From Chart-Topper to Punchline: How Soft Rock Found Its Way Back

Soft rock’s journey reads like a Hollywood screenplay—glorious peaks, humbling valleys, and an unexpected redemption arc that nobody saw coming. A new documentary series on Paramount+ titled Sometimes When We Touch pieces together this fascinating musical puzzle across three episodes: “Reign,” “Ruin,” and “Resurrection.”

The Genre That Conquered the '70s, Then Got Laughed Out

Here’s what’s wild: soft rock completely owned the charts during the 1970s. Artists like Air Supply, Kenny Loggins, The Carpenters, and Hall & Oates weren’t just popular—they were everywhere. Then came the 1980s, and suddenly the music that people genuinely loved became the target of jokes and dismissal. The genre crashed spectacularly, leaving fans wondering if the melancholic ballads and silky smooth vocals would ever be taken seriously again.

The documentary doesn’t shy away from this awkward chapter. It explores how the power ballad—the glittering heart of soft rock—went from essential listening to cultural embarrassment.

The Stories Behind the Classics

What makes Sometimes When We Touch compelling is how it unearths the real stories behind iconic tracks. The title itself comes from a 1973 ballad written by Canadian artist Dan Hill and Barry Mann. Here’s the detail that hits different: Hill was only 19 when he wrote it, and his original motivation? Convincing his girlfriend to dump another guy and date him exclusively. Spoiler alert—it didn’t work. She left Canada and moved to the States with the other man anyway.

The series brings together legends who defined the genre, including:

• Air Supply (“All Out of Love”)
• Kenny Loggins (“This Is It”)
• Ray Parker Jr. (“A Woman Needs Love”) and his production innovations
• Rupert Holmes (“Escape: The Piña Colada Song”)
• Toni Tennille (“Love Will Keep Us Together”)
• Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins’ groundbreaking collaborations

Beyond the original artists, contemporary musicians like LA Reid, Richard Marx, Sheryl Crow, Stewart Copeland, and Susanna Hoffs contribute fresh perspectives on the genre’s influence and legacy.

Hidden Connections You Never Knew

One of the documentary’s most intriguing segments explores how soft rock shaped hip-hop. Daryl “DMC” Daniels from Run DMC makes a bold claim: “Without Bob James, there would be no hip hop.” The jazz keyboardist and arranger’s influence on the genre traces an unexpected lineage that most listeners never considered.

Ray Parker Jr.'s contributions go far beyond being “that Ghostbusters theme guy”—the documentary dives into his significance as a producer and performer who shaped the sound of the era. Similarly, the Captain & Tennille partnership gets an in-depth examination, revealing how their sometimes turbulent creative dynamic produced some of the era’s most enduring hits.

Why Soft Rock Made Its Comeback

The resurgence didn’t happen by accident. According to the documentary, 9/11, Broadway, and the birth of hip-hop created cultural conditions ripe for a reevaluation of the genre. What really sparked the revival, though? A viral YouTube series that rebranded soft rock as “Yacht Rock”—a term that started as ironic commentary and evolved into genuine appreciation. Now touring bands dedicated to performing the greatest hits of that era sell out shows, attracting both nostalgic fans and new listeners discovering the music for the first time.

The core message underlying these songs—that love and human connection matter—resonates across generations. That’s not sentimentality; it’s substance.

Hidden Gems and Surprising Facts

The documentary reveals which soft rock song has the most cover versions, a fact that reportedly surprises even dedicated music fans. These kinds of deep dives transform how listeners understand and appreciate the music they thought they already knew.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes When We Touch succeeds in rehabilitating soft rock’s reputation. It moves past the jokes and dismissal to celebrate a genre that, despite decades of cultural disdain, left an indelible mark on American music. The series demonstrates that sometimes the music we’re taught to mock is actually the music that matters most.

Details to Know:

• Title: Sometimes When We Touch
• Episodes: 3 (Reign, Ruin, Resurrection)
• Genre: Music Documentary
• Platform: Paramount+
• Featured Artists: Air Supply, Ambrosia, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Ray Parker Jr., and more