Our musical heritage is full of songs depicting the American love for the automobile. That love now seems to be gone. I remember when 4 on the floor made you the envy of your friends. Cars were jacked up. Cars were lowered. Accessories abound. Chrome trim, mag wheels were the rage. So I am wondering will the truly awful looking teeny cars, plug-ins and greenie weenie hybrids inspire the next generation of songs? “I’m gettin’ a jolt from my Volt” or perhaps “I plugged into my Charger into my charger?” Yes I know that Tesla owners constitute a cult. No car is rated lower in quality yet no car has a higher owner satisfaction. Hence, a cult is the only explanation for its owners fanatical love.
There is actually a website that lists the number of mentions of all car brands in the songs but not necessarily in the title. Mercedes has over 5,000 while Tesla has only 140 and most of those are either in German and/or parodies.
I have listed a few below songs with cars in the title in no particular order – I’ve omitted mentions such as ”drove my Chevy to the levy”. I am especially fond of Maybelinne, Pink Cadillac, Freeway of Love and Mustang Sally. I’m waiting for a song about a lowered Tesla with mag wheels and the driver doing a gangsta lean.
What are your favorites?
Maybelinne – Chuck Berry
Freeway of Love (Pink Cadillac)- Aretha Franklin
Little Red Corvette – Prince
Jaguar – The Who
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
From a Buick 6 – Bob Dylan
64 Chevolet Impala – Dr Dre
Wild, Wild Mustang – The Del-Tones
Little Deuce Coupe – Beach Boys
Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
Pink Cadillac – Natalie Cole
Trans Am – Neil Young
Little GTO – Ronnie and the Daytonas
Jeepster – T-Rex
I’m Changing My Name to Chrysler – Tom Paxton
Chevrolet – ZZ Top
Long White Cadillac – The Blasters
Who’s Cadillac is That? – War
haroldblackphd.com 