Commodores, “Sail On” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 65^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Sail On” by Commodores.  

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 65^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Sail On”, performed by 🎙 Commodores. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“I know it’s a shame / But I’m giving you back your name / Yeah, yeah.” Uh-oh! It’s the D-word – divorce! That’s right, 🎙 Commodores’ 1979 classic, 🎵 “Sail On” (💿 Midnight Magic) is about the end of a marriage.  Written by the iconic lead singer of the band at its height, 🎙 Lionel Richie, he wasn’t going through divorce at that time.  Still, the narrative of this crossover R&B/soul cut is absolutely brilliant.  It’s no surprise this soft-rock (yacht rock), country, and pop-infused joint reached no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Yes, I’ll be on my way

I won’t be back to stay

I guess I’ll move along

I’m looking for a good time.”

So, the man who is going through this breakup is moving on – “sail[ing] on down the line.” In the second verse, he asserts, “A small town boy like me / Just wasn’t your cup of tea / I was wishful thinking.” Apparently, Lionel, apparently.  Fed up with trying to preserve it, on the grand bridge – essentially the centerpiece in this particular song – the protagonist lets go: “Sail on, honey / Good times never felt so good.” Beyond the personal narrative that’s not personal, the music is utterly sublime.  Harmonized vocals, piano and guitar accompaniment, strings, horns – it possesses the total package. The grandest moment, of course, is the ‘bridge’ (again, essentially the chorus for this record).

Final Thoughts 💭

Lionel Richie is one of the greatest songwriters of the all-time, period.  When he left Commodores it was a huge loss – he was that irreplaceable. That said, at least the collective and the world experienced Richie’s talents for a spell including the surefire gem that is 🎵 “Sail On”.

🎙 Commodores • 💿 Midnight Magic • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1979

Commodores, “Sail On”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 65 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  Motown, The Musical Hype]