Little things can help a lot
Relaxation has become more important than ever to help us cope with life, and music can be a great way to get ourselves into a more chilled out frame of mind. A relaxing song or tune can change our moods, slow our heart rates and reduce our blood pressure. A selection of such gems can turn a stressful commute into a calm, sedate opportunity to enjoy a bit of peaceful solitude.
Regtransfers has compiled an “Ultimate Relaxing Driving” playlist on Spotify - a handpicked collection of chilled classics chosen to bring a little peace to your journey. Each of these tracks serves a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe deep, and enjoy the ride.
The full playlist features 20 tracks (about an hour and a half of music), but below, we’ve extracted a few highlights - with a little trivia and reflection on what makes each one such a joy to drive to.
Nostalgic Vibes
Fleetwood Mac - “Dreams”
There’s something about the drifting opening melody of this Fleetwood Mac classic - paired with the soft, breezy vocal presence of Stevie Nicks - that just oozes with calm.
It’s true that the song’s inspirations were born from anything but calm - with all five members of Fleetwood Mac experiencing emotional troubles during the recording of 'Rumours' - but with the track fast approaching 50 years of appearing in our record collections, CD wallets, and Spotify playlists, it’s since morphed into an instant mood-melter.
There’s a poetic duality to the lyric “thunder only happens when it’s raining.” On one level, it’s a simple truth. Beneath that surface, however, lies a deeper meaning - an emotional insight that conflict (thunder) only arises when there’s already trouble (rain) beneath the surface. It reflects the idea that emotional storms don’t appear out of nowhere - they’re born of existing tension. Delivered in Nicks’ ethereal tone, the line becomes both a gentle observation and a quiet resignation, perfectly capturing the song’s bittersweet calm. In the context of a stressful day, a moment with Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” can be just what we need - a chance to pause, reflect, and reset.
Either way, come rain or shine, Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” is an exceptional addition to a chilled playlist for long drives.
The Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2"
Come on, you knew this was coming. Few songs capture the hazy warmth of summer quite like this, and the clue - if you could even call it that - is in the title. Originally written by Seals & Crofts, the Isley Brothers transformed “Summer Breeze” from a slightly folky soft rock song into something altogether smoother, deeper, and more immersive. The Isley version stretches out into a two-part soul odyssey, opening with silky harmonies before Ernie Isley translates Dash Crofts' mandolin intro into that gentle but unmistakable guitar lick
It’s a song that doesn’t just play in the background - it fills the car from boot to bonnet. There’s a tranquil, almost hypnotic quality to it, as if time slows down for just a few minutes. Whether you’re meandering along a coastline or drifting through a quiet city at dusk, “Summer Breeze” offers the perfect backdrop for letting go and leaning into the moment.
Bob Marley and The Wailers - "One Love"
There's very little that can't be made better by a bit of Bob. This cool, positive rocksteady classic was originally recorded by The Wailers at a slightly faster tempo in the 1960s, but the reworked 1977 version we've chosen sounds timeless. Marley's music was often charged with message and meaning and the message in this one couldn't be any clearer: "Let's get together and be alright."
Melancholy but uplifting
Kate Bush - “Running Up That Hill”
The perfect accompaniment to hill starts and hilltop views. Released in 1985 and immortalised anew through Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s haunting track explores the longing to swap places with a partner and truly understand their perspectives. The lyrics may be a touch on the heavy side, but the gliding synths, pulsing rhythm, and Bush’s expressive vocal make the whole experience strangely serene.
It’s emotional, but not overwhelming. Introspective, yet strangely freeing. For those after something a little moodier, Placebo’s 2003 cover strips the song back to its raw emotional bones. If you’re after something fresh but faithful, Meg Myers’ 2019 version modernises the sound while preserving the original’s aching heart.
Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes"
We couldn't include Kate Bush without also featuring her sometime collaborator Peter Gabriel. The pair released the powerful duet 'Don't Give Up' in 1986. That song would also be at home on this playlist, but we decided to choose another Gabriel collaboration, "In Your Eyes", which also features Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour.
The song acknowledges hardship while emphasising how crucial human contact can be in difficult moments. The song comes from 'So', the same 1989 album as "Don't Give Up" and, in many ways, the two songs express similar thoughts.
"In Your Eyes" gained additional exposure from its use in the iconic, and much parodied, boombox scene in the romantic comedy movie Say Anything… In the scene, actor John Cusack holds a boombox above his head, while "In Your Eyes" plays as a serenade to his character's girlfriend, played by Ione Skye.
Dido - “White Flag”
An unfortunate truth is that the majority of us only know about Dido because we know about Eminem and/or aliens. Back in the year 2000, the American rapper introduced us to the British singer-songwriter after sampling the first verse of Dido’s "Thank You" in his hit single "Stan". The soft, soothing tone of Dido singing about cold tea contrasts wildly (but perfectly) with the dark themes explored in the song, which details the increasingly desperate - and ultimately fatal - attempts of an Eminem fan to gain his attention.
But, that’s not the song we’re talking about. “White Flag” is a certified chill classic about refusing to give up on love. Context is important here, and the kind of emotion Dido sings about in “White Flag” is pure, innocent, and far removed from the emotions of “Stan”.
On the subject of aliens? There’s a small chance that some would have become familiar with Dido as a result of watching Roswell - a three-season American sci-fi TV show that aired between 1999 and 2001, using Dido’s "Here With Me" (another excellent track) in the title credits. Among many other things, Roswell’s plot made the bold assumption that aliens, having crash-landed on our planet, would choose to assume the forms and identities of teenagers.
Aliens can probably be forgiven for not being aware of puberty.
Feel-Good Energy
U2 - “Beautiful Day”
Bono and U2 get a lot of flak, thanks in no small part to the baffling decision to release their 2014 album “Songs of Innocence” onto the music accounts of 500 million iTunes users without their permission.
14 years prior, however, the Irish rock band released their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, kicking off proceedings with the exceptional audio adventure, “Beautiful Day”. This one’s perfect if you want to ramp things up just a touch without losing the chilled undertone. It’s a rock song, sure, but U2’s unmistakable “arena rock” sound gives it an extra quality of spaciousness that fits well even among more subdued tracks.
Sadly, both band and song have become something of a cliche in recent years, but this song remains an absolute must-have for long drives in broad, open spaces. Set your eyes on the horizon and sing along.
Harry Styles - “Watermelon Sugar”
Alright, we’re cheating with this one - it’s not a “classic” in the same sense as the other songs on this playlist, but it’s still a classic.
Critics have likened Styles to iconic pop personalities like David Bowie, Mick Jagger and even Prince - all we know is that “Watermelon Sugar” sounds even better when listened to with the wind in our hair and a smile on our face.
With a hazy introduction that builds to a suitably toe-tapping crescendo, “Watermelon Sugar” builds enough to become a fun little mood-lifter while driving, but not so much that it’ll be out of place in your “chill driving” playlist.
Gorillaz - “Feel Good Inc.”
It feels strange to call this one a classic, but it is 20 years old now, which puts it in the category of being vintage (much to our dismay).
This one’s all about two things - the “hilly” bass line and absolutely expansive chorus. Much of the music video for this chart-topping, award-winning track takes place in a skybound setting, and it’s the perfect visual backdrop for the hazy, time-stopping feelings that take over when this track comes on.
A must-have for your relaxing playlist…just don’t get too relaxed.
Late-Night Chill
Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr. - “Just The Two Of Us”
The perfect accompaniment to a late-night, “date night” drive in the city with your better half. It’s smooth, has a compelling groove, and is impossible to listen to without singing along. It also trended on Tiktok in late 2020 - a testament to the “timeless cool” of the track.
And of course, for you movie buffs out there, you can always sing the slightly altered lyrics that featured in the 1999 Austin Powers movie, the title of which is a little too raunchy for us to include here.
Cooly eccentric
Goldfrapp - "Lovely Head"
Used in TV ads and in the soundtrack of the satirical animation series Monkey Dust, listening to "Lovely Head" for the first time can be a slightly eerie experience. The sound's soundscape is not that of a routine pop song, but a blend of familiar instruments such as drums and bass with sound effects, synth pads and a whistled melody before Alison Goldfrapp's voice comes in with the lyric.
Some sounds are almost startlingly unexpected and hard to identify. One of the electronic sounding "instruments" on the recording is, in fact, Alison Goldfrapp's voice altered by a Korg synthesiser.
Weird though it is, "Lovely Head"'s dreamlike quality can be very soothing.
Add your own flair and personality
The right soundtrack can transform the most boring of drives into a moment of mindfulness - and while this selection of tracks may not speak to you, we hope it serves as some inspiration to create (or add to) your own chilled playlists.
Remember that looking after your mental health doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with something as small as pressing play on the right song. But, if you feel like you need something more than just music, talking helps. For information, resources, or support, visit Mind or Mental Health UK.
