What is Yacht Rock?
What Type of Music is Yacht Rock?
Yacht Rock is soft rock music from the ‘70s to early ‘80s. Think smooth vocals, jazzy tempos, catchy lyrics, something you might’ve thought as corny at one time but now brings you great comfort in it’s nostalgia and ability to transport you to a carefree time when there were no worries of money or bills or 401ks or why someone unfriended you on Facebook when you barely post anything, haven’t they heard of just unfollowing people, why be so harsh?! Or something like that.
The term is a nod to artists a yuppie would listen to on their yacht, and the creators have very specific factors that determine if a song is yacht rock (high production value, jazz and R&B influences, use of electric piano, lyrics about heartbroken, foolish men according to Wikipedia); it’s not an umbrella term for boating season songs despite the fact some of the biggest Yacht Rock hits include sailing, summer and pina colada lyrics. What makes a song Yacht Rock worthy is much more nuanced than I would’ve guessed.
If you remember the mellow music from the ‘70s you can probably hear a few notes of Yacht Rock in your head right now.
Loggins (rockin’ the man bangs) and Messina (the guy who didn’t write Footloose) on the cover of their “Full Sail” album.
Photo credit: Columbia Records
Who created Yacht Rock?
In 2005 J.D. Ryznar and his friends coined the term “Yacht Rock” and made a short-film/online series about the musical genre. From what I can tell it’s a mix of true appreciation and playful jabbing at the music of that era, which if you listen to the tunes, is a fair depiction.
Which Bands are Considered Yacht Rock?
In no particular order (we get into that with our Best Yacht Rock Bands review):
Michael McDonald, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Loggins & Messina and like Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins is solo here as well. These are the anchors of Yacht Rock (I’m trying to see how many boating references I can get in).
Hall & Oates and Toto (and Kenny Loggins in some ways) succeed, in my opinion, better in this genre than the pop ‘80s, even though that era is when they had mega hits. Jackson Brown, Fleetwood Mac, Herb Albert, Boz Scaggs, Joe Jackson, America and Lionel Ritchie also have a few Yacht Rock tunes.
Musicians that I am newly introduced to with my Yacht Rock summer binge: Paul Davis, Ambrosia, Robbie Dupree.
Totally cool Yacht Rock moment: realizing there are YR artists with sailing references in their name! Pablo Cruise, Billy Ocean, Captain and Tennille and maybe these are a stretch but Dr. Hook and Seals & Crofts. Let’s include Air Supply too because it’s kind of like wind which you need for the sails. Ah, I love it.
Where are the Women of Yacht Rock?
Women are noticeably absent from my summer-long SiriusXM binge of these fab tunes. I get into that more with my intense Women of Yacht Rock investigation (AKA I have a few questions about the lack of ladies).
What are Yacht Rock Songs?
As you can imagine the list is extensive, and we take a look at our favorites with the Best Yacht Rock songs, but here are a few that might be familiar to you:
The Doobie Brothers “What A Fool Believes”
Christopher Cross “Sailing”
Seals & Croft “Summer Breeze”
Steely Dan “Deacon Blues”
Hall & Oats “She’s Gone”
Songs you’ve heard but didn’t know who sang it
“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” Rupert Holmes
“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” Looking Glass
“Baby Come Back” Player
And the winner by a nautical mile in this category is “Baker Street” Gerry Rafferty. I want this playing in the background as I wander down a New York City street wearing a trench coat, pondering my life choices. Tell me you don’t know these sweet sax notes:
Provided to YouTube by Parlophone UK Baker Street · Gerry Rafferty City To City ℗ 1978 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group
What is the State of Yacht Rock now?
Songs that were once a fad, turned joke, now bring comfort to a generation of people longing for the soulful, smooth vocals and instruments of the good ol’ days. Or maybe that is just me. But I don’t think so. There wouldn’t be music channels, websites and videos dedicated to this era if there wasn’t something there.
Give it a listen, you just might drift away like a summer breeze.
Want more Yacht Rock?