10 Boating Tunes
Boating is like vanilla ice cream: it's refreshing and enjoyable just as it is, but adding a little something extra makes it really special. Music is the perfect ingredient for a stellar boating experience. It's never been easier to take your tunes wherever you go, including on the boat; a smartphone or MP3 player lets you carry a whole music library right in your pocket, and boat stereos now come with Bluetooth® capability so you don't even need a cord to connect.
"No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems," Kenny Chesney. Kenny nails it. This is how we want to spend every day. "Blues, what blues? Hey, I forgot 'em."
"Pipeline," the Chantays. The Chantays' instrumental surf-rock 1962 hit takes its title from the Banzai Pipeline, a famous surf reef break on the coast of Oahu.
"Ride Like the Wind," Christopher Cross. While "Sailing" is probably his most famous song, this Cross track is a good soundtrack to any boat trip. Bonus: Michael McDonald, another yacht rock star, sings backing vocals.
"Kokomo," Beach Boys. The Beach Boys and boating are a natural match! This smash hit about a lovers' jaunt to the fictional island of Kokomo has great percussion and a big 1980s sax solo, but really, any of the Beach Boys' songs set a summer mood.
"Rockaway Beach," the Ramones. The punk pioneers' homage to the Beach Boys pays tribute to the USA's largest urban beach, Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York.
"Boat Drinks," Jimmy Buffett. Pretty much everything Jimmy Buffett ever recorded is great boating music; love for the sea and shore permeate his work. This Caribbean-flavored tune expresses the longing for warm weather we all feel when winter is dragging on.
"Three Little Birds," Bob Marley and the Wailers. "Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing's gonna be all right." That's what we're talking about.
"Pontoon," Little Big Town. Listening to this song, we can almost taste the sweet tea. It's a perfect tune for gliding on your party boat over a glassy lake on a hot day.
"Hot Hot Hot," Buster Poindexter. The official cruise ship anthem, it's a fun song for partying on smaller boats, too. "Ohhh, lord!"
"You Can Call Me Al," Paul Simon. With warm, mellow harmonies from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, this song sounds like sunshine and wanderlust.
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