LONDON — There’s nothing quite like going for a nice drive with some tunes on in the background. Of course, the question of which tune to play next can spark an argument all by itself. According to a new survey, you can’t go wrong with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
In a poll of 2,000 adults, put together by Cuvva and conducted by OnePoll, respondents named the six-minute classic the best driving song of all time. Abba’s “Dancing Queen” (25%), Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” (24%), and Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” (22%) rounded out the Mount Rushmore of road trip music.
The top 10 best driving songs also include “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, “The Final Countdown” by Europe, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.
What do most drivers look for in a song?
Positivity and an up-beat outlook, according to 63 percent of respondents. Meanwhile, over half (53%) just want a sing-a-long anthem.
When asked why they prefer driving with music, 52 percent believe it helps prevent boredom, while 34 percent listen to tunes to help them stay alert. Another 49 percent say they always put music on while driving “just for the sheer love of it.”
“When we are out on the road, traveling at speed, navigating directions and other road users can make journeys stressful. While we can’t control congestion or how other road users behave, the music we listen to is something that we can control. Calming music can center and ground you when feeling frustrated or angry,” says psychologist Lee Chambers in a statement.
“Alternatively, if you’re feeling fatigued and having brain fog, accessing some tunes which help with attention, focus and concentration can help you with those final few miles of a long journey. Sometimes there are days when you get in the car and you just feel flat and uninspired. In these instances, the mood-boosting benefits of belting out some pop lyrics and dancing in your seat can’t be beaten.”
As far as musical genres go, pop reigns supreme (51%) and heavy rock music (40%) top the charts among drivers. However, one in five drivers prefer some calming classical music while traveling and 13 percent even believe classical tunes help them concentrate on the road better. Humorously, 34 percent even admit they’ll often stay in their car long after arriving at their destination just to keep rocking out.
Does the driver really get final say?
Of course, all of this pales in comparison to the big question when it comes to music and driving. Who gets to pick the songs? Two in three people (65%) concede that the person behind the wheel gets the final say on music, but six percent usually let their kids decide.
Four to 10 listen to more music in their cars than anywhere else and 55 percent wholeheartedly believe that music makes driving more fun in general.
Close to all participants (92%) admit they sing along out loud to their favorite songs while driving. Another 41 percent have even felt embarrassed after being caught by a fellow driver while belting out a tune.
One in five can’t help but engage in heated arguments over musical choices and 25 percent need music while driving at night as the sounds help keep them awake. On the other end of the spectrum, 24 percent confess they often become distracted by their music while driving.