Okay, you have the insurance, the water toys, the best food, fav beverages of choice, life jackets, full tank of gas… something is missing… let me think… OH, OF COURSE – MUSIC!
Cannot enjoy a day on the water without the tunes to go along with it, right?
But what are the best tunes for boating?
So here are some, in no particular order, that I enjoy when I am sizzling in the sun on the boat:
- Jimmy Buffett – absolutely anything but especially with Alan Jackson “5 O’clock Somewhere” and Zac Brown Band “Knee Deep”
- Beach Boys – anything really
- Craig Morgan – “Redneck Yacht Club” – was there any doubt this would not belong in this list?
- Duran Duran – “Rio” – maybe I just love this song and video, not sure on that
- Crosby, Stills & Nash – “Southern Cross” – always a good one
- The Hues Corporation – “Don’t Rock the Boat,” don’t tip the boat over – yay disco!
- Kenny Chesney has a couple – “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Boats”
- Kid Rock – “All Summer Long,”
- Little River Band – “Cool Change”
- Gordon Lightfoot – “Edmund Fitzgerald”
- Billy Ocean – Carribean Queen
- Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – “Over the Rainbow” – awesome
- Phish – “Wading in the Velvet Sea”
- Styx – “Come Sail Away”
- Sheryl Crow – “Soak up the Sun”
- Bobbie Gentry – “Ode to Billie Joe” – I cannot explain this one, just the rhythm is cool on the boat – easy to sing along with
- Katrina & The Waves – “Walkin’ on Sunshine”
- The Go-Go’s – “Vacation”
- Bananarama – “Cruel Summer”
- Joan Jett – “I Love Rock N’ Roll”
- Blondie – “Tide is High” – yeah there are guys in there, too; but it is her voice I am singing along with
- Janis Joplin – “Mercedes Benz”
I could go on and on. Now that I think about it, there are a LOT of good boating songs out there from every era. I am sure every boater has their favorites.
You know, the USCG does not care what music you listen to – just keep the decibels at a level you can still practice boating safety – so you won’t have to tell your boat insurance company what songs you were listening to when you call to make a claim… okay – biting my tongue.