What Is Yacht Rock? A Guide to the Genre & Our 10 Best Yacht Rock Songs for the Ultimate Chill Vibes

Thanks in part to a new documentary releasing on MAX, the niche genre of “yacht rock” is making a comeback the likes of which we haven’t seen since the late 1970s in southern California.

But what is yacht rock? And what does the Yacht Rock: A Documentary story leave out about this soft rock subgenre? For those who might not be super familiar with this musical style, let’s catch you up on the history—and perhaps future—of this adult-oriented West Coast sound.

Plus, if you’re interested in using yacht rock in any of your own video content or marketing materials, we’ll also help you find royalty free yacht rock music that’s safe to use for YouTube and other social platforms without the threat of Christopher Cross and Donald Fagen tracking you down at your house and subjecting you to hours of jazz-rock saxophone solos.

Seriously, though, let’s explore the exciting yet laid-back vibes of yacht rock and get you caught up on this smooth genre of music.

What is yacht rock?

Let’s start things off by going over a basic definition of the term yacht rock. According to its Wikipedia page, yacht rock is a “broad musical style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock.”

The yacht rock sound is most commonly associated with some very commercially successful genres from the 1970s and 1980s, from bands and common studio musicians who specialized in a mix of smooth jazz, soul, R&B, and disco music to create a new soft rock sound.

To be clear, yacht rock is a new term used for this type of music here decades later. At the time of recording, the musicians of this genre were simply making music that they connected with and was popular at the time. This music garnered lots of radio play and plenty of awards and launched the careers of many talented artists.

Some familiar names in the yacht rock music scene have included Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Toto, Michale McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, and many more.

Exploring the origins of yacht rock

As for the origins of the term “yacht rock,” we have to look to the present day for this genre to get its current moniker. The first instances of the term yacht rock came from a group of comedians and music aficionado friends in Los Angeles, California, who created a web series centered around the fictional lives and careers of the musicians from this specific era.

The web series, which pre-dated even YouTube in terms of internet meme history, would go on to spawn several different riffs on this “yacht rock” term including a “nyacht rock” subgenre of songs which are almost yacht rock, but not quite, as well as several podcasts including Beyond Yacht Rock and Yacht or Nyacht?

From these comedic origins, though, the term found a life of its own and would slowly integrate with the greater music lexicon. XM radio stations, playlists, and even concert series and events would use the playful, tongue-in-cheek term to describe this still-popular genre.

Explore our Best Yacht Rock Songs: Download Royalty Free Yacht Rock Music

Now, with some basic definitions and the history of yacht rock explained, let’s explore how you might be able to use this soft rock musical style in your own video or marketing projects. Keep in mind that, obviously, most of the yacht rock classics come from the talented musicians we listed above.

However, if you want to license tracks from big-name musicians like Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, finding copyright free yacht rock to use in your projects will be difficult—if not impossible. 

Your best bet would be to use royalty-free music provided by music licensing companies like Soundstripe, which can guarantee that songs are safe and cleared for use across all your channels.

Here are some of our top picks for royalty free yacht rock music inspired by the great musicians of this classic era.

1. Pull You Closer by Desert Dive

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as calm and romantic. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
• BPM: 74
• Key: F Major
• Listen and license here.

2. Pillow Talk by Reveille

• Description: A low-energy pop song that is best described as romantic and reflective. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 98
• Key: A Major
• Listen and license here.

3. Sentimental Fool by Cast Of Characters

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as romantic and reflective. Rhodes and bass are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 120
• Key: C Major
• Listen and license here.

4. Easy Going by Heartland Nights

• Description: A low-energy rock song best described as happy and fun. Guitar and acoustic guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 138
• Key: G Major
• Listen and license here.

5. Smooth Moves by LNDÖ

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as fun and happy. Rhodes and piano are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 112
• Key: D Major
• Listen and license here.

6. Meringue by Famous Cats

• Description: Low energy, rock song best described as fun and happy. Horns and saxophone are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 76
• Key: A Minor
• Listen and license here.

7. Take Me Away by Dr. Delight

• Description: A medium-energy rock song that is best described as fun and happy. Bass and bass guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 80
• Key: D Major
• Listen and license here.

8. Antigravity by Empyreal Glow

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as chill. Electric guitar and piano are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 65
• Key: B Major
• Listen and license here.

9. In Her Eyes by The Realist

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as sad and calm. Electric guitar and guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 70
• Key: D Minor
• Listen and license here.

10. Wings by Ian Kelosky

• Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as reflective. Electric guitar and acoustic guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
• BPM: 145
• Key: G Major
• Listen and license here.

Those are just some of our top royalty free yacht rock songs that we’d recommend for your soft rocking videos. If you’d like to explore even more yacht rock tunes for your content further, check out this dedicated playlist below.

Yacht Rock Playlist

Description: West Coast sound of the late 70s and 80s influenced by R&B, Soft Rock, and Soul, forming a smooth brand of pop.

Tips for using yacht rock in your projects

As mentioned above, despite the difference in its origins and current place in music appreciation, yacht rock is still very much a popular style of music. It can help provide a soft, fun, and chilled-out soundtrack for your various video projects.

To further help you on your yacht rock journey, here are some tips to keep in mind when using royalty free yacht rock music in your types of video content.

• Check out the Yacht or Nyacht website to find out which songs are true yacht rock staples and which are nyact rock.
• You should never use a classic yacht rock track in any videos without securing licensing for it, or you might find yourself in legal trouble.
• Try out the Soundstripe AI Song editor to easily edit the length of your royalty free yacht rock track to the perfect length for your video.

Regardless of where you fall on the yacht rock versus soft rock debate or how you feel about the sincerity of this genre's terminology, it's undeniable how timeless and classic this era of music has become.