As you check everything one last time you ask yourself. Do I have all my chargers, snacks, water, am I wearing comfortable pants? Do I have enough clothes for the trip and some possible emergency. Is the GPS pulled up? Should I pee one more time………definitely pee one more time, you’ll be thankful 2 hours from now when you are grid locked in the middle of Holland Tunnel. These are questions that run through your head before a road trip, but there are several essential questions missing we must all ask ourselves before we roll out. They are……..
Has a slammin playlist been created with care for this specific journey? Does this playlist have a range of tempos and genres? Does this playlist include classic music everyone should hear as well as new pop hits to keep it fresh? Is there any OUTKAST on this playlist (because there should be, don’t play with me) Is the list arranged in such a way that the music being heard is connected to the expected visual scenery along the route? This may seem like a lot of thought to put into music for a road trip but I’m telling you it can make all the difference.
Over this Thanksgiving holiday Pilar, myself and the girls went to visit my parents in Rochester, NY. Rochester is technically in the same state as New York City, but it’s closer to Cleveland than it is to Brooklyn, roughly a 6 hour drive with no traffic and no stops. However with two passengers under the age of 6 and 3 hours of inching along from Broome st across the Pulaski Bridge it took us 10 hours to get there. I luckily had 10 hours of music prepared for this trip, when we arrived at 1 a.m. believe it or not it was Eddie Vedder singing “I’m still alive” that brought us in, it was the perfect sentiment.
Road Tripping with the kids is a bit different because I really try to select songs that are high quality, but also interesting to the ears of 3 and 5 year olds. Granted, these are my 3 and 5 years old kids who listen to Roy Ayers, Biggie, Led Zeppelin, Lady Saw, Ray Barretto, Tom Petty, and Jorge Ben or the regular so they know the deal. We place great value on music and music making in our family so creating this list was not only fun, but I learned a lot about my family and my own listening habits.
And it goes a little something like this, HIT IT…………….
Give me your love- Curtis Mayfield
Give me the sunshine- Leo’s Sunship
Breakdown- Tom Petty
Harlem- Bill Withers
Hey girl, I like your style- The Temptations
Just One of those days- Monica
Be Bad (pt1) – Ill Mondo
Day Dah light- LC and Louise Bennett
Weight Off- Kaytranada
It’s Your Thing- Christian McBride ft Dee Dee Bridgewater
Mr. Kicks- Oscar Brown Jr.
Stones Throw Records 10 year anniversary- Various dope Emcees and producers
Come and Talk To Me Remix- Jodeci
Nite and Day- Al. B. Sure
Caught Up- Usher
Best Things in Life are Free- Sam Cooke (Live)
Fool For You – Alice Smith
Love No Limit- Mary J. Blige
Long Walk Remix- Jill Scott
Brandy- Baby
Freekin You remix- Jodeci
Stand On The Word (Larry Levan mix)
Some Beats- Slakah the Beat Child
Cold Sweat- James Brown
Stone Cold Funk- Anthony Hamilton
Singing and Dancing- Rhyze
A Brand New Wayo- Mixed Grill.
Haven’t You Heard- Patrice Rushen
I Want To Do It- Scandal ft. Lee Genesis
Gyal You a Party Animal- Charley Black
Your Number- Ayo Jay
Lemon- N.E.R.D ft. Rihanna
Element- Kendrick Lamar
Respiration- BlackStar
Hazeus View- Joey Badass
Yasin Bey/ Marvin Gaye – Inner City Travellin Man
Manipulated – Mindsone & Kev Brown
Land of the Free- Joey Badass
Expressive- Talib Kweli & 9th Wonder
I’m Gone- Logic
Are you in?- De La Soul
Feel No ways- Drake
No Limit- G Eazy
Mi Gente- J. Balvin
It’s a Vibe- 2 Chainz
Magnolia- Playboy Carti
Progress of Elimination- Boss
C.R.E.A.M- Wu-Tang Clan
The Tide is High- John Holt
4:44 full album
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band- Full Album
Freedom 90- George Michael
Cuban Jam Session – Vol 3
Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
Aquemini- Outkast
Dip and Fall back- Lady Saw
Web- Hampton Hawes
Let No Man Put Asunder- First Choice
DYWM- NAO
Long Distance- Sam Gellaitry
Them Changes- Thundercat
Season of the witch – Stills session
Right Place, Wrong Time- Dr. John
Free Love – Jean Carn
Black Five- Roy Ayers
Strawberry Letter #23- The Brothers Johnson
In the Air Tonight- Phil Collins vs Nutso Remix
Scooters Groove- Tuxedo
Second Time around- Tuxedo
Soul Drummer- Ray Barretto
Emotional Rescue- The Rolling Stones
Ware Wa- SoulJazz Orchestra
In a Sentimental Mood – John Coltrane
Losing Hand- Harry Belafonte
No Diggity (Mateo Vibes remix)- BlackStreet
I Need a Man- Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Don’t Wanna Fight- Alabama Shakes
Libertango- Grace Jones
Shaft in Africa- Johnny Pete
Help Is On The Way- Whatnauts
Beautiful People- Barbara Tucker
Cocomotion 79- El Coco
Black Coffee- Superman
Sultans of Swing- Dire Straits
Red Flags and Long Nights- She Wants Revenge
TIBWF- Budos Band
Shadow boxing- GZA
Full Clip- Gangstarr
The Rhythm Changes- Kamasai Washington
Design- B Stroller
Alligator- Dizzy Gillespie
Live Your Life- Yuna
El Amor- Tito Bambino
Masketo- Riva
No te Veo- Jowell y Randy
Linda Eh- Grupo Mania
Omega- Tu Si Quieres, Tu No Quieres
Make you Feel- Alina Baraz
Water Get No Enemy- Fela Kuti
Today- Tom Scott
Stand on the Word- Joubert Singers
Body and Soul- Coleman Hawkins
George Benson- The Ghetto
Detroit Guitar Band Album- Dennis Coffey
Bad Bascomb- Bo Diddley
Positive Vibration – Bob Marley
Can’t Find the Judge- Gary Wright
Back in the Day- Erykah Badu
Blackbird (acoustic)- Beatles
Have Some Live- Childish Gambino
Black hole Sun- Soundgarden
Machine Head- Bush
Alive- Pearl Jam
When I look back at this list, I must say I am pretty proud that my kids listen to music that is diverse, soulful and timeless. I will keep feeding them musical meals filled with fresh organic goodness that sparks their own creativity and music making. In the end here are the tracks that connected with the kids the most.
Blackbird- Beatles (They really love this song, they ask me to play it everyday at some point)
Stand on the Word- Joubert Singers
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
Have Some Love- Childish Gambino
Soul Drummer- Ray Barretto
Mi Gente- J Balvin
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zepplin
No Limit- G Easy
