“Real Gone” plays over the opening highway sequence in Pixar’s Cars.
The song was written by Sheryl Crow, John Shanks, and John Kasdorf, and Crow performs it on the film’s soundtrack. Its energetic rock sound accompanies the opening introduction to Lightning McQueen, who is traveling toward the final race of the Piston Cup season.
The opening sequence establishes Lightning as fast, ambitious, and isolated. He is shown more interested in racing success than in maintaining relationships with his pit crew or other competitors. The song’s driving rhythm matches the film’s road-and-racing theme.
“Life Is a Highway,” performed by Rascal Flatts, is another prominent song associated with Cars, but it appears later during the film’s journey montage. “Our Town,” performed by James Taylor, is connected to Radiator Springs. These soundtrack tracks are often mixed up because each reflects a different stage of Lightning’s story.