For those planning a festive road trip, Fiat has used science to create what it calls the ‘World’s Happiest Christmas Car Playlist’.
Comprising 25 songs and lasting for an hour, the playlist has been scientifically designed to promote maximum enjoyment.
It comes as a survey of 2,000 drivers by Fiat found that almost half (47 percent) said this is the most stressful time of the year to be on the road.
Christmas traffic was a worry for 75 percent of drivers, with other road users rushing to be somewhere was a concern for 66 percent.
Christmas driving brings added stress
Fiat’s research also established that three quarters (76 percent) of respondents listen to Christmas songs to keep their children entertained on seasonal journeys. Some 48 percent said they would be singing along, too.
With this in mind, Fiat turned to Dr Claire Renfrew, a music psychologist, to discover which Christmas songs bring the most joy.
Dr Renfrew’s formula for musical happiness includes a combination of a song being in a major key, with bright and energetic vocals and instruments, a tempo of 100-140 beats per minute, and a simple and catchy chorus.
A song that follows the structure of ‘verse, chorus, verse, chorus, instrumental, chorus’, was also a key component.
Get ready for a Christmas road trip
Applying this formula saw Dr Renfrew declare Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, as the song that delivers peak happiness.
This was followed by ’Feliz Navidad,’ ‘Jingle Bell Rock,’ and ‘Holly Jolly Christmas,’ to make up the festive top four.
Dr Renfrew said: “It’s important that all the songs ‘work’ together, because the playlist you have can make or break your drive home for Christmas.
“Christmas songs can have a surprisingly powerful positive impact on us psychologically.”
The World’s Happiest Christmas Car Playlist
The full version of the World’s Happiest Christmas Car Playlist’ by Fiat comprises:
- Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
- Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano
- Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
- Holly Jolly Christmas – Michael Bublé
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard
- It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams
- Sleigh Ride – Harry Connick, Jr.
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – The Jackson 5
- Wonderful Christmastime (Edited Version / Remastered) – Paul McCartney
- Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson
- All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
- Winter Wonderland – Bing Crosby
- Step Into Christmas – Elton John
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra
- Last Christmas – Wham!
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby
- Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens
- Mistletoe – Justin Bieber
- Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon, Yoko Ono
- Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
- Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
- Silver Bells – Dean Martin
- Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
- Do They Know It’s Christmas? (1984 Version) – Band Aid
- Deck The Hall – Nat King Cole
The Fiat playlist is available to listen to now, for free, through Spotify.
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