How Soft Rock Conquered, Lost, and Reclaimed Its Place in Music History

Soft rock represents one of popular music’s most fascinating paradoxes: a genre that once ruled the charts with commercial dominance, became the subject of cultural ridicule, and ultimately experienced an improbable restoration in contemporary times. A new three-part documentary now explores this unexpected journey through the lens of the artists who shaped it.

From Dominance to Mockery

The '70s belonged to soft rock. Artists flooded radio stations with chart-topping ballads that captivated audiences globally, only for the genre to face near-total collapse by the following decade. What changed? Cultural tastes shifted, newer musical movements emerged, and what was once considered romantic became perceived as earnest to the point of parody. The decade-long downfall seemed permanent, yet the story didn’t end there.

The Power Ballad Phenomenon

Groups like Air Supply became synonymous with the power ballad, a format that dominated the era’s romantic landscape. Their anthems “All Out of Love” and similar compositions defined an entire generation’s understanding of emotional expression through music. Alongside them, artists such as Kenny Loggins delivered hits like “This Is It,” while Ray Parker Jr. contributed beyond his most famous association with the Ghostbusters theme song. The collaboration between Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald proved particularly influential—their partnership helped establish the singer-songwriter model that would influence decades of musical production. For those interested in Michael McDonald songs list and his broader catalog, this era marked his creative peak, where his smooth vocal delivery became a template for generations of performers.

The Origin Story

Interestingly, the documentary’s namesake—“Sometimes When We Touch”—carries its own romantic backstory. Canadian artist Dan Hill co-wrote this ballad with Barry Mann in 1973 when Hill was just 19 years old. His intention was to use the song to convince a girlfriend to commit exclusively to him. History records that this strategy failed; the woman relocated to the United States with someone else. Yet the song endured, becoming emblematic of soft rock’s emotional vulnerability.

The Unexpected Resurrection

Three unexpected cultural phenomena contributed to soft rock’s rehabilitation: the September 11 tragedy created demand for comfort music, Broadway’s musical theater enjoyed renewed prominence, and hip hop’s emergence somehow sparked retrospective appreciation for earlier genres. A viral YouTube series coining the term “Yacht Rock” further accelerated the revival, creating new audiences and inspiring touring ensembles dedicated to preserving the era’s hits.

This resurgence revealed something fundamental: soft rock wasn’t merely about longing or melancholy. The genre’s core centered on connection, intimacy, and the celebration of love. That universal message, it turns out, transcends cultural trends.

Featured Perspectives

The documentary brings together an impressive roster including Air Supply, Ambrosia, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, and more. Contemporary artists like LA Reid, Richard Marx, Sheryl Crow, Stewart Copeland, and John Ondrasik provide modern perspective. Each contributes insights into how these songs were crafted, what influenced their creation, and why they continue to matter.

Notably, hip hop pioneer Daryl ‘DMC’ Daniels of Run DMC reveals that jazz keyboardist Bob James fundamentally shaped hip hop’s foundation—an unexpected connection demonstrating soft rock’s broader cultural influence.

Why This Documentary Matters

“Sometimes When We Touch” succeeds because it validates a misunderstood chapter of musical history while celebrating the artistry behind it. Discovering how songs acquired new meaning through their creation stories, learning which soft rock composition holds the record for most cover versions, and understanding the genre’s unexpected influence on subsequent musical movements offers genuine value to music enthusiasts.

The series demonstrates that soft rock, for all its critical dismissal over the years, maintains a lasting imprint on American culture—one that continues reshaping how we understand emotional expression through music.

TITLE: “Sometimes When We Touch”
RUNTIME: 3 episodes
GENRE: Documentary
FEATURING: Air Supply, Ambrosia, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, and more
PLATFORM: Paramount+