The documentary “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary” further goes beyond and explores the slow currents of a former time and place where gentle voices, smooth instruments and relaxed music were the order of the day. Surrounded by yacht clubs, exotic sunsets, and an easy-going mentality, this documentary not only witnesses but rather attempts to explain the intricacies of the yacht rock craze. It is a style that synthesized rock, jazz, R&B, and pop into a singular sound and produced a number of classic easy listening tunes.
The Trailer: A Nostalgic Voyage
Shifting gears a bit, the trailer starts off with an interesting take on iconic Michael McDonald or Kenny Loggins, who also happens to work on songs that are irresistible to the ear. The trailer features ocean waves, vinyl records and live concert performances the clips opt to use McDonald’s song as well as Loggins with the words oh what a fool. A series of images – first from old concert performances, then from recording booths and finally modern interviews with the directors provide us and looking forward to this project.
The Cast: Icons of the Smooth Sound
Directed by Garret Price, this feature brings together the titans of yacht rock, whose voices and melodies defined the genre. Key appearances include:
- Michael McDonald: The soulful voice of The Doobie Brothers and a hallmark of the yacht rock sound.
- Kenny Loggins: “The King of the Movie Soundtrack,” with tracks like This Is It and Footloose.
- Christopher Cross: Whose hits like Sailing became anthems for the movement.
- Members of Toto: Behind classics such as Africa and Rosanna. The documentary also features music historians and contemporary artists who dissect the impact and resurgence of this style.
The Synopsis: Sailing Through Time
The documentary shows the history of the emergence of yacht rock style. Its characteristics came from the simplest cut of rock music in California due to a few musicians in the late 1970s. The incorporation of skill and effortlessness made the music a trademark to a desired lifestyle. As cultural changes and the invention of ‘MTV’ came about, the genre had practically died out by the mid-80’s—only to later make a so-called comeback thanks to humor, nostalgia and appreciation for something old.
And while the film’s main goal is indeed to celebrate the genre, it has more niche and thoughtful goals as well. How yacht rock the term was, for example, invented as a joke within a 2005 internet series but eventually became a widely recognized term that described a sub-genre and significant movement in the world’s music. The documentary contains such classic songs that have been attracting people for decades, so it recuperates why people these days listen to such masterpieces of tunes, along with unique footage, interviews, and stories.
