If you’ve ever been cruising (literally or figuratively) and heard a smooth, polished, sun-drenched song that made you feel like you were on a deck overlooking the sea, you may be touching on the vibe of “yacht rock.” But what is yacht rock, really? Where did the term come from? And how does it extend into the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s? Let’s dive in.
Origins & Name
Interestingly, the term yacht rock was not used at the time the music was being created. The style came from roughly the mid-1970s through the early 1980s (roughly 1975-84) on the West Coast of the U.S., particularly Southern California. MasterClass+3Houstonia Magazine+3uDiscover Music+3
In fact, what later became labeled “yacht rock” was originally described as adult-oriented rock (AOR), “West Coast sound”, or simply high-end soft rock. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
The actual term “yacht rock” was coined in 2005 by a Los Angeles-based comedy web-series (led by J.D. Ryznar and his friends) called Yacht Rock. The show lovingly parodied the smooth, slick music created by studio pros in the ’70s-’80s, and tied it to the imagery of yachting in sunny California. MasterClass+2Far Out Magazine+2
Hence, the name is partly ironic (and partly affectionate) — a genre-name applied after the fact to a body of music that itself didn’t call itself “yacht rock.” HISTORY
What Makes a Song “Yacht Rock”?
So what characteristics define it? While the boundaries are a bit fuzzy, music writers and historians have identified some recurring traits:
- Smooth, immaculate production: clean studio recording, high-end session musicians, polished sound. Wikipedia+1
- Melodies that lean more on craft than on raw grit—less “garage rock” energy and more “let’s glide across the waves” feel. Houstonia Magazine
- Often influences from jazz, R&B or funk (or at least jazzy chords and studio-sophistication) layered over a pop/rock structure. MasterClass+1
- A general sense of escape, leisure, introspection — the lyrics may be about love, heartbreak, longing, or simply smooth cruising rather than political revolution. uDiscover Music
- Often associated (at least in the imagery) with California-coast life, yachts, sun, and a kind of upscale casual leisure. (Hence the name.) Wikipedia
In other words: imagine a soft rock/pop tune that feels like you’re on a boat at sunset, perhaps sipping a drink, letting the chords carry you. That’s the spirit of yacht rock.
Yacht Rock Through the Decades
While the prime era is the late ’70s to early ’80s, the aesthetic and sound carry forward. Here’s how you might think of it via decades — and some artists and songs to explore.
1. 1980s – The Peak & Afterglow
Here are 10 artists from the ’80s (or whose notable work falls in that decade) who fit the yacht rock vibe — along with song examples:
- Toto – “Rosanna” (1982)
- Steely Dan – “Peg” (1977 technically, but influential into the ’80s)
- Hall & Oates – “Kiss on My List” (1981)
- Christopher Cross – “Sailing” (1979) & “Think of Laura” (1983)
- The Doobie Brothers – “What a Fool Believes” (1979)
- Michael McDonald (solo / with Doobies) – “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” (1982)
- Kenny Loggins – “This Is It” (1980)
- Boz Scaggs – “Jojo” (1980)
- England Dan & John Ford Coley – “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” (1976 – early example)
- Ambrosia – “How Much I Feel” (1978)
These songs reflect that smooth, well-crafted sound. The ’80s saw this style at a commercial peak and still riding high.
2. 1990s – The Era of Revival & Transition
By the ’90s, musical tastes shifted (grunge, hip-hop, alternative rock), so yacht rock wasn’t front-and-center in the mainstream the way it was earlier. But many artists carried the smooth-rock, adult-contemporary, polished sound that links back. Here are 10 artists/singers from the ’90s era you might include, along with songs:
- Bryan Adams – “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” (1995)
- Michael Bolton – “Said I Loved You… But I Lied” (1993)
- Richard Marx – “Right Here Waiting” (1989/early ’90s impact)
- Phil Collins – “Another Day in Paradise” (1989 → ’90s effect)
- Christopher Cross – continuing into the ’90s with his characteristic sound.
- Elton John – his more adult-contemporary smooth work in the ’90s.
- Lionel Richie – “Truly” (early ’90s still)
- Steve Winwood – “Roll with It” (1988/’89 but culturally relevant into the ’90s)
- Sheryl Crow – “If It Makes You Happy” (1996) — while not pure yacht, carries a smooth adult pop-rock vibe.
- Goose Bumps – (OK a bit cheeky — you could select any adult-contemporary crossover)
(Feel free to swap in artists more precisely aligned with the yacht rock sound in your taste.)
3. Early 2000s – “Post-Yacht” and the Revival Wave
In the early 2000s, the classic ’70s-’80s yacht rock style was no longer the mainstream, but it found new life via nostalgia, revival bands, and smooth-pop/adult-contemporary acts who borrowed its aesthetics. Here are 10 artists/singers from the early 2000s (or emerging then) with songs that channel that smooth cruising feel:
- John Mayer – “Gravity” (2006)
- Norah Jones – “Don’t Know Why” (2002)
- Jason Mraz – “Lucky” (2008)
- Colbie Caillat – “Bubbly” (2007)
- Train – “Drops of Jupiter” (2001)
- Michael Bublé – his early-2000s smooth-pop appeal channels that leisure-vibe.
- Groove Armada – “At the River” (1997 but influencing early-2000s chill-pop)
- Jason Isbell – (again more adult rock side but fits the vibe)
- Michael Franti – “Say Hey (I Love You)” (2008) — feel-good, smooth.
- Young Gun Silver Fox (a revival band drawing heavily on yacht rock style) – “Lenny” (2018) – while beyond early 2000s, points to how the yacht rock aesthetic kept re-emerging.
Why Yacht Rock Matters & Why You Might Be Rediscovering It
So why revisit yacht rock today, in your own musical journey? Here are a few thoughts:
- Timeless production & musicianship: The craftsmanship in many yacht rock songs is top-tier — studio pros, slick production, thoughtful arrangements. That craftsmanship holds up.
- Nostalgia + freshness: If you grew up hearing some of these songs (or grew up listening to the radio/oldies), you may revisit them with fresh ears and discover layers you missed.
- Escape & mood: In our fast-paced world, music that conveys leisure, sunshine, smooth groove, longing, or escape can hit differently. Yacht rock can serve as an easy-listening, mood-lifting genre without sacrificing musicality.
- Bridge between rock/pop/jazz/R&B: Yacht rock isn’t hardcore or abrasive — it blends pop/rock with jazz/R&B/soft-soul elements. That gives it crossover appeal.
- Rediscovery vibe: If you’re like me — rediscovering older music you heard in passing, songs you may have overlooked — this genre is ripe for revisiting. Maybe you heard “Sailing” or “Rosanna” as background music, but now you listen and really hear the vocals, the chords, the production.
Final Thoughts
Yacht rock might once have been dismissed as the soundtrack for yuppies on yachts, but that doesn’t diminish how goodmany of those songs are. Smooth, melodic, polished — they’re songs you can live with, revisit, rediscover. For anyone on the journey of exploring music they may have taken for granted, yacht rock is a perfect genre to dive into: familiar yet full of depth.
So if you find yourself hearing a song you thought you remembered – but now hearing it with real appreciation for what’s behind it – that’s the rediscovery process I love. Whether you’re hearing a classic from the ’80s, uncovering a lesser-known ’90s track, or finding a modern artist channeling that yacht-rock feel, it’s all part of the musical journey.
And remember: grab your headphones (or open your windows), imagine you’re on the deck, the sun’s going down, and let the music sail you away.