Music Choice: Soft Rock

Soft rock is a style of popular music that originated in the early 1970s. It is typically characterized by its mellow sound and its use of softer instruments such as acoustic guitars, pianos, and sometimes even violins. Soft rock songs often deal with themes of love and relationships, making them perfect for both background music and slow dancing. If you’re looking for a relaxed, romantic atmosphere, soft rock is a great choice.

The Best Soft Rock Songs

If you’re looking for a soothing, mellow sound, soft rock is the genre for you. Soft rock developed in the early 1970s and quickly became a radio staple. The best soft rock songs are characterized by their relaxed, easy-going sound.

While the genre has evolved over the years, the best soft rock songs still maintain that signature sound. If you’re looking for a relaxed, mellow playlist, check out our list of the best soft rock songs below.

The History of Soft Rock

Soft rock is a genre of rock music that has a softer, gentler sound than other, more prevalent genres of rock. While the term can be used to describe any music that has a mellower sound, it is most often used to describe music from the 1970s.

The genre began to gain popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as musicians began to downplay the harder-edged sounds of rock and roll in favor of a softer approach. The Beatles’ song “Yesterday” is often cited as an early example of soft rock; other chart-toppers from the same era that are often classified as soft rock include Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Bread’s “Make It with You.”

The genre continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1970s, with hit songs like Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” and Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” helping to cement its place in popular music. Soft rock also became increasingly associated with feelings of nostalgia during this time; many soft rock songs were sentimental ballads about love and loss, which helped them resonate with listeners who were experiencing similar emotions in their own lives.

The popularity of soft rock began to wane in the 1980s, as audiences became more interested in harder-edged genres like new wave and punk. However, the genre has experienced something of a revival in recent years, thanks in part to streaming services like Spotify and Pandora Radio which have made it easier for listeners to discover older soft rock songs.

The Evolution of Soft Rock

Since the 1970s, soft rock has been one of the most popular genres of music. Often characterized by its mellow sound and lyrics about love and relationships, soft rock hits have stood the test of time. In this guide, we’ll trace the evolution of soft rock, from its early days to its present-day sound.

The first soft rock song is often credited to the band America, with their 1971 hit “A Horse with No Name.” With its gentle acoustic sound and lyrics about an unidentifiable creature in the desert, the song set the stage for many future soft rock hits. In the years that followed, other bands began to experiment with softer sounds and themes, creating a new subgenre of rock known as “yacht rock.”

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, artists like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie were dominating the charts with their romantic ballads. These smooth tunes helped to further popularize soft rock, solidifying it as one of the most successful genres of music. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in soft rock, thanks in part to television shows like “Stranger Things” and “The Crown,” which feature classic soft rock hits on their soundtrack.

The Top Soft Rock Bands

Though it began in the 1960s, soft rock reached the height of its popularity in the 1970s. The genre is characterized by its mellow sound and focus on personal and romantic topics. Though it was often derided by critics, soft rock produced some of the era’s most beloved hits. Here are some of the top soft rock bands of the 1970s.

The Carpenters
The brother-sister duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. The Carpenters’ signature sound was built around Karen’s clear, angelic voice and Richard’s intricate arrangements. The pair had a string of hits including “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “Yesterday Once More.”

America
America was a pop-folk trio composed of Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley. The group formed in London in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album the following year. America found success with their singles “A Horse with No Name,” “I Need You,” and “Ventura Highway.” The group continued to record and tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s before Peek left the band in 1977.

Air Supply
Air Supply was an Australian soft rock duo composed of singer-songwriter Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock. The duo met in 1975 while performing in London and soon began writing songs together. Air Supply released their debut album in 1976 and had a string of hits including “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.”

The Best Soft Rock Albums

There are many great soft rock albums available, and this list seeks to highlight some of the best. From well-known classics to more obscure titles, there is something for everyone on this list.

In compiling this list, we considered criteria such as: critical acclaim, commercial appeal, and overall quality of the album. We also took into account the variety of soft rock sub-genres represented. We hope you enjoy!

Some of our top picks include:

-Album Title by Artist Name
-Album Title by Artist Name
-Album Title by Artist Name

Soft Rock Music Today

Soft rock music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1970s. Today, there are countless artists and bands making some of the best soft rock music around.

Whether you’re looking for something mellow and relaxing, or something with a little more energy, there’s sure to be a soft rock song that’s perfect for you. Here are just a few of our favorites:

“Wherever You Will Go” by The Calling
“Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls
“Yesterday” by The Beatles
“Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey

The Future of Soft Rock

Music has been shaped and changed throughout the years by different artist and different messages they are trying to send. In current day society, we can see how music has become more digitized and how easy it is for anyone to become a musician. With this overwhelming new talent, what does the future hold for music? How will certain genres survive? In this article, we will be discussing the future of soft rock and what it might look like.

First, we must understand what soft rock is and has been in the past. According to AllMusic, soft rock is “a style of light pop that drew its inspiration from Beatles-esque melodic pop and folk-rock”(“Soft Rock”). The main goal of soft rock was/is to create a relaxing experience for listeners while still maintaining a sense of catchiness that would make someone want to listen to the song again. This genre became popular in the late 60s to mid 80s due largely in part due to artists such as Carole King, James Taylor, Billy Joel, and others(“The Evolution”).

Even though soft rock was popularized decades ago, there has been a recent resurgence in its popularity. In an article by Mic, they state how “in recent years, a new wave of incredible singer-songwriters have found more mainstream success telling their personal stories through resonant melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics set against gentle acoustic guitar”(Krasnoff). Artists such as Hozier, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Passenger, and The Paper Kites have all brought new life into the genre. These artists have found ways to put their own unique spin on traditional soft rock songs which has helped bring it back into popularity.

Looking into the future of this genre, we can make some predictions based off of past trends as well as current events that are happening in the music industry. One big trend we are seeing is a move away from owning physical copies of songs/albums and instead moving towards streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music. Billboard predicts that “global recorded music sales will grow 10% next year to $41 billion at current exchange rates”(Willman). This move away from physical copies will likely continue as our world becomes more digitized since it is more convenient for consumers. Based on this trend, it is likely that there will be a move towards more digital only releases from artists or possibly even just singles instead of full albums since people are used to getting their music through these streaming services.

Another big event that is happening right now is social media and its impact on music culture. It is now easier than ever for an artist to get their name out there without having to go through record labels or other traditional routes. An artist can simply make a Facebook page/profile or even just create an account on SoundCloud and start posting their music for anyone who wants to listen. While social media can be a great tool for unsigned artists or even signed artists who want more control over their image/music, it can also lead to oversaturation of content since anyone can post anything they want at any time leading people to not take any one artist seriously because there are just so many out there vying for attention(“How Social”).

One final event that could have an impact on soft rock’s future is changing attitudes about mental health and relaxation. In our current society, we are seeing a move away from hard work 24/7 with no break with the rise of things such “self-care” weekends or mental health days where people take time off from work or school specifically to relax and take care of themselves(Guirguis). This attitude could lead people towards wanting softer sounding music that won’t jarring after having a long day since it fits the vibe of relaxation better than other genres.

So what does all this mean for soft rock? Based on these events that are either currently happening or have happened in the past, we can make some predictions about what might happen with this genre in the future. It seems likely that there will be fewer traditional album releases and instead either digital only releases or single releases since that is what consumers are gravitating towards currently based on convenience. Social media will also continue to play a big role in how people discover new music with unsigned artists using platforms such as SoundCloud or Facebook to try and get noticed but this could also lead towards oversaturation which could turn people away from even bothering with finding new music altogether since there would just be too much content to wade through leading them back towards established acts who they know they like already(“The Evolution”). Lastly, changing attitudes about relaxation could lead people back towards softer sounding tunes after long days as opposed harder edged genres like metal or punk which wouldn’t fit as well with the vibe people would be trying create when relaxing.”

Why Soft Rock is Important

Though it may not be hip or fashionable, soft rock occupies an important place in popular music. By blending the best of rock, pop, and folk traditions, soft rock created a sound that was both immediately accessible and easy to sing along to. And while the genre may have fallen out of favor in recent years, there are still plenty of reasons to love soft rock – especially if you’re a fan of catchy melodies and feel-good vibes.

How Soft Rock Makes You Feel

Soft rock is a genre of popular music that has a soft, soothing sound. It is usually characterized by positive and optimistic lyrics, and it often has a melody that is easy to remember. Soft rock songs are often about love, relationships, and other aspects of life that make people feel good. The genre began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with artists like Carole King, James Taylor, and Bread.

Music Choice: Soft Rock