Hey folks! It is that time of the year where you will do all sorts of things you had put off during the spring season because you had to go to school or do something that ate up your leisure time. I remember one summer a few years ago when me and my family decided to drive from Silver Spring, Maryland all the way to New York City to spend a weekend there. We knew beforehand that the drive would be five hours maximum so we prepared for it by buying snacks, drinks, making sandwiches and of course by taking along some fun or upbeat music to keep us entertained while our butts were burning by sitting for a long period of time. This list of such albums is consisted of past and most recent albums that I believe are made up of cool, danceable, and light-hearted tunes released at various years of this decade. So without further ado, here they are:
1. Luke Bryan: What Makes You Country (2017)
- Label: Capitol Nashville
- Genre: Country
- Sing-along fave: What Makes You Country
- 15 songs
- Length: 51:32
Singles include: "Most People Are Good" a feel-good ballad that strengthens your spirit as you drive. "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" is upbeat and will awaken you up if you feel like dozing off while driving.
2. Newsboys: God’s Not Dead (2011)
- Label: Inpop
- Genres: Christian Rock/ Worship
- Sing-along fave: "God's not dead (Like a Lion)"
- 12 songs
- Length: 49:25
Highlights include: "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)" from the movie of the same name. This is an upbeat Christian album that will inspire and make you feel protected by the Almighty if you are religious along your road trip.
3. Pink: The Truth About Love (2012)
- Label: RCA
- Genre: Pop
- Sing-along fave: "True Love"
- 13 songs
- Length: 50:49
I have listened to this album a lot and I tell you it will make you and your family sing along to hits like "True Love", "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", and "Just Give Me a Reason." Pink's strong-edged vocals will prevent you from dozing off you know?
4. Ed Sheeran: Divide (2017)
- Labels: Asylum, Atlantic
- Genres: Folk/ Indie-Pop
- Sing-along fave: "Shape of You"
- 12 songs
- Length: 46:14
Ed's third studio album here is filled with Indie/ Folk pop songs that will have you singing along to hits like "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill." If you prefer to relax and just enjoy the natural landscapes of America, then this album has some ballads to help you capture their essence.
5. Beyonce: 4 (2011)
- Labels: Parkwood, Columbia
- Genre: R&B
- Sing-along fave: "Party"
- 12 Songs
- Length: 46:33
Bey's album here is a work of party and empowering anthems. This could be the album you can put on if you are a female and you are traveling alone. Hits like "Party" and "Love On Top" will have you bopping in your seat and the empowering anthems of "Best Thing I Never Had" and "Run the World (Girls)" are suitable songs for you if you are moving somewhere else to restart.
6. Chris Tomlin: Burning Lights (2013)
- Label: sixsteps
- Genre: Contemporary Christian Music
- Sing-along fave: "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)"
- 12 Songs
- Length: 48:55
Chris Tomlin's Grammy nominated seventh studio effort here will surely fuel your spirit as you drive distances like from Maryland to New York City because this is a feel-good, spiritual work with all the uplifting Christian music your ears may need for a long drive like that.
7. Imagine Dragons: Evolve (2017)
- Label: Interscope
- Genre: Pop/Rock
- Sing-along fave: "Thunder"
- 11 songs
- Length: 39:12
I always tell myself that this album from these guys is a superb road trip soundtrack because well it's just so lively and aggressive it will keep the driver awake singing along to hits like: "Whatever It Takes", "Thunder", and "Believer." These guys' music is the kind fit for a James Corden Carpool karaoke episode. Ha!
8. Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster (2010)
- Labels: Interscope, Cherrytree
- Genre: Pop
- Sing-along fave: "Bad Romance"
- 8 songs
- Length: 34:09
This will always be a mysterious, dark album to me but the way the tracks (only 8 of them) hypnotize you throughout made me choose it as a great road trip playlist. My favorites are "Bad Romance" and "Telephone feat. Beyonce."
9. Fifth Harmony: 7/27 (2016)
- Labels: Epic, Syco
- Genres: Pop/ R&B
- Sing-along fave: "Work from Home"
- 10 songs
- Length: 34:33
This band's musical outputs never fail to make me bop in my seat in the back while riding with my family to the grocery store. It is a great work for the kids as well to keep them in line and focused. While you may be at the wheel driving or beside your spouse in the front, your kids in the backseat are busy singing along to the infectious "Work from Home." Haha.
10. Kane Brown: Kane Brown (2016)
- Label: RCA Nashville
- Genre: Country
- Sing-along fave: "What Ifs"
- 11 songs
- Length: 35:55
Kane Brown is the newest Country superstar in town for me and he is the one of a few (besides Shania, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood) that I can listen to their full albums without skipping a track, lol. His self-titled album here really makes me smile and sing along to it due to his strong voice and cheerful tunes. Love this album!
11. Shakira: El Dorado (2017)
- Label: Sony Latin
- Genre: Latin Pop
- Sing-along fave: "Perro Fiel"
- 13 songs
- Length: 43:57
I knew I had to include Latin music in this listicle for my Spanish-speaking readers! Shakira is the Queen of her genre and this latest effort from her adds more to her known spunk and vitality. Be sure to include exciting album to your road trip music if you are in need of something exotic and different to help you reach your destination.
12. Logic: Everybody (2017) explicit
- Label: Def Jam
- Genre: Conscious Hip Hop
- Sing-along fave: "Everybody"
- 13 songs
- Length: 70:56
Logic performs the type of Rap music that I, myself consider to be "bubblegum-ish" even if it's made up of serious tunes. He's just so creative and "safe" that I have to include his album here as a prospective music source for a summer 2018 road trip. Just preview it on Youtube or Spotify and you just may know what I am talking about. Peace out!
13. PSY: Chiljip Psy-da (2015)
- Label: KT Music, etc.
- Genre: K-Pop
- Sing-along fave: "Daddy"
- 9 songs
- Length: 32:52
I was laughing out loud when I was listening to Psy and his album here. He's well-known for his "Gangnam Style" hit from 2012. And just like "Gangnam", this album is filled with bangers that will make your road trip a fantastic ride, taking in all the beauty of the country as you drive by them to your destination.
14. Taylor Swift: 1989 (2014)
- Label: Big Machine
- Genre: Dance/Pop
- Sing-along fave: "Shake It Off"
- 13 songs
- Length: 48:41
This hit machine has tunes for all of your moods. Whether you're in need of bopping (Shake It Off), contemplating ("Out of the Woods"); snoozing while someone else is driving ("This Love") or just smile while driving ("Style") then this album is just the one you need.
15. Katy Perry: Teenage Dream (2010)
- Label: Capitol
- Genre: Dance/Pop
- Single-along fave: "Teenage Dream"
- 12 songs
- Length: 44:02
And finally, Katy's third studio album here (which boasts a total of 5 Hot 100 #1's) is just like the previous album by her contemporary Taylor Swift. This album is packed with hits that suit you every mood whether it's a dance tune like "California Gurls" or a ballad like "Not Like the Movies", you will thank me for suggesting this one. The title track is definitely the song to dance to as you are driving or sitting in the passenger or back seats. Good luck on your summer road trip 2018 my friend!
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