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Having a good playlist set up whilst on a jet ski or boat is as essential as a spare gallon of gas or a life vest when you’re out on the open water. Without solid tunes, the open water just isn’t the same.
Enter Steve Winwood and Phil Collins, two masters of the yacht rock world that have perfected the sound, style, and grace that goes along with sailing or jet skiing.
I’ll be in West Michigan ripping around on stand up jet skis and a cigarette boat all weekend, and as I sit here waiting for my ride to pick me up I realized that the battle for Lord of Yacht Rock is not as clear cut as some might think it is. Steve Winwood has been mentioned in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia for his contributions to yacht rock and the praise he gets is definitely warranted.
There’s no doubt he has bangers. But Phil Collins has been in the game just as long Winwood and has a collection of hits that knows no bounds. To simply dub Steve Winwood the king would be a disservice not only to me and you, but to the entire sailing world. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Steve Winwood
When one hears “Valerie” by Steve Winwood, most think of the Eric Prydz song of mid-2000’s fame entitled “Call On Me.”
But long before people were shaking their asses to Eric Prydz, men and women with Tom Collins in hand and dressed to the nines in pleated khakis were sailing in lakes and oceans grooving to the smooth sounds of “Valerie” by none other than Steve Winwood.
The keyboard solo in this song is a mellow eargasm the likes of which this world will never hear again.
The man is a quadruple threat musician, playing the synthesizer, organ, and guitar. His vocal stylings and ability to play different instruments is nothing short of dynamic, and with hits like “Roll With It,” “Higher Love,” “Back In The High Life Again,” and “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do?” we are talking about a superstar, especially in the yacht rock world.
When you think Steve Winwood, you picture a laid back after-dinner get together on a pontoon or elegant, understated 40-foot yacht. Nothing too gaudy, but something that still catches people’s eye when you pull up to the marina.
I’m talking Campari-sodas, oysters, beluga caviar (obviously), and “Valerie” by Stevey W. absolutely blasting from the BOSE stereo system that you coughed up extra for.
He’s a hell of a talent, and he’s not going to go down without a fight.
Phil Collins
For the purposes of this argument, I have no choice but to include Phil Collins stint with Genesis as a part of his yacht rock collection. “Invisible Touch,” “I Can’t Dance,” “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight,” and “Mama” are all certified hits.
You can play these songs at any party and I’m pretty sure cocaine just magically appears on the coffee table which you were previously using to rest your gin martini on. But play these same songs on a motherfucking yacht?
Do I really need to go any further? Someone is going to make a baby tonight. And we’re not even into Phil’s solo career yet. In ‘78, Genesis went on hiatus and Phil Collins left the band to pursue a solo career. I could literally play No Jacket Required front to back on a boat and no one would be the wiser because every song on that album is flames.
Obviously “In The Air Tonight” is a classic and no yacht rock playlist is complete without it. But Phil get’s overshadowed by that song. He’s so much more than that drum solo that people sadly only know Mike Tyson for now. “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Sussudio” will quite literally ramp a party up from “Eh, this is just okay” to “Holy shit, this is the best night of my life” territory.
The vibe while listening to Phil Collins on a boat is a tad different from Steve Winwood. While Winwood is a more laid-back, let’s nurse these drinks and have an intellectual conversation vibe, Phil Collins is balls to the wall party all the time. When I picture Phil Collins getting played on a yacht, I think heavy dancing, gratuitous bathroom sex, highly illegal drugs, and people with old money from hot bed lacrosse areas all up and down the east coast.
We’re talking about two of the heaviest hitters in yacht rock history. It hurts to throw Winwood under the bus, but I have to give the slight edge to Phil Collins. On this day, and in this blog that absolutely no one asked for or desired, I am officially declaring Phil Collins the heavyweight yacht rock champion of the world.
His hits with Genesis pushed him over the edge in the battle against Winwood, and you can be sure that I’ll be jamming all weekend long to “Sussudio” while I crush obscene amounts of booze. Winwood is going to get some play this weekend as well, he just didn’t have quite enough in the tank to overtake Phil C.
If you don’t have the means to get out on a boat this weekend, I strongly encourage you to emulate the yachting lifestyle wherever you may be drinking. Phil Collins. Steve Winwood. Hell, maybe even a little Rod Stewart. Congratulations to Phil on the win. A.B.B. – Always Be Boating..
Image via Unsplash
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jduda@grandex.co
Phil Collins makes me want to roll up the sleeves of my white blazer and take bumps off of a cartoonishly large bowie knife between sips of a LIT
Swing and a miss there champ
As a USCG licensed Captain, I approve of this message.
You speak of Genesis, but no mention of Winwood’s time in Traffic?
Winwood wins the battle going away.
he was in traffic for two years it wasn’t worth mentioning
Or Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, etc. For yacht rock, look no farther than Steely Dan
If you don’t listen to Kid Rock on Lake Michigan you are doing it wrong.
Gardner hitting content that I love.
Hard*
How are you listening to music while on a stand up jet ski?
you get a stereo installed….?
Bring a boombox, that’s more baller
Phil Collins>Steve Winwood.
Peter Gabriel > Phil Collins
On land, yes. On yacht, no