Traveling Solo? Find a Companion in Music!

Come summer time and we start putting together a plan to escape the heat the city offers. Be it the hills or the beaches, the forests or the backwaters, remote mountain passes or meadows —they all offer a captivating scenery, alluring to the mind. What precedes this astounding destination is an equally spectacular journey — usually accompanied by silence for solo travelers. This is where music comes into the picture; filling the void with soulful vibrations of the strings, a joyous percussive beat, and a soothing falsetto, it qualifies as the perfect companion for travelers.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”, said Sir Ernest Hemingway and we firmly believe in it. So, here are a few songs we believe will make your journey worth remembering. We have compiled a list of 10 songs — 5 of those are to kickstart your journey and get the adrenaline high; the other five will help soothe your mind after a tiring journey.

1. “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2.

This anthemic song is the opening track of the band’s 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. Penned down by Bono, the song talks about Bono’s vision of an Ireland which has no class boundaries. The music, beginning with the sound of an organ progresses into an arpeggio and engages the listener to be ready to scream the words “I want to run, I want to hide!”. We are sure the song will inspire you to wander into streets which are yet to be named.

2. “Life Is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane.

The most famous song of the Canadian musician, this peppy number is inspired by Cochrane’s trip to West Africa where he spent some time working for the World vision famine relief organization. The positivity of this song inspires travelers to not let weariness come in their way of composing a great travel tale.

3. “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin

This song by the English band, Led Zeppelin, from their sixth album (Physical Graffiti), took Jimmy Page and Robert Plant three years to write. The song was written by the duo while they were driving around in the Sahara Desert. The interesting fact about the song is that none of the band members had ever been to Kashmir, yet named it after the miraculous place! Plant describes the road on which they were driving to be endlessly wrong like it had no end. And this is what reflects in this song — a long never ending journey. Perfect for those long road trips.

4. “Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors.

A single from the album Morrison Hotel by the American rock band The Doors, this song opens with a catchy bass riff and the melodious voice of Jim Morrison reminding you to “Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel”. The lyrics may talk about a hangover and a drug induced sleep, but the bass riff and the guitar solo makes this song a must have on your travel playlist.

5. “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf.

The song, written by Mars Bonfire and performed by Steppenwolf, opens with a riff that resembles the sound of a rev of a motorcycle engine. The opening lyrics —“Get your motor running and head out on the highway” — speak what is always on a traveler’s mind.

6. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

This 1967 classic, performed by Louis Armstrong, possesses the ability to soothe the most troubled minds. Having a troubled time in the middle of your journey? Lost your way or the length of your trip has started taking a toll on you? Worry not! All you got to do is play this song and watch your mind go from troubled to calm in 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

7. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole

Another major soother, this song was originally composed by Harold Arlen. Written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, this song portrays the long to escape a dreary life — the intent of most of the modern travelers. This version by Israel has his dulcet voice accompanied by the pleasing sound of the ukulele. Perfect for those nights in a tent or a weary walk on the winding mountain roads.

8. “Nightingale” by Yanni

Tribute, an album that pays musical homage to India — specifically to the builders of the Taj, has several musical masterpieces in it. Nightingale is the 10th track on the album. In this instrumental, Yanni combines the melodious notes of the fiddle and the hypnotic tune of the duduk (Armenian flute) harmoniously. If you love instrumentals, there is a strong chance you will love this track. In case you have been thinking about trying instrumental music, we suggest you start with this.

9. “Hard Sun” by Eddie Vedder

OST of the movie “Into The Wild”, this song was originally written and performed by Gordon Peterson under the name “Indio”. Vedder gives this song a folksy touch while keeping the rock roll elements intact. The songs in the movie tell the tale of an American wanderer, who gives up his materialistic possessions to travel. Include this song in your playlist for the love of travel. If this song appeals to you, we suggest you have a look at “Rise” by Eddie Vedder.

10. “Home” by Jack Johnson

Journeys never end. However, weary and homesick travelers need to fly back to their nests so that they can steady themselves for more adventures. This song by Jack Johnson captures this thought. After a long and a taxing journey, while you’re heading home, put on this song and let it soothe your mind as you yearn for ‘home’.

Noteworthy numbers:

1. “Free” by Rudimental

This video of this track features real life wing suit flier Jokke Sommer gliding around in the Alps. We suggest you catch a glimpse of the video to awaken the adventurer in you.

2. “I’m yours” by Jason Mraz

This zesty track not only inspires you to spread the love but also calls out to the solo traveler in you to wander. The video of this melodic song features a plethora of activities and places that will make you ditch the couch and pack that backpack!