Have you ever had one of those days: it was a long day at work, you probably didn’t see the sun in the morning, and now you’re driving home in the dark- because winter in South Africa- and you desperately need to drown out the noise in your head before you start the home shift?

I have too! And I know just the songs to pump in your car on your drive home. You see, a perfect “I’m glad the day is over” jam, needs to have the kind of bassline that you feel  epigastrically. It needs to have breath-taking lead vocals, and tight harmonies. It needs delectable piano solos and/or guitar riffs. Without further ado, here are my songs to [temporarily] lose your hearing by.

1. Billy Joel – It’s All About Soul and I Go To Extremes

Billy Joel is the best mainstream pianist in my books. Fight me. But he ratchets it up to a whole ‘nother level with “It’s All About Soul”. Although his prowess on the ivories is more evident on “I Go To Extremes”. I couldn’t choose. So I put them both down.

2. Stevie Wonder—Another Star

Can 70s Stevie Wonder do any wrong? No, he cannot. Writer of Iconically Joyful Jams such as “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Do I Do”, “Overjoyed”, Mr Wonder really takes it home with “Another Star”. Clocking in at an epic eight minutes and twenty-eight seconds, this one is perfect for that long stretch of road. You know that road

3. Earth, Wind and Fire—September

This seminal track by the masters of funk never (and I mean, NEVER) fails to lift my spirits. It’s a perfect track for driving home after a taxing day at work, or for heralding the month of September, or for celebrating Fridays, or [insert any random reason here, because we don’t need no reason for a turn-up]. Pop in your headphones to appreciate the layers of instruments used in this composition. And potentially damage your inner ear (be safe, kids!)

4. Bob Marley—Punky Reggae Party

A lesser known (at least to me, but not anymore) track by the 3^rd world’s first global superstar, Punky Reggae Party is exactly that—a party. I dare you to try and listen to it without dancing.

5. Chrisete Michele—Fragile

There are no words for the (relatively) unsung vocal talent of Ms Michele. When she sings the blues, she makes me wish I was in the middle of a breakup, that’s how good she sangs. (I know that sounds pretty messed up). This particular track is not of those breakup ones, but one that nonetheless must be belted out at the top of one’s lungs.

And there you have my top 5 (current) songs to lose my hearing by. The list is liable to change. What about you? If you had to whittle it down to 5, what songs are your favourite after a long day? Let a sister know.

Copyright reserved Gugulethu Mhlanga 2018