Is the driver always the DJ?

The importance of what is played on a road trip is most certainly not to be overlookedjess gotterson with permission for varsity

Being on aux is a massive responsibility. Every great road trip starts with the perfect playlist.

80% of drivers listen to music on most journeys, and with research supporting the idea that the very type of music played while driving can affect driver behaviour, it's undeniable that the decision of who gets to pick the music is not one to be taken lightly. The choice of song can turn your daily commute into a cinematic experience, or evoke nostalgia from years gone by with an old classic.

The importance of what is played on a road trip is most certainly not to be overlooked. When you're alone in the car it's easy: you can sing whatever you like at the very top of your lungs with absolutely no fear of judgement over your guilty-pleasure songs or your questionable singing voice. Personally, it's the only time I can justify singing (nobody deserves to be subjected to my attempts) so you best believe that I'm blasting show tunes and Taylor Swift.

For a motorway solo night drive I find that house music complements the mood (and keeps you awake) but for a leisurely, chill Sunday drive I would opt for some Stevie Wonder or Billy Joel, in case you were looking for any recommendations! "There's nothing music cannot fix" If you're floating on cloud nine, the right music can keep those good vibes flowing.

Equally, if you're going through a breakup or just had a long, hard day at work, there's nothing music cannot fix. However, introduce other passengers into the mix, and there seems to be absolutely no protocol for what you should do with the sacred aux cord. There are many factors at play in this socio-political minefield: one must observe the nicety of not hogging the sound system, while also not letting anyone else monopolise the music (we've all got that one friend who should never ever be left to their own devices on aux for fear of being subjected to some form of heavy metal or kpop), while trying to showcase your really super cool and trendy-but-not-too-mainstream curated playlist, while, arguably most importantly, trying to safely transport yourself and your passengers from A to B in one piece.

Some say that the privilege of choosing the music is, of course, to be granted to the driver. Their car: their rules. No "ifs" and no "buts".

However, it's fair to say that they tend to be quite preoccupied with the road in front of them, which leads many to say that this role should be delegated to the person riding shotgun; the driver's right-hand man, if you will. The one behind the wheel's most trusted advisor is given the job of navigating and controlling the music, but many advocate for the driver to have the all-important power of veto to override anything that kills the vibe. You can't be playing your emo sad mix or any country tunes in my car.

"You can't be playing your emo sad mix or any country tunes in my car" But what's that from your friends in the back? They have a request too?

I guess it simply isn't fair to exclude them. But now you've got someone asking to skip your favourite song, someone else queuing the entire works of Benson Boone and a cacophony of voices arguing, so you can't even hear the music anyway. You no longer know if you're discussing music in your car or if you've stumbled into a heated debate about the annual budget in the House of Commons.

This is most definitely not the road trip you signed up for. At this point there seems to be only one solution that will defuse the tension: the good old-fashioned radio. It's no surprise that 60% of drivers opt for it when you consider the politics involved otherwise; I myself am partial to a bit of 'Absolute' or 'Magic'.

There can be no more arguments about who gets to pick the music and you'll even get to hear about all the different possible car insurance packages out there too! You have an opportunity to chat during the dreaded ad segments, play along to the quizzes, rediscover your old favourite song, follow the news and keep up to date with the charts. It may not be perfect, but the car-manufacturers anticipated your struggle and have provided you with the necessary, democratic solution.

For the sake of your friendships and your sanity, the radio is definitely the best option. Support Varsity Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947.

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