10. Take On Me – A-Ha
Norway natives A-Ha released the hit Take On Me in 1984, and it quickly skyrocketed up the U.K. singles chart and Billboard Hot 100 less than a year later. The music video had plenty to do with it; with MTV exposure the iconic video won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards. And now the song lives on, streaming on millions of Spotify playlists.
9. Back In Black - AC/DC (tie)
The only artist with two songs on this list, AC/DC's hit Back In Black ranks ninth on the list of best road trip songs. The 1980 hit – a fixture on the album with the same name – is one of the first recorded songs with then-new lead vocalist Brian Johnson at the helm. To date, the album has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and is a fixture in many road trips according to this data.
9. Closer - The Chainsmokers (tie)
A more modern song ties with AC/DC's hit for ninth on our list. The Chainsmokers released their first major single, Closer, in 2016. Quickly it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list, a first for both The Chainsmokers and vocalist Halsey, where it remained for 12 consecutive weeks. In just three years, it's among the most streamed songs on Spotify.
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Thanks to success on the silver screen (with a movie by the same name), and new lead vocalist Adam Lambert at the helm, Queen's popularity continues to soar. And the original version of Bohemian Rhapsody remains one of the most streamed songs ever on Spotify. The 1975 hit, as part of the album A Night at the Opera, is regularly regarded as one of the best rock songs of all time.
7. Stacy’s Mom - Fountains Of Wayne
In 2003, the band Fountains of Wayne released the provocative hit Stacy's Mom, along with an equally racy video to match. But immediately the band found success. Stacy's Mom reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and soon became the band's highest-charting song ever in the U.S. Now it's the number seven most-streamed road-trip song, according to Spotify.
6. Old Town Road - Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X's historic hit, Old Town Road, is the most recent song on this list – and also number six, beating out multiple classics. Lil Nas X released the song in 2018, and there have been multiple remixes since then, including vocals from artists like Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey (yes, that Mason Ramsey), and Young Thug.
5. Don’t Stop Believin' - Journey
Not only is Journey's Don't Stop Believin' a karaoke hit, but it's also the fifth most-streamed road-trip song, according to Spotify. The band released its 1981 smash hit as part of its seventh album, Escape, and is among one of the most iconic rock songs of all time. It's the best-selling digital track from the 20th century with more than seven million copies sold in the U.S.
4. Africa - Toto
Weezer helped revive Toto's iconic song, Africa, with their 2007 cover – but the original remains a timeless classic. Released in 1982 as part of the band's fourth studio album, Toto IV, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and also peaked in the top 10 in countries like the U.K., Canada, and the Netherlands, among others.
3. All Star - Smash Mouth
We remember Smash Mouth's 1999 hit, All Star, most notably for its use in the movie Shrek. But the song was a big hit when new, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the year of its release. It was the second single as part of the band's album, Astro Lounge.
2. Highway To Hell - AC/DC (tie)
The second AC/DC song on this list is also the second most-streamed road-trip song on Spotify (tied with the next one). As part of the band's Highway to Hell album, the hit single was one of the last with lead singer Bon Scott still at the helm.
2. Hotel California - The Eagles (tie)
The Eagles’ 1977 hit, Hotel California, ties with Highway to Hell as the second highest-streamed, road-trip song on Spotify. The album garnered a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1978 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on several international charts.
1. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
The most-streamed road-trip song is none other than Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The southern rock anthem was released in 1974 as part of the band's second album, Second Helping. It reached number eight on the U.S. charts in the year it was released, and more than 40 years later, remains a hit. More than 15-percent of road trip playlists feature the '70s hit.
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