Typically, the role of “Doc” in the convoy is as a passenger. While remaining alert and attentive, I also felt that I needed to keep my unit motivated and focused while they did their various jobs. I took the task very seriously by acting as the Convoy DJ, playing the greatest hits for combat effectiveness! Whether you cue up your own songs for leaving the wire or DJ for the entire crew, stepping off on a military convoy is always better with an anthem.
Here are 8 songs to help “kick the tires and light the fires.”
1. AC/DC — Highway to Hell
No convoy playlist is complete without a track from these rock Gods ripping through the airwaves. AC/DC has plenty of great hits to choose from, however, this song really says exactly how I felt about the roads we traveled in Iraq.
(acdcVEVO | YouTube)
2. Rage Against The Machine — Testify
The swirling guitar driving into the heavy drums plus de la Rocha’s rapid fire lyrics will surely stoke the fire inside any warrior heading outside the wire.
(RATMVEVO | YouTube)
3. Outkast — B.O.B
Perhaps it’s a little on the nose, but if you deployed to Iraq this song needs no explanation. All other lyrics aside, you can’t pass on a track with the refrain, “Bombs over Baghdad!” to really pump up that mission essential adrenaline.
(OutKastVideoVault | YouTube)
4. Jimi Hendrix — All Along the Watchtower
It’s been said that the Vietnam-Era warriors got the all the best music.
I could probably argue that point, but it goes without saying that this is simply one of the greatest war anthems ever.
When you’re down range and you hear that guitar shred into Jimi’s first verse (“There must be some kind of way outta here…”) something just feels right in the world.
(JimiHendrixVEVO | YouTube)
Also Read: This circus song was supposed to be a badass military marching theme
5. The White Stripes — Seven Nation Army
This song is your quintessential war drum, an accompaniment for heading right out the gate and into battle.
6. Cage the Elephant — Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
The bluesy slide of the guitar and Matt Shultz’s rhythmic verses reminds us that “we can’t slow down and we can’t hold back,” especially outside the wire.
7. System of a Down — Chop Suey!
Playing this heart pounding high paced rock anthem really kicks the team into high gear. Some songs are all about instrumentation; Chop Suey! is definitely one of those kinds of jams.
(systemofadownVEVO | YouTube)
8. Godsmack — Awake
You’ve got F/18s launching from an aircraft carrier, Navy SEALs on fast boats, guys jumping out of a helicopter into the surf — now add a wailing guitar riff and a pulsating drum beat and you have the ingredients for a Navy commercial that almost had me signing up for another 10 years.
You’ve also got an epic anthem to keep the troops pumped on those exceptionally long convoys.
(GodsmackVEVO | YouTube)
Even if you’re no longer jocking up and taking the wheel of some Mad Max-esque war machine to go spread freedom and democracy around the world, you can still rock out to these amazing songs.
Every convoy needs some musical motivation. Whether you’re taking the kiddos to school, enjoying a leisurely Sunday drive or simply heading into the office for another day of crushing it, cue up these songs and have an epic journey.
Featured image: Wikipedia