Back in December I became one of the many, many dangers on the European roads: after months of driving lessons I finally got my driver's license. At first driving wasn't much fun, because I'd learned to drive in a tiny Volkswagen. That tiny Volkswagen was abut half the size of the bright red tank my Dad calls his car. Learning to drive our Fiat was disastrous...
Lucky for me my Granddad is awesome enough to help me out a little: he let me drive his new Mercedes and his classic 1982 Mercedes and gives me loads of helpful advice. On one of the miniature road trips with my Granddad I discovered how much fun it is to drive around the countryside with no real goal. So, inspired by one of my favorite books, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, I started making a playlist for those random mini road trips.
Now that I'm on vacation I'll be driving long stretches on my way to France and Germany and my playlist finally comes in handy (even though my dad hates it when I listen to music while driving).

Now I could've made a fancy Spotify playlist, but as usual with everything on my lists, there's a story to tell for each song: stories I can't tell you about in an orderly way on Spotify. Without any further ado, I present you my playlists, including a small story for each song!

Eyes Wide Open - Gotye
I listened to this song all the time when I was in Peru. I could stare out of the bus window for hours, see the Panamericana Highway fly by while I listened to this song. When I listen to it while driving I get that same feeling of freedom I had back in Peru.

Bad Blood - Taylor Swift
This song made the list because of my Granddad. I was driving his classic Mercedes (I'm in love with that car) when this song came on the radio. Apparently my Granddad is a swifty, 'cause he turned the volume up to the max and allowed me to sing along, even though I was way out of key. It was awesome.

50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train
My playlists aren't complete without a song by Train. Have you ever heard this one? The chorus is so freaking fast, it almost matches my heartbeat when I'm driving a busy road. It could also be the soundtrack to a crazy car chase on a comedy, which makes it awesome to listen to while driving on the highway

Preacher - One Republic
This song is about an awesome granddad, like mine. My Granddad is the best when it comes to driving and advice on driving, so this song deserves a place on the list. Besides, it's one of those songs you can sing along to even if your voice shatters glass when you sing. It's perfect for a drive around town - if you don't mind all the weird looks you'll get at the traffic lights.

Find Someone - Sheppard
You don't know how annoying cyclists are until you're not one of them anymore. In a country full of cyclists, I often find them in front of my car at moments when they should not be on the middle of my half of the road. When that happens I curse a lot, which makes my Dad very angry... But this song, or actually singing along to it, gives me a great excuse to get the frustration out and drop a few F-bombs.

Cassy'O - George Ezra
Another song to get the frustration out. Great to listen to while driving on the highway. It also reminds me of the amazing first day I had in Peru :)

Leave the Night on - Sam Hunt
A little calmer than the other songs on this list. We all need a break every now and then, don't we? This song is the song I like to listen to when I'm on a straight road without any other cars to be seen. It's nice and relaxed and very catchy. It doesn't take long to remember the lyrics and soon you'll find yourself singing along.

T-Shirt Weather - Circa Waves
That one line 'the seat belts were burning our fingers', that brings back memories. Crossing Death Valley by car, not once but twice, is something I don't like to think about, but it reminds me of how lucky I am to be driving in normal weather conditions :P

The songs on this list are all upbeat, because they perfectly capture my feelings towards driving: total excitement and hyperactivity mixed with a little frustration and a tiny bit of fear.
Which songs would you listen to if you were on a road trip?

Stay Awesome!