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8 Songs to Listen to While You’re Driving

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Augustana chapter.

Finals are coming up, and just like you, my brain is fried. It’s impossible to sit down and study for hours on end. There are lots of things to do when you want to take a short break, but for longer breaks, I like to go on drives. It’s very calming to drive on a long road and just listen to music. My head gets clear, and I feel more ready to go back to studying. Here are some of the tunes I listen to when I go on a drive!

     1. “Ferrari” by Bebe Rexha

Bebe Rexha’s voice is so amazing and she can hit every note you can think of. Ferrari is Bebe’s brand new single that will be part of her debut album, Expectations. Of course, I’m not driving a Ferrari, but the song just lifts me up and makes me feel like I’m driving one.

The best line: “Livin’ in the fast lane’s gettin’ kinda lonely.”

     2. “Green Light” by Lorde

This is the best song to sing along to. It is so upbeat and fun to listen to! The chorus is incredibly powerful, and it just makes you want to dance (but don’t do that while driving).

The best line: “We ordered different drinks at the same bars.”

     3. “FRIENDS” by Anne-Marie & Marshmello

This song is hilarious and very relatable if you’ve got that friend that just won’t quit. It’s got a great beat and is just makes your mood so much better. Anne-Marie’s voice combined with Marshmello’s music is a great combination and really great to sing along to! 

The best line: “Want me to spell it out for ya? F-R-I-E-N-D-S”

     4. “Not on Drugs” by Tove Lo

This song has such a powerful chorus that you can’t help but sing along to it. Tove Lo has an amazing voice, and if you’ve ever felt crazy in love, then you’ll totally love and really relate to this song.

The best line: “Baby listen please, I’m not on drugs, I’m not on drugs, I’m just in love.”

     5. “No. 1 Party Anthem” by Arctic Monkeys

I will admit that one of the reasons I stan the Arctic Monkeys so hard is because of my unhealthy obsession with their lead singer, Alex Turner. But what can I say? His voice has a way of turning your insides upside down. In addition to the handsome band members, the Arctic Monkeys have some great music, and “No. 1 Party Anthem” is one of my favorites to listen to in the car.

The best line: “So you’re on the prowl, wondering whether she left already or not.”

     6. “I Always Knew” by The Vaccines

This song is really hard not to bang your head to (but make sure you do that when you’re at stop sign). I first heard this song on an episode of New Girl, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. The beginning chords are amazing, and it just takes you back to the 80s (even if you weren’t there in the first place).

The best line: “‘Cause it’s you, I always, always, knew. Oh, I always knew, oh, it’s you.”

     7. “Find You” by Nick Jonas

Though we mourn the end of the Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas still keeps us going with his amazing music. “Find You” was a song that was definitely meant to be listened to in the car. It makes me feel like I’m driving with absolutely nothing to worry about.

The best line: “I look for you in the center of the sun, I took a pill but it didn’t help me numb.”

     8. “Tequilawine” by Olivia O’Brien

Olivia O’Brien has become really popular as of late because of her amazing voice and incredibly relatable lyrics. For all the girls that love a good cocktail and enjoy a long drive, this song is perfect for you all!

The best line: “Pour tequila in my wine now, I’m feelin’ fine. I wanna waste your time like you wasted mine.”

Music has some kind of superpower of healing nearly every negative emotion, including stress. With finals coming up, we all deserve a break. Listening to some of these tunes while taking a nice, long drive is a great way to de-stress and clear your head before heading back to the books.

Ila Mostafa is currently a Neuroscience major and Biology minor at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family. She is usually either starting a new story without finishing an older one or studying. Ila hopes to go to graduate school and eventually do research on Parkinson's Disease.
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