A playlist for long drives: 25 songs to keep your next road trip in tune and on track
From early noughties nostalgia to reggae beats, these songs will make you want to roll down the windows and sing at the top of your lungs.
As the host of Monocle Radio’s The Stack, Fernando Augusto Pacheco is a connoisseur of print but he also curates the station’s seasonal playlists. He’s a master of matching music to the moment, from choosing scorching songs for summery nights to Brazilian bops for bloco dance parties. For this seasonal soundtrack, Pacheco has selected 25 tunes for long drives and road trips.
‘Je pense à vous’, Pierre de Maere
Fluid and breezy, De Maere is one Belgium’s biggest pop stars and has a new album coming out in September. This song is pure sunshine.
‘Lambamor’, Kaoma
Every playlist needs some nostalgia, so we have picked this B-side gem from the French-Brazilian group.
‘Why I Follow the Tigers’, The San Sebastian Strings
Madonna sampled this chic and mellow track in “Drowned World/Substitute for Love”. This one is for solo drives.
‘Okinawa Fantasia’, Martin Glass
Ambient music that’s full of bubbly beats – a gentle ode to the Pacific.
‘Good Morning America’, Dancing Fantasy
For sunny optimism, nothing beats the work of this German smooth-jazz duo. This song is from their album celebrating Californian grooves.
‘Pela Cidade’, Sandra Sá
A Brazilian boogie from the 1980s, “Pela Cidade” feels like Brazil’s version of Japanese city-pop.
‘Lady’, Modjo
Every road trip needs a track that everyone knows the words to.
‘Up & Down’, Winston Surfshirt
Chilled R&B from one of the coolest names in Australia.
‘Sea, Sex and Sun (remix)’, Montmartre, Serge Gainsbourg
The title says it all.
‘Dove andiamo a ballare questa sera?’, Popa
The Lithuanian singer invites everyone to the dance floor in this track that shows its love for Italy.
‘Paradise (feat Amerie)’, LL Cool J
A catchy and addictive song for those in need of some early noughties nostalgia.
‘Holding On’, Lolo Zouaï
The French singer has crafted one of the best pop songs of the year with this track.
‘True (feat Sadie Walker)’, Nightmares on Wax
A little bit of dub and electronica combined with Sadie’s warm vocals make for a very good long-drive song.
‘Enchantia’, Dominique Dupont
We like the mix of bossa nova, dub and electronica on this Latvian duo’s mysterious number.
‘Way U Do It’, Baauer
A euphoric song that will make you want to dance in the driver’s seat.
‘Kem-Bô’, Rui Last One
There’s nothing quite like the delicious sounds of 1990s Cape Verde. The nation had a great summer because of its World Cup appearance – now pay attention to its music.
‘Take Me Back’, Charlotte Cardin
The Canadian singer made “Feel Good” last year and now she’s back with new music. This is an emotional and vulnerable pop song.
‘Reza Braba’, Mari Froes
Froes’s samba beats – from her debut album Esquina do Sol – make us very happy.
‘Wonder’, Chenayder
A great song that samples Suzanne Vega’s classic tune, “Tom’s Diner”.
‘Confluence’, Bleu Soleil & Cleo
We like the reggae beats in this escapist track that will take your mind away from the road.
‘Mountain Top’, Rio Kosta
The Los Angeles-based duo makes songs that scream summer. “Mountain Top” is atmospheric and lush.
‘Cairo FM’, Alewya
Alewya is a name to watch. This song samples some Arab classics; it’s moody but in a good way. A groovy tribute to her Egyptian heritage.
‘Notte in Riviera’, Tamati
Pulsating Balearic beats that will get you through the most grating of traffic jams.
‘Catedral’, Jão
One of Brazil’s biggest stars, this is Jão at his best. Even though this song is about grief, it’s also about rebuilding.
‘Garota de Berlim’, Tokyo & Nina Hagen
This was a big hit in Brazil in the 1980s. We like the new-wave beats and the mix of Brazilian and German influences.
