They Don’t Write Songs About Volvos.
Or do they?
My friend Chris Tingom of Tornado Design asked ChatGTP to write one.
Who would guess that AI could compose satire?
Here’s how it goes.
“Ride in a Volvo”
(Verse 1) Cruisin’ down the highway, feeling oh so free,
In my shiny Volvo, it’s the ride for me.
Safety first, that’s what they say,
Volvo’s got my back, every single day.
(Chorus) Ride in a Volvo, smooth and fine,
Through the city streets, watch us shine.
From the mountains high to the valleys low,
There’s no better way than in a Volvo.
(Verse 2) Swedish design, sleek and smart,
Every little detail, made with heart.
Leather seats and that turbo roar,
Once you drive a Volvo, you’ll want more.
(Chorus) Ride in a Volvo, smooth and fine,
Through the city streets, watch us shine.
From the mountains high to the valleys low,
There’s no better way than in a Volvo.
(Bridge) Got the XC90, family ride,
Or the sporty S60, where dreams collide.
Eco-friendly engines, green and clean,
In a Volvo, life’s a beautiful scene.
(Verse 3) Rain or shine, through the snow we go,
Volvo’s there, steady and slow.
With every mile, the smiles grow wide,
In this trusted car, we take pride.
(Chorus) Ride in a Volvo, smooth and fine,
Through the city streets, watch us shine.
From the mountains high to the valleys low,
There’s no better way than in a Volvo.
(Outro) So if you’re looking for a ride that’s true,
Safe, stylish, and feels brand new,
Hop in a Volvo, and you’ll see,
It’s the only way to ride, for you and me.
Then Chris asked ChatGTP to write a song about how there are no songs about Volvos.
“No Songs ‘Bout Volvos”
(Verse 1) I turned on the radio, every station the same,
Songs ’bout love and heartbreak, fortune and fame.
But there’s one thing missing, I can’t help but see,
No one’s singing ’bout Volvos, how can that be?
(Chorus) No songs ’bout Volvos, oh what a shame,
They’re sturdy and stylish, they deserve some fame.
From city streets to country lanes,
In a Volvo, life never feels the same.
(Verse 2) They sing ’bout Mustangs and Cadillacs too,
But the humble Volvo, it’s left out of the crew.
With safety and style, it’s got so much to show,
Why no one’s singing ’bout it, I just don’t know.
(Chorus) No songs ’bout Volvos, oh what a shame,
They’re sturdy and stylish, they deserve some fame.
From city streets to country lanes,
In a Volvo, life never feels the same.
(Bridge) They’ve got turbo engines, leather seats,
Eco-friendly, they’re so neat.
Volvo’s got the heart and soul,
Why no one sings, it’s a mystery untold.
(Verse 3) So here’s my tribute, my Volvo song,
To the car that keeps us safe and strong.
Let’s give it the spotlight, let the melody flow,
And sing ’bout the Volvo, wherever we go.
(Chorus) No songs ’bout Volvos, oh what a shame,
They’re sturdy and stylish, they deserve some fame.
From city streets to country lanes,
In a Volvo, life never feels the same.
(Outro) So next time you’re writing, and you need a theme,
Remember the Volvo, it’s more than a dream.
Give it some love, let the lyrics glow,
And write that song ’bout Volvos, let the whole world know.
Alternative, but slightly better:
For the most part a history of safe albeit boring cars, which somehow does not come through in the lyrics…
Even the charming P1800 a treat for the eyes, leaves you cold when you go for a drive…
SAAB’s the other Swede they never write songs about
For many years I drove them though the front end resembled a trout
Just give me a SAAB Turbo from the earlier years
My last one was a GM platform that gave me Saturn tears.
(Now I drive a V8 Maserati…)
Thank god! Naturally, they write songs about Fords, Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Dodges, Mercurys, etc. because the world loves those cars. Nobody in his right mind would want a Yugo or a Borgward… much less badly enough to write a song about it!
Believe it or not, several songs have been recorded about Volvos. My favorite is ’59 Volvo by Vernon Green & The Medallions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fm7sJSz77c
Unbelievable! Fantastic. Thanks. —Gary
My favorite is Buick 59 by Vernon Green & the Medallions on the flip side of Volvo 59 (which is odd the song is from 1957 before 59 Buicks even roamed) because I still own one
John Virga
Actually, they DID write songs about Volvos – In 1987, to commemorate Volvo’s 60th anniversary, the company commissioned an LP titled “I Am Rolling” which featured thirteen tracks and liner notes by Roger Holtback, Volvo Car Corporation’s then-CEO.
These were distributed at no charge to all Volvo employees, and I believe they were also made available to retail customers. Most, if not all of the tracks were done in faux-ABBA style, and were rather forgettable.
this is George Tingom, Chris’s dad. Big surprise. I do not know if Chris even knows I had a Volvo sedan when I was in college. I think it was a 56 + or – a year. And the AI song is a double surprise.
Good Fun.
Someone or some group of singers wrote a song about a 1959 Volvo back in 1959. Yes, it is difficult to believe. A 1959 Volvo sure looked better than some of the boxes that came later.