Highway 2 offers opportunity to try new music

The first time I traveled to Chadron for a college visit as a junior in high school, I slept the entire 5 hours as my dad drove.
Since that first trip here, I’ve made the drive to and from Chadron more than a dozen times, and while I sometimes have passengers, several times I have been alone.
I like to consider myself an expert Highway 2 driver and anyone who knows about Highway 2 knows there are limited areas where you hit a radio station that stays in range for more than 30 minutes. I also like to consider myself a fan of a wide range of music, but I prefer loud songs that I can yell while in the car by myself.
So, like any good millennial, I’ve created a music playlist to keep me awake and focused during my drive, and I now have the Top 10 Highway 2 traveling songs.
Just remember that the Highway 2 drive isn’t for just anyone; it takes a unique person, and a unique playlist if you are going to survive this drive. So buckle up, we’re going for a ride.
1. “All Star” by Smash Mouth
The best kind of music to listen to while driving on Highway 2 is music that you know every word to so you can really get into the song and truly yell the song at the vast open country around you. And if you don’t know all the words to “All Star,” first of all, you’re wrong, and secondly, this is your perfect chance to listen to it on repeat until you do. It will save you from being the laughing stock of your friends in the future.
This is also a perfect start to the drive because it’s an inspirational song to get your mind in a good place for the long drive ahead.
2. “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
This chipper, happy song will also keep you in a good mood as you continue on the drive. Keep this song at the early part of your playlist though because it’s more appropriate as you are going through the hills around the Chadron State Park, where we are literally “on top of the world.”
3. “Classic” by MKTO
This is another peppy song of our time that I’ve found puts almost everyone in a good mood. It’s energetic and upbeat and allows you to do the “driver’s dance,” which is my favorite kind of dancing. Plus it has that slight rap in the middle to test your skills.
4. “King of the Road” by Roger Miller
This is a good song to work in after listening to all the upbeat songs. Take a minute or 2:30 to be exact, to just listen to some old school country music and relax while you catch your breath and maybe take a drink to refresh your strained throat.
5. “Shut Up and Dance with Me” by Walk the Moon
When you start to feel the stresses of the drive and become sleepy, it’s a perfect time to “shut up and dance.” This song is another perfect song that will never get old and it literally calls for you to do the “driver’s dance.” It will re-energize you and get you focused on the drive.
6. “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” by Ylvis
Now, I know what you are thinking. This song is over-played, obnoxious, and stupid. You’re not wrong. But this Highway 2 drive messes with you and sometimes you just need to let all the weirdness out, and this song is the perfect opportunity for that. It doesn’t matter if you actually know all the words, or if you just make random noises, you’ll feel better after listening to this song.
7. “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio
This is a secret favorite song of mine, but you have to wait until you have less than 2 hours left of the trip. It’s an angry song and by this time in the trip you will be annoyed and frustrated that you still have not reached your destination.
This is a tricky song though because if you listen to this song too soon on the trip you will be angry for too long and you may overheat. But if you wait too long to play it, you will arrive at your destination in a bad mood, which isn’t fair to those you are going to visit.
8. “Carrying Your Love With Me” by George Strait
I always follow “Gangsta’s Paradise” with a King George song. It doesn’t necessarily have to be this one, but I do recommend “Carrying Your Love With Me.” The King will cool you down and help you to feel light and feathery again after going “through the valley of the shadow of death.”
9. “Buffalo Dream” by Tex Ritter
King George sometimes causes a dreamy effect, which causes sleepiness again. So listening to anything by Tex Ritter will definitely shock your senses back awake. Tex Ritter might not be well known in these days, especially not “Buffalo Dreams,” but it has similar effects as “The Fox.” The weirdness will need to come out again and this song offers that.
10. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers
Finally, a perfect song to end on is one talking about being on the road for FOREVER. By the time you are ready for this song on your playlist you will be doing anything to survive the last few miles to your destination, just like The Proclaimers in trying to get the girl.
This playlist is only a short list of all the songs you will need to travel on Highway 2 and it might look like songs you’d never be caught listening to, but that’s why it’s perfect for this long, lonely Highway 2 drive. Nobody even has to know.