Okay, I admit it, I one of the things I love about summertime is having all the windows down and sunroof open while my favorite song blares out on the radio and I sing along at the top of my lungs. This only gets slightly embarrassing when I come to a stoplight and the people in the car next to me have their windows down too; when this happens I normally proceed to sing quietly, in muttered tones while reducing the volume slightly. I believe this looks more sane to the other drivers for some reason than my previous state of frivolity which I believe looks insane. In reality they both must look like I’m crazy, but I choose to believe the second scenario looks less so. I usually only do this when I’m in my car…usually by myself…it’s just not the same in the family minivan…even if the windows are down.
Some songs are good for this particular activity, and some are not. Some songs I wouldn’t be embarrassed to continue belting out at a stop light because they are classics and if everyone doesn’t know them already they should.
Here are the songs I am most likely to blare and sing loudly along with this summer (provided my family isn’t in the car with me, and in some cases that still might not stop me)
Good for the Windows Down/Blaring Radio treatment:
1. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
I cannot help but to belt this one out. First of all a car features prominently in the song and secondly it’s Bruce…how could you not. The way it builds is in a word…amazing.
2. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Okay, I know, two Springsteen songs at the top of the list…I guess that’s why he’s the Boss. Plus there’s the awesome sax solo in this one.
3. Best of You by Foo Fighters
I prefer the live acoustic version to the album version but either one will do. Who would have thought when David Grohl was just the drummer for Nirvana that he’d still be rocking out all these years later, plus the dude can wail.
4. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty
This was actually the first song I ever gave the windows down, blaring radio (WD/BR) treatment to. I had just gotten my license…it was legen-DARY.
5. Old Man by Neil Young
I prefer the version off the “Live from Massey Hall” album…Neil’s vocals really come through well.
6. The Unforgiven/Master of Puppets by Metallica
(tie)
Maybe it’s because I’m a guy and I’m pretty sure I’d have to turn in my man card if I didn’t put a Metallica song on the list or maybe it’s that I can’t decide which one I like better…or maybe it’s the fact that I’m a lot more likely to hear The Unforgiven than I am Master. Either way the volume defiantly goes up to ten on these…even though I sound nothing like James Hetfield I still like to think I do when these are on.
7. Flannigan’s Ball by the Dropkick Murphys
Though I’m not likely to hear this on the radio there is nothing quite giving Celtic-punk rock the WD/BR treatment, also given the nature of punk rock you really don’t care what people think when you blare it.
8. Sabotage by the Beastie Boys
This is the only one on the list that comes close to rap, and again I’m not likely to hear it on the radio but it’s worth it.
9. Broken Inside by Sanctus Real
This is the only Christian song on the list, which isn’t a slam on Christian music, it’s just that I’m more likely to blare out other songs than what they typically play on KLOVE. But this one is worth the WD/BR treatment every time.
10. Oh, Happiness by DC*B
Okay, I was wrong there are two Christian songs on the list. I like to think of it as witnessing when I give this song the WD/BR treatment.
11. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns ‘n Roses
Almost forgot about this one…the guitar solo alone is awesome.
What about you? What songs do you like to give the WD/BR treatment to? What songs do you belt out every time they are on the radio? I’m always looking for new songs so I’d love to get your feedback.
Writers Block 