The Soundtrack of your Panama Trip

Nothing transforms a memory into nostalgia like associating it with a really good song… even a girlfriend or boyfriend ripping your heart out is fine in retrospect if you can associate it with a good tune… then you become like a character in a John Hughes movie.

So open Limewire and get your iPod ready but don’t listen until you are on the plane. Here is my list… some old… some new… that I recommend as the soundtrack to a Panama trip.

1) My Cubicle

By: I don’t really know… ripped off from James Blunt.

Play it when you are deciding if you need to say screw it to the rat race

Key lyrics:

My job is stupid, my days a bore, inside this office from 8 to 4…

...no one ever looks me in the eye and I really should work but instead I just sit here and surf the Internet.

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjhi_FHxY8k

2) Save Tonight

By: Eagle Eye Cherry

Key Lyrics:

We know I'm going away
How I wish....wish it weren't so
Take this wine & drink with me
Let's delay our misery

Play it your lat night with you know who.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFBuFGG_04o

3) Panama

By: Van Halen

Play after the pilot announces landing in Panama City

Key lyrics:

Panama… Panama ha ha ha a ah ha ha ha.

Play it just after the pilot announces the landing approach.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjUq_Z3b1Y4 (John Mayer covering for something different)

4) Lawyers, Guns and Money

By: Warren Zevon.

Key Lyrics:

Well, I went home with the waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know She was with the Russians, too
I was gambling in Havana I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this

O.k. Panama is not Havana but good luck finding a poker game in Havana these days.

Play it before or after a night of debauchery in Panama City.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPlMmwOq7U8&feature=related

5) Welcome to the Jungle

By: Guns and Roses

Play when you are at Multicentro a big shopping mall on Avinda Balboa. Across the street is the Vatican Embassy. You are, of course, in the concret jungle, with a new elevated costal highway above you. This did not exist when Manuel Noriega was holed up across the street in a rather nice house which is where Noriega hid from invading Americans. To get him out the American blasted Welcome to the Jungle.

Key Lyrics:

You know where you are? You're in the jungle baby. You're gonna die! (Well at least go to a jail in Florida)

6) Margaritaville

By: Jimmy Buffet

Key Lyrics:

There's booze in the blender, And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.
Wasted away again in Margaritaville

Play it under the sun in Bocas on the terrace of the same restaurant that Jimmy Buffet played the song live with a Margarita in front of you. You may have heard the song a million times but this is what you imagined when you listened…now you are not imagining.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbX4DUACYU

7) Wish You Were Here

By: Pink Floyd

Key Lyrics:

We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Play it while watching the sun set over Volcan Baru at the Lost and Found Eco lodge thinking about the person from song #1.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RKMB77U6GU (covered by Storm Large -- I know I know)

8) I’ll be home by Saturday

By: Hayden

Key Lyrics:

You’re the one thing I am leaving
That’ll come to my mind dreaming

You’re the first thing I’ll be thinking
When I’m taking off and landing

Play this one over and over again. Hayden makes me miss Canada.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt7-y-BqkyM (No video or good sound for a live version… this guy did a pretty good job)

9) Freebird by Leonard Skynard.

Key Lyrics:

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me
For I must be traveling on now
There's too many places I've got to see

Play it when you are saying goodbye to the Panamanian's who’s heart you are breaking.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxUaeJxNuY (This is taken from the final scene of The Devil’s Rejects… although it has nothing to do with travel it is the best ending to any movie ever)

Five Spanish Artists to get into it:

1) Julieta Venaga -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v92OsaD40w ..que lastima pero adios… Me Voy..
2) Mana -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H7RWKXBcZY … Mariposa No Regresa
3) Shakira -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqeuSWTgtQo her breakthough is my favorite .. Ojos Asi..
4) Los Rabanes – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av8TBy0s0YE My commanding wife… Panama’s own ska band
5) Daddy Yankie -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4eeSHdbxoc Daddy Yankee is from Puerto Rico but reggaeton was invented in Panama… I thought this was the national anthem when I arrived…. Learn to like it. Backpack, Panama, eco lodge backpacker eco-lodge, hiking, resort, backpacker, backpacking hostel adventure tours gap trails, fortuna bird birding tour adventure cloud forest jungle Chiriqui central America costa rica