Playlist: Energetic Roadtrip 2016

I made one instrumental playlist for one friend, but for another, we need more energy and more crack.  Some of these songs might seem a little strange, but that is the nature of any playlist.  A playlist is ultimately really only meant for one person and touches on inside jokes and tastes that don’t make a lot of sense outside of that friendship.

But some of these songs are just 100% pop brain candy that we can sing at the top of our lungs as we drive on and on.  What’s on your playlist for this summer?

1. “Cheap Thrills” – Sia (because this is my jam this year)
2. “Visions of Johanna” – Bob Dylan (because my friend is a big Johanna friend from THG.  Literally, the only reason)
3. “What Kind of Man” – Florence + the Machine (because I wanted something by Florence and sometimes my friend and I are bitter.  Oops)
4. “Thistle & Weeds” – Mumford & Sons (and odd choice, but Thistle is/was a roller derby nickname)
5. “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)” – Bob Dylan (one of my favorite Bobby D songs, great to just sing out loud.  Accomplishment: Catharsis unlocked).
6. “Ophelia” – The Lumineers (because she’s a Lumineers fan and this is a very uplifting song about Hamlet’s dead girlfriend.  Wait, what?)
7. “All Alone” – fun. (this song is never not funny)
8. “Tearin’ Up My Heart” – ‘N Sync (this came up on my Rhapsody shuffle, and this playlist needed some nostalgia factor.  I was definitely one of those girls who listened to metal and didn’t like the boy band craze, but you can’t deny that it is catchy)
9. “I’m A Loner” – C. N. Blue (speaking of boy bands.  When it’s in a different language, it’s  not as annoying, right?  Also, this playlist always needs more catchy songs about being #aloneforever)
10. “Turntable” – Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (LOLOLOL The precision of this metaphor cracks me up every time, like YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TOO MUCH, GRACE)
11. “I Love It” – Icona Pop (feat. Charli XCX) (LET’S SET THINGS ON FIRE AND PUSH THEM OFF BRIDGES.  Best/worst thing to listen to while driving, right?)
12. “Wrecking Ball” – Miley Cyrus (“wow this song is SO BAD why are we ~I CAME IN LIKE A WREEEEEEECKING BALL~”)
13. “You Give Love a Bad Name” – Bon Jovi (not to be confused with “Shot Through the Heart,” they really needed to be more creative with their songs here, but again, let’s bring in some nostalgia)
14. “Break Your Heart” – Taio Cruz (fear. Ludacris) (did I mention bitter songs are mandatory?)
15. “Love You Like a Love Song” – Selena Gomez (I don’t listen to trashy pop.  You shut your mouth, that is a dirty rumor.)
16. “The Logical Song” – Supertramp (nostalgia AND a part of Selena’s song reminds me of it, so I like putting the references next to each other)
17. “Glad You Came” – The Wanted (I hope my friend’s glad I came)
18. “Live Your Life” – T. I. (feat. Rihanna) (There is only one reason that this song in on the playlist, and that’s number 19—)
19. “Dragostea Din Tei” – O-Zone (MA YA HI, MA YA HU, MA YA HA, MA YA HA HA, NUMA NUMA EH)

Honestly, I could have just made 80 minutes of that last song, and I would have no regrets.  If that is not your favorite song to sing at the top of your lungs, you’ve never heard it.  I remember this year’s Halloween party, one of my colleagues pulled it up, and it was legit the best moment ever to dance to, even for the ones who hadn’t heard it before.  But you need to know it.  I contributed “I’m a Loner” after that, because K-Pop is a joy to the world, too.