Today I had some errands to run. Errands involving highway driving. I'm politely referred to as a Nervous Nellie when it comes to driving, so my singing serves two capacities in these situations. It keeps my mind off the 4,500 'what ifs' that can turn my palms sweaty when I'm driving at 100km/hour - and it makes me breathe deeply and keeps me calm.
That's my excuse, anyway.
Today I found myself singing the fourth part harmony that The Dixie Chicks so obviously miss. I totally rocked a Pink song (did I mention I'm a closet (or not so closet) dag?). There may or may not have been some Jimmy Barnes in there. Singing along with Jimmy makes me appreciate the range of the man's voice. Those songs get high, people.
In the privacy of my own car, I'm the lead singer, with any choice of international superstar backing band I damn choose. I like to think I make the most of that.
Are you a Car Star? What's your music of choice?
[image: bsandgren]
Lately I've been harmonising with Paul Kelly and Kasey Chambers, but I do love a good ho-down (hoe-down?) with the Dixie Chicks. Or Regina Spektor.
ReplyDeleteI used to commute an hour in the car each way for work, just enough time to listen to an entire CD on the journey. I also have a bad habit of taking 'long cuts' to make sure we don't miss the end of a good song. Sorry kids. ;)
I wrote about my ability to sing loudly and obnoxiously just the other day. The rare occasions I am in the car alone I am a grammy award winning singer and the radio stations are my back up band. All of them.
ReplyDeleteOMG Yes.
ReplyDeleteI only commute once a week and I absolutely love it because that's all I do - usually highly emotional songs. I belt them out as if I were on stage. It's my time :)
The world is probably glad that I don't get much alone-in-the-car time these days but on that four-minute drive home from dropping my son at daycare once a week - well, I make up for all the rest of the week in one loud Queen song!
ReplyDeleteOooooh, I miss this. When we gave up the "good life" we also gave up the good cars...you know, ones with radios, or even cassette players. We bought "the van of doom" which isn't a Kombi, unfortunately, that would have some hippie cred. It's just a Mitsubishi without a stereo. I feel sad now.
ReplyDeleteOh for sure. I'll give anything a bash but I do like "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac in the car. John Butler is another favorite and every now and then, I do Justin Timberlake...Don't tell anyone
ReplyDeleteI love being in the car on my own - or with Master Z as he doesn't judge! I turn the radio from our usual JJJ to one of the more commercial stations that I know will have classic after classic and I belt them out. Today was Land Down Under, followed by Total Eclipse of the Heart - oh the joy :o)
ReplyDeleteToday it was U2's Beautiful Day. And yes with the windows up!
ReplyDeleteha ha! I sing in the shower ;)
ReplyDeleteMy children all say "Mummy, I like this song, but not when you sing too." Or, "Mum, I like this song, can you please be quiet."
ReplyDeleteEven as a tiny toddler, Lexie used to say "No sing Mumma."
So you can only imagine the volume of my car singing when I have dropped the critics off...(yesterday was Helen Reddy. On repeat. No kidding.)
Absolutely! You may also often find me dancing along in the car (whilst stopped at the traffic lights of course), which I have actually blogged about before. So uncool, but so fun.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm in the car...
I AM Kylie!
i am a total vehicular rock star. i sing to pretty much anything. depends on my mood...today it was muse.
ReplyDeleteUm yup...that would be me too...I'm not fussy either, a bit of Justine Clarke get's a good belting out as well :)
ReplyDeleteWe could totally duet on a road trip.
ReplyDeleteMay I suggest a Glee soundtrack or two? Such variety.
Oh yes :) Right now it's the Black Eyed Peas, the White Stripes, and Noah and the Whale, and best of all I've converted the kids!
ReplyDeleteI am a TOTAL car star Allison and I'm so pleased to read that you are too! ;o)
ReplyDeleteThough I don't just reserve the right to do it when I'm by myself, I belt out the tunes with the boys in the car. Sometimes, they like it... other times, not so much! My Mr3 quite often yells "Mama I CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC!" Oops! xo
Ooooh yes - I've been a Car Star forever! Nowadays I am more likely to get caught singing Puccini than Pink, as the car radio is kept on kid-friendly, commercial free ABC-Classic FM. The munchkin definitely prefers his opera mum-free, but every now and then I remember to plug in the phone and pop on something more current, and he'll be a bit more forgiving. Especially if it's a song he can sing too.
ReplyDeleteSing would help to reduce stress..that is the good news
ReplyDeleteLove this post, and can relate well.
ReplyDeleteBecause I am the mega famous pop star in my car.
But the kids won't let me sing anymore. In fact my five year old gets really upset when I don't take instruction from him.
"MUM! I asked you to stop singing!"
Really, I didn't think I was THAT offensive.
Great post Allison. x
yup i'm a car star but i don't just limit it to the car. i'm quite often guilty of turning the stereo up at home and belting out a few tunes there too. i do all this with the windows wide open - both at home AND in the car, in fact i find i sing BETTER with the windows open in the car.
ReplyDeletei don't care who see's me [or hears me, i can actually carry a tune, so know i don't sound bad] because i can also be quite a BAD car dancer as well. lol
This morning it was the B52s' Love Shack. Now THAT is a great car-star song! :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Pink is fun to sing along with, and I too like creating my own harmonies! And MoodyEdits named a great band to sing along with, I can't not sing along with Love Shack or Rock Lobster.
ReplyDeleteI often sing along with the 80's on 8 station on XM; thank goodness no one can hear me, because all the guys then sang in falsetto, which frankly sounds ridiculous.
I love to yell along to some loud noisy rock, much to the embarrasment of my 15 year old daughter. I just say to her 'It;s my car, my stereo and I'll sing if I want to!'
ReplyDeleteI got no radio in my car! :( But with minime I'm apparently not allowed to sing in the car "forever and ever".
ReplyDeleteI am an amazing car singer and dancer. Yes, I car dance. Mostly I rock out to 80s music, but I'm not adverse to whipping out some great Ke$ha or Adele. I also do a magnificent of "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.
ReplyDeleteI was meant to be a star...