Yacht Rock Icon Michael McDonald Admits He Once Found the Genre ‘Ridiculous’

The singer and songwriter is the undisputed king of smooth songs.

Michael McDonald is the undisputed king of a resurgence of smooth songs from the 1970s called “yacht rock.” His music is forever intertwined with the genre’s laid-back, soft rock sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, McDonald once called the genre “ridiculous.”

Michael McDonald confesses he didn’t understand ‘Yacht Rock’

Michael McDonald’s distinctive, soulful voice, often described as smooth and soothing, became a hallmark of yacht rock. However, the former The Doobie Brothers member didn’t understand the term upon first learning about it.

In a 2017 interview with Built, McDonald agreed that the term “yacht rock” has since become a badge of honor in the music industry. “I’ve grown a fondness for it,” he explained.

However, at first, McDonald thought the term “was hilarious. It was almost uncanny.”

He continued, “It’s just king of weird how the music of the 70s has come back around. I would have never guessed it.”

McDonald admitted that during the 1980s, his band The Doobie Brothers were like “lepers.” But today, he believes “if you stick around long enough, you don’t die off.”

Michael McDonald’s slick vocals embody the ‘yacht rock’ aesthetic

Alongside The Doobie Brothers and as a solo artist, Michael McDonald’s vocals and keyboard work on songs like “What a Fool Believes” (with The Doobie Brothers) and his solo hits like “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” exemplify what has now become Yacht Rock’s aesthetic.

McDonald’s body of work embodies a soft rock sound, with elements of jazz and R&B. The singer and songwriter admitted he enjoys the “humor” of the genre. However, McDonald remains grateful for the new interest in his music, allowing him to continue to remain a relevant member of the community he so loves.

“No one is more amazed by it than myself and my contemporaries are that we’re still out there and still playing music. It’s what we love and the fact that we get to do it at the level we sometimes get to do it is remarkable to us,” he told Built.

Where did ‘yacht rock’ come form?

The term “yacht rock” was coined in the 2000s by comedians J.D. Ryznar, Hunter Stair, and Lane Farnham in their parody web series, which satirized the music popular during that era. The name refers to the lifestyle associated with luxury yachts.

Soon, there were radio and streaming stations dedicated to the music of that genre. Many people who grew up with the songs of their youth rediscovered the music. Younger audiences found a new appreciation for the artists and songs of their parent’s generation.

Mellow, feel-good sounds from Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Robbie Dupree, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Toto, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, ABBA, and Rupert Holmes endured. The relaxing, unhurried songs about love, relationships, and leisure continue to resonate with listeners.

The Doobie Brothers, with Michael McDonald, are currently on tour throughout October 2024.