Hooniverse Asks- What’s Your Favorite ‘Drive-Fast’ Song?
Sometimes you just gotta’ get somewhere in a real big hurry. Maybe you have to take a really bad leak and your reluctant bladder won’t allow you to go anywhere but home – or in your pants. Or perhaps you’ve just pulled a Bonnie and Clyde on the local five and dime and need to make tracks before the po-po arrives? Hey, who am I to judge? But in either case, or any other where you really need to put the hammer down, it’s sometimes helpful to have some motivational music in order to set the mood.
It’s sort of like sex, music can help you keep your rhythm and stay focused. Driving fast music should have a pretty good beat, after all you’re trying to get the job done as quickly as possible, unlike. . . well, you know. But what would that ditty be? Heck, if the trek is long – say you’re outrunning Boss Hogg – it may even be an entire suite of songs that puts the lead in your foot.
An obvious choice for many may be the song exemplified by the lead picture- Jesus Built My Hot Rod by Ministry. Those of you familiar with the song probably know that it was really the work of the Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes, who sings lead and plays the axe on the track. But what else? Do you pop in a Kenny G cassette to encourage yourself to reach your destination as quickly as possible in the hope that there you will find a foundry making molten iron which could be poured into each ear to stop the torture?
What is your speed-goading sound selection?
Image source: [technodisco.com]
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Rob Zombie Dragula. (reminds me of all the hours of rally stages in GT2 for PS1)
Black Sunshine, ThunderKiss 65, Supercharger Heaven, Superbeast, and Two Lane Blacktop. Yes… a song about the movie.
Deep Purple – Highway Star[youtube Dg3o-fL4GC0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg3o-fL4GC0 youtube]
Highway Star is awesome. Space Truckin' in another track that'll work.
That's my #1 too with Red Barchetta by Rush coming in #2
[youtube _Y8N4mXR47o&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y8N4mXR47o&feature=related youtube]
There are a couple of good songs from the Vanishing Point soundtrack that help extend the right foot.
Two songs immediately come to mind. The first is Moby's "Extreme Ways" (the closing credits anthem from the Jason Borne movies for those of you not Moby fans). Yes, rather a cliché, but still a great song; immediately adds 20 MPH to your speed.
The other is one many U.S. residents won't be familiar with, "If I Survive" by Hybrid. I have to be very, very careful about playing this in the car. The dark, defiant lyrics, the thumping, electronic nuskool backbeat, Julee Cruise's positively erotic feminine voice — it's a heady mix. While I'm normally a pretty laid back driver, by the time Julee really struts her pipes on the climactic "…but I swear you're going down if I SURVIIIIIIIVE!", I'm uncharacteristically keeping my foot in it, punching holes in traffic, and yea, driving angry.
[youtube 33TVTCemJRw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33TVTCemJRw youtube]
Good tune. I want the Cadillac.
Seeing you zipping in and out of traffic in the Town Car rocking to that would be quite a sight to behold…
Before I became addicted to the smooth, dulcet reporting of NPR's Morning Edition, I always started off my morning commute with Hybrid's Gravastar. While not the hardest-driving of their tracks, it's got the right sound for starting up and the relentless meter that a very-not-morning-person like me needs to focus on the drive ahead.
ZZ Top, almost anything, but particularly Sharp Dressed Man.
Sometimes I want to cruise the boulevards instead of burning up highway. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide and Blue Jean Blues are approriate ZZ Top songs then.
[[youtube pYJTy3alWfA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYJTy3alWfA&feature=related youtube]
La Grange.
'Clear the Lane' by Rage Against the Machine is my high speed song of choice. We don't have Youtube access here at work or I would go find a link for everyone.
Eastbound & Down preformed by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (short haul)
Radar Love preformed by Golden Earring (long haul)
Great song and a Great band.
Bat Out Of Hell: Meatloaf.
Start me up: Rolling Stones
[youtube rN3gmKltn88 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN3gmKltn88 youtube]
[youtube RvV3nn_de2k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k youtube]
Obligatory.
Yea, but that doesn't make me want to drive fast; it just makes me laugh.
The Red Rocker! YOWWWW!
The hair, the hair!
If you're gonna rock the Red Rocker, go back to the beginning for Montrose's "Bad Motor Scooter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8T_PQoTC30
Everytime I hear this, I feel like I should slap a mini siren on the roof and chase a bad guy.
[youtube pVP941AngdM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVP941AngdM youtube]
Still my favorite theme song
That reminds me of this…
[youtube Cm4MvinoOTw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm4MvinoOTw youtube]
Tonyola already mentioned Highway Star, so I'll mention Motörhead and "Ace of Spades". Both songs btw were mentioned in some British study as being some of the most dangerous things to listen to while driving. I have both of them on my favorite driving mix, hah!
[youtube 1iwC2QljLn4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iwC2QljLn4 youtube]
What did i have on that CD…
Runaway – Del Shannon (the version from Crime Story)
It's Not Unusual – Tom Jones
Your Love is Strong – Rolling Stones
My Favorite Game – The Cardigans
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
Highway Star – Deep Purple
Heart of City – Dr. Feelgood
Get On – Hurriganes
James Bond Theme – Moby
Cosmic Girl – Jamiroquai
American Jesus – Bad Religion
I agree: "Ace of Spades" is my favorite pedal-down driving song. It will get you where you're going in a hurry, and often with six cop cars in tow.
[youtube 8I8mWG6HlmU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I8mWG6HlmU youtube]
Good enough for Jezza Clarkson, good enough for me. I'll leave it at that, with the all-important caveat about nearly-empty highways.
No mention yet of "Radar Love" (either by Golden Earring or the remake by White Lion)?
Try NOT going faster when that one's cranking.
(Whoops…just scrolled through again and saw that it was in fact mentioned.) /edit
If you lack discipline behind the wheel, do NOT play either of Golden Earrings' 10+ minute live versions in your car!
Autobahn, by Kraftwerk
[youtube 68C-r9kSLNE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68C-r9kSLNE youtube]
Fun, fun, fun on ze Autobahn…
In my youth I put on some headphones, popped some Judas Priest in the Walkman, and proceeded to do the drive home from work in record time. I drove so fast I was sloppy. Overdrove the headlight and ended up in places I didn't want to be by carrying too much speed into corners. Upon arriving home, I decided that had been a bad idea. Adrenaline overload. No more tunes on the bike after that.
[youtube DtFoUboFyPk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtFoUboFyPk youtube]
This is a playlist on my iPod I named "Open Highway."
<img src="http://www.tanshanomi.com/temp/openhiway.jpg">
The theme from Mannix!?!
+1 sir
The Raconteurs, "Store Bought Bones" — I keep seeking a road with twisties and short straightaways that line up perfectly with this tune.
[youtube vUx0Rhw9KNs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUx0Rhw9KNs youtube]
Call it a guilty pleasure or not but yes "Danger Zone" does get you going.
>PooF?<
My old school Shaker 500 (circa 2005) plays MP3s off CDs… I'll have to add a few more track. Great stuff guys.
[youtube 9wyyVh3uc5Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyyVh3uc5Y youtube]
I have always dreamed of driving across the Southwest in a sun faded red '71 F-100 with a Cleveland 351M, 4 speed toploader, short bed, ratty bench seat covered with a horse blanket, and a bloodhound in the passenger seat.
I would just listen to this song on repeat the whole time.
It starts a little slow, but Steve Earle's Copperhead Road is pretty good.[youtube xvaEJzoaYZk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk youtube]
Yes yes yes yes yes.
"Run to the Hills" -Iron Maiden, 1982
Eddie is my co-pilot.
Oh God yes. This is second only to Radar Love.
"Motorcrash" – Sugarcubes
clutch – the regulator a lot of other clutch songs as well
david bowie – I'm afraid of americans
cake – stick shifts and safety belts
this is a great of list songs from everyone!
Amen to Clutch. Especially early stuff like "Shogun Named Marcus" or "Animal Farm."
"Diamonds On My Windshield" by Tom Waits. Whenever I'm driving late at night, that song runs through my head. [youtube hBdpzbfdwP4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBdpzbfdwP4 youtube]
Down on the World Again – Social Distortion
Warm Leatherette, by The Normal
Roadrunner, by Modern Lovers
Roadrunner's another good one, particularly here in New England.
Hadden Sayers Band – End of the Road
Paul Galaxy and the Galactix – Let's Ride, or, The whole Flamethrower album.
Bad Habit by Offspring gets it done
For some unknown reason…the entire album "Ignition" by The Offspring is a good driving album!
http://youtu.be/-rneaON1jiA
Probably a bit too new for the average reader here (I have every other song on my playlist as well, however) but still damn good going up or down a ferociously twisty mountain road in New York State. Consistent beat, highly topical lyrics, the best.
[youtube k_bQ0h85gY8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_bQ0h85gY8 youtube]
I fully endorse the use of Jamiroquai as driving music, and the fact that Jay K is a car guy himself just makes it even better.
From the land of the Hoon, I give you Radio Birdman
[youtube BIkod60zViM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkod60zViM youtube]
Oh so many good ones here, I'll add a few I haven seen listed yet sorry if i relisted any. I'll be checking out some of these I'm unfamiliar with thanks every one
of course
Elvis On Velvet-Stray Cats
The Distance-Cake
Hush-Deep Purple
289-V-8-Dusty 45s
Cadillac's Tracks-Jimmy Hall
Ridin' in My Car-NRBQ
Rome-B-52s
Gear Jammer-George Thorogood
but you wanted a favorite and my idiosyncratic choice
Soul Bossanova-the Skeewiff arrangement.
Asphalt Cocktail by John Mackey. Just listen to it.
"Steve McQueen" by the Drive By Truckers. Or maybe "Wanderlust King" by Gogol Bordello. It's hard to choose.
I'll throw some into the ring of fire here:
Star Trek 2 : Wrath of Khan (skip track 3)
La Villa Strangiato & YYZ by Rush
Think it Over by The Cars
Amarillo Highway & the The Road intro/The Road Goes on Forever (No.2 Live Dinner version)
by Robert Earl Keene
Powaqqatsi soundtrack by Phillip Glass
Drivin' to Mexico (whole album) by Cold Blue Steel
Sunspot Baby by Bob Seger
anything by Osric Tentacles
Vegas by Crystal Method
Blur – Song 2, Metallica – Fuel, Sex B-Bomb – Threshold
anything by me ^
Seared into my brain from being a teenager of the '80's.
Follow the Leader by Eric B & Rakim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gP3m-uBHA
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/95gP3m-uBHA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Also found on the Gran Turismo 2 soundtrack.
I have a whole playlist on my iPod just for driving fast (sadly though…. I am driving a Geo Metro right now and "fast" just isn't possible). Of them all though, my favorite would probably be "Somewhere I Belong" by Linkin Park followed closely by "Fire" by Jimi Henrdrix and "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin. Any why yes, I did get pulled over by a cop for trying to drift my Nissan Frontier in the parking lot of the Domino's I was managing at the time while listening to "Somewhere I Belong". No, I didn't get a real drift going-the clutch was slipping too badly for the KA24DE to get the tires spinning. Needless to say, it was fun trying to explain to the cop what I was doing without using words like "drifting"
[youtube cFLQZkOWkqw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFLQZkOWkqw youtube]
Initial D "eurobeats" gets me going like nothing else. Don't listen too carefully, though. The beat is fast and builds nicely, the tune is challenging, but the lyrics barely make sense; most messages are of the "chasing poon" variety. Totally appealing to the young, pimply adolescent set, I know, I know….
Something about rammstein is awesome to drive to. Then a song about our lovely fuel just makes it that much better.
[youtube z4BOZlkzpD4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4BOZlkzpD4 youtube]
"Hey Pretty" by Poe. Something about that song that makes me drive stupid.
Nice call! My uncle got me into them a while back.
Cake's "The Distance." Or if I feel like hooning my V8 powered Ford sedan, "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys.
[youtube eFRhmKuD9x8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFRhmKuD9x8 youtube]
How about Joe Stariani's "Crushing Day?"
Scartch that, make it a good kickin' driving song period!
It may sound cliche, as I had never heard it before I got hooked on Top Gear, but "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers is fantastic. I find it difficult not to enthusiastically row through the gears when that's on the stereo. The guitar/piano solos are just wonderful.
See also: Ramblin' Man.
[youtube U3sMjm9Eloo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3sMjm9Eloo youtube]
Because driving beat.
[youtube ixiXoa6SILA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixiXoa6SILA youtube]
Because racecar.
[youtube HgzGwKwLmgM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM youtube]
Because TopGear.
I know this is just IntenseDebate being broken, but it's still amusing. What were the other tracks?
Usually I just have to put the satellite radio on channel 21 and I'm set.
As for specific songs, I'll just list a few from the last decade-ish that can put me in hoon mode:
Offspring – The Kids Aren't Alright
Evanescence – Cloud Nine
Flyleaf – Swept Away (and also Arise)
Garbage – Push It
Avenged Sevenfold – Bat Country
I drove a Big Truck all over the Lower 48 and Canada for several years in the 80's-90's, and like all other Drivers I amassed a variety of tricks and techniques to overcome the fatigue and mind-crushing boredom that could easily have the terrifying consequences of falling asleep at the wheel and, "…puttin' 'er into the Ditch!", or worse (as a truck-driver, the Ditch is always capitalized).
My absolute last resort was two cassettes, AC/DC's "Back In Black", and Devo's "New Traditionalists", and I never, ever, ever, listened to them 'til I really needed them. Another 150 miles encased in two little pieces of plastic…..
One point obscureer (maybe):
[youtube libSTHaE80A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=libSTHaE80A youtube]
Much better recording. Dank je vel for that.
This one always does it for me:
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xtwkLpKvjNY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
sorry fail…[youtube xtwkLpKvjNY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtwkLpKvjNY youtube]
Flirtin' with Disaster– Molly Hatchet
[youtube rhhtRxqSrys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhhtRxqSrys youtube]
This one too
[youtube w1YaNZcUPGc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YaNZcUPGc&feature=related youtube]
"Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello. "RamRod" by Springsteen.
pretty much the whole Surfer Rosa album by the Pixies
especially Vamos and Bone Machine
Re: the Ministry track in the Original Post: I had a video pulled from youtube once upon a time for copyright issues cause I used some snippets (duly credited) as the soundtrack. I know it was just WB copyright lawyers overreacting, but I lost a bit of respect for Al J. and co. What pissed me off the most was that a lot of what I used was uncredited samples they had taken from drag race recordings and movies. double standard?
Why would you lose any respect for him? I seriously doubt he, or any artist('cept maybe Lars Ulrich or Gilbert O' Sullivan) trolls youtube looking for copyright violations.
I've been rolling with the entire Tron Legacy and Tron Legacy Remixed albums in my car. Appropriate
Megadeth 502
Led Zeppelin's Tramped Underfoot. The very epitome of driving rock, and the subject matter works, too.[youtube AofrZcNuxCE&feature=fvst http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AofrZcNuxCE&feature=fvst youtube]
I apparently have a new entry…
[youtube DZP4lbp9jBA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZP4lbp9jBA youtube]
73 in a rural, backwoods 45… slowing down in this. Both times I've been nailed for speeding on that road, it was faster than I thought the car was capable of (previously, two years ago, a warning for 66 in a 50 in the 244, to this), so perhaps it's the road, not the songs.
If I didn't have to travel it regularly, I don't believe I would.