Your Zooey Roadtrip Playlist
I don't know about you all, but I love a good road trip. Something about seeing the world fly by while you sit in your car, never knowing what's around the next turn, it's such a fun feeling of adventure. There's three things that really make every road trip awesome. First of all is the snacks. Gotta have your munchies when you're travelling between remote gas stations. The second is good company. Someone to see the world with, to crack jokes between, and to get into the heavy stuff with when the mood strikes. Both of those things are hard for us, a zoophile magazine, to contribute to. The best snacks are usually regional and I have no idea where you live. I also unfortunately can't help you make good road trip friends (although, if I can make a suggestion, dogs are pretty great and will very much enjoy the chance to sniff so many new things). But, we can help with the third key ingredient to a good drive, and that's the music! The zoo community is absolutely stuffed to the brim with just incredibly talented musicians. Enough that you can make sure each key step in your trip is covered by a different zoo song!
#1 Worlds Apart - Kiss Me Kabar
Let's start with something fun. Worlds Apart by Kiss Me Kabar is a fantastic and romantic song in the style of something like Blink 182 or Sum 41, so if you grew up in that era (or you just like that sound) this is going to be an amazing hit for you. I picture this song right towards the beginning of the playlist, maybe even the setting out song. It's got a great energy for new beginings, the first step into your journey as you pull out of the driveway ready for whatever the world brings.
#2 King of the Pride -
next song on our lists such a fun one Based on Ex's Oh's by Elle King this song has such an awesome driving beat behind it. It's the kind of song that makes you smile as soon as you hear it start. This song is perfect for once you're on your journey to help keep the energy up. Playing this song as you travel farther and farther from what you know into places you may have been before a few times, but edging closer and closer to farther than you've ever been is the perfect slot for this banger.
#3 Riding the Thunder - Shiv
At some point along your journey you're likely to end up hungry. Don't worry, happens to all of us. But, just because your journey has to go on pause doesn't mean that your playlist does! While you sit there in that McDonalds drive thr eager to get back onto your trip, consider throwing on Riding the Thunder by Shiv! It's a little bit slower so you don't have the beat pumping while stuck in a line, but it's by no means is it a downer. We call this a reprieve. A brief moment before we get back to it. It's also less explicitly zooey sounding so no worries if they hear this going in the background when you roll down your window to grab your food, they'll probably just think you're cool as hell.
#4 I Wanna (bleep) the Bear - Kiss Me Kabar
We're going back to KMK for the next one because we need something that's going to get our energy pumping! We've had lunch, dinner isn't for hours, it's easy to end up in a slump during this period if you don't play this next bit just right. What you need is a song that everyone is into, that's easy to sing along with. And that's where this song comes in. This is a PG-13 magazine so you know, be careful with this song. That said, artistic liberty when it comes to adult content in music has always been held to different standards, and god is the chorus ever fun to yell out as you blast down a stretch of highway feeling the world fall behind you, so we're going to allow this one. If you're under 18 just replace the words with something age apropriate like "high five" or "Hang out with" the bear.
#5 Sheep Shagger Blues - Shiv
By this point, you're probably pretty far out away from society. You're probably driving through farm after farm, maybe even getting to see some horses and more importantly, sheep! And hey, what better way to celebrate than by listening to a tune about a farmer! This song has such a fun consistant harmony going, and every time the synth hits I promise you and your ride companion will be sen to a stratospheric level of absolute jamming bliss.
#6 Zooey Ways to Die - Zipwok
We can't keep the energy going forever, that sounds like a huge pain. At this point it's probably the late afternoon and we need something fun but pleasing. Easy listening, but not boring. That's where this song comes in absolutely perfect. The simple guitar chords are perfect for just vibing, but the jokes are also extremely funny, and the way that it sounds like Zipwok is halfway to laughing at half of them in the recording itself will keep you feeling good. It's also got a great chorus for singing along to, but in a much more chill way than the previous entry. Just all around a great mood for this part of your journey.
#7 Heathens (Zooey) - Zood
Okay listen, yes I know this is my song and I'm biased by adding it, but I worked hard on it and people generally seem to like it, and it fits what we're going for here, so if you don't like it make your own list! This is a cover of the song Heathens by 21 Pilots buil from the ground up and zooified. Like the original it's got a bit of a beat to it, but it's slower and darker. It's perfect as we set the stage for the sun to go down. We're not at twilight yet, but you can watch the sun sink deeper and deeper as this song accompanies its journey and yours.
#8 Nieve Se Echo a Dormir - Zipwok
We need another transition song here, and there is nothing better I can think of than this song by Zipwok. Do I know what it means for half of it? No. Do I love it anyway? Absolutely. I'm guessing hen it comes to dinner, you're going to stop somewhere and take a break out of the car. Stretch your legs, go for a pee, and then once you get back to driving you put this song on. Too much energy at this point in the day is just going to feel excessive, but it is getting late and you want something that keeps you going, so the quick acoustic guitar and Zip's amazing voice will have you feeling totally reenergized for the next leg of the journey.
#9 In the Meadows - K
As the sun finally starts to dip below the horizon and the world is painted in golden hues, now's when we start to get serious. This track feels like a sunset. It's beautiful, with awesome harmonies, and even a violin. This is the kind of song where you and your road trip buddy listen to it in total silence, but the silence is comfortable. You've grown together on this trip. You've bonded. Soon the dark will be here, but you have this one perfect moment before then. And there's no better song for that than In The Meadows.
#10 You Make Me High - Zipwok
This next song is incredibly crucial. It's so easy to kill the vibe at this stage in the playlist so deep into the journey. I parallel this slot a lot to the after lunch hump, but we need something that has like 50% of the energy. Which is why this song is incredible. It's beautiful, easy to listen to, and has a chorus that's upbeat and easy to sing along to, ensuring that things stay positive. The moon is slowly rising, the headlights are becoming more and more important, and you're tapping along on the steering wheel as the world around you slips away.
#11 Astronauts - Shiv
It's late. The moon is high in the sky. It seems like the night is going to go on forever. Perfect time for a slow and somber song allegorically about space. This track is the kind of thing that makes you want to talk about your feelings. Make you say that thing that you'd never say in the day. This is where you'd come out to your road trip partner as a zoo if they didn't know already and hadn't guessed by your playlist featuring so much zoo music. It's not a depressing song, but it fits the vibe in the darkest part of the night.
#12 The Reasons Why - Zipwok
Time for a palate cleanser. You're at the end of the night, but you still want to hold onto that moment for a little bit longer. A short song like this is perfect. Simple and sweet, your post catharsis tune. The only thing ahead of you is the daylight, and the sky is growing brigher moment by moment, mirrored by the bright chords and fun piano bridge in this song. The sunrise will be here soon.
#13 Stacy's Dog - Smelly and the Racc
Okay yes I know I said I was only going to have one of my songs in this, but guess what, it's a new day with new rules! The night is over, it's time to have some fun! I'm putting on another certified Tarro cover. After all the darkness of the night we need something energetic and silly to shake us out of the slump. Something to get us going for the last leg of our journey and to finally take us to our destination. Singing along is highly encouraged.
#14 - Stableboy (Alternate Verison) -
Hey look ma' we made it! The sun is up, the day is here. The landscape comes back into view showing just how far you've come. The trip is at its end. You're probably drifting back into more and more civilization but that doesn't mean we can't fit in one more horse song as we escape the wilderness. This song is such a pump up! I really like higher key on the alternate version, but personal preference is totally fine here! Whichever version you prefer, you're going to feel ready to take on the world as you finally make it to your destination.
And that's the zoo additions we'd make to your road trip mixtape The point is this. There is SO much cool zoo music out there. Even just in this list there are technically different . And there's plenty of music that I didn't add not because it isn't good, but . There are so many amazing zoo musicians and if you're someone that likes music you should definitely support them. Nothing encourages more of something than support. If you listen to any of these songs and absolutely love 'em, let the artists know! And hey, if you're a musician yourself, why not make some music of your own? If you're a solo act, live your best life, but if you're looking for a collab there are lots of really incredible musicians in the community that would be happy to be the Cookie to your Konn, so to speak! Hope you enjoy the trip, have fun seeing the world!
Article written by Tarro (May 15th)
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Secret bonus #15 I Need You So - Zipwok
A few years after your trip you're sitting at home and you see a picture on your mantleplace. It's a picture of you and your trip mate during your travels. Both of you look so happy, you seem like a different person. You realize you haven't talked to that person in a few months now. It's not that you ever stopped being friends, life just took you in different directions. But something in you hurts. You miss not just them. You miss that feeling. You miss the journey. Life is so much more complicated now. But in your heart, there's nothing you want more than to be back on the road. This song starts to play, and you realize that nothing else matters as much as that feeling. You take a sabbatical from work, pick up your phone, and call your friend. It's time for another road trip.
