Top travel-related tunes for lockdown

Listening to some cheerful music is a sure-fire way to lift the spirits and brighten your lockdown days. We’ve compiled a playlist of tunes that remind us of our travel adventures!

California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas

First released in 1965, this song is about dreaming you were somewhere else and on a bleak winter’s day, warm and sunny California sounds very appealing! With its renowned vineyards, rugged coastline and exciting cities – it’s one of our favourite places to visit!

On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

The unforgettable line ‘I can’t wait to get on the road again’ from this country and western hit has become our lockdown mantra! As soon as it’s safe to do so, we’ll be packing our bags and setting off to explore the world once more!

Nessun Dorma – Luciano Pavarotti

Nothing captures the essence of Italy better than this uplifting track from Puccini’s opera ‘Turandot’. The BBC used Pavarotti’s version as the theme tune for their coverage of the 1990 football World Cup and for us it conjures up so many memories of world-famous cities, glorious landscapes and delicious pizza and pasta!

Holiday – Madonna

There is no better tune to get you in the mood for your next trip! Turn up the volume, grab your hairbrush for a mic and dance around the kitchen! When the dust settles on the current situation, the lyrics of this song will be very apt ‘We're gonna have a celebration, all across the world’.

Africa – Toto

Containing what is possibly one of the most ambitious pop lyrics ‘As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti’, David Paich had never actually been to Africa when he wrote this now-famous song. If you’ve never been to Africa, it’s one to add to your bucket list - and whilst the song may ‘bless the rains down in Africa’, we hopefully won’t see too much of it on our holidays to this vast continent!

New York Minute – Don Henley

The lyrics of this song may not be the happiest or most uplifting, but it’s true that in New York City, nothing stays still for very long. It’s a thrilling, exciting and frantic place, a must-visit city we could return to time and again!

Roam – B52s

Just as in lyrics of this 1989 hit, can you hear a wind whispering in your ear encouraging you to roam around the world? We can and can’t wait for our first post-lockdown adventure. Where will you be heading?

Mas Que Nada – Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66

Nothing sums up the infectious spirit of Brazil quite like this classic track from 1966. It encapsulates everything that is waiting for us in vibrant country – samba, sunshine and so much fun!

Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn

The lyrics of this iconic track bring back fabulous memories of the amazing sights in Memphis, home of the blues. From Elvis’ opulent mansion, Graceland, to the blues clubs on Beale Street, it’s a fantastic city to explore.

Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles

Another one guaranteed to get you up dancing, this track was the Bangles first-ever number one hit. We’ve got our sights firmly set on Egypt and will be heading there this winter on a holiday that takes in the Pyramids of Giza and a wonderful cruise along the Nile.

What songs would make your travel playlist? email editor@travelsphere.co.uk and share your recommendations.