Totally agree. We're talking about songs that one might listen to on one's yacht, not songs about one's yacht (unless you're listening to a song about your yacht while on your yacht). Yacht is a word that gets funny when you type it a lot.

When you hear the song, you should think "What should I be drinking when listening to this song?" If the answer is white wine (or rose), you're on the right track. If the answer is whiskey, you are not listening to yacht rock.

I am reconsidering my prog rock label for the Alan Parsons Project:

This whole thread makes me feel as if I'm at the dentist's office.

I sent this thread to my dad. He is pretty confused by it (he is old and Asian)

Lol I bet. I can't even imagine what the equivalently silly and abstruse cultural discussion would be in Korea.

He's just confused because he's been lurking 2+2 for years and can't keep track of his son's accounts.

I have to admit to a degree of butthurtedness concerning Steely Dan getting lumped in with some (all?) of this dreck. My butt is so hurt, it's reelin' in the years.

I have said before, I would personally exempt Steely Dan, the Michael McDonald rule notwithstanding.

Steely Dan - Dirty Work

This is a great song ppl!

Hello Mr. ___! I'm a friend of your son's in Los Angeles. When is he going to settle down, get married, and give you some grandchildren?

Concerned,

LFS

Hey Dad, it's your son, ____. Please ignore the ravings of this random lunatic above. He's a recovering alcoholic who mistreats his son by not taking advantage of the latest medical technology resulting in his son having a misshapen head for life.

Talk to you soon, _____

I don't think America qualifies as Yacht Rock, imo. Obviously staples on soft/lite rock stations, but don't think they exhibit the trademark "smoothness". When I think say "Sister Golden Hair" or "Ventura Highway", I just think "70s rock" more than anything else. I guess it is close though...

LFS brought up this track, which imho is also not Yacht Rock (but of course a great song):

Wow. Is this entire thread a thinly veiled brag? Salman? How big is your yacht?

Haha, I def don't own a yacht. But I have taken sailing lessons before.

Anyway the one thing I've taken away from this thread is I'm a bit out of my depth, most likely cause I'm not white. This thread reminds me of how I feel when I watch Dazed and Confused.

1. Rush is horrible. Just really really bad. Yes I know Tom Sawyer is ok and Neil Peart can drum really well, but, no I never want to hear any part of their live anthology ever again.

2. As much as it pains me to say it late CSNY was pretty yachty*. Even setting aside the boat themes of Southern Cross that entire album (Daylight Again) was Tiger Woods relaxation music.

*no one on earth calls it this but I will go with it since you guys like to "invent" "memes" and maybe this is an attempt at that.

.

Open Letter to Rush Fans:

Generally, I hate you. Your constant need to vault Rush into elite rock status makes me want to punch you in the face. Sorry, but the fact that occasionally Rush will play in 7/8 does not constitute a "genius sick compositional time change" - they're not ****ing Beethoven or something. Also, an elite rock band needs at least either an elite frontman or guitarist. Geddy Lee is a horrible singer with a horrible voice. If you don't think this is true you've never seen them live. Also, Alex Lifeson is competent, not anywhere close to GOAT. Finally, I know you like to point out that 2112 is the "first concept album evar!" but guess what - it's f'in based on an Ayn Rand book. WTF is wrong with you people. (And that's where Peart gets taken down many pegs - huge Ayn Rand fanatic.)

As an aside, I used to think Rush was blameless in all this, and it was just hardcore Rush fans I hated. But no. Witness the refrain from "Subdivisions" - "In the high school halls, in the shopping malls, conform or be cast out". They actively preyed on the pathetic insecurities of their annoying music geek fan base. They are just like you. And I hate you all.

1. Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image

what?? No.

2. Lady - Styx

No. Ballad by corporate rocker dudes.

3. Brandy - Looking Glass

maybe

4. Everybody Plays the Fool - Main Ingredient

5. Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation

Disco

6. Oh What a Night - The Four Seasons

GTFO - Four Seasons are doo-wop

7. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band

Are you high?

8. Baby Hold On - Eddie Money

now you're just being an ass

I'm pretty sure a fair statement is that black people don't make Yacht Rock. So any Motown era/R&B black act should probably be excluded from the category.

Rare case of honorary blackness being revoked re: Michael McDonald iyo?

Salman,

The fact that he kind of sounds like a black guy is why he's so crucial to the genre. No black people allowed on the yacht, but here's Michael McDonald, if you like that sort of thing...

And Lionel Richie isn't rock at all, not even by yacht rock standards.

tpir - hahahaaha - I guess that's how that would work

Vaya - damn, so smooth. As an aside, I think a lot of people are liking this stuff ironically or something, but I legit really enjoy this music - in LA, outside of KCRW, 101.1 K Earth is pretty much my go to radio station

LFS - lol at Lionel Richie, no way that guy gets on a white person's yacht.

I've got K Earth on my presets, my wife makes fun of me for it. As a bonus, she HATES Christmas music, which K Earth plays exclusively for about two months during the holidays.

While I haven't been to a show/bought an album in many, many years, Rush was definitely my favorite band through most of the 80s/early 90s. Combining the certitude of Al and tpir can only confirm that was the right way to go.