For those of you unfamiliar with it, the concept of Yacht Rock is simple: playing songs that one would listen to while on, well, a yacht.

Dominated by soft rock from the 70s and 80s, Yacht Rock (channel 70 on SiriusXM, by the way) is a model of consistency that we can always depend on. Emceed by a deep-voiced, calming mystery man - and Michael McDonald every four songs - rest assured that Yacht Rock will always leave you feeling as if you’re lying peacefully on a boat in the middle of the ocean…cocktail in one hand, second cocktail in the other.

To celebrate the greatness of Yacht Rock (so great that Family Guy even made an entire episode based around it), it’s time to rank the ten best songs that are regularly featured on the station. To keep things fair, I decided to limit it to one song per artist (sorry, Christopher Cross). Rankings were based on a combination of how good the song itself is and how well it fits into the overall Yacht Rock vibe.

Without further ado….

10) I Keep Forgettin’ - Michael McDonald

A song as smooth as butter - from the vocals down to the synthesizers in the background - Michael McDonald kicks off the list with a song that will never get old no matter how many times you hear it.

9) I.G.Y. - Donald Fagen

Lead singer of Steely Dan, this is by far Fagen’s most successful solo record. I.G.Y. is a little long, but has a ridiculously catchy hook and feels so ahead of its time lyrically. If you’re ever stuck out in the middle of the ocean, this would be a great song to help put you at ease (if you somehow have the means to play music in this make believe survival scenario).

8) Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia

Picking which Ambrosia song to include on this list was like choosing a favorite child. In the end, I went with Biggest Part of Me, which feels like such an isolated aura of joy. There’s something so cheerful and calming about this song, with vocals that are unlike anything you would hear on the radio today.

7) This Is It - Kenny Loggins

Loggins, a Yacht Rock icon, certainly had to find his way on to this list. In the end, I went with This Is It over songs like Danny Boy and Whenever I Call You Friend, because I felt like This Is It encompasses the Yacht Rock vibe more than any of his other tracks.

Perfect driving song.

6) Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty

With maybe the best sax solo in a rock song ever, Baker Street is like melodic hypnosis. I also love Rafferty’s Right Down the Line, but Baker Street is the more timeless musical achievement.

5) Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) - Looking Glass

The first of two songs on this list (spoiler) specifically about boaters, Brandy just epitomizes the Yacht Rock vibe. This song was recently introduced to a younger generation with an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Here’s hoping that it will continue to persist the test of time in years to come.

“My life, my lover, my lady…is the sea.”

4) Peg - Steely Dan

This is probably the most fast-paced song of any on the list, but that doesn’t make it any less suited to Yacht Rock. A fusion of rock and funk, Peg has a sweet baseline and a drummer just coolly riding out the cymbals for four minutes straight.

AND you’ve got Michael McDonald on backup vocals. Enough said.

3) Sara Smile - Hall and Oates

I’d like to report an overdose on soul.

Sara Smile is the perfect sing along song, but it works equally well if you just want the lyrics and melody to wash over you like a gentle wave. A staple of Yacht Rock, and the best that Hall and Oates has to offer.

2) What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers

I really have nothing too captivating to say here; this is just a perfect song. The transitions and hooks are so unique, creating a record that is unlike anything else ever recorded.

The Doobie Brothers have a number of Yacht Rock hits, but this is the one that is far and away above the rest. Did you hear some of the high notes Michael McDonald hits here? The man just keeps surprising me.

Now before we get to the #1 Yacht Rock song, let’s list a few Honorable Mentions:

5) Steal Away - Robbie Dupree
4) I Can’t Tell You Why - The Eagles
3) Baby Come Back - Player
2) Sister Golden Hair - America
1) I’d Really Love To See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley

Leaving the most perfect Yacht Rock song to be….

1) Sailing - Christopher Cross

It wasn’t a difficult choice. Sailing is just pinnacle Yacht Rock.

It’s not only literally called “Sailing”, but the melody somehow sounds like a boat out on the water if that’s possible. Maybe the most peaceful song ever recorded, it doesn’t get any closer to paradise than this.

It might not be the absolute best song on this list, but it represents the aura of Yacht Rock in the most perfect way.

Enjoy:

TopTen Yacht Rock Songs