"Sailing" by Christopher Cross

#1 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0212
Date:  06/14/1980
Debut:  77
Peak:  1 (1 Week)
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Cross followed-up his #2 hit "Ride Like the Wind" (Redux #0057) with this soft ballad that got him to #1. The song was not initially intended to be a single, but it ended up being the perfect follow-up to the upbeat "Ride" as it appealed to a wide range of music listeners. It was based on sailing trips he would take with a friend each summer.

ReduxReview:  Dreamy, sleepy, breezy, relaxing, and carefree. This song comes close to being pop/new age/AC nirvana. My only quibble with the song is Cross himself. I've always found him to be a lazy vocalist. When you have a high, thin voice, you have to enunciate more than normal in order to understand the lyrics. But even with top-notch studio folk, it seemed no one told Cross to sing clearer. So you get a bunch of vowels mumbled together. I hate that. So when I listen to this, here is what I am hearing (with correct lyrics next to them):

Well it's not far down to paradise, at least it's not for me. And if the wind is right, you can sail away, find verility (tranqility). Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.  Eeeee oo ee (Believe me).  It's not far to never never land, (no) reason to pretend, and if the wind is right you can find a joy, with any sense again (the joy and innocence again). Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you want and see.  Eeeee im me (Believe me).  Sailing takes me away to where I'm go ways to buh doo wee (I've always heard it could be).

Lord, man, speak up! Despite his mumbling, it's a classic song of the era and I've always loved it.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  This song won three Grammy awards in 1981 - Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Arrangement with Vocals.

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