Rick Beato Goes Full Butthurt

Rick makes good points in his video. I don’t doubt that most of the musicians in the Yacht Rock Documentary feel similar to Donald Fagen. But, they were smart enough to suck it up and take advantage of the publicity. I also agree that the documentary spends a bit too much time with Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins (both of whom Rick respects and admires) while glossing over other important artists from that period. In the end, Rick says he has no big problem with the documentary other than the label Yacht Rock. I guess he feels that term is like the ‘N’ word to musicians of that period.

The YR term does not offend me personally.
Most of the music that falls under that period label was not my thing, although I certainly respect the talent of the artists. As I’ve said before, my favorite band under the YR label is Steely Dan. When much of the rest that music got radio play, at the time, I either switched stations, mentally tuned out, or sang along with mocking, made up lyrics of my own.

I think the UK Yacht Rock documentary series made years ago, with the American narrator, did a better job covering more music. I still enjoyed both documentaries even though that’s, generally, not my favorite music.
 
I agree with Rick and Donald Fagen. I also remember when a bunch of people at Harmony Central who loved Pitchfork.com and music that was out of tune and out of time jumped on the Yacht Rock Mockboat and swore up and down that Toto were terrible musicians and Lukather was a horrible guitar player. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :facepalm:

I haven't seen the doc yet, but I can imagine.
 
Frank Prince said:
I agree with Rick and Donald Fagen. I also remember when a bunch of people at Harmony Central who loved Pitchfork.com and music that was out of tune and out of time jumped on the Yacht Rock Mockboat and swore up and down that Toto were terrible musicians and Lukather was a horrible guitar player. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :facepalm:

I haven't seen the doc yet, but I can imagine.
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The documentary does not make sport of the music or musicians. While it’s not the most balanced film, the main issue is the Yacht Rock label.

Any musician who can come up with good parts fast, in a studio recording session, is at the top of their game. Steve Lukather is not only a great guitarist, he gives good interviews and has entertaining stories.
 
jrockbridge said:
The documentary does not make sport of the music or musicians. While it’s not the most balanced film, the main issue is the Yacht Rock label.

Any musician who can come up with good parts fast, in a studio recording session, is at the top of their game. Steve Lukather is not only a great guitarist, he gives good interviews and has entertaining stories.
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The original videos from 2005 or whenever that spawned the term Yacht Rock were definitely mockumentaries. They made fun of some serious players like Skunk Baxter and Peter Cetera, among others. I haven't seen the one that Beato is referencing yet.
 
Frank Prince said:
I agree with Rick and Donald Fagen. I also remember when a bunch of people at Harmony Central who loved Pitchfork.com and music that was out of tune and out of time jumped on the Yacht Rock Mockboat and swore up and down that Toto were terrible musicians and Lukather was a horrible guitar player. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :facepalm:

I haven't seen the doc yet, but I can imagine.
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The argument wasn’t that Toto were “terrible musicians.” It’s that they had the talent/chops/whatever and made lame music. They’re dorks. The issue is one of cool. The central thesis of the yacht rock gag is that a lot of effort when into creating lame stuff for bourgeois ding-dongs. It’s the sound of—to really situate this music in its specific historical and cultural context—Yuppie-era conspicuous consumption.

In short, it’s not music for people with cred. Which is fine. But then people who aren’t cool or into cool shit get upset because they want to like lame stuff that is “objectively” good or whatever while also having people think they’re cool. This is like Elon Musk or Rush fans’ endless thirsty grievances.

In particular, Lukather caught shit for being uncool and talking shit in the music press and taking credit for other people’s records—just like Billy Corgan. Coincidentally, giving Lukather grief dates back to at least the 1990s when Billy tweeted this mean dig at Luke in some ancient version of Twitter.com called Guitar World…

“The point is that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and you shouldn't let someone else's taste influence you too much. (Although I would say that if "Hold The Line" was the best rock riff I'd ever written, I think I'd keep my mouth shut.)”
 
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I always thought the term was fitting, because my only real good memories of that genre were from Tooling around on the speed or pontoon boat down at the cottage at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland (my cousin's grandparents on the other side were relatively loaded and I was invited along for a couple of weeks each summer).

So I never have the term a second thought.
 
frunobulax said:
Is it any worse than calling it 'Soft Rock' ?

A legit radio genre back in the day.
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I believe Rick and Feep are saying the only appropriate genre tag for this stuff is bitchin-tunes-that-totally-own-core. It’s the only music they allow in the Cool Guy Zone.
 
Peen Simmons said:
The argument wasn’t that Toto were “terrible musicians.” It’s that they had the talent/chops/whatever and made lame music. They’re dorks. The issue is one of cool. The central thesis of the yacht rock gag is that a lot of effort when into creating lame stuff for bourgeois ding-dongs. It’s the sound of—to really situate this music in its specific historical and cultural context—Yuppie-era conspicuous consumption.
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Same with most of what we today call 'classical music'. Commissioned pieces made from very specific templates. I guess all the yacht rockers need to do in order to join the cool table is to die and stay dead for 200 years.
 
Monson said:
Same with most of what we today call 'classical music'. Commissioned pieces made from very specific templates. I guess all the yacht rockers need to do in order to join the cool table is to die and stay dead for 200 years.
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I am totally on board with Steve Lukather being dead for 200 years.
 
When Steve Albini takes the piss on Steely Dan, I think it’s hilarious at times. And, I like quite a bit of the music Steely Dan created.

I think people need to relax. Comedy often makes fun at someone’s expense. Albini seems super serious when he pisses on Steely Dan. Whether he’s intending to be funny or not, I find a lot of what he says about it amusing. And, I like a lot of the music Albini has been involved in recording.

I’ve only seen a few clips of the mockumentary series that coined the term Yacht Rock. It seems to be all in good fun.
 
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