Okay, so the idea of building a yacht rock radio station? Totally a joke. Let’s be real, yacht rock isn’t good music – even if some individual songs are okay. It can get stuck in your head and feel nostalgic, but honestly, it’s like the musical equivalent of Alvin and the Chipmunks ruining a classic Christmas tune. It just… doesn’t hold up.
I’m kidding about not judging – as a music writer, I definitely have opinions! But if you’re looking to create the perfect yacht rock playlist – maybe even for people you’re not that fond of – I’m here to help.
I decided to listen to SiriusXM’s yacht rock channel, even though I wasn’t sure why! After several hours, my taste in music hadn’t changed much, but I did pick up on some patterns. Here are the rules of yacht rock, as I understand them.
The ten rules for programming a perfect yacht rock playlist
The most important thing to understand about yacht rock isn’t a specific rule, but rather the overall feeling or vibe it creates – it’s the foundation everything else builds upon.
Yacht rock is unique among popular music genres because it openly makes fun of itself. Just listen to how it’s promoted on SiriusXM – they use intentionally corny, over-the-top voices reminiscent of Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island. That reference fits perfectly, as yacht rock fans are either people who grew up with that show or those who appreciate its classic style.
The advertisements for this music intentionally come across as irritating and over-the-top. It’s obvious that ‘yacht rock’ isn’t meant to be taken seriously, and fans like us understand that. We can enjoy how silly it is without pretending we don’t actually like cheesy music. We’re not stuck longing for a simpler time; we appreciate the humor in it all.
The main idea is to playfully poke fun at the music you’re performing, letting your audience know it’s okay to enjoy it even if it’s a bit cheesy or mainstream.
Now, on to the specific, highly practical rules that I gleaned from just a few hours of listening.
Never play a song with a guitar solo if you can find one with a sax solo instead
On a typical yacht rock song, instruments generally appear in this order: saxophone, synthesizers, piano, various other horns, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. Sometimes, artists even throw in unexpected instruments to create a unique sound – for example, Kenny Loggins’ song “I Believe in Love” surprisingly includes a melody played on a soprano recorder.
Every fifth song should have absolutely nothing to do with “rock”
The term “yacht rock” is a little misleading. While it’s called ‘rock,’ that part of the name isn’t really important; it just helps attract listeners. You will find some actual rock songs in yacht rock playlists, but most of the music falls into the softer side of rock – which is truly what defines the genre – and occasionally you might hear something with a bit more energy.
Don’t hesitate to add a song like Al Jarreau’s “We’re in This Love Together” – it would be a great touch!
Play Christopher Cross at least once every hour
Okay, so I’ve been really into this artist lately, and while “Sailing” is amazing, it definitely shouldn’t be played constantly. Like, maybe once every few hours is enough! I was listening earlier and they played “All Right,” which initially reminded me of “Thunder Island” – but honestly, it didn’t hold up as well. It kind of went downhill fast.
Don’t shy away from the “yacht” in yacht rock
When it comes to creating a ‘Thunder Island’ feel, songs that suggest water are perfectly fine – maybe about one in ten could allude to it. I recently listened to ‘Ride Captain Ride,’ and I thought it worked really well.
Play a good song at a 1:5 ratio
“Ride Captain Ride” isn’t a standout song, but it fits perfectly within the smooth, mellow vibe of yacht rock. (Sorry, I had to pause for a second – I was listening to Christopher Cross’s “All Right,” and the really gentle ending section just kept going and going. I needed a minute to recover!)
I’m doing much better, thanks for asking! Honestly, what I’ve realized about yacht rock is it’s not completely terrible. It’s just…mostly terrible. But there are definitely a few gems in there!
If an artist has some good tunes – or even pleasantly unobjectionable ones – go for his more annoying stuff whenever possible
It seems like creators of ‘yacht rock’ playlists really focus on picking the least impressive hits from an artist’s catalog. The examples of Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross show this, but it doesn’t stop there – I recently heard Boz Scaggs’ “Georgia,” and even after listening to John Hiatt’s “Georgia Rae” repeatedly, I couldn’t get that song out of my head.
Play “Escape” every half hour
“Escape,” known to most listeners as “The Pina Colada Song” is the primordial text of yacht rock.
And TV Theme songs are also fair game
I caught a bit of “WKRP in Cincinnati” while listening, but everyone agrees that “The Greatest American Hero” is the defining song of yacht rock. And if you want a really memorable song to end the night, I’d recommend “As Long As We Got Each Other.” The intentionally bad grammar in the title is actually pretty rebellious for this genre.
When all else fails, there’s always Toto
Toto was a genuinely skilled rock band, but they lacked a distinctive personality. They were incredibly polished musicians, almost too perfect, and played catchy tunes that didn’t really say anything. It’s hard to think of a better example of ‘yacht rock’ than that – technically proficient but lacking soul.
Always remember, rock has nothing to do with it
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth saying again. And just to be clear – if you feel like I haven’t explained things fully, here’s an extra rule for you.
To really embrace the fun, over-the-top style of this genre, try pronouncing “yacht” like Charles Moore does in the classic 1942 film The Palm Beach Story. He says it with a ‘Y’ sound, so it rhymes with “hatchet.” Don’t do it constantly, but using that pronunciation now and then can be really effective.
Happy yatcheting to you all.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
2026-07-24 11:01