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Wiz Imp

(6,053 posts)

8. You're incorrect about what constitutes yacht rock

Sun May 11, 2025, 09:19 PM

May 11

Last edited Sun May 11, 2025, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Seasons In The Sun and Escape are most definitely NOT Yacht Rock. Who says so? The people who defined the term to begin with. And while they agree Hall & Oates are mostly not Yacht Rock, a couple of their songs qualify such as "Kiss On my List"

Again, this isn't my opinion, this is based on the opinions of J.D. Ryznar, Steve Huey, Hunter Stair, and David Lyons who coined the term and defined it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

I can buy Escape as being kinda borderline Yacht Rock but I've never heard anyone try to call Seasons in the Sun as Yacht Rock - It has none of the characteristics of the genre.

Factors that the four list as relevant to yacht rock include:

-High production value
-Use of "elite" Los Angeles–based studio musicians and producers associated with yacht rock
-Jazz and R&B influences
-Use of electric piano
-Complex and wry lyrics about heartbroken, foolish men, particularly involving the word "fool"
-An upbeat rhythm called the "Doobie Bounce"

On this website (https://www.yachtornyacht.com/) they evaluate hundreds of songs some people may try to define as Yacht Rock, and label them Yacht Rock or Nyacht Rock. I would not argue with the people who actually coined the term for the genre.

Their Top Yacht Rock Songs

Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes
Kenny Loggins - Heart to Heart
Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
Kenny Loggins - This Is It
Kenny Loggins - Who's Right, Who's Wrong
Toto - Rosanna
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Al Jarreau - Girls Know How
Christopher Cross - Sailing
George Benson - Turn Your Love Around

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6kVRZHsbV6LZEBiqzSzFvq

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Highlight:

So Daryl Hall went off on a rant about Yacht Rock. Hates the term, don't call Hall & Oates Yacht Rock, etc etc etc [View all] Miles Archer May 11 OP

It's kind of a douchey term some millennials came up with to irritate their elders Blues Heron May 11 #1

No it isn't and neither is H&O. What they are is the prototypical blue-eyed soul ms liberty May 11 #2

So the weakest pop songs in the genre define the genre... Miles Archer May 11 #3

Why slam those two songs as the weakest? ms liberty May 11 #5

You're incorrect about what constitutes yacht rock Wiz Imp May 11 #8

If I was speaking about something I had to look up on Wiki or Spotify, I might agree with you ms liberty May 12 #17

Well, I'm A Boomer RobinA May 15 #35

Yea, I'm a boomer too. I see it as a retroactive category name created for a satellite radio station ms liberty May 15 #37

++++yes Diamond_Dog May 12 #28

I'm viewing this thread True Dough May 11 #4

A DU'zy for you! ms liberty May 11 #6

I think it's safe to say Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is also not fond of the genre Blue Owl May 11 #7

Steely Dan RobinA May 15 #36

Message auto-removed Name removed May 11 #9

Probably not. GP6971 May 11 #10

Message auto-removed Name removed May 11 #12

You're so funny!!! GP6971 May 11 #13

The moniker is silly but I like a lot of the music... hlthe2b May 11 #11

Message auto-removed Name removed May 11 #14

I have no idea what the hell "yacht rock" even means. ShazzieB May 11 #15

From Wikipedia Wiz Imp May 12 #16

Kind Of Sketchy Definition ProfessorGAC May 12 #20

"Sounds like those 4 guys were looking for a justification for a pseudo-genre they thought up" Wiz Imp May 12 #24

And, Your Last Bit... ProfessorGAC May 12 #27

Interesting, thanks. ShazzieB May 12 #21

never heard of it untill today AllaN01Bear May 12 #19

bah humbug ! anything other than jazzz. AllaN01Bear May 12 #18

It's better than "Easy Listening." So shut up, Daryl. Iggo May 12 #22

You beat me to it... Paladin May 12 #25

Music pretty much stays the same, the labels we give it however, are legion Torchlight May 12 #23

One that came to my mind... Mike Nelson May 12 #26

Daryl Hall is an immensely talented musician MichMan May 12 #29

Did you see the rpisode with Darius Rucker a few years ago? ms liberty May 12 #31

He has had so many great guests MichMan May 12 #32

His show is a real treasure. ms liberty May 12 #33

Yeah, but I step back and look at the entire vibe of "Daryl's House"... Iggo May 13 #34

Back (way back) when I was in radio the genre was officially called Adult Contemporary rsdsharp May 12 #30