How Soft Rock Went From Cultural Goldmine to Punchline—Then Made an Unexpected Comeback

The story of soft rock is one of pop music’s most dramatic arcs: a genre that owned radio waves and concert halls, faced ridicule and dismissal, and then surprisingly clawed its way back into cultural relevance. A new documentary on Paramount+ called Sometimes When We Touch captures this fascinating journey across three chapters—“Reign,” “Ruin,” and “Resurrection.”

The Golden Era That Nobody Wants to Admit They Loved

In the 1970s, soft rock wasn’t just popular; it was unstoppable. Bands like Air Supply, Kenny Loggins, Captain & Tennille, and The Carpenters dominated the charts worldwide. These weren’t one-hit wonders—they shaped an entire era of music. Yet somewhere along the way, the genre became something people whispered about rather than celebrated openly.

The documentary reveals that even the title track has a backstory worth hearing. “Sometimes When We Touch,” written in 1973 by Canadian artist Dan Hill with Barry Mann, was originally conceived as a romantic gesture. A 19-year-old Hill wrote it hoping to win back a girlfriend—spoiler alert, it didn’t work. She left Canada for the U.S. with the other man anyway. But the song outlasted the heartbreak, becoming an icon of the genre itself.

Star Power and Surprising Connections

What makes this documentary particularly compelling is how it connects the dots between soft rock and unexpected cultural forces. Featuring interviews with legends like Air Supply (“All Out of Love”), Kenny Loggins (“This Is It”), Ray Parker Jr. (“A Woman Needs Love”), Rupert Holmes (“Escape: The Piña Colada Song”), and Toni Tennille (“Love Will Keep Us Together”), the series unearths production stories and personal struggles behind the music.

Ray Parker Jr., often remembered solely for the Ghostbusters theme, receives proper recognition for his broader contributions to the genre. Similarly, the partnership between Captain & Tennille is explored in depth, revealing both its triumphs and tensions. The collaborative work of Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald also receives special attention for pioneering the singer/songwriter movement that would influence generations to come.

Contemporary artists like LA Reid, Richard Marx, Sheryl Crow, Stewart Copeland, and Susanna Hoffs also participate, adding modern perspective to the historical narrative.

The Weird Path to Resurgence

The documentary makes a bold claim: soft rock’s comeback wasn’t inevitable. Instead, it traces the revival to three unusual catalysts—the tragedy of 9/11, the cultural phenomenon of Broadway, and the emergence of hip-hop. This might seem counterintuitive until you discover that hip-hop pioneers like Daryl ‘DMC’ Daniels credit the genre’s foundation to unlikely sources. DMC has stated, “Without Bob James, there would be no hip hop,” highlighting how a jazz keyboardist and producer shaped not just soft rock, but an entirely different musical movement.

A viral YouTube series popularized the term “Yacht Rock,” which paradoxically helped rebrand the genre for a new generation. What started as internet humor became a genuine music movement, complete with touring bands and devoted fans rediscovering the era’s greatest hits.

Worth Your Weekend

Sometimes When We Touch succeeds because it doesn’t just catalog songs—it reveals the human stories behind them. Learning why certain tracks became classics, how artists drew inspiration, and the surprising influence of soft rock on hip-hop culture adds depth to familiar melodies.

Perhaps the most intriguing element is discovering which soft rock song holds the record for most cover versions. The answer might surprise even seasoned music lovers.

Documentary Details:

• Title: Sometimes When We Touch
• Episodes: 3
• Streaming: Paramount+
• Genre: Documentary
• Featured Artists: Air Supply, Ambrosia, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, and more