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50 Years Of Civic Magic: Honda Reveals The Top Driving Music Tracks Of The Last 50 Years
The Honda Civic is celebrating its 50th anniversary – and the manufacturer has teamed up with a DJ to compile the ultimate driving playlist with a track from every year since 1972.
From Alice Cooper’s rousing anthem ‘School’s Out’, classic 80s and 90s hits, through to this year’s number one hit ‘Starlight’ by Dave, the list – compiled by Magic Radio’s Home Run presenter Simon Phillips – reflects the changes in motoring music over the last half-century.
The motor company commissioned Simon to compile the list of stand-out songs after conducting a survey of 2,000 British drivers about their attitudes to in-car entertainment.
Rebecca Adamson, head of automobile, said: “Since we launched the Honda Civic, the analog radios and tape decks may have evolved into touch screens, but the principle remains the same. There are few better pairings than a road trip with a brilliant playlist.”
A quarter of people have built their own motoring playlist, and almost half of respondents said they experience a lift in the mood when they listen to music in the car (48 percent), with four in 10 saying they feel more relaxed at the wheel.
Nearly a quarter (24 percent) said they feel more focused with music on in the car, and 22 percent said they found playing tunes made them feel more energized when driving.
Simon’s choices mirror the musical journey since the first Honda Civic hit the roads.
Since its launch in 1972, more than 27.5 million Civics have been sold across 170 countries.
He chose Alice Cooper’s ‘School’s Out’ for the car’s launch year, moving through the decades to include top hits from Oasis with ‘Wonderwall’ as well as contemporary smashes from Calvin Harris, Rag’n’Bone Man and The Weeknd.
Simon – who also celebrated his own 50th birthday this month – said: “I think first and foremost, a perfect driving track makes you, the car and the road one.
“It makes the traffic go away and complements the driving experience, when that song plays, it draws you in, and for that moment, it’s the ultimate connection you, your car and music.
“Driving for me is one of the most personal spaces, and the driving environment can really influence our mood. A great driving song helps to mentally prepare you for the journey ahead, and to savor a moment.”
The power of music and tailoring your soundtrack is rooted in science, as confirmed by cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Diana Omigie.
Dr. Omigie said: “Research shows that being able to listen to favorite artists, and being able to listen to music in general, may increase the perception of situational control and in turn extend music’s effect on stress reduction.
“Previous studies into how individually selected music can induce and maintain positive moods during a simulated driving experiment have produced interesting results. Subjective mood ratings have showed that music can successfully maintain a positive mood in high traffic density and during the negotiation of narrow lanes.”
Indeed, 42 percent of Brits say they tailor their driving playlist to the type of road they’re on.
When asked about curating driving songs, nostalgia emerged among the top requirements for a strong playlist, as 48 percent of those surveyed said that they include tracks which evoke memories.
A good variety of songs (70 percent) and enough tracks for a long journey (56 percent) made up some of the top asks.
The radio remains one of the most popular devices in the car for 80 percent of British motorists, while a surprising 35 percent of those surveyed said they still listen to CDs, and for one in 10 the retro appeal of a cassette deck endures.
The research, conducted via OnePoll, showed a third of motorists use streaming to listen to their favorite media, while aux and USB inputs are used by 24 percent.
Rebecca Adamson said: “In a time where we’re surrounded by noise, hitting the open road with your favorite tracks playing, or hearing a new song for the first time on the radio is a timeless luxury.
“With the all-new Honda Civic e:HEV, which is launching later this year, careful attention has been paid to the hybrid drivetrain and noise management to create a refined cabin.
“As people prepare for their bank holiday travels, we wanted to share some of our top tracks, as compiled by Simon. Of course, it’s a personal choice and everyone will have their own favorites.”
A previous survey of parent drivers by Honda revealed that 2,496 songs are played every year in the typical family car. The automobile company also did a poll of its own audience, who nominated songs to be added to the list.
The 50 years of magic playlist is available to listen to on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2xZ2ds1MeElpC3vHY5i8ra]
50 Years of Civic magic – Top driving songs as compiled by Magic Home Run Presenter Simon Philips:
1972 Alice Cooper – School’s Out
1973 The Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine
1974 Queen – Killer Queen
1975 Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
1976 Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
1977 Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy
1978 Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
1979 The Specials – A Message To You Rudy
1980 Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall
1981 Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime
1982 Imagination – Just an Illusion
1983 Herbie Hancock – Rockit
1984 Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
1985 Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule The World
1986 Bruce Hornsby – The Way It Is
1987 Eric B & Rakim – Paid In Full – Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Coldcut Remix
1988 Inner City – Big Fun
1989 Soul II Soul – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)
1990 Oleta Adams – Get Here
1991 Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
1992 Arrested Development – People Everyday
1993 Jamiroquai – Blow Your Mind
1994 Youssou N’Dour Feat Nen eh Cherry – 7 Seconds
1995 Oasis – Wonderwall
1996 Faithless – Insomnia
1997 Ultra Naté – Free
1998 Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine
1999 Moloko – Sing It back
2000 Coldplay – Trouble
2001 David Gray – Sail Away
2002 Justin Timberlake – Like I Love You
2003 Beyonce – Crazy In Love
2004 Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
2005 Jennifer Lopez – Get Right
2006 Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
2007 Timbaland Feat Keri Hilson & D.O.E – The Way I Are
2008 Madonna Feat Justin Timberlake & Timbaland – 4 Minutes
2009 Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow
2010 Lady A – Need You Now
2011 Bruno Mars – Grenade
2012 Emeli Sandé – Next To Me
2013 Daft Punk – Get Lucky
2014 James Bay – Hold Back The River
2015 Hozier – Take Me To Church
2016 Drake Feat Wizkid & Kyla – One Dance
2017 Sam Smith – Too Good At Goodbyes
2018 Rag’n’Bone Man – Human
2019 Calvin Harris and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Giant
2020 The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
2021 Silk Sonic Feat Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak – Leave The Door Open
2022 Dave – Starlight
Top Driving Songs as nominated by public social media vote
1972 Stevie Wonder – Superstition
1985 Prince – Raspberry Beret
1992 House of Pain – Jump Around
2002 Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
2011 Adele – Rolling In The Deep
2021 Elton John & Dua Lipa – Cold Heart
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Sweet Success: Scientists Develop Honey-Based Bee DNA Test To Monitor Hive Health
Scientists have developed an innovative method to examine DNA traces in honey that may help with the early identification of health problems in a hive when a deadly new disease variant cuts a swathe through global populations.
The new test will be able to help identify potential diseases like the latest variant of the Deformed Wing Virus threatening bees, as well as mapping their interaction with other species and local botanical diversity.
Researchers at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center (BSRC) Alexander Fleming in Vari, Greece, invented a system called ‘direct-shotgun metagenomics’ which enables them to identify DNA fragments found in honey.
The scientists stress that their innovation avoids sacrificing the insect in the process of finding out more about potentially dangerous viruses and diseases.
Bees produce honey by regurgitating the nectar and pollen from the flowers they forage. Afterwards, they place it in the cells of their hive until enough water evaporates.
During this procedure, honey comes into contact with a variety of organisms. It, therefore, contains DNA from multiple species, also called environmental DNA (eDNA).
This type of DNA originates from foraged plants, gut bacteria of bees and potential hive pathogens such as the varroa mite.
The scientists at the BSRC Alexander Fleming analyzed several samples of honey from an apiary hive in a typical Mediterranean landscape. They identified more than 40 species of plants that reflect all the botanical diversity surrounding the hives.
Study author Anastasios Galanis underlined that a better understanding of bees’ interactions with other species would help in identifying risk periods and zones for bees.
Galanis said: “This is extremely important in rural and agricultural environments where species interactions influence the productivity of crops.”
The scientist pointed out that the production of a lot of our daily food supply depends on the activity of bees and the condition of their environment.
The BSRC researchers were able to monitor the variability of bee diets throughout the year. Their new method also enabled them to determine bees’ microbiota in a non-invasive way. Furthermore, the scientists were able to identify pathogenic species such as the varroa mite.
The Greek study is still at an exploratory stage. However, the BSRC team of scientists thinks that this type of examination could eventually be used to monitor and anticipate diseases and pathogens in large-scale studies.
Study leader Dr. Solenn Patalano said: “Like the human gut microbiome, the gut microbiome of the bee is an important element of their health.
“We already know that environmental stressors, such as pesticides, can seriously damage gut microbial communities and increase the risk of bee diseases. But how this works remains largely unknown.”
Patalano said that their new procedure would allow the study of gut microbiome variation without the need of sacrificing the bees.
She underlined: “If we want to ensure ecosystem services such as fruit and vegetable pollination while maintaining species biodiversity, we also need to safeguard bee health.
“Our challenge is to build biomonitoring strategies in order to identify the fittest ecological niches for all pollinators.”
Honey bees are social flying insects known for their construction of perennial colonial nests from wax, the large size of their colonies, and surplus production and storage of honey.
The varroa mite, excessive usage of insecticides, construction projects, and one-crop agriculture are considered the major threats to the existence of honey bees.
The BSRC study follows a renowned scientist’s warning over a potential global threat to bees.
Professor Robert Paxton of Martin Luther University in the German city of Halle, Lower Saxony, said that the latest variant of the Deformed Wing Virus has the potential to wipe out honey-bee populations all over the world.
Paxton called the virus the “biggest threat to honey bees right now.”
The virus variant is spread by varroa mites. It causes serious damage to the insects’ wings before eventually killing them.
The BSRC Alexander Fleming is a non-profit biomedical research organization.
Founded in 1998, it is named after Scottish microbiologist Sir Alexander Fleming (1881–1955) and his widow, Greek-born physician and human rights activist Amalia Lady Fleming (1912–1986).
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