Mini-Van Mix: Songs that Suck You In

This post originated the other day in the mini-van of course. I heard the song Ants Marching by The Dave Matthews Band from the very beginning. Now, say what you want about Dave but no matter my opinion of who he is or has become, that steady drum beat will always make me smile and play steering wheel drum as it instantly brings me back to college and what’s not good about that? This got me thinking, what other songs suck me right in in those first few seconds and keep me in my car long after I’ve reached my destination? See, it can’t just be a good beginning, I bore easily. Like any proper story, the song needs to pull me in with it’s beginning but keep me satisfied throughout or I will drop it like a bad novel. When I started “researching” (my favorite part of this blog!) other songs, I realized there are some key components.

• There need to be equal parts guitar and drums. I could never choose between those two, drummers and guitarists send my heart afluttter. You can keep your front men, except of course Eddie, Bono and James.
• It can’t take too long. I had thought Led Zeppelin’s Thank You or The Who’s Baba O’ Riley would make this list but their intros went on passed the 30 second mark with no new sounds so they got cut.
• My heart must swell with joy, sadness or anticipation for what’s to come.
• At least one body part involuntarily moves. If there is  no air drum then no dice.

The list took a long time to narrow to five. In fact, I’m not even sure these are the best of the best.  After some input from my Facebook Friends, this job got even harder and you’ll see there are six this week. I just couldn’t limit it to five. For those who don’t see your suggestions, they may show up in another post with a different purpose (U2’s Bad, Crazy, LLCoolJ) or they, while being an admirable attempt (Axel F) just couldn’t stand up against the others for all of the above criteria. I hope these pass your muster, readers. I’d love to hear what would be on your list. Leave a comment and keep this party going!

This was an almost impossible choice but when I saw this version on You Tube, this song won hands down. I can remember being in high school with a great friend who blessed me with her other ticket. We were so close to Him, I’m pretty sure He was sweating on us. I think I became one of those girls who (almost) cries at rock shows when this song started.  This video brought it all back.

I could have put this entire album (are they still called that?!) on this list but when you can incorporate an orchestra seemlessly then it becomes clear.

This is another band that falls into the “how do you pick just one” category. I mean, Immigrant Song? Kashmir? D’yer Maker and Fool in the Rain for the air drum potential alone? Ugh! I did, pick one that is, but it was hard.

I struggled with this or the whistling. This won. I mean, can’t you just see the top of Slash’s hat as he folds over that guitar? The near perfect combination of guitar and drum.

I know, I’m late to this party (thanks CSI producers) but even if you don’t have a full nine minutes, listen to the first one.

Granted, the musical quality of this submission has just dropped dramatically. But if you thought I’d have this list and not include this song, well then you don’t know me at all. You’re lucky I didn’t include My Adidas.