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A study by Fiat states that over 3 quarters of Brits sing in the car, with favourites being ‘Don't Stop Me Now’ by Queen, ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba, and ‘Livin' on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi.
Fiat's poll of 2,000 motorists found that 78% sing in the car – though only 21% of those who admit to singing think they’re any good. Other driving anthems include ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond, ‘Bat Out of Hell’ by Meatloaf, and ‘Go Your Own Way’ by Fleetwood Mac. ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac, a tune associated with Formula 1, also made the top 40 - although Gary Numan’s ‘Cars’ narrowly missed out.
More than two fifths (42%) who enjoy singing in the car claimed singing is an “essential” part of their driving experience, while 51% revealed it makes them happy. However, 37% have been forced to listen to tone-deaf passengers or drivers while on the road – likely worsening their driving experience. The research was commissioned by Fiat and inspired by its all-electric 500 La Prima which features a JBL audio system.
Following the findings, the brand partnered with The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent vocal coach, Annabel Williams, to give away free singing lessons to car singing enthusiasts who struggle to hit their notes and provide top tips to become pitch-perfect behind the wheel.
Annabel said: “In partnership with Fiat, we’ve revealed what Brits really get up to when it comes to singing in the car. There is just something about singing along in the car that brings people a lot of joy – perhaps because you can just go for it and no one can hear you.
I love being able to sing in the car without judgement (unless you have passengers of course!). Ultimately though singing should be something enjoyed by everyone, no matter what their level. Singing is therapeutic and always makes people feel better.
Whatever your ability, I’ve put together five top tips to help you become pitch-perfect behind the wheel.”
The study also found 16% of motorists have been asked to stop singing in the car, while 11% have been left embarrassed after being caught singing. As a result, 18% have considered singing lessons. Nearly 2/3 (64 per cent) believe music is essential for the ideal driving experience, with 62% claiming singing along makes long journeys go by quicker. But 54% find driving less enjoyable if they have to listen to music they don’t enjoy, while 65% have had arguments over the choice of music on a car journey.
The study, carried out through OnePoll, found motorists’ favourite genres of music to sing along to in the car were pop (34%), followed by rock (20%), and R&B (4%).
A spokesperson for Fiat said: “Our research highlights the joy that singing in a car brings to drivers. Clearly, the private sanctuary of a car gives drives the confidence to hit the high notes, even if people don’t think they can actually sing. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Annabel Williams to offer free singing lessons in an all-electric Fiat 500 – as it's near silent on the road, we think it’s a great environment to sing in.”
Top 10 best songs to sing along to while driving:
1. Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now
2. Abba – Dancing Queen
3. Bon Jovi - Livin’ on a Prayer
4. Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
5. Meatloaf – Bat out of Hell
6. Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
7. The Killers – Mr Brightside
8. Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
9. Pharrell Williams - Happy
10. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
Annabel Williams’ top five in-car singing tips:
WARM UP - It’s vital to warm your voice up so you can go for those high notes in the car safely and without straining.
STAY HYDRATED - Your vocal cords need to be lubricated and will work much better and for longer if you’ve watered them regularly. So, make sure to keep a water bottle close by in your cup holder.
BREATHE - Breathing is the first thing you learn when learning to sing. It makes everything easier and helps you support big notes, even when sat down. Winding down the window can help by letting some fresh air in.
SONG CHOICE - Make sure you pick songs that are suited to you and are in your range.
SINGING IN TUNE - Make sure to listen to the instruments in the backing track of the song you’re singing along to, it can really help sort the notes you hit from the ones you don't. Adjusting your car’s speakers bass and treble can help you pick up on the different instruments. The Fiat 500 has its audio controls built directly into the steering wheel for easy access.
