Whenever you hit the open road, there are a few things that are essential. You need your luggage. You need some snacks. You need your mala beads. A car full of excellent people to share in the journey is a great asset. A couple of yoga mats never hurt, just in case of impromptu, off the roadside yoga poses. But perhaps the most important part of a soulful summer road trip is right on the tip of your tongue, but somewhat less obvious than the above items; the soundtrack.
Of course! Why didn’t you think of that before? What kind of road trip would it be if you didn’t have the perfect tunes blasting in the background, feeding your soul with the sweet nectar of carefree summer excellence? When you’re making your way from glorious California to the rich, lush forests of Kelowna, British Columbia, you’re going to need something a little… groovy. And why not? You’re Boho! You have to keep it very “om” in times of travel!
When your car is packed and your friends are piled in, we recommend these twenty beauties to make the perfect roadtrip playlist, regardless of the destination:
- California- Joni Mitchell (this is a no brainer kick-off, right?)
- Doo-Wop (That Thing)- Lauryn Hill (a total classic, and you know you all remember the words)
- Furr- Blitzen Trapper (this is a diamond in the rough; a bob dylan vibe with a nature-loving twist!)
- Mr. Tamborine Man- Bob Dylan (and speaking of Bob Dylan, throw some Bob Dylan on there)
- Kokomo- The Beach Boys (super fun and super mellow. Everyone must sing along)
- Strawberry Fields – The Beatles (Boho gold. Need I say more?)
- Under Pressure- David Bowie & Queen (I dare you not to start a dance party with this one)
- Don’t Stop Me Now- Queen (and speaking of Queen, this one is essential)
- Santeria- Sublime (nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is gonna be mad at this gem)
- Spiderwebs- No Doubt (for all the 90s nostalgia fans out there, this one is going out to you!)
- Jammin’- Bob Marley (come on… no summer roadtrip jam is complete without some Marley)
- Is This Love- Bob Marley (OK, two Marleys)
- Porcelain- Moby (who can forget this classic? It’s a must!)
- La Isla Bonita- Madonna (as the roadtrip starts to cool down, this is a great ‘chill out’ song)
- Black Magic Woman- Santana (and with this one, you’ll be wanting guitar lessons ASAP)
- Wake Me Up- Aloe Blacc (this gorgeous cover of Avicii’s hit song is destined to make you smile)
- Hey Soul Sister- Train (ukele + summer song= magic)
- The Great Gig in the Sky- Pink Floyd (you’ve gotta love that lady’s voice soaring above the instrumentals as you roll closer to your destination)
- 32 Flavors- Ani DiFranco (if you haven’t heard this song, do yourself a favor and download it now. You will fall in love with it, guaranteed)
- Heart of Gold- Neil Young (a classic to top it off. You can’t beat it!)
Though the road may be long, the journey is always worth it. May your travels be filled with peace, happiness, and wonderful surprises. Namaste!
Lauren is a guest writer for the Huffington Post and Social Media Coordinator in Toronto.
Twitter:@LaurenMesservey
Web: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/lauren-messervey/
