40 Years, 40 Songs: The Definitive Transportation Playlist
From the literal – C.W. McCall’s “Convoy”, an ode to truckers steeped in CB slang and jargon. To the metaphorical – Adele’s “Chasing Pavements”, a lovelorn ballad starring not just one, but multiple road surfaces (hey, it’s plural).
We wanted to keep it eclectic, just like the industry we represents – You crazy customs brokers know what I’m talking about.
For example, Elton John warns us of the frosty dangers of Martian transport and child rearing in “Rocket Man.” The astronaut narrator explains, “Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it’s cold as hell.” With an average surface temperature around -67°F, Sir Elton certainly offers some sound advice.
For a choice slightly less likely to be featured on your parent’s Microsoft Zune, M.I.A.’s hypnotic “Paper Planes” even manages to reference a certain parcel delivery company famous for its brown trucks. The singer’s politically charged lyrics have apparently raised the ire of the Department of Homeland Security in the past. I’m guessing she is not looking for C-TPAT certification anytime soon.
We can thank the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for Johnny Cash hearing the train a comin’ in “Folsom Prison Blues” before he meets that poor man in Reno. The FRA requires locomotives to sound their horns in certain situations for public safety. The FRA takes their horn noises very seriously, check out their FAQ page here. Don’t miss their chart plotting the percentage of people “highly annoyed” with different sound levels.
Here it is, in no particular order. Take a listen and enjoy it out on your thunder road, jet plane, train, sloop, or beneath the waves, in a yellow submarine.
In case you have feel like we missed anything, or would like to your own addition, please follow up with our friend Ray here.
Time to hit the road.