Tag: trisha yearwood

Road trip tunes

I’m about to take the longest road trip I’ve ever done… so I’m looking for road trip tunes!

Okay, so I was technically on a longer road trip a couple of times. The first time was when I was a tot and my parents drove the family cross country in a Winnebago. I don’t remember that drive because I was too young, but I’m told I swung on a bar the whole way and stunk up the trailer by repeatedly filling my diapers. The second time was in 1996, when I went by bus from Yerevan, Armenia to Istanbul, Turkey. It took three days straight, but I wasn’t driving.

This time, I will be driving alone in my car while my husband drives our other car with our dogs. That means I’m gonna need some good driving songs. Here are a few road trip tunes that come to mind in advance of our three or four day trek from North Carolina to Texas.

Truckin’, by the Grateful Dead

Of course, I had to start with “Truckin’”, a classic Grateful Dead song that is all about moving down the highway. It’s got a beat you can nod your head to and some irreverent lyrics that one can sing along to. I can’t say I’m the biggest Deadhead out there, but I like this song. I think it will get things off to a good start.

Rockin’ Down The Highway by The Doobie Brothers

This song literally spells out “rockin’ down the highway”, so of course it’s an excellent road song. I imagine I’d better watch it with this song, though. Wouldn’t want to get a speeding ticket while rockin’ down the highway.

On The Road Again by Willie Nelson

I have always loved this classic road tune by Willie Nelson. Yeah, I know Willie is not necessarily a rock star, but he’s pretty damn cool. And this is a great song to drive to as you watch the countryside fly past.

You Can Sleep While I Drive by Melissa Etheridge or Trisha Yearwood

Melissa Etheridge

Trisha Yearwood

I’m kind of partial to Trisha Yearwood’s version of Melissa Etheridge’s edgy hit, “You Can Sleep While I Drive”. I don’t know why… there’s sort of a raw, earthy, passion to Melissa’s original, but I like Trisha’s vocals. But yeah, I can see putting the top down on my convertible as I drive to this song… Either version rocks!

Hot Dog by Led Zeppelin

This may seem an unconventional choice, but I found it to be great travel music when I took a train trip through Europe in 1997. It’s got a nice upbeat tempo and some lyrics you can sing to if you manage to understand them.

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

This song is the ultimate let’s get the hell out of Dodge song. When I was a kid in high school, I fell in love with this song for its romantic lyrics and hard driving beat. Most of Bruce Springsteen’s rockin’ songs are great songs to drive to. And I intend to be rockin’ on this trip so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel.

Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan

My earliest memory of hearing this epic blues number is when I was riding in a car, lying down in the back seat, and hanging my bare feet out the window as my sister drove us to Virginia Beach. Ever since then, this song has been one of my favorite road tunes.

Something To Talk About by Bonnie Raitt

I dare you not to sing along to this road tune, girls. I know I will be singing at the top of my lungs to “Something To Talk About”… though, if it’s too late in the drive, I might change the lyrics to “Something To Cry About”.

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

Yup… another one you can sing to… and seat dance to… and watch your speed to. I look forward to cranking up this and many other road tunes. Cuz I’m hitting the road, Jack.

The March by Robert Randolph & The Family Band

I freakin’ love this song! Actually, I love most of what Robert Randolph & The Family Band does. Their music kicks serious ass, especially when you’re driving. I plan to kill about eight great minutes playing this glorious track. I will also be playing Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s latest album, “Lickety Split”, reviewed here on Pop Rock Nation a week ago!

Robert Randolph’s “I Don’t Know What You Come To Do” is an easy follow up…

This song kicks serious ass! It’s an epic road tune if I’ve ever heard one!

Well, with that, I think I shall continue packing and see y’all on the flip side… when I am an official Texas resident!

July 23, 2013
Garth Brooks, KISS, John Mayer – Saturday in the Park #1

Garth Brooks at the Millenium March in Washington, D.C. Image via Wikipedia

You’re reading the first shot at Saturday In The Park. This is the prototype. We could blog all day long and cover the comings-and-goings of music, but that’s not what we do here. We’re music geeks, not music journalists, although we’ll drop everything to interview an indie artist who is trying hard to make things happen.

This isn’t Brother Mike’s Not Necessarily the News. He’s serious about his music and writes it that way. This is a fanboy snarkfest. Jump in if you like that kind of thing.

Garth Brooks Comeback:    Money Mike already wrote about this puppy. Garth going to the Wynn Las Vegas isn’t the same as Elvis‘ 50 show gig in Vegas before his death (hmmm, I always that parallel), but Garth Brooks is one of the biggest selling recording artists ever. When he quit and let wife Trish Yearwood bring home the bacon, their youngest kid was a pre-schooler. Now he’s sort of back. I’m sure the money is too good to turn away from, and a long-run Vegas gig gives him stability while still performing. I may not fly to Vegas to see him, but I’ll catch his show next time I’m there.   One of the world’s best selling recording artists ever. You kind of have to see him.

Peter Criss Full Breast Cancer Recovery: We talk about the women we love (Kylie, Olivia, Melissa) battling and beating breast cancer. But KISS drummer Peter Criss did the same, and his speaking about battling the disease is inspirational. This is one of those “oh, you’re weird” stories, and Peter has turned it in to a full-on education campaign. I’m glad he’s cancer free. I’m glad he has the courage and passion to speak out about the disease.    He’s been mostly free of KISS for 30 years except for the sporadic appearance and later blowup on stage, but he wrote and sang Beth and Hard Luck Woman so he gets a lifetime pass as a KISS guy, even if he really is a jazz drummer in his early 60s.

NBC Boots Glee From Macy’s Day Parade: You know, I haven’t watched the show. I’ve seen two of the videos. Would’ve made an interesting movie, I think, and probably beter than the Fame reboot. But if I own a network and some clueless development person books a competing act on the show I’m underwriting, well, I probably boot them too.    Sorry, Glee gang. Don’t stop believing, okay?

Artist in Residence: Trust struggling NBC to take a great concept (the artist in residence at a venue or with a troupe) and bastardize it for their own use. Jon Bon Jovi, and we’re just saying that he records on sister label Universal, is NBC’s first artist-in-residence. What’s that mean? More Jon than you could ever imagine on NBC properties throughout November.   Look for him on Today, as a Jay Leno guest, on Dateline, in various specials (hey, maybe the parade now that they kicked the Fox Glee kids off!) and anything related to NBC. It’s damn near Comcastic. In a strange twist of coincidence, JBJ’s new album drops November 12 — the middle of the NBC glee fest celebrating his music. Okay, no more NBC/Glee jokes.

But we’ll end with one funny joke. John Mayer’s quote as reported by Gawker.com when asked about healthcare.   “Have you ever heard me play guitar? I’m really fucking good. You know what I’m bad at? Answering questions about public healthcare.

Good on you, Brother John. Maybe celebs will take a back seat on policy issues and let the politicos sort it out. Except you, Bono, you already crossed to the dark side.   If Michael Hutchens was still alive, The Edge would’ve called him in to a studio five years ago.

October 17, 2009