To wrap up our Beginner's Guide to Yacht Rock, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at how YR has endured in the work of newer artists.
In recent years we've heard several mainstream artists try their hand at the genre: Harry Styles ("Adore You"), Ra Ra Riot ("Bitter Conversation" and "Backroads"), Jonas Brothers ("Waffle House"), John Mayer (most of the Sob Rock album). Yacht or Nyacht has ignored or dismissed these, but they have put the spotlight on a group of lesser-known, mostly independent, and surprisingly international artists.
Note #1: I limited this list to songs from the past 15 years, and continued with the one-entry-per-artist rule. I also eliminated parodies from contention.
Note #2: You can listen along on YouTube Music here.
18. Benny Sings - "Nobody's Fault" (2021)
Yachtski Score: 61.75
Commentary: The prolific Dutch singer-songwriter also known as Tim van Berkestijn has had a two-decade career. He frequently dabbles in the YR milieu. "Nobody's Fault" is the opening track from his eighth album, Music.
*
17. Martin and Garp - "Making Up" (2020)
Yachtski Score: 62.5
Commentary: Lots of nice YR touches (tasty guitar solos, swells of harmony, lyrics about romantic uncertainty) from this Dutch duo. The only ding against it in my opinion is that lead vocalist Lo Van Garp's voice is more soft rock than Yacht Rock.
*
16. Ole Borud - "Talk To My Lawyer" (2019)
Yachtski Score: 63.25
Commentary: Norwegian Borud is a musical chameleon who whose solo albums showcase his admiration for the YR greats and '80s pop. "Talk To My Lawyer" nails the YR sound without seeming like he's interpolating. I would have scored this higher.
*
15. Thundercat - "Show You The Way" (2017)
Yachtski Score: 66
Commentary: A bit of a cheat in that it has guest vocals from Kenny Loggins (using his falsetto!) and Michael McDonald. Multi-instrumentalist Stephen Lee Bruner (aka Thundercat) was born the year after YR officially ended, but he nails the vibe.
*
14. Yatte - "She's In Love Again" (2022)
Yachtski Score: 67.5
Commentary: Austin, Texas's Alex Chod is very transparent about his love of Yacht Rock. The music is spot on (great sax solo on this one) and his voice has the exact right quality.
*
13. Daft Punk - "Fragments of Time" (2013)
Yachtski Score: 67.75
Commentary: I've got a big old shrug for this one, which features vocals by producer/DJ Todd Edwards. There are elements of YR, but it leans country, and then veers into the dated electronic (think Styx). If it were up to me it wouldn't be on this list.
*
12. Page 99 - "Did You Mean That" (2023)
Yachtski Score: 68.25
A lot of these modern YR songs get the vibe on the verses but not the chorus or vice versa. This is one of the rare ones that does both. Page 99 hails from Detroit, Michigan, and claims inspiration from all the right influences (Toto, Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Marc Jordan, etc.).
*
11. Earth Kenan - "Good Luck, Babe!" (2024)
Yachtski Score: 68.25
Commentary: Filipino singer/songwriter Kenan Salazar toes the line between homage and parody (a cover of Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag" in YR style is the latter), and his voice could be stronger, but he's got a good handle on the instrumentation and arrangements of the YR sound.
*
10. Christian Gratz - "Man In the Middle" (2021)
Yachtski Score: 68.75
Commentary: Pennsylvania-based Gratz has played with a handful of artists that gained prominence in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, but his heart is in the late seventies and early eighties. As such, his first solo record was called 1979. The follow up, which "Man In the Middle" comes from, is called 1981.
*
9. Rapallo - "The Akalite" (2024)
Yachtski Score: 72
Commentary: This Montreal male-female duo definitely have the Doobie Bounce figured out, but in addition to the piano there's some very blippy synth work that feels more 1980s NES soundtrack than Yacht Rock. And the male-female vocal interplay recalls the Human League more than it does a Johnny Mathis / Denice Williams duet.
*
8. Night Flight Orchestra - "Curves" (2020)
Yachtski Score: 72.5
Commentary: Apparently this long-lasting Swedish rock group's sound is more indebted to 1980s AOR (think Foreigner and Boston) than YR, but Toto was also an AOR rock group, and that's who this song reminds me of more than anything.
*
7. James Sayer - "Still Not Over Being Over You" (2024)
Yachtski Score: 74
Commentary: British pianist Sayer seems to be a true YR traditionalist, as he peppers his arrangement with female background vocals, horns, and chimes. A really solid tune from his debut album, Creation.
*
6. Andreas Aleman - "If It's a Dream" (2012)
Yachtski Score: 75
Commentary: Another Swede! I don't really love this song, but Aleman is gifted with the white-guy-who-sounds-black vocal quality that's such a staple of YR.
*
5. Fan Fiction - "Mister Minit" (2021)
Yachtski Score: 76
Commentary: The songwriting could be stronger, but this L.A. duo has YR sound down cold, especially the vocals. Bonus points for the clever name of their album: Anticipated Hits.
*
4. State Cows - "Mister White" (2013)
Yachtski Score: 79.5
Commentary: Yet another Swedish group obsessed with YR. Their North Star is clearly the Doobies and Michael McDonald.
*
3. Rude Jude - "Just a Little Fun" (2023)
Yachtski Score: 81.23
Commentary: The first song on this list to mine the Al Jarreau area of YR. Rude Jude is Jude Angelini, a SiriusXM radio deejay/personality who has teamed up with singer / songwriter Jon GK. I love the results.
*
2. Henrik Hansson - "Right From Wrong" (2018)
Yachtski Score: 82
Commentary: Our fourth Swedish act on the list looks like Christopher Cross and sounds like Bill Champlin. I love the piano and synth work.
*
1. Young Gun Silver Fox - "Burning Daylight" (2025)
Yachtski Score: 82.75
Commentary: Since forming in 2012, the UK/US duo of Andy Platts and Shawn Lee have become the preeminent Yacht Rock revivalists. They've released five albums so far, and the fact that their highest rated song is from their newest record should tell you how dedicated they are to their craft.
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