From Route 66 to Rap: America’s Intersection of Cars and Music
At the dawn of the 20th century, an invention became mainstream in the lives of everyday Americans. Since the invention of the automobile, Americans have been encapsulated by its convenience, beauty, and exhilarating new speeds. Alongside this came a new sense of freedom. For the first time, Americans could travel anywhere there was a road. The relationship between car culture and music in the US has profoundly shaped musical genres, lyrics, and cultures.
The mass production and subsequent rise in popularity of the automobile in the early 20th century came at the same time as the recognition of musical genres such as blues and jazz. Irving Berlin, a popular ragtime musician of the time, credits the automobile as a major influence on the popularity of jazz. He states that the speed and efficiency that the automobile brought to American life went mutually with the snappy syncopation of jazz and ragtime. Mr. Berlin also attributes the sound of jazz music to the sound of an automobile engine. He states that “modern American music,” referring to music of the early 20th century, “has as much lilt in its particular way as the hum of the motor car” (“Finds Kinship Between Music and Motor Cars”). Furthermore, many blues and jazz players used automobiles to travel from town to town sharing their musical knowledge with others (National Park Service). A popular jazz song that expresses the novelty and spontaneity of traveling by car is “Route 66” by Bobby Troup, a song that celebrates the thrill of hitting the open road.
By the end of World War II, there was a surge in car ownership as cars had been a limited commodity during the depression and war prior (DeWitt). Cars’ value to Americans was also reflected in the music of the time. The Cadillac was a highly popular car model that numerous artists were singing about at the time. “Mr. Highway Man” by Howlin’ Wolf is a popular song from this time that references a Cadillac.
As the baby boomers grew into teenagers, there was a shift in culture among America’s youth. For the first time, teens and young adults could afford a car of their own (Walsh). The car, at the time, offered the freedom and independence that many rebellious teens had a thirst for. This sense of rebellion was present in music that catered to teens as well. Rock ’n’ roll music with its faster tempo and groovy dancing beats was immensely popular among the teens of the time. This music often accompanied themes of rebellion and fast driving. One example of a rock ’n’ roll song about cars is “Rocket 88”, a song that glorifies the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 with themes of excitement, love, and freedom.
By the 1960s, the novelty of both cars and rock ’n’ roll started to wear off. Rock ’n’ roll began to diversify into sub-genres while a vast expanse of suburbs and superhighways in America made cars more of a necessity and less of a novelty. Nonetheless, Americans were still in love with their cars and their music, and with these new highways connecting state to state, road-tripping had become a way to bring novelty back to the lives of Americans and a popular means of vacation (DeWitt). Nothing encapsulates this new feeling better than road anthems. These are energetic songs about driving and road trips that were, and still are, often played in the car while driving. The song “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf is an iconic road anthem from the time.
In the 1970s, hip hop started in New York. East Coast hip hop artists would often mention car models such as the Infinity Q45 and the Acura Legend in their music (Donut Media). Other models referenced on the East Coast had similar build styles — inconspicuous, but speedy. By the 1990s, hip hop had spread throughout the United States, becoming big in underprivileged urban areas (Alridge and Stewart). Hip-hop artists, especially those from marginalized communities, used cars to show off success. In hip-hop, cars are symbols of power and identity. A major part of many hip-hop music videos and album covers were the flashy cars that artists flaunted.
The style of cars referenced in hip hop was often representative of the region the music came from. Lowriders are what people may think of when they picture hip hop and cars, but these cars were most popular in West Coast hip hop (Donut Media). Another iconic car style in hip hop is the Box Chevy. This car was prevalent in hip hop from the Southern United States. Colloquially known as “donks,” these cars boast raised suspensions, oversized wheels, and flashy paint jobs. The Box Chevy heavily influenced Yelawolf’s “Trunk Muzik 0–60” album. The cover features a Box Chevy and the song “Get the Fuck Up!” opens with car engine sounds. Moreover, some titles and lyrics in the album are references to cars.
That brings us to the modern day. Americans are more attached to their cars and their music than they ever have been. According to the AAA, Americans spend an hour driving every day. An Edison Research study reports that 90% of US drivers play music in the car, making the car “the top location for audio listening.” That same study found that, as of 2018, FM radio was the primary music source for 84% of drivers (Edison Research). However, with the rise of Bluetooth connection and streaming apps such as Spotify and Apple Music, Americans may be shifting away from the radio soon.
Car culture and American music are closely intertwined. From jazz to hip-hop, cars have considerably impacted the music Americans listen to. For over a century, the car has been an American symbol of wealth, freedom, and individualism. It seems that although America’s taste in music may evolve over time, its obsession with the automobile may be everlasting.
Harry Tally “On an Automobile Honeymoon” 1905
“On an Automobile Honeymoon” by Harry Tally is one of the first songs to mention automobiles. It shows that even in the early days of the automobile, people created music to admire its novelty. With lyrics like “In a nice limousine I will go with my queen on an automobile honeymoon,” the song displays the automobile as a symbol of love, wealth, and fun. Other lyrics mention driving through the park and rivers. This captures a sense of thrill that we see portrayed in many car songs to come. Although the song may lack musical taste, “On an Automobile Honeymoon” is an important song historically, as it captures some of the first opinions of cars in America.
Jackie Brenston “Rocket 88” 1958
The song “Rocket 88” is a prime example of the cultural impact cars had in the 1950s and 1960s. The song contains lyrics about the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The Rocket 88 was a popular muscle car in the 1950s valued for its polished looks, small body, and powerful engine. Jackie Brenston praises the car by singing about its beauty, speed, and muscle. The song’s fast tempo and upbeat rock ’n’ roll rhythm resemble the excitement of driving a car.
Steppenwolf “Born to Be Wild” 1968
Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” is a truly iconic driving song. The first lyrics of the song “Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway,” immediately hit the listener with a sense of anticipation and adventure. The upbeat electric sounds of the song accurately create a thrilling sense of zooming down a highway. All of this works to achieve the feeling of freedom evoked by the name “Born to Be Wild.” The song was incredibly popular in its time. It continues to be a classic driving song for many people.
The Cars “Drive” 1984
“Drive” by The Cars is a powerful song that subtly addresses a significant issue. The lyrics use car dependency as a metaphor for one’s personal struggles that they may not be fully aware of. The main verse “Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?” possibly refers to the fact that the person in question is the only one who can control their actions and someone who they typically depend on may not always be there for them. Interestingly, this metaphor only applies in a car-centric society like the United States. There would be less concern about finding a ride home in a place with adequate public transportation. Of course, the song’s lyrics go much deeper than this, as they address the primary theme of self-empowerment.
Reflection
As someone who has lived in the United States my whole life, cars and driving have always been a significant part of my life. I could never walk to my school even though it was only a mile away. And walking half a mile to the grocery store was a rare and special occasion for my family. Cars are truly a central part of our life. My question has always been: is that a good thing? I have always tried to figure out if this car mania we live in has been truly serving us the lives that the media and music make it out to be. There have been times that I was left entirely stranded, unable to get to work or school, because I was without a car. It is a problem when people can only function in society if they can afford $1,150 per month on transportation (Bradley, Vandiver and Renter). The average American spends 20% of their income on cars (Carbonaro). I cannot imagine how much wealthier we would all be if we did not have to burn so much money just to get around. Meanwhile, in 2023, 40,990 people lost their lives in car-related accidents in the United States (NHTSA). I think the solution to this problem requires a cultural shift away from cars and into affordable and public transportation options such as walking, biking, and bussing.
Works Cited
- Alridge, Derrick P. and James B. Stewart. “Introduction: Hip Hop in History: Past, Present, and Future.” The Journal of African American History (2005): 190. JSTOR.
- Bradley, Shannon, Whitney Vandiver and Elizabeth Renter. What Is the Cost of Owning a Car? 2 May 2024. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/auto-loans/total-cost-owning-car. 6 May 2024.
- Carbonaro, Giulia. “Drivers Are Spending 20 Percent of Their Monthly Income on Their Cars.” Newsweek (2024). https://www.newsweek.com/drivers-spending-20-monthly-income-cars-1869594.
- DeWitt, Jack. “Cars and Culture: Songs of the Open Road.” American Poetry Review, Vol. 39, №2 (2010): 38–40. JSTOR.
- Donut Media. Cars in Rap: The (Almost) Complete History | WheelHouse. 10 June 2019. https://youtu.be/emBjBVv0vvk?si=qzi02883C9GeUY36. 5 May 2024.
- Edison Research. “Miles Different: In-Car Audio 2018.” Research Study. 2018.
- “FINDS KINSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND MOTOR CARS: SPEED AND SNAP OF THE AMERICAN “JAZZ” MUSIC INFLUENCED BY AUTOMOBILE POPULARITY, SAYS IRVING BERLIN IN EXPLAINING “RAGTIME” DEVELOPMENT.” New York Times 17 August 1924: 1. ProQuest.
- Foundation for Traffic Safety. “American Driving Survey: 2022.” Research Brief. 2023.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2023.” Statistical Summary. 2024.
- National Park Service. A New Orleans Jazz History, 1895–1927. 14 April 2015. https://www.nps.gov/jazz/learn/historyculture/jazz_history.htm. 3 May 2024.
- Walsh, Margaret. “Gender and the Automobile in the United States.” Automobile in American Life and Society (2004). http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Gender/Walsh/G_Overview3.htm.