Recommended Listening For Carmageddon

Admittedly, this may be lost on some who are not in Los Angeles, but let's have a bit of music-related fun with it anyway. Carmageddon could happen this weekend in Southern California. What is Carmageddon? Besides a pretty cool video game from 1997, it is the nom de guerre given to the weekend-long closing of a 10 mile stretch of the 405 freeway that connects the West Side of Los Angeles to "The Valley". Now, what would someone listen to in celebration (or frustration) of Carmageddon?

The very first song that came to mind when creating this list was "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel, with its cheeky delivery and the oh-so appropriate lyrical couplet "clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right". Perfect for an epic traffic jam, as is its B-side, "Late Again". Here are some further suggestions for lighthearted listening should Carmageddon be getting you down.

James Taylor: Traffic Jam (tried to stay away from obvious songs, but this one is mandatory)
Missing Persons: Walking In L.A. (which is what many people may be doing this weekend)
L.A. Guns: Stranded In L.A. ('nuff said)
Weird Al Yankovic: Another One Rides the Bus (dedicated to those who increase bus ridership this weekend!)
Grateful Dead: West L.A. Fadeaway (this one goes out to those closest to the affected area)
Sammy Hagar: I Can't Drive 55 (slightly obvious, but Sammy's ode to not speeding is so appropriate)
Offspring: Gotta Get Away (if you haven't left already...)
Richard Marx: Should Have Known Better (absolutely nothing to do with traffic, but included as a dedication to those who get stuck in traffic despite the warnings)

Felix Figueroa And His Orchestra: Pico and Sepulveda

This last song is something of a classic (in L.A. at least) which enjoyed copious amounts of airplay from Dr. Demento on his Sunday radio show on the late 94.7 KMET. Dating back to 1947, the lyrics are comprised of names of streets in Los Angeles, many of them near the closure.



And despite having no idea this was being written, (really, I was impressed by his prescience, and looked for spy cameras) reader Eddie Steak suggested this one, which happens to have an apocalyptic L.A. themed video to go with it.



Here's to hoping you are enjoying the weekend despite all this Carmageddon silliness. There's nothing like some great music to get you through it!

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