Top 20 Songs I Listened to During Travel in 2015

by Yoshke Dimen

Nothing proves just how important music is to me than travel. I can’t imagine 12-hour bus rides and 5-hour airport layovers without it. Music makes trips more enjoyable, moments more memorable, and transfers more tolerable.

It’s been a great year in music. From Taylor Swift’s surprising 1989 to Justin Bieber’s even more surprising Purpose to Adele’s expectedly wonderful 25, we have been given one solid record after another. And just a week ago, Troye Sivan treated my eardrums and filled my head with the haunting melodies from Blue Neighborhood. Yes, it’s been a great year in music. I just wish I could use the same adjective for my 2015 travel record.

I didn’t get to hit the road much the past year. I didn’t even get to travel solo. Blame the full-time job, which I also dropped recently so I could shift my focus back to travel blogging. So at least, that’s been addressed. Yes, I’m fickle like that. But the few times I traveled this year were made more unforgettable by these fantastic tunes.

20. Troye Sivan – Youth
19. Carly Rae Jepsen – Your Type
18. Adele – When We Were Young
17. Nick Jonas – Chains
16. Ariana Grande – Love Me Harder (feat. The Weeknd)
15. Sia – Elastic Heart
14. Calum Scott – Dancing on My Own (Cover)
13. Taylor Swift – All You Had to Do was Stay

12. Nicki Minaj – Pills n Potions

Because finally, something from Nicki Minaj that isn’t a guilty pleasure for me.

On repeat in: Darwin, Australia

I get high off your memory.
In due time, we’ll be fine.
In due time….

11. George Ezra – Budapest

Because the “ooh you” part got stuck in my head. And it’s a haunting song.

On repeat in: Cairns, Australia

And give me one good reason
Why I should never make a change
Baby if you hold me, then all of this will go away.

10. Skrillex & Diplo – Where Are Ü Now (feat. Justin Bieber)

Because song turned me into a Belieber.

On repeat in: Alfonso-Tagaytay Road Trip

Where are you now that I need you?
Couldn’t find you anywhere
When you broke down I didn’t leave you
I was by your side
So where are you now that I need you?

9. Rudimental – Lay it All on Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)

On repeat in: Daily Commute (LOL)

If you’re scared when you’re out on your own
Just remember me
Cause I won’t let you go, let alone
Lay it all on me.

8. Cheat Code & Evan Gartner – Adventure

On repeat in: Batangas-Rizal Road Trip

Take me higher, higher than I’ve ever been
We can wander all the way to the top
I’ll hold on to every word you’ve ever said
Don’t you let me down

7. Hailey Calvert – Want Me Like Before

On repeat in: Brisbane, Australia

I gotta say, when this is over,
I don’t wanna find with loneliness no more.
I must confess that I sold my soul baby,
so I could stand here at your door.
Just tell me you want me like before.
Just tell me you want me even more.

6. The Chainsmokers – Roses (feat. ROZES)

On repeat in: Batangas Road Trip

Oh, I’ll be your daydream, I’ll wear your favorite things
We could be beautiful
Get drunk on the good life, I’ll take you to paradise
Say you’ll never let me go.

5. ODESZA – Memories that You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)

Because this was the song that introduced me to ODESZA. I found out about it early this year when a fellow traveler shared with me the video below, and I can’t get enough of it since.

On repeat in: Australian Outback (Alice Springs to Uluru)

Point of View from Ben Blennerhassett on Vimeo.

4. Florence + The Machine – Ship to Wreck

Because it was funny listening to it while sailing.

On repeat in: Whitsunday Islands, Australia

And oh my love remind me, what was it that I did?
Did I drink too much?
Am I losing touch?
Did I build this ship to wreck?

3. Troye Sivan – Wild

On repeat in: El Nido, Palawan

‘Cause there’s still too long to the weekend
Too long till I drown in your hands
Too long since I’ve been a fool, oh
Leave this blue neighbourhood
Never knew loving could hurt this good, oh
And it drives me wild.

2. Carly Rae Jepsen – Run Away with Me

On repeat in: El Nido, Palawan

Run away with me
Hold on to me
I’ll never want to let you go
Over the weekend
We can turn the world to gold.

1. Taylor Swift – Out of the Woods

You know how some of us have a celebrity that we don’t like for no reason at all? They’re talented and pretty and probably kind-hearted too. But for some unknown reason, you just don’t like them? To me that was Taylor Swift. Although I liked a couple of her songs before, I couldn’t get myself to like her.

The 1989 album changed that. That album is gold. Loved every track. But this song, in particular, left me breathless.

On repeat in: Bandung, Indonesia

I remember
You took a Polaroid of us
Then discovered the rest of the world was black and white
But we were in screaming color
And I remember thinking…
“Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?”

How about you? What are your most played songs this year?