HBO’s Music Box is back, and this time it’s tackling the surprisingly complicated legacy of Yacht Rock. Friday, November 29th, at 9:00 PM, Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary sets sail, exploring the smooth sounds and, let’s face it, occasionally cheesy stylings of artists like Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, and Steely Dan.
Now, for those who remember the feathered hair and nautical-themed album covers with a certain fondness (or perhaps with a slight shudder), this 110-minute documentary promises a trip down memory lane. But it’s not just a nostalgia cruise. The film aims to chart the genre’s unlikely journey from initial mockery to its current, somewhat ironic, embrace by music fans. Who knew those mellow melodies would become so…hip?
Yes, “Yacht Rock,” a term coined in 2005 from a now-classic parody web series, has taken on a life of its own. The documentary reminds us that what was once the soundtrack to breezy summer evenings (or, let’s be real, dentist’s waiting rooms) has become a cultural touchstone. From Toto’s “Africa” to countless other soft-rock anthems, the film revisits the defining tracks and the artists who created them. This deep dive should resonate with music documentary fans and anyone who appreciates a good origin story, even if that story involves a lot of white linen and captain’s hats.
Music Box airs Fridays at 9:00 PM on HBO.
