Driving in to work today with our 2009 Dodge Challenger, I was listening to Jack FM, a radio station that caters to all tastes, when Van Halen's "Jump," filled the speakers. OK, that's a good song but doesn't really suit the burly, intimidating Challenger what with all the synthesizers. Maybe something from the '70s, more guitar? Heart's "Barracuda"?
I asked resident car geek/music lover editor John Di Pietro for his opinion on the matter and he suggested The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" or really any Rolling Stones track from the '70s.
But I think found the perfect song! See my pick after the jump.
"Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin! No? What do you think is the perfect soundtrack for cruising in the Challenger?
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
charlesb says:
11:57 AM, 03/12/10
The theme song from 'Jurassic Park' would be perfect because that thing is a dinosaur.
DCuerpoJr says:
12:00 PM, 03/12/10
Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
OR
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze
robert4380 says:
12:04 PM, 03/12/10
No no no no. It's gotta be "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood. I'd like to think that if The Terminator had a car instead of a motorcycle, this would be it. Just get some dark sunglasses and you're good to go.
subytrojan says:
12:07 PM, 03/12/10
I love "Jump!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swzh0ngMNJo
How about "Start Me Up" by the Stones?
adamb1 says:
12:09 PM, 03/12/10
Joan Jett: "I Hate Myself for Loving You"
throwback says:
12:09 PM, 03/12/10
I would suggest "You put a spell on me" by Jon Fogarty/CCR
robs249 says:
12:13 PM, 03/12/10
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga ;)
canadaphant says:
12:17 PM, 03/12/10
Flight of the Bumblebee?
Wait, no, that's the Miata.
How about a little Canadian Rock-Tragically Hip 'Twist My Arm' (though I like the Zeppelin)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4a-AVf1kYg&feature=related
carguy622 says:
12:17 PM, 03/12/10
The engine provides the perfect soundtrack silly.
throwback says:
12:23 PM, 03/12/10
I suggest "You put a spell on me" by Jon Fogarty/CCR
lmbvette says:
12:33 PM, 03/12/10
"Bad to the Bone!" by George Thorogood.
http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742231816351105
caroscuro says:
12:37 PM, 03/12/10
carguy622,
I forgot to include, "Besides the engine." :)
Lots of great suggestions, guys!
colorado kid says:
12:37 PM, 03/12/10
If you simply MUST listen to the stereo then "Bad to the Bone" is it, but I'd rather shut the stereo off, roll the windows down and stand on the throttle.
spin2win says:
12:39 PM, 03/12/10
"Runnin' Down A Dream"~Tom Petty
mlh says:
12:44 PM, 03/12/10
Agree with carguy622 -- just roll the windows down!
stephen987 says:
12:46 PM, 03/12/10
Bob Seger, George Thorogood, maybe a little Alice Cooper thrown in.
powell_jr says:
12:46 PM, 03/12/10
I was thinking Led Zeppelin. Anything from I-house of the holy, except some of the acoustic stuff from III like Tangerine.
gregnv says:
12:50 PM, 03/12/10
ZZ-Top - Nationwide
daskiing1 says:
12:54 PM, 03/12/10
Oldies: Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Pink Floyd is just brilliant for sit back and relax motoring.
Newbies: Demon Days by Gorillaz, Tripper by Efterklang. Cake is always good too.
daskiing1 says:
12:56 PM, 03/12/10
also on the oldies...Neil Young (preferably Harvest and Sugar Mountain: Live from Canterbury House 1968)
dougtheeng says:
01:10 PM, 03/12/10
Fortunate Son - CCR.
There is nothing more to say.
mrryte says:
01:43 PM, 03/12/10
daskiing1 says:
Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Pink Floyd is just brilliant for sit back and relax motoring.
Amen to that. Funny thing, I was thinking about listing "Comfortably Numb".
waevox says:
02:10 PM, 03/12/10
Yeah, Cake - The Distance came to mind...
I'm going to have to go with Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow. Final Answer.
mboily says:
02:38 PM, 03/12/10
ZZ_ TOP:Gimme all your loving'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmWKJlahO_M&feature=related
mboily says:
02:38 PM, 03/12/10
ZZ_ TOP:Gimme all your loving'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmWKJlahO_M&feature=related
desmolicious says:
03:10 PM, 03/12/10
'Fat bottomed girls" by Queen.
jlaszlo says:
03:27 PM, 03/12/10
Blur, Song 2
brooksbell says:
03:34 PM, 03/12/10
Radar Love. Its always Radar Love for teenaged muscle cars, boys.
misterfusion says:
03:42 PM, 03/12/10
I'd blast the "Mad Max" soundtrack, because this car reminds me of "the last of the V8 Interceptors".
Yes, I realize that an Aussie Ford Falcon was used in the movies -- a car about half the size of the Challenger -- but still, that's the vibe I get from this car...in the best possible way.
gmanaed says:
04:16 PM, 03/12/10
Mississippi Queen, followed by Radar Love, and capped by American Woman!
davidmgb says:
04:20 PM, 03/12/10
I thought of two previously mentioned:
Bad to the Bone
Radar Love
and the obligatory Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
f1mom says:
04:26 PM, 03/12/10
Korn - "Blind"
beefbaron says:
04:30 PM, 03/12/10
Any Bon Scott era ACDC, namely:
1) It's a long way to the top
2) Jailbreak
3) Girl's got rhythm
4) If you want blood
5) High voltage
6) Problem child
7) Night prowler
8) Ride on
Or just put on the highway to hell album
haub says:
04:31 PM, 03/12/10
Swamp song - Tool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2eFNnwZ9Eo
I Got Mine - the Black Keys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1pXulTzo1w
dips200 says:
05:12 PM, 03/12/10
It seems a little bit like a car in which one should blast a little bit of metal through the speakers at least one in a while. Not the screaming kind of metal, more the motivating kind. So, for that my suggestions are:
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
Ride the Lightning - Metallica
That being said, my inner teenager would want to drag race the Challenger at every possible opportunity, and my inner teenager has a little flavor, so to that end, I suggest:
Bring Da Ruckus - Wu Tang Clan
hybris says:
05:23 PM, 03/12/10
Until I can get to my home computer I have to say again "Black Fire Upon Us" from the fantasy metal band Dethklok.
More will follow.
plumcrazy2 says:
08:44 PM, 03/12/10
"She's a BRICK..............HOUSE, She's mighty mighty just letting it all hang out!"
sgude says:
02:40 AM, 03/13/10
Rush's "Tom Sawyer" -- especially the opening.
Enigma's "The Smell of Desire"
Dr. Dre's "Nothin' But a G Thang" (instrumental version)
Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" -- obvious choice
James Brown's "The Big Payback"
r1chwa1nwr1ght says:
09:08 AM, 03/13/10
I want to make a playlist of these songs!
My 2 cents are:
1. As good as it gets by grand theft audio
2. Barracuda by heart
3. Tom Sawyer by rush
4. 5.7 liter hemi v8
jkm17 says:
10:09 AM, 03/13/10
Nazareth - Hair of the Dog
roadburner says:
10:15 AM, 03/13/10
American Girl- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Blitzkrieg Bop- Ramones
Eight Miles High- The Byrds
Heatseeker- AC/DC
Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)- Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Somebody's Gonna Get (Their Head Kicked in Tonight)- Rubber City Rebels
The Waiting- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
What Girls Want- Material Issue
bimmerjay says:
12:11 PM, 03/13/10
Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back
r1chwa1nwr1ght says:
12:52 PM, 03/13/10
I did make a playlist of these songs for my car. I can't wait to drive next!
formerhpb says:
01:45 PM, 03/13/10
Sammy Hagar- I Can't Drive 55
I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet.
gmanaed says:
02:02 PM, 03/13/10
Godzilla-Blue Oyster Cult
roman_r56coop says:
06:49 PM, 03/13/10
blitzkreig bop- the ramones
ZZ Top- Nationwide
George T. and the destroyers- bad to the bone
Boston- Rock N Roll Band
Cake- The distance
You guys really nailed it so far I think
tomm250 says:
10:18 AM, 03/14/10
What! No votes for Debbie Gibsons "Shake your love"? I can't believe it.
rx777 says:
01:32 PM, 03/14/10
living colour- cult of personality
lenny kravitz- are you gonna go my way
santan (ft rob thomas)- smooth
Stone Temple Pilots- interstate love song
38 special- sonebody like you
1toecheese1 says:
03:28 PM, 03/14/10
Paradise by the Dashboard Light - Meatloaf (as if I needed to add that..) I remember being in an 'original' Challenger back in the late '70's and hearing that song. Seemed to fit then and now.
stingray454 says:
07:35 AM, 03/15/10
"Welcome to the Machine" - Pink Floyd
v8vroom says:
08:44 AM, 03/15/10
I would roll with The Guess Who's American Woman.
Or if you need something a little darker, Sabbath's Iron Man.
deagle13 says:
09:14 AM, 03/15/10
Wow - I can't believe it took 27 posts for someone to mention Radar Love. Brooksbell nailed it. If you need more guitar then might I suggest Iron Maiden's "2 Minutes to Midnight"...
danielpund says:
10:03 AM, 03/15/10
Some nice suggestions here. But I think we all know that the correct answer is either:
1. The Stooges/Down On The Street
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qannFs974gg
or, possibly
2. Black Sabbath/War Pigs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTRMZk-l_VY
Mad_Science says:
12:28 PM, 03/15/10
"Glory Days" by Springsteen.
All about nostalgia for a time gone by
mccool206 says:
01:59 PM, 03/15/10
Everyone has missed the boat on this one,this car deserves one song,the song that describes what this car was meant for Deep Purples "Highway Star".
cah11705 says:
02:32 PM, 03/15/10
I'm going to have to say American Woman or Highway Star, but the second one fits better since the challenger is such a great highway cruiser.
guapito says:
12:01 PM, 03/16/10
You guys have missed one classic that can't be ignored:
Any version of Black Betty but this is MY favorite
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3729997831178095312#
skierx420 says:
09:27 AM, 03/17/10
Wait, what about LA Woman by the Doors. All you people in Southern California and you leave out that song?????
jmoreland says:
07:19 PM, 03/17/10
"Wayward Son" by Kansas
or "Peace of Mind" by Boston, for that matter anything from Boston. This is coming from a guy born in 1982, so I think I'm slightly objective on the matter.