns n Roses
Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughn
It’s Only Natural - Crowded House
Back in Black - AC/DC
Weak - Skunk Anansie
Exodus - NPG (Prince)
Come Together - Beatles
Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Panama - Van Halen
Power and the Passion - Midnight Oil
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Sleep Now In The Fire - Rage Against the Machine
Are you gonna be my girl? - Jet
My Happiness - Powderfinger

It’s not a particularly Saaby list, though there is a Saab in one of those filmclips (the Aussies might know which one). It’s also a list that could change if I were to write it again tomorrow. I tried to fit some Chris Cornell in there but nothing seemed to suit.

It’s a pointless exercise, but thanks to Volvo for prompting it anyway.

Fire away in comments, though please understand that the spam filter will hold you up if you post links (more than one link gets a comments suspended for moderation). I’ll get around to approving suspended comments in due course.

UPDATE:

In a massive oversight, I neglected to include any Swedish music to make my car feel at home. Consider that oversight at least partially rectified:

Hate to say I told you so - The Hives
Trilogy Suite Op 5 - Yngwie Malmsteen

——

Answer: 100.

Actually, this is sort of a country and western Saab site sometimes, now I think of it…….