You just set the controls to auto pilot as your Yacht Rock party starts to drift into awesomeness. The warm morning sun shines bright overhead, and the man in the captain’s hat pours himself another glass of champagne before strolling over to feed your pet flamingos. Everyone is happy, and why? Because the Top 100 Yacht Rock songs continue on in the background. Cheers!
First, check out other editions of the TOP 100 YACHT ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME:
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #91-100
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #81-90
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #71-80
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #61-70
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #51-60
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #41-50
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #31-40
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #21-30
Let’s continue our countdown of the Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs with #61-70:
70. “Rise” – Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert reminds of the guy from the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” ads since he seemingly has everything – his magical horn, his mysterious lady, and an entire island of random people who want to be his best friends. No seriously, it’s like he lives on the same island from the show LOST, but without the Others or the black smoke monster.
Herb Alpert is the Pied Piper of Fun.
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…the exact second you land on Fantasy Island.
BEST USE IN POP CULTURE
The soap opera General Hospital used “Rise” as the background music for the rape scene of Laura Webber by Luke Spencer at a disco, because nothing says “rape” like a smooth beat and a vibrant horn melody.
Luke and Laura later fell in love and became the most popular soap opera couple ever. And they say romance is dead.
BEST LYRIC
“[horn] [horn] [horn]”
There’s a reason Notorious BIG sampled this song for his song “Hypnotize” – the beat is mesmerizing.
69. “Africa” – Toto
This video is about some white dude trying to write a song on Africa, but since he’s never been there before he can only tell about what he’s seen on TV or movies. PREDICTION: His song will probably be a little bit racist.
For some reason, he doesn’t think to ask his female boss – who happens to be black – even though her office is decorated with lion heads and African tribesman shields. What a noob. Dude, ask her! She’s practically a Nubian princess.
He instead goes to her creepy library and checks out “Africa for Dummies” and now he thinks he’s some expert. “Oh yeah, my bruthas, let me tell you about apartheid.” Nelson Mandela would slap you so super hard, bro.
The video even features someone chucking a spear in the library, so “thanks!” racist 80s.
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you’re torn between sailing the open sea or returning home to be with your family.
BEST USE IN POP CULTURE
Who was surprised that J.D. jammed out to“Africa” as he enjoyed Elliot’s bath salts and pink bathrobe on Scrubs? Answer: No one.
Mandarin Body Butter? So delicious.
BEST LYRIC
“I bless the rains down in Africa.
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had.”
This probably makes Joseph Kony shake in his boots.
68. “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” – Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
It’s a rough life when your girlfriend is the hottest woman in town. Everyone wants to be with her, she always gets the most attention when you go out, and she’s probably cheated on you like a thousand times already.
Or so you think.
Once the paranoia sets in it’s over. You can’t trust your friends around her, and then pretty soon you can’t even trust her.
Your only solution is to wear a pirate patch over your eye like Dr. Hook because no one’s going to mess with somebody’s woman if he looks like Captain Jack Sparrow.
Listen to “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show:
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you’ve kidnapped your incredibly hot girlfriend to keep her away from other guys, and you have to keep her on your boat. You know…where no one will find her.
BEST USE IN POP CULTURE
“When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” was used in the soundtrack for the 2005 video game The Warriors, based after the 1979 movie of the same name. Strange, because I saw exactly zero beautiful women in that movie, but A LOT of weird-looking gang members.
BEST LYRIC
“When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, it’s hard.
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you know it’s hard.”
“Ohhhhh, NOW I get it.” – every kid who grew up in the 70s.
67. “Magic” – Olivia Newton-John
Let’s set some facts straight right now:
1) Olivia Newton-John’s eyes are simply enchanting.
2) That is all.
No magic needed.
Listen to “Magic” by Olivo Newton-John:
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you fall in love with a mermaid.
BEST USE IN POP CULTURE
“Magic” was featured in the bizarre romantic, musical, comedy film Xanadu, which also starred Olivia Newton-John. It’s about an artist named Sonny who falls in love with Kira, the mysterious “Olympian Muse of dancing and chorus” who sprang to life from a local mural. Her parents, the Greek gods Zeus and Mnemosyne, attempt to recall her to the realm of the gods because Kira was only supposed to inspire Sonny and not have feelings for him.
I promise I’m not making this up.
BEST LYRIC
“Come take my hand.
You should know me.
I’ve always been in your mind.”
I think in 1980, Olivia Newton-John was in EVERYONE’S mind.
66. “Tequila Sunrise” – The Eagles
Tequila is supposed to give you “courage” to talk to women (although not coherently). That’s why it’s surprising that the Eagles – who presumably knew their way around a tavern – used to refer to tequila as “instant courage” when it was time to approach the ladies. Yes…the same Eagles who are rock stars. Rock stars who could get pretty much any girl in the bar.
Maybe they were just nervous that none of the girls would want to wear one of their letterman jackets.
Listen to “Tequila Sunrise” by The Eagles:
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you wake up at the crack of dawn for early morning sail and you notice a hole in the bottom of your boat.
BEST USE IN POP CULTURE
Former professional wrestler Konnan used a submission maneuver called the “Tequila Sunrise” as his finishing move.
And that’s probably what it feels like if you’ve drunk tequila all night.
BEST LYRIC
“Take another shot of courage.
Wonder why the right words never come.”
The words are: “Hey, I’m in The Eagles.” Done.
65. “Breezin” – George Benson
If music knows no color boundaries, then George Benson knows no musical boundaries. His album “Breezin” topped the Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts on Billboard in 1976. So, apparently EVERYONE loved them some Benson.
Well, almost everyone.
During a 1977 concert in San Diego, Hungarian jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó complained to the audience about George Benson’s success with “Breezin” because he had recorded that song before Benson and that Benson had basically stolen the arrangement from him.
Hey, even if he did…who cares, right? It’s Hungary.
Listen to “Breezin'” by George Benson:
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when the breeze is just right and you’ve thrown the anchor down for an entire day of fishing.
BEST USES IN POP CULTURE
Elevators. All of them.
BEST LYRIC
“[guitar solo] [guitar solo] [strum] [strum]”
Take that, Hungary.
64. “Moonlight Feels Right” – Starbuck
“Moonlight Feels Right” was promoted as the first rock song ever to feature a marimba, so you know this song is probably still #1 in Guatemala.
Oh, and don’t be scared that the lead singer Bruce Blackman looks suspiciously like the popular 80s comedian Gallagher. He’s only going to sing and play the keyboard. There will be no watermelons flying your way.
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…while you’re waiting for that midnight shipment of cocaine to enter the harbor. Errrr, I mean your “French Connection.” (see below)
BEST USES IN POP CULTURE
“Moonlight Feels Right” was featured in a funny montage from the 2003 movie Stuck On You, starring Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear.
Man, imagine the damage Damon could have inflicted if Ben Affleck was his other half.
BEST LYRIC
“I finally made a tricky French connection.
You winked and gave me your o.k.
I’ll take you on a trip beside the ocean,
And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay.”
There are rumors that the “tricky French connection” lyric refers to him scoring some cocaine, and “Dropping the top at Chesapeake Bay” is him unzipping his pants, but this is a Yacht Rock song so I’m sure those claims are false.
63. “Back In The High Life Again” – Steve Winwood
In the video for “Back in the High Life Again,” Steve Winwood plays a mysterious man who wanders around the city in a trench coat, fingerless gloves and sunglasses. His favorite spots to hang out include the train tracks, the local park and … oh man he’s homeless isn’t he?
Hey, but that’s ok, because he eventually finds a girlfriend and spends the nights dancing with her alone by the pier, and takes her on private walks next to an abandoned barn by day.
Oh man, she’s dead isn’t she?
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you’ve “come into some cash” and you cruise ever-so-slowly into the harbor on your new 80-foot yacht.
BEST USES IN POP CULTURE
“Back in the High Life Again” was used in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia called “The Gang Buys a Boat.” Dee practices her dance moves to it as Frank cooks up some delicious toxic catfish.
And moments later Charlie burns it down.
BEST LYRIC
“I’ll be back in the high life again.
All the eyes that watched me once,
will smile and take me in.”
…thinks every homeless guy just because someone gives him a dollar.
62. “The Sweetest Taboo” – Sade
Sade is very sad. Not because it’s raining outside, but because she’s in love with a man she cannot have. And never mind that the girl he’s with looks strangely like Latoya Jackson. Sade has bigger problems than that.
Her one date with him includes a horse ride through a barren desert. “Oh, why are we out here all alone?” wonders Sade, until she reaches until the glove box of his jeep and finds a loaded pistol.
And that’s when the video turns into an episode of Breaking Bad.
We’ll miss you, Sade.
We’ll miss you too, Latoya. (Not really)
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when your friend’s “guests” he invited along turn out to be Columbian cartel, and this “Sunday afternoon boat ride” turns out to be a million-dollar drug run.
BEST USES IN POP CULTURE
Prince mentions Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo” more than once in the lyrics to “S.S.T.” a song he wrote shortly after the impact of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. S.S.T. refers to sea surface temperature, which is used to monitor the threat of hurricanes. Prince is so deep.
BEST LYRIC
“You’ve got the biggest heart,
Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me.
Every day is Christmas, and every night is New Year’s Eve.”
And every afternoon is Thanksgiving.
61. “Don’t Give Up On Us” – David Soul
Riding high on the success of playing in the hit TV show Starsky and Hutch, David Soul thought he could also make it as a singer – one of his earlier career choices. However, as we’ve found out with other actors, athletes and people who make sex tapes, sometimes it’s best to keep your day job.
David recorded Folk and Pop singles in the early 70s with zero success. In desperation, he sent a photograph of himself to an agency where he disguised his face with a ski mask. He probably should have kept the mask on, though. It would have matched the black turtleneck he wore in the music video.
BEST TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS ON YOUR YACHT IS…
…when you’ve sailed halfway around the world and realize you’ve run out of food in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
BEST USES IN POP CULTURE
David Soul recorded a new version of the song in 2004, allegedly after being embarrassed when hearing it by chance in an elevator as sung by Owen Wilson in the film version of Starsky and Hutch.
BEST LYRIC
“The angel and the dreamer,
Who sometimes plays a fool.
Don’t give up on us, I know
We can still come through.”
Giving up on your dreams is perfectly fine when they’re bad ones.
Check out past editions of the TOP 100 YACHT ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME:
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #91-100
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #81-90
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #71-80
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #61-70
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #51-60
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #41-50
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #31-40
Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs – #21-30
If you give sweet taboos, then check out Hello, Loser on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
I’m so glad I found this site. This list must continue.
Wherrrrrrre are the rest of the songs? We need the rest of the list!
working on it! my father passed away so I’ve had a little break. Look for #51-60 next week.
dirty south, I wanted to extend my condolences for your sad loss.
Actually, the best use of “Rise” probably came a year after the “General Hospital” rape scene: on a “WKRP in Cincinnati” episode where an old high-school classmate of Herb Tarlek’s — who happens to have undergone a sex-change operation — attempts to seduce him.
Dirty South–Thank you for this. I remember when my dad died. We laid his ashes in the ocean in San Diego. Very Yacht-like. Then we went to Mr. brother’s apartment, got drunk and headbanged with Nirvana and AC/DC.
I will say one thing that bugs me about this blog and the YR movement is I am old enough to have enjoyed and hated some of this stuff when it was on the radio, and the YR thing treats them all with the same irony. Eagles, Sade etc. made great music period. But it is nice to see some of this stuff mined back up again.
The best line in “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” is actually the female backup singer going “it’s hard, you know it gets so hard” at about 0:31.
I bet it does.
I always crack up when I hear that part.
“Heheheh she said ‘it gets hard’…”
“Settle down, Beavis!” (They should have watched this video!)
#66 “Tequila Sunrise” – A movie with this exact title, starring Mel Gibson (before his religious blowout) and Michelle Pfeiffer, was released in 1988, but its producers did not bother licensing it. They must have known the future.
#64 “Moonlight Feels Right” – I understand this record is in constant airplay as background music (BGM) at a certain (inter?)national coffee shop chain. X=}#