Unwrapping my Spotify playlist and wondering what on earth ‘Yacht Rock’ is
I didn’t know whether to laugh or greet when Spotify said my music age was 68.
About to throw a hissy fit, I realised it wasn’t far off the mark. I turn 62 in a few weeks, so I am well into my Werthers Originals era.
Spotify Wrapped has become a big thing on social media. It’s a great talking point, but like most of social media, it’s just froth.
I only use Spotify in the car, so my 2025 story was logged on journeys to Edinburgh, up to the rink, round town and the odd mooch along the M8, and since there is an irritating, known fault with MG4 leccie cars, it often just cuts out mid-song - usually when I’m signing along at the top of my voice.
Having said all of that, off course I had a neb at my year in Spotify-land.
Apparently I listened to 162 artists, and my tastes in music include southern rock, singer-songwriters, a bit of Glam Rock, and er, Yacht Rock.
I’m old enough to remember the 70s glory days of TOTP, long hair and platform shoes. My teenage years co-incided with punk rock, and I was a graduate of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOHM) of the early 80s and my long-haired, t-shirt clad self was fully immersed in the rock world of Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar and many more - all played at levels which sparked the familiar cry of “turn that bloomin’ racket down!” from the living room.
I had to Google the term ‘Yacht Rock’ and turns out it is a smooth, sophisticated soft rock genre from the late 1970s/early 1980s and helpfully provided examples such as Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, and Toto none of which I have listened to for something like 30 years and certainly don’t feature on my playlists.
Top album of 2025? Self Esteem’s A Complicated Woman which has been on heavy repeat since we saw her mesmerising live show at the Usher Hall.
Most played artist? Well, Bruce Springsteen, naturally. Spotify tells me I am in the global top two percent of fans based on the number of minutes listened, which is the sort of stat that sounds impressive but is also complete nonsense. If it is true, then I expect a personal email from Bruce to join him for a beer and a blether …
The data also places you in a club of fellow minded music buffs. I seem to have landed in Club Serotonin which sounds like an awful 1980s themed bar. Apparently it “thrives on good vibes” and enjoys nothing more than a deep dive into past eras of music. On that last point, Spotify is er, spot on.
Working from home means I can play all music all day, and my current setlist - all courtesy of several trips down You Tube’s rabbit holes - is heavy on the 1960s, with a smattering of Bowie, Glen Campbell, Squeeze and Jethro Tull, returning each time to the uplifting, life-affirming joy of the music of Red Rum Club. Check ‘em out!
If there is a club for that playlist, I suspect it is a club of one - just me. And that is how music should be. Spotify may well stick a bow and some fancy graphics on your playlist, but break out of it, explore new artists, discover great albums from the past and go against the algorithms every time you log on.
Oh, and, play it loud!